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Ha Giang Review FAQ Center

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So what should you actually pack with you on your Ha Giang Loop Adventure? Below is our suggested for Ha Giang Loop Packing List: 

  1. Smaller backpack to carry all your belongings
  2. 3 days change of clothes, keeping in mind they may get a bit dirty!
  3. Heavy jacket if traveling during Winter season – November to March
  4. Light-to-medium weight jacket during other months (such as a windbreaker)
  5. Winter wear – gloves, scarf, face mask – between November-March 
  6. Swimwear for waterfall and kayaking
  7. Towel for waterfall and kayaking
  8. Closed-toed shoes such as boots or trainers
  9. Medication and toiletries
  10. Any necessary medication
  11. Camera or GoPro
  12. Sunglasses
  13. Sunscreen and mosquito repellent
  14. Cash for purchasing snacks or souvenirs

The best time to visit Ha Giang is during the cool and dry season between August and early April when temperatures range from 16°C to 29°C. However, most of the time climates are good and you can visit all year round.

As others have said, wash your hands before eating, but don't be afraid of the food, it is tasty and safe. Street food - safe; ice - safe; salads and fruits in restaurants - safe; salads and fruits from the public market - wash first then safe; small cafes - safe; generally eat and enjoy.

Ordering Food as a Vegan in Ha Giang

It is always possible to get vegan options in Ha Giang restaurants since their traditional cuisine is mostly composed of vegetables. The only problem is what they cook with. They tend to use chicken broth and fish sauce in most dishes, so be sure to speak up if you want to avoid these

To play it completely safe, you can say "Tôi ăn chay”). When you order your dish, emphasize again that you are vegetarian and make sure to mention that you want your food without any form of meat ("không thịt").

It is possible for you to survive being a vegetarian in Ha Giang, if you are willing to learn the language and be friendly to the locals. It also helps if you like to explore so that you can find appropriate vendors that have the vegetarian foods you prefer.

Ha Giang can be as enjoyable for vegetarians as it is for meat lovers, but it does take a bit of circumspection. Fish sauce is used like salt here, and chefs have a prevailing fondness for considering shrimp paste and oyster sauce vegetarian

If you are unfortunate to have an accident hopefully you are on your trip please contact our hotline at +84944502020 so our staff will support you. Or you can contact where you rented vehicle.

Yes, of course. As a foreigner, you are required to have a proper motorcycle license from your home country supported by an International Driving Licence/Permit (IDP) to drive a motorcycle/scooter in Vietnam. Ha Giang Police could be to stop you and check on your license because after so many accidents on the Ha Giang loop they must check it.

Despite what you heard or read you do not need a Vietnamese motorcycle license (which is very hard to obtain for a foreigner).

We are aware that the travel budget might be a preventive factor, but if you do not have a proper license or experience on a motorcycle a much safer and practical way to experience the beauty of northern Vietnam is behind one of the guide/drivers.

You may also have read or heard that you need a special permit, the ‘frontier permit’ to travel this region as a foreigner. Ha Giang is sadly the last place in Vietnam where foreigners are required to obtain a permit – on account of the perceived sensitivity of the border with China. These permits are required to travel on the road north from Tam Son to Dong Van and Meo Vac. Nevertheless,  your hotel are happy to assist you to get this provincial ‘admission permit’ (the Dong Van Geopark permit). It cost VND 230,000 (approx. US$ 11 per person). That said, there might be means around it and we will tell you more about that on arrival to Ha Giang.

Yes, in the big cities the traffic is hectic; however, in Ha Giang, you are far from the busy cities and will enjoy roads with little or no traffic. However, mountain roads have their own hazards to watch out for.  There can be mudslides, sharp bends, potholes, and steep terrain that one must be cautious of. Small gravel on the side of the roads is always a hazard.

Honking your horn and maintaining a sensible speed (especially in rainy weather) is the best way to a safe ride. Despite all these hazards, almost all roads are paved and most of the ride should be smooth. If you have no or little experience riding a motorcycle, we do wish to alert you that these roads are the most challenging you can attempt in Vietnam.

From a weather point, the peak seasons of northern Vietnam are mid-September till mid-November and March till mid-May. These are also the seasons when we strongly recommend early bookings of bikes and tours to ensure availability.

There is no best season for a motorbike ride. Each season has its unique characteristics and advantages, as well as, a range of local festivals. Summer runs from mid-May into late August with the months of June and July being the hottest and most humid.  The cool and dry season starts from the end of November to early March. Expect December into end-February to offer fairly chilly rides up on the mountains so bring warm clothes in that period.

At QT Motorbikes and Tours we often get the question if it is likely to rain. Yes, it is likely to rain on any day in any place in Vietnam – that is why this country is so green and lush. However, weather up in the mountains is very changeable and it, like the views, can shift from valley to valley. Like anywhere one needs to adapt the speed to weather, but there is no real problem or extra risk with some rain.

The so-called "rainy season" of June to mid-August has earned its name simply from the fact that that it is the time we see the heaviest downpour in northern Vietnam. However, it might not rain at all on the days you are out. This season is characterized by thundery rains (often late afternoon/night). It might be really heavy rain when it comes down, but it is normally short-lived and after the rain, you may have a blue sky for the rest of the day.

Remember that the pilot that took you to Vietnam did not Google weather sites weeks in advance to determine the flight route. S/he got the latest predictions an hour before your flight and adapted to it. So should you, when going out on a bike! No matter whether you will enjoy your ride!

To Ha Giang city, there is only one mean of transportation – the roads. No flights or trains exist.

If you are coming from Hanoi, there are many day and night buses from Bến Xe Khách Mỹ Đình (My Dinh bus station). Most day buses depart regularly from 5 to 12 am with a few afternoon options and most night buses depart regularly from 6 to 9 pm. Almost all are sleeping coaches of the same standard, and the price is VND 200,000 on all of them.

There are also so-called VIP vans or mini-buses where seats cost some VND 300-400,000. They leave from different locations in Hanoi and are easiest booked online.

The journey will take around 6 - 7 hours and they will stop at a restaurant halfway where there will be restrooms, snacks, and food.

A private car or van can also be rented but is relatively costly. If interested please ask Car & Motorbike rental in Hà Giang

It depends on your time, Normally, approximately 2 days, although it's recommended to carve out at least 3 days as to not rush the experience and be able to soak in all the sights.

Yes, it's real dangerous, not only for traveller, it's also dangerous for local people whose have a lot of experience with winding roads in the mountains. There were many unfortunate accidents, so for your safety, contact experienced local experts in Ha Giang before to do Ha Giang Loop

It's real difficult for newbie of riding motorcycle, even if you've got a lot of experience with motorbike because the traffic in the mountains is different in the city and the winding roads are so dangerous for driver even local people.

Take the slepping bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang (It'll take 7 hours), and then hire a car with driver or rent a motorbike if you can drive by yourselft. If you can't and you want to explorer this area by motorbike so you can hire a easyrider who will take you to visit this area by motorbike.

The Ha Giang Loop is a special route for the traveller to visit Ha Giang, it starts and finishes in Ha Giang city. The route of Ha Giang Loop is: Ha Giang city - Quan Ba - Yen Minh - Dong Van - Ma Pi Leng - Meo Vac - Du Gia - Ha Giang city

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