Ha Giang Loop: Honest Review of a 2-Day Motorbike Adventure
Alright, the Ha Giang Loop. Maybe you’ve heard tales of it, that it’s a winding ribbon of road snaking through the northern reaches of Vietnam, showing landscapes so big, so beautiful, it kinda messes with your sense of scale. Well, let me tell you, the rumors don’t even do it justice. I recently completed a 2-day, 1-night motorbike tour of this northern marvel, and so, I want to share the experience – the good, the challenging, and things you might like your guide to talk about when thinking about ripping around this breathtaking locale.
Why Choose a 2-Day Ha Giang Loop Tour?
When thinking about planning your ride, time is a huge thing. Most folks do the loop in four or five days. Still, not all of us have that kind of vacation time. I squeezed the loop into a tighter two-day format, and that too, let me be honest, it was intense, yet rewarding. Two days let me hit many key spots, so that I felt I wasn’t missing all that much, even with the speed. Two days, though, require an early rise and acceptance to spend some hours on a motorbike each day. What this type of trip gives you is a taste, and it’s the type of taste that’ll likely have you scheming a trip back.
The Thrill of the Ride
Alright, before we get to places to check out, let’s yak about the ride itself. It’s nothing short of thrilling. Picture yourself atop a semi-automatic motorbike (I’d recommend a semi-auto; the hills can be tough, as can learning a manual) hugging curves cut into mountains, and then on one side is a cliff dropping into valleys so big, that they seem to get to the other side of Vietnam. The wind’s whipping through your hair (wear a helmet, definitely) so that you catch little hints of the fragrant wild plants blooming everywhere. You ride through little villages that dot the hillsides and find tiny cafes seemingly stuck to cliff sides. Honestly, these people figured it out. Make time for regular breaks to hydrate (water!) and get your bearings straight again.
Day 1: Ha Giang to Dong Van
Okay, so Day 1! The initial destination was Dong Van, so too the starting point of much beauty in this world. This portion is where the geography really comes alive. So the road is a marvel as you get past Quan Ba, also know locally as “Heaven’s Gate.” As you crest, BAM! there are the Fairy Bosom mountains. No kidding. Shaped like… well, I figure you get it. Get out your camera. Make sure the batteries are charged! The scale, as well, gets amplified right there.
As I was saying, the drive to Dong Van really paints a picture of Vietnamese resilience. We stopped at a local market that’s up high in the mountains. Now that’s something worth pulling over for. As a matter of fact, people come from miles to trade here. Locals are in vivid clothes that you’ve not seen any place else, the animals look healthy, and you can haggle for cool handmade fabrics. Be gracious; people here depend on fair prices for a livelihood. As a matter of fact, as evening comes on, you arrive in Dong Van, the final point. I highly recommend getting grub at a local restaurant for some legit grub and getting to bed relatively early. Day 2 looms.
Day 2: Dong Van to Meo Vac and Back
Day two, folks, is just packed. Meo Vac’s the target. As a matter of fact, a really important highlight is the Ma Pi Leng Pass. Lots of folk regard it as the absolute highlight of the whole loop. The pass is crazy tall cliffs overlooking the deep green Nho Que River. Make an effort, if the weather’s good, so that you go for the short hike down to take a boat ride on the river. Okay, admittedly, it’s sort of touristy, yet seriously serene to look up at the cliffs from down below. Just like floating in a canyon.
So the drive from Meo Vac back to Ha Giang is just long. Seriously, it really allows reflection on what you have seen. As a matter of fact, make sure to request from your tour guide a detour, if possible, that hits some little ethnic minority villages, so too they have just fascinating cultures and traditions. I didn’t even know about it until I was told to walk around a bit. Many will even offer some snacks and food they created themselves.
Things to Note
A little things I wish I understood ahead of time. It helps so much to prepare before you leave for Vietnam!
- Skill Level: Be an honest person regarding your bike riding skill. The Ha Giang Loop’s seriously no place to learn. A bit, get comfy on a semi-auto before coming.
- What to Pack: Pack super light. Basically, it’s best if it all fits into a small backpack. Rain gear is important (you will almost surely run into showers), that’s very correct, too as are layers because the mountains make for wildly changing temps.
- Safety: I wear protective gear. I think you should too, so that your chances of a serious scrape go way down if something terrible comes to pass. Make certain you have travel insurance too; hospital visits out of the country can financially sink your existence!
- Food and Accommodation: Even the 2-day version gives you time for decent stops to check out the different foods. The hotels the tour group set me up with were, too, pretty great: very clean, so the bed and shower were welcome sights when I staggered to the room, beat.
Should You Do It?
To be honest with you, my 2-day tour of the Ha Giang Loop was fast, so too a tiny bit furious. It got me huffing and puffing up hills and took in some insane views. Now that I know how it is, though, it got me scheming on how I can visit for five days or more! Seriously. Now I know I have a taste for the road and a feeling for the place.
Ha Giang Province, for me, really proved a slice of Vietnam still relatively untouched, authentic and ready to happily welcome you, in spite of the fact you came all the way from where you are! If you, like your friend, like beauty that slaps you in the face (in a friendly way, of course), then start checking out a Ha Giang Loop ride. You’ll return with some tales, for certain.