Ha Giang Loop, Vietnam

Most people come to Ha Giang to ride the legendary Ha Giang Loop, a motorbike journey through Vietnam's northernmost province.
You can tackle it in 2, 3, 4, or even 5 days. I opted for 4 days, and honestly, I'm kicking myself for not stretching it to 5.

I landed in Hanoi at 11:30 AM after a layover in Singapore. By 2:00 PM, I was on a sleeper bus heading north, booked through 12Go Asia. This wasn't your typical bus; it featured lie-flat beds, making the journey surprisingly comfortable.

My friend Kash, fresh off a business trip in China, met me at Hanoi airport. Together we boarded the bus bound for Hà Giang City, the gateway to the loop and the capital of Hà Giang Province. The ride took about 6 hours, offering glimpses of Vietnam's evolving landscapes as we ventured further north.

After we arrived in Ha Giang City, we were dropped off right at Ha Giang City Hostel, where we had already booked a private room. We checked in and just dropped dead. No energy left.

One thing I’d say is really important when booking a sleeper bus, choose your pick-up and drop-off points carefully. I made sure to pick a time and location in Hanoi that was easy to reach after I landed, and just as importantly, a drop-off that was convenient once we got to Ha Giang.

Ha Giang City Hostel made it super easy. Not only was it right where the bus stopped, but it’s also the place where we rented our motorbikes. Everything lined up, and we didn’t have to waste time figuring things out after that long ride.

Day 1 – Ha Giang Loop Begins 

We picked up our bikes after breakfast in Ha Giang and kicked off what would become one of the most soul-stirring journeys I’ve ever taken. There was not a single second on this 4-day motorcycle loop that wasn’t more beautiful than the previous one and the next one. From the very first turn, the mountains whispered, the roads flowed like poetry, and adventure began to write itself in dust, wind, and laughter.

I could keep describing it and the photos might get close in doing justice, but nothing compares to riding it yourself because you just have to be there to truly feel it. 

Day 2 – Vietnamese Magic Flower

The day started with rain, not dramatic, just steady enough to soak us early on. But we didn’t stop. We kept riding through winding roads, misty air, and dripping leaves. After a couple of hours, the rain eased. The clouds stayed, hanging low over the mountains, but the views opened up, soft, moody, and unforgettable. The beauty didn’t take a break, not for the rain, not for the grey skies. Every moment somehow still outdid the last.

Somehow, the magic only deepened.

I was getting ready to take the above photo on the motorcycle when something unexpected happened. Kash had the camera in his hand, ready to capture the moment. A little barefoot Vietnamese boy came running through the rain with a flower in his hand. He gently handed it to me with a shy smile, then pointed to Kash and said something in his language probably letting us know he had one for him too. Then he ran over and gave Kash his flower.

We tried to give him some money as a thank you, but he just smiled and ran off, never asking for anything in return. He spoke words we didn’t understand, but somehow the message was perfectly clear.

And Kash seized this beautiful moment that I’ll cherish for years to come. There was magic in that flower. The rain stopped. The air felt lighter. The mountains looked brighter. And the day, all of a sudden, felt more beautiful than ever. Don't believe me? Look at the next photo!

Day 3: Drenched in Beauty 

It rained the entire day. Not a passing drizzle but the kind that soaks the world and softens everything it touches. And somehow, the loop still kept outdoing itself.

Kash and I kept saying it. Every second felt more unreal than the one before. We actually got tired of taking photos. Not because the views stopped being beautiful. But because they never did.

Everything looked cinematic. Misty roads, dripping forests, and quiet villages wrapped in grey and green. Even with our waterproof covers keeping us dry, the feeling of riding through that world was unforgettable.

Our phones stayed in our bags for most of the day, but we didn’t miss a thing. The less we captured, the more we felt.

At one point, Kash looked at me and said, “Bro, how are we supposed to go back to real life after this?”
I still don’t have an answer.

Day 4: The Loop Comes to an End 

The rain showed up again in the morning, but only briefly. After that, it was clear skies and quiet roads.

One of the highlights was a 2-kilometre hike up to the caves. I didn’t go inside though. Learned from my last trip to Ninh Binh that tight, dark spaces aren’t for me. That little boat squeezing through Đột cave was enough to unlock some claustrophobia I didn’t know I had.

But the hike itself was something else. Peaceful, green, and opening up to views that made you forget about everything else.

As I said before, we didn’t take too many photos. Not because there was nothing to capture, but because we were too busy feeling it all. Still, we took enough to give you a glimpse.

I could write pages and upload every photo, and it still wouldn’t show the true colours of what we saw. Even on Day 4, the beauty didn’t fade.

If you really want to understand, you’ll just have to ride the loop yourself.

Four days, countless turns, and still the loop left us with more questions than answers. Not about the route, but about how something this raw, this real, still exists.

Some journeys end. This one will echo for a while.

Click here to download the complete itinerary, including homestay details and coordinates. I created it myself and I’ve made sure it’s practical, detailed, and easy to follow.