Ultimate Guide to Ha Giang Loop Tours by Motorcycle, Car and Foot

Picture yourself on the back of a motorcycle, flying down a rural road looping around lush green fields, passing through tiny towns in the Vietnamese countryside, looking down into misty valleys and winding up narrow mountain paths. The sun is shining, the temperatures are cool, and you can see a little cafe perched on the side of the road just up ahead. You’re surrounded by new friends and looking forward to a big dinner once you get to your cozy homestay.

Sounds fun, right?

This is the Ha Giang Loop, a highly recommended experience in Northern Vietnam that I tell everyone to do if they have the time. It’s a little out of the way, and you really need a minimum of 2 days to see anything good, but if you can swing it then it’s so worth the effort.

I went on the Loop last year and it was a highlight of my entire time in Southeast Asia. If you have any interest at all in Vietnam, nature, adventure travel or even just motorcycles, you MUST go on the Loop!

Now, the standard way to do the Loop is on a motorcycle. If you’re even a little bit adventurous, then this is a great way to get a little thrill while exploring the country.

That said, not everyone wants to do a motorcycle tour. Luckily there’s other options for exploring Ha Giang that doesn’t involve a motorbike! In this guide, I’m going to walk (or ride) you through all the options, including costs, time, and the pros/cons of each.

Spoiler alert: none of them are perfect, but that’s part of the fun! So, whether you’re an adrenaline junkie, someone who prefers a comfy seat, or just here for the food, I’ve got you covered.

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Exploring the Ha Giang Loop on an Easy Rider Tour

This is the “standard” way to do the Loop, and it’s the way I did it! Basically you hire a driver to take you around the loop on the back of his motorcycle. It’s a fantastic way to experience the Loop, and a great way to see the beautiful mountains and scenery up close.

Plus, since you’re not driving yourself, all you have to do is sit back, relax (as much as you can on a motorbike), and soak it all in. Your guide handles the driving, so you can spend your time feeling like you’re living out a scene from a motorbike commercial.

Downsides: You’re exposed to the elements (e.g. rain), it can be uncomfortable if you’re not used to riding on a motorcycle, the drivers mostly don’t speak English, and you follow the same route as everybody else so there can be some crowding at some locations.

You can hire a private driver or go with a group. I went with a (small) group and had a lot of fun! If you’re a solo traveler, a group tour is one of the best ways to meet people and make friends, and since this is a multi-day thing you definitely get to know one another.

There’s different tour lengths, but the standard length is typically 2 nights/3 days. If you’re with a group you can kind of adjust what you want to see, but basically you’re at the whims of your tour company so be sure to pick one that’s going to the places you want to see.

Prices for group Easy Rider tours range from about $120-300+ USD, depending on the total tour length and if you upgrade to private rooms or stay in shared ones. Included with the tour is the driver, accommodation, water, all meals, and rain gear. You may have to pay extra for bus tickets to/from Ha Giang, plus the tip to your driver.

Pros:

• Don’t have to stress about driving yourself.
• Local guides available to give you info and tips.
• Great for solo travelers because you can join a group and make friends!

Cons:

• You’re exposed to the elements (rain, sun, wind) and it can be uncomfortable.
• If you’re not used to riding a motorcycle, you WILL be sore.
• Going with a group means you’re at the whims of the tour company.

Recommended Tours:

Driving the Ha Giang Loop Yourself (Motorbike Self-Drive)

Alright, let’s be real. Renting a motorbike and doing the Ha Giang Loop on your own is both thrilling and a bit terrifying, depending on how comfortable you are with motorbikes.

For those who crave freedom, the wind in their hair, and the ability to stop whenever they want: this is the way to go. BUT! You MUST have a motorcycle license AND an international driving license, or else you’ll get fined by the police. They have roadblocks on the way out of Ha Giang City, so you WILL get caught.

Also, it’s important to know that Vietnam’s mountain roads aren’t exactly forgiving. While most of the Loop is paved and kept up, you’re bound to run into the occasional landslide and tore-up dirt road. But hey, what’s adventure without a little chaos?

Most of the Easy Rider tour companies have motorcycles for rent, and you can either go by yourself or with a guide, who rides on his own motorcycle. You can join up with a group of other self-drivers or even go on a private tour.

Pros:

• Go at your own pace and see what you want to see!
• A little bit cheaper than going on the Easy Rider tour (and even more cheap if you don’t bring a guide).
• Real old-fashioned adventure travel like The Motorcycle Diaries.

Cons:

• If you’re not confident about your driving skills, the stress might not be worth it.
• Don’t have an international license? You’re gonna get fined.
• Going on the tour by yourself might be lonely.

Recommended Tours:

Private Car Tour of the Ha Giang Loop

Nervous about motorcycles? Don’t want to get rained on and prefer to travel in a bit more comfort?

No problem! You can do the Ha Giang Loop via car!

There’s a few different options for you. Most typical is a private tour with either a car or a minivan (or even a minibus). You can go by yourself, but generally they want two people minimum. Traveling solo? You might be able to swing something by contacting the tour company directly, but typically these are private tours so there aren’t any groups to join in with.

A private car tour will generally set you back between $100 and $150 per day, depending on the type of car and the number of people in your group. Like the other tours, the standard length is between 3 to 5 days but you can adjust them where needed.

Pros:

• Super safe, super comfortable! Not gonna get sunburnt or rained on, yay!
• Air conditioning is nice, too.
• Great for families or groups who just want to be by themselves.

Cons:

• Double the cost (minimum) of the motorcycle tours.
• You might not be able to squeeze down interesting small roads to off-the-beaten-path places.
• Less immersive than a motorcycle tour as you have the car window as a barrier.

Recommended Tours:

Private Jeep Tour of the Ha Giang Loop

Okay, this is like a middle step between the motorcycle tours and the private car tours. Jeeps are technically more comfortable than a bike, but they’re not AS comfortable as a sedan or SUV. They’re the rugged off-road cousins that can handle rough terrain– at the cost of your tailbone.

A private jeep tour typically costs between $150 and $200 per day, depending on how nice your jeep is and the size of your group. It’s a bit more expensive than a regular car tour, but you’re paying more for the sporty aspect– technically you can go off-roading with a Jeep and reach places normal vehicles can’t get to.

Just like the car tour, a jeep tour generally runs from 3 to 5 days, but again, you can tailor the schedule to your preferences. Whether you want to explore at a leisurely pace or cram in as much as possible, your driver can adjust accordingly. Just be sure to plan everything out before the tour starts so the driver can make arrangements for your group.

Pros:

• Slightly more adventurous than a regular car tour.
• Can technically go off-roading, or at the very least make it over torn-up parts of the road.
• Looks cool in photos!

Cons:

• Jeeps are bumpy and they can be uncomfortable if you’re crammed in with a larger group.
• Might get carsick easier because of the bumps!
• More expensive than the other options.

Recommended Tours:

Hiking the Ha Giang Loop from Ha Giang City

Want to avoid vehicles all together, no matter how many wheels they have? Why not go trekking instead!

While most people choose to explore the loop by motorbike, car, or jeep, some brave travelers decide to do it on foot. And when I say “brave,” I really mean it—this is not for the faint of heart or the time-crunched. Doing the full loop at a decent pace can take up to 10 days, though you can do shorter excursions of only a few days if you just want to explore a certain part.

If you’re a super budget backpacker, this is the option for you. If you’re an experienced hiker, you can head out on your own and only need to pay for food, fuel and accommodation, which should be maybe $25 max per day (less if you do camping!).

If you don’t want to go by yourself, or if you’d like the insight to local places that a guide can bring, then a guided hike costs about $50-100+/day, usually including meals and accommodation in homestays as well.

Seeing the Loop from the ground is probably the most rewarding part about hiking versus driving. You’ll see things close up, engage with them on a personal level, and be able to explore the Vietnam landscape in a way nobody else does.

Pros:

• Very immersive, probably the MOST immersive way to experience the Loop.
• An adventurous landscape for hikers who want to see something new.
• Generally a good priced experience for a guided hike.

Cons:

• Physically demanding, especially if you aren’t used to Vietnamese weather.
• Very long travel time, if you want to do the whole Loop.
• Exposed to the weather, and it can be raining for days up there.

Recommended Tours:

Final Thoughts

The nice thing about Ha Giang Loop tours is there’s options for basically every type of traveler! If you’re a little adventurous but don’t want to be super stressed, then you can go Easy Rider or in a car. If you’re confident in your driving, you can take yourself! Or if you want to slow down and experience the Loop from up close, then you can go trekking instead.

The beauty of the Ha Giang Loop is that it’s not just about the destination—it’s about the journey itself.

Whichever way you choose to go, remember to stop a while and let yourself soak in the experience of your travels. Take a deep breath and breathe it in, really take the time to look at this beautiful part of the world you’re wandering through.

Then get back on the bike and continue your adventure. Happy trails!