Frequently asked questions

“Do I need a motorbike license or which kind of motorbike license are legal to ride in Vietnam?” Is a quite popular question and it’s still complicated to give the clear answers. Relating to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic in 1968, International Drivers Permits (IDP) are legal here in Vietnam if your home country has signed agreement at the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, and your motorbike license from your home country must be registered on the IDP. The UK, Australia and many other countries did not sign the agreement at the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and their licenses are not recognized in Vietnam. So depending on from which country you get the IPD, you can ride in Vietnam legally or not; however, it’s just the law, it’s pretty easy on the road. The local people and policemen are quite friendly with foreigner tourists so if you can ride a motorbike well and especially with a local tour guide, NOBODY will care about your license or stop you when you are on tour with a local tour guide. In addition, it’s now easier to Convert your regular motorbike licenses into IDP or local motorbike licenses in Vietnam that you can ride legally in Vietnam.

The most important thing is to make sure your Vietnam visa is stamped with the correct dates. The standard tourist visa is valid for a period of up to 30 days. If you’re going for less than 30 days you can either specify the exact dates, but it is probably best to ask for the maximum period to give yourself more flexibility. Processing normally takes between a week and ten days, but longer for overseas Vietnamese.

The validity of the E-Visa is 30 days (single entry). The validity period of your E-Visa begins from the date specified in your approved e-Visa document. You can enter Vietnam on any date within this validity period. Therefore, you cannot enter Vietnam before that entry day/ before or after the validity period specified in your e-Visa. you must apply for the new E-Visa. But you can enter after the entry date specified in your E-Visa within this validity period.

Specifically referring to the “guided” tours, this means that a motorcycle-riding guide, a support truck driver, or some combination of specialists in the area you’ll be traveling will be guiding you along the way. Guided tours typically have the hotel package, meals, and other features included in the tour, so without a doubt, this is the most convenient type of tour to take. For guided tours, simply reserve your spot in advance, show up at the airport on the designated date with your motorcycle gear, and we take care of everything else for you then. Just relax, ride, and enjoy!

It’s exactly what the name implies: A group that consists entirely of just yourself, or just the group of friends, family, or coworkers that you’d like to share a great riding experience with. When you see a guided tour listed on our website with fixed departure dates, those trips are open to the public, so anyone from around the world could end up riding together to fill out the group. In between those “public” dates, we have many opportunities to guide your private group without allowing outsiders. Please keep in mind, the more people you have, the lower the per-rider cost for a private group tour. As there are common or “fixed” costs like the guide(s), their hotels, food, salaries, etc., the more people you have in your private group, the less of the “fixed” costs each rider needs to pay.

The most popular question and its hardest question is that “is it safe to ride in Vietnam?” It’s hard to give the correct answer because it’s depending on each rider’s riding skill or each person’s carefulness… but you should trust the ones who did a long motorbike tour in Vietnam. All the bikers after doing Vietnam motorbike tours with us usually say traffic in Vietnam is funny or crazy. Some people say you should forget all the rules when you ride in Vietnam “NO RULES in Vietnam”. It is almost right because the local people do not ride carefully, they get the license easily, some people can buy license easily so they don’t ride carefully with almost ‘No rules. We can say it’s not very safe to ride motorbikes in Vietnam. However, it’s only true for the one who ride themselves. If you can ride after a local tour guide who can take you on safe and unique routes, you will never die in Vietnam.

To book our trip, please select your preferred trip and click on “Book now” on web page. Our booking form wizard will automatically call the trip name and ask you to fill out some fields for information. Once completed filling the form, you just click Submit to send us your enquiry or reset to cancel what you have filled up. After receiving your reservation request, we will immediately make all the necessary arrangements in accordance with your request. This will take less than 1-2 business days, and we will send you our confirmation message by e-mail with all the details of tours, the booking status and also payment term.

Level 1 – These routes are the most basic we offer either as guided or self-guided trips. Such a route will be completely paved (except for a possible gravel driveway or road construction spot,) and generally don’t have much in the way of complicated twists and turns. Factors like altitude, weather, wind, traffic, etc. are of a minimum concern to the average motorcycle rider. Level 2 – These routes are typically either completely paved, or almost completely paved, but may contain about 1-5% or so of simple hard-packed gravel/dirt necessary to proceed in spots along the same itinerary. (Customization may always be possible in order to avoid this, so inquire further.) The riding will likely have some twists and turns, and factors like weather, altitude, wind, and traffic are typically not a concern, but may not be perfect of course during your trip. (Please keep in mind, just because a tour might be a "Level 2" does not mean it is boring! All routes on our website are chosen for being the most fun, interesting, and beautiful ways to ride through each country or region shown.) Level 3 – These routes can be anywhere from about 25-75% off-pavement (see your specific route’s description.) A significant amount of gravel, dirt, light sand, or riding on rocks can be expected, so generally speaking, motorcycle riders who have ridden on this type of terrain previously and successfully on the same or similar motorcycles won’t have a problem when on the motorcycles used for these routes. However, these routes might be graded as a Level 3 due to factors like rough weather, altitude, high winds, or some long days that will test a rider’s endurance.

Personal/travel insurance is not inclusive in this tour, it requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. We recommend using World Nomads’ travel insurance.

The well-maintained motorbike. English Speaking Guide. All meals, water and soft drinks on tour. Accommodation in Local home-stays and guesthouses – twin share. Petrol, oil and mechanic on tour. Riding gear: open / face helmets. Rain poncho. Spacious saddle bags & plastic bags to pack clothes in. Bungee cords and tie downs. Permits, tolls and entrance fees.

Most of our motorcycle tours in Vietnam are off the beaten tracks to noon touristy/ unknown attractions…so we hope you understand and do not expect too much to have luxury hotels with plenty choices of fancy meals. We do have some tours to big towns/cities in Vietnam where you can stay in luxury hotels with fancy meals are available…however, most of our tours have just basic hotels. We will surely choose the best hotel in the region where we stay but they’re just basic standard ones but as you know the experience to ride off the beaten tracks to these remote areas is worthless. Accommodations: As mentioned all of our motorbike tours are off the beaten tracks so we will do stay between hotels and home-stay. + Homestay: Staying at homestay is a special experience that you can’t miss during the bike tours in Vietnam. All the homestays are legally licensed by Vietnamese government to ensure the safety, hygiene…and they are well chosen by experienced guide team to make sure your stays are worthy, enjoyable and memorable. All the homestay we choose are nicely wooden houses, they are all traditional typical houses in the region with friendly hosts who can cook great local food that can meet expectation of any foreigners. In addition, the view of the homestay is of the important factors for to choose. Most of the homestay have a great view of countryside /nature and well connecting with the community. + Hotel: We would like to say again, during our Vietnam motorcycle tours, we will pick the best hotels in towns but they’re almost in the remote areas where you can only find the basic standard hotels: They all will have free Wi-Fi, hot shower, clean and western-styled toilet…and a great view of nature.

Every season in Vietnam has its own beauty and unique color. Spring is from February to April and you will see different shades of green everywhere in the north. This is usually the best time to ride. Summer lasts for approximately 5 months through to the end of November. It is also the rainy season. The scenery in the mountains is both colorful and diverse and that is when the rice harvest takes place. September and October you will see stunning views of the rice terraces where the whole landscape turns yellow. The experience is amazing. Winter starts from mid-November and lasts until early February.

You should book your own hotel in Hanoi, you can try websites like Agoda.com, Booking.com…They have competitive prices with what you can book in person. We will meet you and take you to our office where you will be briefed on the tour schedule. You will be given a map, all riding gear including wet weather gear, helmets if required, waterproof bags, and saddle bags. * We don’t endorse them they seem to do a good job.

To secure your booking for the tour, we require a 30% deposit per person in advance. We will provide you with our bank account details for a direct deposit via transfer. Additionally, you can pay online using a credit card, but please note that this option has a 3% bank service fee. Once you confirm your booking, we will send you a secure payment link to complete the deposit The entire payment should be made at least (15) days before the departure date. We regret to cancel your reservation if we do not receive the full payment by the time of the request. In particular, the deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances. When paying for the tour, you have options: you can pay in cash (Vietnamese Dong or USD), by credit card (with an additional 3,5% fee applied), bank transfer (3,% fee ). We want to make the deposit and payment process as convenient as possible for you. Thank you so much.

In the event of cancellation, we will not impose any charges, as we strive to provide the best service and experience to our customers. However, if hotels or transportation contractors apply charges for cancellation, you will have to pay those charges that apply. Cancellation policies vary, depending upon the type of service, the time of year, and the reason for cancellation. We will pass on to you all details of any cancellation policy with our reply upon demand.

Some foreigners say traffic in Vietnam is “Busy”, “Crazy”, “Funny” or “Amazing”… and It’s no rules for traffic here, however, motorbikes, and scooters are still always kings of the Vietnam road… All of our tours are guided by local experienced riders who know the traffic well and will show you the local traffic rules just to ride as safely as possible What’s more, we will ride you on our safe way by taking you out of busy traffic or taking a muddy, narrow but safe road with a special view.

To ensure the safety and Tour Guide can take care of all riders, we wanted to divide riders into small groups. However, the maximum number of a tour is up to 20 people. For your information, a group of 4 riders will have 1 tour guide and 1 mechanic. Each group of 9 or more riders will have 2 tour guides and 1 mechanic. We will carefully and suitably select the tour guide for each group. If there is anything about our guide and you think he’s not suitable for the tour, we will change another one shortly.

Vietnam is the perfect country for having the first off-road motorbike tour of your life. The reasons are: – The variety of topography is challenging, yet very promising for bikers who want to spend their holiday going on wild adventures. – Small, narrow roads, especially tight curves are often mentioned as the distinctive traits for the ride here. – Mountainous areas occupy three-fourths of Vietnam’s territory, of which 85 percent are the foothills of taller peaks. That means Vietnam dirt bike tours are not only potential for those who love trail road monsters, but also attractive to high gear riders.

All of our motorbikes will be technically cared for by our professional team after each tour. The well-maintained service includes every step to make them stronger, such as warranty for chains/ tires/ brake pads, cleaning the air filter, all gasoline/ fuel, etc. Therefore, we can ensure that our motorbikes scarcely breakdown. During the tour, our mechanic and support team are always there to help you in any case of emergencies, with the support of trucks which follow your group on the roads. Beside that we do provide all experienced guides for the new riders. They are not only normal tour guide, but can also help you to fix bikes, understand about local culture; and best of the best: they work as the route makers for riding.

Here’s the whole process: Get all the documents: 3 photos that are 3x4 cm, translated and verified copy of your IDP, a verified copy of your passport, original passport, original driving license, original residence card, a filled form of Transit Authority Once you collected all the documents, you should go to the Department of Transportation in Hanoi or Saigon Give all the documents to the officer and take another photo for their database. Officers will make the copies and scans of all documents and will return the originals to you. After that, you need to fill a postal form and pay 30,000 VND for the service. Your driving license card will arrive at the stated address. You will get a receipt which you need to present to the courier. You will get all the information about the status of your driving license on your phone. Wait up to 10 days and you’ll get a driving license on the address you stated in a postal form.

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. The mass majority of tourists and travelers 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.

Certainly. Every tour to Ha Giang we optionally offer the possibility to start from Hanoi. You have the choice of private car, bus, VIP bus and limousine bus.

The Ho Chi Minh Trail (Vietnamese: Đường mòn Hồ Chí Minh), also called Annamite Range Trail (Vietnamese: Đường Trường Sơn) was a logistical network of roads and trails that ran from North Vietnam to South Vietnam through the kingdoms of Laos and Cambodia. The system provided support, in the form of manpower and materiel, to the Viet Cong (or "VC") and the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), during the Vietnam War. Construction for the network began following the North Vietnamese invasion of Laos in July 1959. At the time it was believed to be the main supply route, however it later transpired that the Sihanouk Trail which ran through Cambodia was handling significantly more materials [1] It was named by the U.S. after the North Vietnamese president Hồ Chí Minh. The origin of the name is presumed to have come from the First Indochina War, when there was a Viet Minh maritime logistics line called the "Route of Ho Chi Minh",[2]: 126  and shortly after late 1960, as the present trail developed, Agence France-Presse (AFP) announced that a north–south trail had opened, and they named the corridor La Piste de Hồ Chí Minh, the 'Hồ Chí Minh Trail'.[2]: 202  The trail ran mostly in Laos, and was called the Trường Sơn Strategic Supply Route (Đường Trường Sơn) by the communists, after the Vietnamese name for the Annamite Range mountains in central Vietnam.[3]: 28  They further identified the trail as either West Trường Sơn (Laos) or East Trường Sơn (Vietnam).[2]: 202  According to the U.S. National Security Agency's official history of the war, the trail system was "one of the great achievements of military engineering of the 20th century".[4] The trail was able to effectively supply troops fighting in the south, an unparalleled military feat, given it was the site of the single most intense air interdiction campaign in history. Wikipedia.

In terms of costs, we cover everything except telephone calls, tips, souvenirs, alcoholic drink and personal medical insurance. As there are often some impressive minority crafts to be found in the markets or some more bizarre products of Chinese origin bank on US$150-200 extra.

In almost every situation, “YES,” you need to bring your own riding safety and protective gear, as most of our operations do not offer gear you can rent. Please confirm this with us as you’re selecting a trip, and also if you want some riding gear recommendations, prepare for every situation possible and make sure you’re well protected for riding.

This answer actually does not vary from tour to tour, as we hope you are in excellent physical and mental condition anytime you plan on riding a motorcycle. As with other topics, let’s discuss what shape you’re in and the type of tour you’re planning on to make sure there’s a match. However, our “approval” of your condition does not take the place of a trusted doctor’s evaluation, which is something we strongly encourage you to seek before any tour or rental.

Ranked in the top 1 ride destinations of Vietnam. Ha Giang offers a thrilling and unforgettable experience for riders. “ Ha Giang Motorbike Loop Tours” are designed to get you into real northern parts of Vietnam, away from the hustle and bustle of major cities and tourist areas. Most of our clients rate “ Ha Giang Motorbike Loop Tours” as the best thing they have ever done in Vietnam. The region is blessed with stunning landscapes and super twisty countryside back roads that wind their way through remote villages deep in history and rich in culture, making it a rider's paradise.

There are plenty of buses to travel both by day and night. Is any option safer? We don’t have statistics to prove such answer. While traffic kills and injures many in Vietnam, we are not aware of any serious incidents with public transport to or from Ha Giang / Cao Bang in the recent years. Traffic and general commotion on/along the roads are very less at night so our gut feeling is that accidents by night is less common on northern roads in Vietnam. While most buses are sleeper coaches (even the day buses) the beds are not always adapted to large western people. We have learnt that some sleep well no matter what but for others you might not have your ultimate sleep on these buses. If you leave with an earlier night bus you will end up at your location in the middle of the night and then need to also book accommodation. On the other hand, if taking the last bus out of Ha Giang/Cao Bang (around 9 pm) you will arrive around 4.30 AM but you will be allowed to sleep on the bus till dawn. Hence, you may save on also booking accommodation for that night.

We offer three bike options for you to choose from, each catering to different skill levels and preferences Friendly: 125cc Automatic Bikes - These bikes offer an effortless and convenient riding experience. They are suitable for riders of all skill levels, thanks to their automatic transmission Amazing: 110cc Semi-Automatic Bikes - These bikes provide a user-friendly experience with a smooth ride. They are perfect for those who want a balance of performance and simplicity. Spectacular: 150cc or bigger Bikes: 250cc, 300cc, 500cc... - These bikes are powerful and thrilling, making them ideal for adventurous riders seeking speed and control.

Sit on the back of 'Easy Rider' is best suited for an experienced motorbike. While we don't take inexperienced or first-time sit on the back of riders to enjoy this truly unique Ha Giang. The speeds are generally low, and the guide (Easy Rider) are good riders. We are always alert and watch for dogs, chickens, buffalo, children, and many other hazards that can (and will) suddenly appear. At “ Ha Giang Motorbike Loop Tours” we avoid national highways as much as possible and focus on taking you to the real nature beauty in Ha Giang and other places, providing stunning mountain roads, small remote villages, and incredible countryside, much better than the busy city traffic.

Actual motorcycle time is around 5-6hours in the saddle and plenty of stops to check things out. We drive average distances of about 110 to 160 kilometers daily, depending on the terrain. The speeds on these beautiful mountain roads are low (you will rarely exceed 60 km/h), which is better for taking in the exquisite scenery and enjoying the constantly curvy roads. So please relax and enjoy the ride; it's not a race!

We welcome pillion passengers, and many couples choose to ride with us. Our bikes offer plenty of room and good comfort for riders and pillions. Pillions who are touring with their partner on the same bike will receive a 30% discount. Sorry, our tours are not suitable for beginner riders.

When you travel in Ha Giang, you carry two backpacks usually. In that case, The large backpack contains items that won't be used during the ride, while the small bag can hold important things like your phone, money, sunscreen, etc. At the start of each day, we will cover the large backpack with a plastic bag in case it rains and tie it securely to the back of the vehicle. We'll keep it safe on our motorbikes during the day and take it out when we finish the ride each day. As for the small backpack, we'll place it on the front of the gas tank. So you could grab your items from it quickly.

It's your adventure in Ha Giang, and we want to take you there. There are many daily stops to grab a coffee, take a break, and enjoy the views. You'll have plenty of time to grab some excellent pictures, meet the locals, and check out the sights.

Yes, Ha Giang is impressive all year round. Because you are in the mountains you always have to take the weather into account, so we can never guarantee good weather.

The Ha Giang motorbike loop tour route spans approximately 350 kilometers, starting from Quan Ba, passing through Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac, and finally returning to Quan Ba. While the Ha Giang motorcycle loop tour from Hanoi can be completed in three days, allocating four or five days is recommended to savor the experience fully. Below is a recommended Ha Giang loop itinerary for your seamless journey: Ha Giang to Yen Minh: 100 kilometers, 3 hours driving + Yen Minh to Dong Van: 50 kilometers, 1.5 hours driving + Dong Van to Meo Vac: 30 kilometers, 1 hour driving + Meo Vac to Du Gia: 70 kilometers, 3 hours driving + Du Gia to Ha Giang: 70 kilometers, 2.5 hours driving The 3-day Ha Giang Motorbike loop tour is definitely the minimum I suggest. What is more, I recommend you take 4-7 days (or more!). In any case, bear in mind you can do the loop in 3-5 days, but if you stay 2 more days you can visit other amazing spots.

“Is the Ha Giang motorbike loop tour difficult? is one of the most frequently asked questions when coming here. The Ha Giang Motorbike Loop tours offer a challenging yet rewarding experience for motorbikers. However, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential difficulties and prepare accordingly. This article will explore how hard the Ha Giang Loop is, the challenges you might encounter, the necessary skills and preparation, and ways to enhance your safety on this adventurous ride. The Ha Giang Motorbike Loop tour can be dangerous for inexperienced riders but if you're determined to do it on your own, follow these rules: Follow traffic rules and signs, Wear the right gear, Stay alert and focused, Prepare for unpredictable weather, Load your bags appropriately, Take breaks and plan for more than three days, Keep a list of motorbike repair shops.

The Ha Giang motorbike loop tour is arguably the most beautiful destination in all of Vietnam. We must say, it’s one of the most beautiful places in all of Southeast Asia. The cost of completing the Ha Giang loop tour (excluding transport from Hanoi) is around 2.7 million Vietnamese Dong ($106.27) per person for 2-day Ha Giang Motorbike Loop Tour starting from Ha Giang city.

The Ha Giang Loop is easily one of the world’s most beautiful motorbike loops. It’s no wonder why it’s on every biker’s Vietnam bucket list. But it’s deep gorges, high mountain passes, and winding roads set the question: Is the Ha Giang Loop Safe for beginners? You SHOULD NOT do the Ha Giang Loop if you’re a beginner. Every single day we saw dozens of riders come into the hostels bleeding from head to toe. Some were just left with scratches and scars, and others were left with broken limbs. There is another choice to take “easy rider”: Sit on the back of 'Easy Rider' is best suited for an experienced motorbike. While we don't take inexperienced or first-time sit on the back of riders to enjoy this truly unique Ha Giang. The speeds are generally low, and the guide (Easy Rider) are good riders. We are always alert and watch for dogs, chickens, buffalo, children, and many other hazards that can (and will) suddenly appear.

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. We'd say the 4-day Ha Giang Motorbike Loop tour is worth it. Sure, you see a lot on the 3-day Ha Giang Motorcycle Tour but it's more tiring (as someone above mentioned they felt dead after 3 days it's because you're trying to cram it in). The 4th day you see some beautiful things dependent on who you do it with. We went with Road Kings Ha Giang, the 4-day Ha Giang Motorbike Loop Tour option and didn't want it to end, it was such an unreal trip.
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