Ha Giang Loop in 4 Days 3 Nights by Motorbike: Route, License, Permit

The Ha Giang loop is a 350 to 400 km motorbike route through Vietnam's far north, and four days is the standard length: Quan Ba and Yen Minh, Dong Van and Lung Cu, the Ma Pi Leng Pass to Meo Vac, then back through Du Gia. This guide from our Vietnam travel blog covers the route day by day, easy rider or self-drive, the license and border permit, the best months and trips beyond the loop.

Doing Ha Giang in 4 days 3 nights by motorbike needs paperwork as well as a bike: a valid license if you ride, a border-area permit for the districts near China, and your Vietnam visa. If you need a visa, apply for a Vietnam e-visa online before you book the loop.

The loop at a glance:

The Ha Giang loop day by day

The four-day route runs anticlockwise from Ha Giang city, saving the Ma Pi Leng Pass for day three. Each day has three to five hours of riding with plenty of stops.

The Ma Pi Leng Pass is the reason most people ride the loop: the road cuts along a cliff high above the turquoise Nho Que river. If the forecast is bad for day three, swap the order so the pass falls on a clear day. Some riders add a night in Du Gia instead of Meo Vac.

Easy rider or self-drive

An easy rider in Ha Giang is a local driver who carries you as a passenger and handles the bike, the route and stops. Self-drive means renting a motorbike and riding the loop yourself. Easy rider is safer for anyone new to mountain roads.

Group tours with easy riders set off from Ha Giang city most mornings. Book through a hostel or tour company with good recent reviews, and ask what happens if the weather turns.

The license you need to ride

To ride legally in Vietnam, you need your home motorcycle license together with an international driving permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention, or a Vietnamese license. The permit must match a motorcycle entitlement your home license already has.

The UK government's Vietnam advice tells riders to carry their license and an international permit and notes that riding without third-party insurance is illegal. Riding without a valid license can mean a fine and an impounded bike, and most travel insurance will not cover a crash. Our Vietnam travel tips cover the other local rules.

Ha Giang loop border permit

Most of the loop runs through districts near the Chinese border, and foreigners need a border-area permit to enter them. Tour operators and homestays arrange it, or you can apply at the immigration office in Ha Giang city.

Tour operators report that checks became stricter from June 2026, and some homestays now ask to see the permit at check-in. Time Out Asia noted that it could not find an official government notice for a new rule, so fees and procedures quoted online vary. Ask your tour operator or first homestay to confirm the current process before you set off.

Best time to ride the loop

September to November and March to May are the best times to ride the loop. October brings golden rice and buckwheat flowers in places, while spring is mild and clear.

Summer, from June to August, brings heavy rain and landslide risk on mountain roads. Winter, from December to February, is cold, with mist and occasional frost on the high passes, so pack warm layers and gloves.

Getting to Ha Giang

Sleeper buses run from Hanoi to Ha Giang city overnight or by day in about six to seven hours. Most easy rider tours start in Ha Giang city the morning after you arrive.

Ha Giang has been part of Tuyen Quang province since the 2025 provincial merger, but buses, maps and tour companies still use the old name. Spend a day or two in the capital first with our Hanoi guide. With extra days, the northeast beyond the loop has two more trips worth planning.

Beyond the loop

Northeast Vietnam has lakes, waterfalls and border towns that few riders see. Add two or three days after Ha Giang.

Ba Be lake and Ban Gioc waterfall

Ba Be lake, in a national park southeast of Ha Giang, is a long mountain lake with boat trips and homestays in Tay villages. Further east, Ban Gioc waterfall on the Chinese border is one of the largest waterfalls in Southeast Asia; our Ban Gioc waterfall guide explains how to reach it.

Lang Son and Mau Son

Lang Son, on the main road to the Chinese border, has caves and a busy border market. Nearby Mau Son mountain is cool in summer and, on rare winter days, sees frost or snow, which draws crowds from Hanoi.

VietnamVisa-Easy.com is a private visa service operated by H2 Global Travel JSC since 2012, not a government website, and you can apply directly at evisa.gov.vn for US$25. If you would like your details checked before submission, start your application with us.