Ha Giang
The Most Beautiful Mountain Area in Vietnam
Ha Giang sits 310 km northwest of Hanoi, and it is an astonishing part of the country. Limestone peaks, winding mountain passes, rivers cut deep into the rock, terraced rice fields, and the famous Ha Giang Loop. The scenery shifts through the year, so there is no wrong time to come, only different versions of the same beautiful place.
Far fewer travellers reach Ha Giang than reach Sapa, and that is part of what makes it worth the journey. We take you along the less travelled roads, through remote villages and past views that most visitors never see.
Every tour we run is private. There are no group departures and no fixed itineraries you have to fit into. Just you, your guide, and a route built around what you actually want to see.
You don’t have to be hardcore. You just have to be here.
How we tour Ha Giang
By motorbike. A driver rides for you and your guide rides alongside, or you ride yourself if you hold a valid licence. This is the classic Ha Giang Loop experience and the one most people picture.
By car. A private car with a professional driver, covering the same spectacular passes and viewpoints at a gentler pace. Better in bad weather, better with children, and from four people upwards it often works out cheaper than the motorbike.
On foot, with some driving. For anyone who wants to get off the tarmac. We drive the distances and walk the parts worth walking, so you see the landscape from inside it rather than through a windscreen.
We regularly arrange tours for families with children, adapting the pace and the itinerary so it works for everyone. If you need a child seat, tell us when you book and we will arrange one, for the journey to Ha Giang and for the tour itself. Child seats are only possible if you travel by private car.
Our drivers and vehicles
Your Sapa Sisters guide travels with you for the whole trip. The driving is done by Lila Inn, who we have worked with since 2019. They provide the motorbikes, cars and drivers, and we chose them for their local knowledge and their safety standards rather than their price.
Every driver is fully licensed for the vehicle they drive. Each has more than five years of experience on Ha Giang roads, so they know the terrain, the traffic and how quickly conditions change up here. They are first aid trained to the same standard we expect of our own guides.
Lila tests their drivers twice a year, services and replaces vehicles as needed, and arranges the border permits some routes require. They also pay their drivers properly, which matters more than it sounds. Fair pay is why experienced drivers stay, and experience is what keeps people safe on roads like these.
We use modern SUVs and 16-seat vehicles, which are more comfortable over a full day and much better when the weather turns, as it does here.
Driving yourself
If you hold a valid motorbike licence and have real experience on mountain roads, you can ride yourself.
You will need a full motorcycle licence from home together with an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. IDPs from some countries, including the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, are issued under a different convention and are not accepted in Vietnam. Police check licences along all the main routes here.
Riding yourself also means the insurance that covers our professional drivers does not cover you. You are responsible for your own riding and for the bike.
How to get here
We can arrange your transport to Ha Giang: private car or shared bus from Hanoi, or private car from Sapa. Book it so that you arrive the day before your tour starts, since tours begin in the morning from Ha Giang city.
Where you meet us, luggage and showers
We don’t have an office in Ha Giang, but we work with Lila Inn at 08 Mai Hắc Đế, P. Nguyễn Trãi, Hà Giang. That is where you meet your guide, and where you can leave your larger luggage while you are on tour.
Storage and a shower before and after your tour are both included in the price. Bring your passport with you.
Hotels and Accommodations
We work with hotels and homestays in Hanoi, Ha Giang and Sapa. Tell us your dates and your budget and we will come back with options.
On tour you stay in homestays. A shared loft on the second floor of a traditional house is standard, with the family living in a separate part of the home. Some homestays also have private rooms or bungalows for an extra cost, so ask in advance if you would prefer that. All of them have hot showers, Western toilets, proper beds and very good food.
Combining Ha Giang with something else
Ha Giang works well as part of a longer trip north. You can add a visit to one of the region’s ethnic minority markets, or continue on to Sapa for trekking through the rice terraces. Tell us what you have in mind and we will build the route around it.
Ready to go? Prices and dates are on the booking page.
What Food to Expect on Your Sapa Trek or Ha Giang Tour
What Food to Expect on Your Sapa Trek or Ha Giang Tour When you embark on a trek with Sapa Sisters, not only do you get to explore the breathtaking landscapes of Sapa, but you also get to experience a culinary journey that’s like a “sapa food tour”. Here’s a glimpse of the delightful meals
Need to add anything else to your booking?
Transportation, accommodation or more information. If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to contact us, contact@sapasisters.com
F.A.Q
Frequently asked questions
Contact Us
Still having questions?
Need to add anything else to your booking?
Transportation, accommodation or more information. If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to contact us, contact@sapasisters.com
F.A.Q
Frequently asked questions
Contact Us
Still having questions?