Ha Giang Loop by motorbike
Four days on the most dramatic road in Vietnam: limestone passes, the Nho Que river and nights with Hmong and Dao families.
- Duration
- 4 days
- Group size
- Up to 12
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Minimum age
- 18+
- Guided in
- English
- Starts in
- Hanoi
Overview
The Ha Giang Loop runs 350 kilometres through the far north of Vietnam, along the Chinese border. The road climbs through karst mountains, hairpins down into river canyons and passes villages where market day is still the biggest event of the week.
Ride yourself, or sit back behind one of our easy riders: local drivers who have done the loop hundreds of times. Either way you travel in a small group with a guide, stop wherever the view demands it, and sleep in family homestays along the way.
Highlights
- Ride the Ma Pi Leng Pass, the “king of passes”, at golden hour
- Take a boat through the emerald Tu San canyon on the Nho Que river
- Sleep in Hmong and Dao homestays, with dinner cooked by the family
- Wander Dong Van Old Quarter on a Sunday market morning
- Choose to ride yourself or travel with an experienced easy rider
The route
8 stops, 357 km, about 13 hr 45 min on the move. Times are a guide and shift with the weather and the group.
Day 1
6am for 1 hr 30 min
Ha Giang City
The sleeper bus from Hanoi arrives at dawn. Breakfast, bike check and a safety briefing with your guide before the group sets off north.
- Meals: breakfast
Motorbike, 1 hr 30 min, 45 kmSteady climb out of the valley
10am for 40 min
Quan Ba Heaven Gate
The first big viewpoint of the loop, looking over the twin “fairy bosom” mountains and the valley below.
Motorbike, 2 hr, 55 km
1pm for 1 hr
Yen Minh pine forest
Lunch among the pines, then winding roads through Hmong villages and corn terraces.
- Meals: lunch, dinner
- Sleep: Hmong family homestay in Lung Cu
Motorbike, 2 hr 30 min, 70 kmTight hairpins; go slowly
Day 2
9am for 2 hr
Dong Van Old Quarter
Two-hundred-year-old stone houses and a busy Sunday market where ethnic minority groups trade buffalo, rice wine and embroidered cloth.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch
Motorbike, 45 min, 20 km
2pm for 45 min
Ma Pi Leng Pass
Twenty kilometres of road cut into the cliff, with the Nho Que river snaking 800 metres below. The most famous view in northern Vietnam.
Walk, 30 min, 1.5 kmSteep path down to the jetty
3:30pm for 1 hr
Tu San canyon boat trip
A small boat takes you between sheer canyon walls on jade-green water. Swimming is possible in the dry season.
- Meals: dinner
- Sleep: Riverside guesthouse in Meo Vac
Motorbike, 3 hr, 75 kmQuiet back road, few other tourists
Day 3
2pm for 4 hr
Du Gia village
A valley of rice paddies with a waterfall a short walk from the village. Afternoon swim, then a long dinner with happy water and karaoke.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Sleep: Dao family homestay in Du Gia
Motorbike, 3 hr 30 min, 90 km
Day 4
1pm
Back to Ha Giang City
Farewell lunch, then the afternoon sleeper bus back to Hanoi, arriving around 21:00.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch
Dates and prices
- Easy rider £289, Self-ride £229
- 10% off when you book 60 days ahead
- 8% off for groups of 4 or more
Starts 6am
Back Mon, 28 Sept 2026
Guaranteed to run
7 seats left
£229
Starts 6am
Back Wed, 30 Sept 2026
Guaranteed to run
6 seats left
£229
Starts 6am
Back Fri, 2 Oct 2026
Guaranteed to run
11 seats left
£229
Starts 6am
Back Mon, 5 Oct 2026
Guaranteed to run
7 seats left
£256
Buckwheat flower season
Starts 6am
Back Wed, 7 Oct 2026
6 seats left
£256
Buckwheat flower season
Starts 6am
Back Fri, 9 Oct 2026
12 seats left
£256
Buckwheat flower season
Starts 6am
Back Mon, 12 Oct 2026
12 seats left
£256
Buckwheat flower season
Starts 6am
Back Wed, 14 Oct 2026
12 seats left
£256
Buckwheat flower season
What’s included
What’s included
- Sleeper bus from Hanoi and back
- Semi-automatic motorbike, fuel and helmet (or an easy rider)
- English-speaking guide for the whole loop
- Three nights’ accommodation
- All meals from breakfast on day 1 to lunch on day 4
- Nho Que river boat trip
Not included
- Travel insurance (must cover motorbikes)
- Drinks
- Tips for your guide and riders
What to bring
- A valid motorbike licence if you ride yourself
- Warm layers: the mountains are cold at night
- A rain jacket
- Cash for markets and drinks
- A small backpack; big bags stay in Hanoi
Good to know
Where to meet
Old Quarter bus office, 17 Hang Bac
17 Hang Bac, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Arrive by 20:30 the evening before day 1. The sleeper bus leaves at 21:00.
Finishes: Hanoi Old Quarter, around 21:00 on day 4
How fit do I need to be?
Challenging. Long, steep days. You should be fit and used to hiking.
Riding all day is tiring even on the back of a bike. Expect five to seven hours on the road each day, with short walks at viewpoints.
Where you’ll sleep
Two nights in family homestays and one in a riverside guesthouse
Accessibility
Not suitable for wheelchair users. Homestay bathrooms are shared and basic. Tell us about dietary needs when you book.
Cancelling
Cancel up to 7 days before your departure for a full refund. Within 7 days, we can’t refund, but you can move to another date once for free.
Questions
Do I need a motorbike licence?
To ride yourself you need a licence valid in Vietnam and insurance that covers it. Without one, book an easy rider ticket and travel on the back of a local driver’s bike.
Can I leave my big bag in Hanoi?
Yes. We store luggage free at the bus office for the four days.
What happens if it rains?
The loop runs in all weather except typhoon warnings. Your guide may change the order of stops to avoid the worst of it.