HA GIANG LOOP - EASY RIDER 2 DAYS

PRICE PER PERSON (USD)

INCLUSION:

• Transportation from Ha Noi to Ha Giang and back:
  + Sleeper bus luxury private cabin (pick up at hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter from 7.30 to
  8pm)
  + Limousine bus (pick up at hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter from 3.00 to 3.30pm)
• English Speaking Tour guide
• All meals as indicated in the itinerary (local Vietnamese food)
• Accommodation (mix of ethnic minority homestay)
• Experience easy riders
• All fuel cost
• All entrance tickests and permits
• Full or haft-helmet
• Protectice knee and elbown gear
• Basic rain clothes
• Bungee cords and plastics cover for your bags
• Free storage of excess luggage
• Free dorm bed, when arriving early on the overnight bus at our base from (03.00am-08.00am).

EXCLUSION:

• Gratuities and tips
• Alcoholic beverages if not served on behafd of the third party like homestay
• Personal expenses
• Government Tax 10%
• Holiday surcharge
• Others not clearly mentioned above

I/ CANCEL BY GUESTS

Once your booking is confirmed and fully paid but for one reason you cancel the booking, the following charges will apply in the event of cancellation prior to booking commencement:

1/ For bookings under 10 people: 

• More than 7 days prior to trip departure: Fully - refund
• 3 - 7 days before departure: You will be charged 50% of total price
• Under 3 days before departure: Non - refundable

2/ For bookings up to 10 people: 

• More than 15 days prior to trip departure: Fully - refund
• 7 - 15 days before departure: You will be charged 50% of total price
• Under 3 days before departure: Non - refundable

NOTED:

• Transaction fee will be paid by you
• For no show cases, there will be: Non - refundable
• All cancellations must be in person or in writing and received by Glory Experiences.

II/  CANCEL BY GLORY EXPERIENCES

In the event Glory Experiences cancel the booking, for any reason, we will contact you immediately and offer you the alternatives or all money for services described in the reserved itinerary will be refunded in full. Such alternatives require a close cooperation and harmony between both you and Glory Experiences, we are happy to listen and do all our best to give you the fairest things possible.

In the event of such a cancellation, any guests with pre-paid reservations or guaranteed confirmations shall be notified as soon as possible and a full refund of any payments on the un-used portion of transportation service, hotel service, domestic air flights, car rental or tours will be given. The transaction fee will be charged to Glory Experiences.

Glory Experiences is not responsible for any expenses incurred by the client or for non-refundable air tickets, equipment, medical costs, etc.

Glory Experiences reserves the right to cancel any bookings due to directly or indirectly by the acts of God, detention, annoyance, machinery breakdown, quarantine, bad weather, or causes beyond its control.

1/ What and where is the Ha Giang Loop?

The Ha Giang Loop is a road route in the extreme north of Vietnam (driving around 6 hours from Hanoi). It’s called the Ha Giang Loop because the route flows in a loop through the Ha Giang province. The capital city of the province is also called Ha Giang and this is where most people start and end their ride.

2/ Why motorcycle the Ha Giang Loop?

The Ha Giang Loop is renowned for being a motorcycle ride. It’s the best way to experience the region because of the types of roads you’ll be travelling along. They’re narrow, winding, often undulated and that makes it thrilling and exciting. You won’t want to be cooped up in a car or bus watching the world pass you by through a steamed-up window. Riding up, over and through this epic mountainous region on a motorcycle is the absolute best way to really, viscerally experience it.

3/ Why is it so famous?

The Ha Giang Loop is and isn’t famous. Sa pa (130 miles southwest of Ha Giang) is famous, while Ha Giang is far less touristy and way more remote. But, it is a mecca for any adventure traveller looking to explore Vietnam and here’s why.

3.1/ Beauty

It’s incredibly beautiful with stunning mountain landscapes and roads that climb through the clouds before plunging into valleys. Around every corner you’ll want to stop to photograph the region’s raw nature, its wonderfully friendly people and the insane road you just tackled to get there.

3.2/ Culture

The region is home to traditional ethnic groups such as the Hmong people, which you can see going about their daily lives in the mountains as you ride through. You’ll experience Vietnamese culture like nowhere else here as it’s common to bunk in homestays and eat dinner with families.

3.3/ Riding

The mass majority of tourists and travellers who come here will do it on two wheels. After spending months riding through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines on our round the world motorcycle trip, I can easily say that Vietnam’s Ha Giang Loop is one of the very best motorcycle routes and roads in the whole of Southeast Asia.

4/ When is best time to visit Ha Giang?

There are two seasons in Ha Giang: rainy and dry. 

January, February and March: These months are in the dry season with minimal rain. TET festivals will also fall in this range. You can witness the celebrations, but it’s not a good time to travel because everything is shut and it’s Vietnam’s biggest holiday. 

January can be cold but the roads are quieter. You will need thermals and a thick jacket. We rode the loop in January and loved it. The first day’s ride from Hanoi to Ha Giang was freezing, but once we were on the loop it was fine. It was also a lot more empty than high season months, which suited us perfectly. February is busy as tourists come to Ha Giang to see the flowers blooming. March is a great month to visit with decent temperatures. 

April and May: You’re more likely to find blue skies in April and little rain. In May the weather starts to turn.

June, July and August: This is the hottest and rainiest time of year. It’s not a good time to ride the loop. 

September, October, November and December: Late September to early October is when the colours really come alive in Vietnam thanks to the golden rice fields. It makes October one of the absolute best months to visit Ha Giang. The same goes for November. While December can start to get cold again. 

5/ If I take the tour without motorbike, what type of motorcycle do I need to ride the Ha Giang Loop?

You have three motorcycle options in Ha Giang. Let’s look at the three types of bikes on offer, how they work and who they’re for to help you decide what’s right for you.

5.1/ Automatic

Automatic scooters are twist and go. There are no gears and they’re the simplest and easiest bikes to ride, you simply twist the throttle and it automatically shifts through the gears for you.

Automatics are well suited for riding in cities or towns, but not for the Ha Giang Loop. There will be plenty of times where you’ll want to immediately shift down a gear to get you up a steep section of hill and that won’t be possible with one of these. The wheels are also an issue as they’re smaller and wider than on semi-automatics and manuals, meaning they’re not as good at going over bumps and potholes.

Overall, you can ride the loop on one of these, but it isn’t advised. The only time I’d suggest riding one in Ha Giang is if you’re very inexperienced and don’t feel comfortable on anything else – but then if that’s the case, you shouldn’t be riding the loop in the first place. Automatics in Vietnam range in capacity from 110-130cc.

5.2/ Semi-automatic

A semi-automatic is the most common motorcycle you’ll see along the Ha Giang Loop. They’re a great option because they have gears but no clutch. You operate the gears using a foot pedal much like a manual, but without the added worries of pulling in a clutch lever. This makes for easier riding going up and down mountains. They’re light, easy to use and ride and are a great choice for Vietnam. If you’ve ridden a motorbike before or are experienced with automatic scooters, it wont take you long to get used to a semi-automatic. Some good examples of semi-automatics in Vietnam are the Honda Future 125cc and the Honda Wave Blade 110cc. Both are 4-speed.

5.3/ Manual

Manual motorcycles are less common on the loop, but are an excellent choice. With a clutch and manual gearbox you can get the absolute best out of your bike and select the correct gear for the job. Some good examples of manual motorcycles in Vietnam are the Honda Master 125cc and the two 150cc Hondas: Honda CB150 and Honda XR 150.

Our recommendation

For our ride from Hanoi to Ha Giang and back, we used the Honda XR 150 and reckon this is the best bike for the Ha Giang Loop for experienced riders and off-road and trail riders.

Small by Western standards but in Vietnam this is a big proper adventure bike. A 250cc like a CRF250L might be nice, but at no point did we need anything bigger than the 150. Riding an XR allows you to overtake lines of busses, trucks and scooters all struggling to go uphill in one twist of the throttle. It’s perfect for anyone who is looking to ride further than Ha Giang and gives you the option to detour off the main road and dig out some exciting trails through the countryside. It’s a fun bike and we recommend it as the ultimate Ha Giang Loop motorcycle.

6/ Should I go solo or join a tour in Ha Giang?

Plenty of people go it alone and plenty of people do it in a tour group. It’s not that one way is better than the other, they’re both just very different and for different people.

6.1/ Going solo

If you should go alone completely depends on you, your confidence levels, how experienced you are with riding motorcycles in foreign countries and with travelling in general. You’ll have to navigate yourself, find places for food and water, fuel and your own accommodation – as well as figure out where all the sights are. But you also have complete freedom to go where you want and when you want. Nobody is holding you up, you’re not waiting for anyone and your trip is completely your own. If this sounds like you then go for it!

6.2/ Joining a tour

Joining a tour is a great way to get the most out of your trip. You’ll be with a rider who knows the loop and its best bits like the back of their hand. Everything will be arranged for you and that will take a load of stress off your trip.

Tours are a great idea if you’re travelling with a bunch of friends or family. The route and all the daily decisions don’t fall on one person’s shoulders (just on your tour guide’s). If there are any mechanical issues, the guide will sort them quickly for you so as not to ruin the trip for everyone else.

They’re also a good option if you want to meet new people and ride with other travellers. Sure, you’ll meet people going solo, but this route is typically completed in 3-5 days, so people won’t be hanging around in homestays each morning. 

If you’re a solo traveller and don’t like the idea of doing it on your own, you can get a private one-to-one guide. This is a great option. You get the best of both worlds and we met a lot of solo travellers doing this.

7/ Will I be picked up from my hotel in Hanoi?

You will meet up tour guide at our office in Hanoi Old Quarter.

8/ I am a vegetarian. Can I request for vegetarian meals on tour? 

yes. Vegetarian foods are on request. Please inform us in advance. 

9/ What should I bring with me?

Bring your passport with valid visa, good hiking shoes, insect repellent, swim-wear, sun-block, warm clothing in winter (from Octorber to March), a good camera and a headlamp or torch is always a good idea.

10/ Would it be possible to book a tour during Tet?

During holiday such as Christmas, New Year and Tet, Buses can fill out very quickly. We suggest you to book a tour as far in advance as possible if you plan to travel during this time of the year.

11/ What payment methods are accepted?

You can pay us through one of the following ways:

• Credit cards: credit card payment is completely secure on our website and can be made online long time in advance of your trip.
• Bank transfer: for large amount of money, you can request for bank transfer to avoid the transaction cost. Please email us for our bank details.
• Cash: you can pay us by cash - we will collect the cash at your hotel or preferred meeting place upon mutual agreement.

12/ Should I book in advance?

Booking in advance is definitely better than late booking because you will have much time to check the prices and select the best tour for you.

Good companies are often fully booked far in advance so you will not have many choices in the last minutes.

Booking in advance also helps us and the companies to prepare your trip better and you will also get to know everything about your trip before you go.

13/ How long in advance should I make the reservation?

Most tours posted on our site are filling out fast, for the quality of service and low price offered. We suggest you to make the reservation as soon as possible, especially if you are planning to travel in high season months from September to December. Planning your trip ahead will save you time and hassle.

14/ What if I want to cancel my booking?

When you decide that you need to cancel your booking, please notify us immediately by email and we will check cancellation policy and let you know if you can get refund.

15/ How do I know if my booking is confirmed?

Please fill out all details on the form: full name, email, whatsapp/Line/Kakaotalk. We will send you an email to confirm and send you the link of payment to complete your booking.

After receiving your payment and personal information, we will send you another email to confirm with the brief itinerary and our personal contact so that you can call us in case you need our assistance.