The Ha Giang loop is the highlight of many Backpackers travelling South East Asian. Sore through the mountains on a daring dust covered road trip filled with breath taking mountain views, authentic local villages, a glimpse of rural Vietnamese culture and a sense of adventure that few other experiences can match.
That’s why we’ve created a guide exploring the very best Ha Giang Tours available to backpackers in 2024. From overall vibe and accommodations to price comparisons and safety, this will quickly help you narrow down who you choose to start you Ha Giang Motorbiking adventure.
Jasmine Hostel
By far the most popular backpacker tour, Jasmine Hostel is famous for bringing the party to the loop. With upwards of 80 riders in each group the hectic atmosphere, renowned drinking games and lively nightlife make this tour the best option for backpackers looking for a social and wild ride around Ha Giang!
Jasmine Hostel is also one of the most established tour operators in Ha Giang with over 6 years’ experience.
Group Size – 80+ split into groups of around 15-20.
The Hostel – Comfortable accommodation with A/C and large social dorms.
Accommodation organised on the Loop – Jasmine organise homestays for each night of the loop which are generally pretty basic but very comfortable with A/C. The major plus of these hostels is a large social eating area where 80+ backpackers sing and dance the night away.
Price Guide
Free dorm bed on arrival included
3D 2N (solo) – £113
3D 2N (Easy Rider) – £156
4D 3N (solo) – £142
4D 3N (Easy Rider) – £202
+ves
⁃ Lively Nightlife
⁃ Free T-Shirt
⁃ Plenty of free booze
⁃ Excellent Social Vibes
⁃ Free Dorm Bed
-ves
⁃ Big Groups attract more police attention and longer waiting times
⁃ If you want a good night sleep and don’t like drinking you may want to avoid Jasmine, most nights are fuelled by a never-ending supply of happy water.
⁃ Little time to relax
⁃ The Hangovers
⁃ More expensive than other tours
Ha Giang Hostel
Ha Giang hostel consistently has some of the best feedback of any tour group.
The 5-star reviews pin the tour companies’ success on the genuine compassion and care the team shows to every one of its customers. Each tour guide leader at Ha Giang Hostel is exceptional and often add-in unique elements that are suited to your group.
Our group had keen swimmers, surfers and a lifeguard in it so the legendary tour leader Minh made sure we had a chance to swim every day stopping off at waterfalls, canyons and even mountain side infinity pools.
Group Size – 10 -15
The Hostel – Clean and comfortable with a fan and A/C in all rooms with a basic breakfast included. The staff are incredible and will organise all your travel plans and quickly respond to any concerns or queries over WhatsApp. The only downside is a lack of hot water in the shower which they are in the process of fixing.
Accommodation organised on the Loop – We were pleasantly surprised by the accommodation organised on the loop, each homestay had so much character and was incredible value for money. The first homestay is particularly beautiful with privates overlooking rice fields and stunning views of the sunsetting behind the mountains.
Price Guide
3D 2N (solo) – £117
3D 2N (Easy Rider) – £141
4D 3N (solo) – £153
4D 3N (Easy Rider) – £180
+ves
– Lively Atmosphere
– Perfect Group Size
– Impressive Accommodation options
– High Quality of care
-ves
– No hot water at the main Ha Giang Hostel
– No free bus transfers
Mama’s House Backpackers Hostel
The budget backpackers’ favourite, Mama’s house has small groups of 6-10 backpackers and is the cheapest tour we’ve found in Ha Giang. The smaller sized groups offer a better chance to break through the classic backpacker small talk and build genuine relationships with your group…. (provided you actually like them). The tour guides and easy riders are highly praised for being incredibly safe and careful, although a few of the bikes with broken speedometer’s and wing mirrors could do with replacing for the solo riders.
They also get big bonus points for their t-shirt design which is easily the freshest Ha Giang loop merchandise you’ll see.
Group Size – 5-10
Hostel – Lovely spacious dorm room with A/C, hot water and curtains on each bed for added privacy.
Accommodation organised on the Loop – Each homestay organised is comfortable, clean and a great place to relax after a long day’s drive. All of the rooms had A/C and hot water which is rare for many of the homestays in the region.
Price Guide
3D 2N (solo) – £91
3D 2N (Easy Rider) – £118
4D 3N (solo) – £118
4D 3N (Easy Rider) – £150
+ves
⁃ Cost
⁃ T-Shirt Graphic is very cool
⁃ Smaller groups lead to better friendships
-ves
– The small groups offer no escape from people you may dislike
– Some bike repairs needed
– Merchandise isn’t free
– No Free Bus Transfer
Bong’s Backpacker Hostel
Bong’s tour once again showcases why smaller group sizes are sometimes best for forming genuine connections with both your group and the guides. The guides on this group take such great care of everyone and getting to know them gave us a privileged viewpoint into the local culture. The price has the added bonus of including both two-way bus transfer and a free dorm bed saving you at least £30 off most it’s competitors.
The Hostel – The main accommodation is incredibly clean and comfortable with hot water and A/C. The food may be the only downside of the hostel.
Accommodation organised on the Loop – Bong’s Tour accommodation choices on the loop itself are traditional family run homestays that are the perfect place to end the day.
Price –
Two-way bus transfer + free dorm bed on arrival included.
3D 2N (solo) – £120
3D 2N (Easy Rider) – £153
4D 3N (solo) – £153
4D 3N (Easy Rider) – £187
+ves
⁃ best protective gear
⁃ Great range of additional activities
-ves
– Food in the Hostel Restaurant needs to be improved
Dragon Team Tour
If you want to avoid the crowds and explore the off-the-beaten track beauty of northern Vietnam, then Dragon Team Tour might before you. They claim to offer a less touristy experience of the Ha Giang loop by uncovering the unseen viewpoints and remote rural culture of the region. Unlike other tours the dragon team often stops off at not one but three waterfalls tucked away in between the mountains.
Group Size – 5-10
Accommodation organised on the Loop – These local homestays are reviewed as very clean, secure and relaxed offering authentic family meals proudly presented by the host of each accommodation.
Price –
3D 3N (Easy Rider) – £150
4D 4N (Easy Rider) – £196
+ves
– Free T-Shirt
– Off-the-beaten track route
– X3 waterfalls
-ves
– Very small groups
– Challenging rural roads
Ha Giang Amazing Tours
Ha Giang made our list because it offers an extended 5-day experience which explores Cao Bang and even visits Vietnam’s largest waterfall Ban Gioc. Cao Bang is notoriously difficult to reach without taking a string of hectic and confusing local bus transfers, so this tour around both Ha Giang and Cao Bang is a great option for seeing both these unforgettable destinations.
It is also a favourite with families with great guides who can change the route and pace according to your own preferences.
Group Size – 10 – 15
The Hostel – The company is a little slow on communications before you arrive but once settled in, they are so attentive and make sure you feel safe and excited for the adventure ahead.
Accommodation organised on the Loop –Apart from a hard mattress on the first night every single accommodation we visited were comfortable, clean and incredibly welcoming to both backpackers and younger children visiting with families.
Price –
3D 2N (Easy Rider) – £117
4D 3N (Easy Rider) – £150
5D 4N (Easy Rider) – £262 *Includes visiting Cao Bang and Ban Gioc
+ves
– Extended Trip to Cao Bang
– Their bespoke trip visits Ban Gioc, the largest waterfall in Vietnam.
– Family Friendly
-ves
– The extended trip is pretty expensive
– Less lively nightlife
We hope this list helps you find the right Ha Giang Loop Tour company for you and you get to experience the very best of this unforgettable adventure.
If you are still undecided on who the best tour company for the Ha Giang Loop is, we recommend checking out the google reviews of each option in our list.
