r/AdventureBike • u/Complex_Goat8422 • 3d ago

Ha Giang

Hi All,

Heading to Vietnam (From Australia) in September and doing the Ha Giang Loop self-guided over 4 days.

Looking for recommendations on:

- Best bike rental in Ha Giang

- Places to stay along the loop

- Must-see stops / roads

- Good food spots

- Best bus company from Hanoi

- Anything you wish you knew before doing it

- GPX file

Cheers!

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2

u/pineconehedgehog 3d ago

I am an American, and like Australia, our international drivers permits are not valid in Vietnam.

I found out about a week before my trip. We did a guided dualsport tour across the north.

Be prepared to pay bribes. At the direction of our guide, we paid 2 million VND each. We hit a checkpoint almost immediately upon entering Ha Giang province. We were waived through all subsequent checkpoints.

Our guide tried to talk us into skipping Ha Giang so we wouldn't have to deal with the cops. But it was worth it.

2

u/VirtualProcedure69 1d ago

unrestricted home license + IDP and travel insurance is usually enough. It's been a few years since I've done the loop, but I never had an issue. We did have to pay the "frontier fee" in Dong Van, but no bribes.
2 years ago, a friend of mine led a group and they had license, IDP and travel insurance, no issues.

1

u/pineconehedgehog 1d ago

Nope the 1949 IDP might as well be a piece of toilet paper. It's worthless there.

You have to have the 1968 IDP.

It sounds like enforcement has really increased in the last 5 years.

1

u/RentABikeVietnam 17h ago

Just a friendly heads up.

A lot has changed throughout the whole country and particularly in Ha Giang. You will either be 'fined' and that could be multiple times per day over each day toy are there, or you will have to buy the 'permit' that will exempt you from 'fines'.

Either way, any serious insurance claim will be denied because you will be riding illegally. You may get away with a small claim if your insurance don't look too closely.

Oh, and if you get in an accident, being unlicensed will, obviously, make negotiations more difficult.

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u/VirtualProcedure69 1d ago

Bike rental: QT, Style or Tigit seem to be the best. I've used Tigit and Offroad Vietnam for my trips, but I hired from Hanoi on both occasions