Welcome to your final information to the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam, an exhilarating bike journey that sweeps you throughout gorgeous mountain landscapes, refreshing waterfalls, and welcoming native hostels!
It’s a journey for the daring and the adventurous, the place each cease, twist, and switch is a pleasant shock. There aren’t any absolute certainties right here – besides the assure of an expertise that can final a lifetime.
Whether or not it’s a shock detour to a swimming pool on a sizzling day or an surprising waterfall go to, this journey is as fluid and as thrilling because the rivers you’ll go alongside the best way.
We’ll dive into all of the practicalities, beginning with attending to Ha Giang from Hanoi, packing the necessities in your journey, and selecting the proper lodging in your journey. I’ll share my trustworthy overview of the Bong Hostel Ha Giang Loop Tour and their lodging, supplying you with a glimpse into what awaits you at this thrilling vacation spot.
I’ll share high recommendations on passports, security, police checks, and why selecting an ‘simple rider’ would possibly simply be the most effective resolution you’ll make.
So pack your luggage, rev up your engines, and be a part of me as we navigate the breathtaking landscapes and exhilarating experiences of the Ha Giang Loop.
Let’s get this journey began!
What’s so particular concerning the Ha Giang Loop?
The Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam’s Ha Giang Province holds cultural significance resulting from its ethnic range and conventional villages. It’s dwelling to varied ethnic minority teams, every with their very own language, customs and clothes. Alongside the loops, you’ll be able to witness the normal lifestyle in villages with historic structure and terraced rice fields. The area’s vibrant festivals and emphasis on sustainable tourism and cultural preservation add to its cultural significance.
The historical past of Ha Giang spans hundreds of years. It was inhabited in historic occasions and got here below Chinese language affect throughout numerous durations. It later turned a part of French colonial rule and witnessed the battle for independence. Following the Vietnam Conflict, the area underwent post-war improvement, resulting in its present-day cultural identification as a area with a wealthy historical past, numerous ethnic teams and gorgeous pure magnificence.
Methods to get to Ha Giang
When travelling to Ha Giang, you might be more likely to begin from Hanoi. I extremely suggest reserving a sleeper bus by way of the hostel that you just select, which means that they arrange the pickup out of your lodge in Hanoi they usually drop you off on the proper hostel while you arrive in Ha Giang.
The journey from Hanoi to Ha Giang takes round 6-7 hours so it’s value shopping for tickets for the marginally costlier however snug cabin bus. We paid 400,000 Dong per individual for the cabin bus (~£13). The bus will cease alongside the best way for a lunch break (in case you take a daytime bus). In case you take an in a single day bus, it’s probably that your bus may need a bathroom on board or the driving force will cease and switch the lights on to let everybody comprehend it’s a bathroom cease.
Bong Hostel: Choosing the proper tour for you
Earlier than planning on doing the Ha Giang loop, I had seen so many TikToks and Instagram movies of individuals doing the loop with Jasmine Hostel. Though there may be completely nothing unsuitable with selecting this hostel, I had seen so many individuals doing it with them that I wished to decide on a distinct hostel with a bit much less of a celebration vibe!
I got here throughout Bong Hostel on Google and messaged them through WhatsApp to investigate about costs, dates and whether or not we should always select self-riding or easy-riding. They had been so useful and responded to my questions rapidly. On the time, my accomplice Brett and I had been travelling with our pals Matt and Chan so all of us agreed that Bong Hostel seemed like an excellent possibility.
Bong Hostel organized the bus for us from Hanoi – Ha Giang, we bought dropped off proper outdoors the hostel and bought proven to our room rapidly.
Bong Hostel lodging
This was really the primary time I had ever stayed in a hostel, so I had nothing to match it to, however we had been proven to our dorm and every had our personal bunk mattress with a privateness curtain, pillow, quilt, towel, and charging port. The mattress was tremendous comfortable and the room had nice air con so we had an ideal sleep that evening! Within the morning you’ll be able to order breakfast without cost within the frequent space earlier than you begin the tour.
The hostel additionally has storage lockers the place you’ll be able to maintain your massive backpacks and suitcases whilst you do the loop. Keep in mind that you could convey your individual padlock to safe the locker.
Bong Hostel tour
- Period: 3 Days, 2 Nights
- Drivers: 5 (4 easy-drivers, 1 spotter)
There have been 9 folks in our group in complete, Brett, Matt, Chan and I all had simple riders and the opposite 5 folks had been self-riding. I cherished the truth that the teams are small since you get to know everybody very well and make nice pals over the course of the journey.
Our simple riders had been pretty too, mine was referred to as Thuong and he was particularly attentive and supplied to take footage each time we stopped at a viewpoint. I had full belief in our easy-riders, Thuong was an skilled driver and I felt completely secure on his bike!
Days on the Ha Giang Loop
I’m fairly positive you’ll simply be in awe for many of your journey to Ha Giang! The surroundings is like nothing I’ve seen earlier than, mountain after mountain, flip after flip. There’s after all lots of driving concerned so that you spend the vast majority of your time on the bike. Nevertheless, you cease so many occasions alongside the best way to have a relaxation, stretch your legs and admire the gorgeous views!
There are just a few stops the place you’ll be able to climb up some rocks and get some superior footage on the high. At most of the stops, there may be additionally the chance to purchase drinks and snacks.
Additionally, you will get to go to native villages and work together with the native youngsters who’re so candy! These interactions had been the spotlight of my journey.
Relying on the time of 12 months that you just go, the street circumstances, the areas of the police checks, and the route is open to vary. The drivers determine what they need to do relying on the day. For instance, on our journey it said that swimming stops weren’t included, however as a result of it was so sizzling the drivers took us to a swimming pool on the primary day after which to a waterfall on the final day. This was a extremely welcome inclusion to our journey and made it much more memorable for us!
Nights on the Ha Giang Loop
Relying on which hostel you select and which sort of vibe you like, your evenings might be full of comfortable water, dancing and karaoke or they might be extra low-key relying in your choice. We had been fortunate to expertise a mixture of each!
Night time 1
On our first night, we arrived at Milk Milk Hostel with a great deal of different vacationers and loved a feast of noodles, rice, meats, greens, spring rolls and a lot extra! The comfortable water was flowing (as had been the beers) and folks rapidly bought began on the karaoke.
The workers stopped the music at round 10:30 pm after which everybody headed as much as mattress by 11:30 pm-12 am. We had the most effective evening attending to know the folks in our group higher and a few of us had been even a bit hungover on day 2!
Night time 2
On the second evening, we arrived at a hostel and it was simply our group staying there, so we had a little bit of a quieter night. All of us loved one more feast placed on by the beneficiant workers at our hostel. There was extra comfortable water handed round to get us within the temper for some karaoke! This was a very nice night as a result of all of us bought to talk in a quieter setting and mirror on the journey that we had spent collectively thus far.
The street circumstances
For the primary 2 days, the roads had been in good situation with minimal potholes and bumps. Nevertheless, on the third and remaining day, about 30km of street was unpaved gravel/dust. It was tough to navigate and the drivers needed to be further cautious as among the street was on the aspect of a cliff with a steep drop on the opposite aspect.
It’s secure to say my coronary heart was racing in these components! However fortunately, our group was completely wonderful they usually dealt with the unhealthy street circumstances very well.
In case you're having fun with this weblog, you should definitely try my different journey guides right here!
Trustworthy overview of Bong Hostel Ha Giang Loop Tour
I used to be extremely impressed with our whole expertise with Bong Hostel. The communication we had earlier than arriving there was very clear and useful they usually organized all of our bus transfers for us. The hostel itself is clear, well-run and the workers converse good English so communication shouldn’t be a problem. The drivers are so candy and useful all through your complete journey they usually made it actually memorable for us. I cherished the truth that we had one occasion night and another stress-free night, it was the proper stability.
- Value of the journey: £359 for two folks. This included the bus transfers to and from Hanoi, a one-night keep at Bong Hostel, 3 days and a couple of nights Ha Giang Loop tour with easy-riders and all meals and comfortable water included.
What to pack for the Loop
I had seen so many alternative suggestions of what to pack for the loop earlier than I did it and I didn’t know till the day earlier than once I noticed the climate forecast what I ought to really pack!
I did the loop on the finish of Might (2023) and it was tremendous sizzling. That is what I like to recommend taking with you:
- Small backpack
- Underwear (duh!)
- Shorts x 3
- T-shirt x 2
- Tank high x 1
- Pajamas
- Towel
- Swimsuit
- Common Adaptor + Cellphone Charger
- Energy Financial institution (non-compulsory)
- Light-weight rain coat (non-compulsory)
- Cleaning soap + Shampoo
- Toothbrush and Toothpaste
- Hairbrush
- Sun shades (try these climbing sun shades)
- Hat
- Cash
- Small first help package
- Plastic bag for moist/soiled garments
After all, in case you are going at a distinct time of 12 months, the climate might be a lot cooler or hotter, so be certain to verify the climate earlier than you go and try to pack as evenly as potential!
Try our climbing gear information.
My high ideas
1. Passports: You don’t have to take your passport with you on the loop. I like to recommend locking it safely away in your massive rucksack that you just depart on the hostel. All you want is an image of your passport in your telephone.
2. Deliver a padlock so you’ll be able to safe your belongings within the storage locker.
3. Deliver money with you, as it is advisable pay in your drinks and any snacks you need to purchase.
4. Deliver a swimming costume and a towel, even when swimming isn’t included in your tour.
5. Apply solar cream! Cowl up while you’re using. We noticed individuals who had been very sunburnt on the primary day and it will be uncomfortable to take a seat on the bike like that afterward.
6. Police checks: In case you don’t have an Worldwide Driving License and also you need to self-ride, some hostels (like Bong Hostel) will nonetheless allow you to experience. They help you do that however they can not assure that you just received’t be stopped, fined and doubtlessly have the bike confiscated.
After we went, we had a spotter who drove forward and checked for police stops. We solely encountered 1 police cease and people of us on easy-riders handed by way of first. We then bought off the bikes to permit our riders to circle again and choose up those that had been self-riding with out an IDP in order that they might be introduced by way of the police verify with none points.
7. Solely self-ride in case you really feel assured: The motorbikes you get to experience are semi-automatic and never everybody in our group had ridden one in every of these earlier than. They take some getting used to as it’s important to change gears utilizing your foot. Bong Hostel provides a lesson within the morning earlier than you set off on the primary day.
8. Don’t really feel unhealthy about getting a simple rider! Getting simple riders was top-of-the-line selections we made! We had been all free to benefit from the surroundings and be current within the second slightly than specializing in the street. There is no such thing as a disgrace in simple using and it was really actually enjoyable! Brett additionally thought it was extra snug than driving your self.
Conclusion
Wrapping up my journey by way of the Ha Giang loop, it’s evident that the expertise is excess of only a bike tour. It’s an immersion into a fascinating world of towering peaks, dramatic passes, and vibrant cultures.
My suggestion to future adventurers is straightforward: embark on this journey with an open thoughts and a willingness to adapt to the surprising. The circumstances is perhaps powerful, and the itinerary would possibly change, however that’s a part of the joys. Use my packing checklist as a suggestion but additionally tailor it to your wants and the climate circumstances on the time of your journey.
Whether or not you select to experience solo or go for a simple rider, the purpose stays the identical: to witness the mesmerizing fantastic thing about Ha Giang, immerse in its wealthy tradition, and make unforgettable recollections. For us, getting the simple riders was a successful selection, permitting us to soak within the sights with out worrying concerning the street. However, on the finish of the day, it’s about what fits your consolation and confidence degree.
So, are you able to strap in your helmet and kickstart your individual Ha Giang journey? Keep in mind, the journey is as rewarding because the vacation spot. Secure travels, fellow globetrotters!
Try our information to backpacking by bike!
