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The Ha Giang Loop gets all the notoriety. And I don’t get it. I mean, I do; the Ha Giang Loop is a stunning three or four-day motorcycle loop through some of Vietnam’s most spectacular landscapes. But in a country bursting with incredible scenery, it seems silly for every tourist to focus on one particular region. In fact, Ha Giang has become so popular that it’s lost a little of the magic that brought people there in the first place. When looking for Alternatives to Ha Giang Loop, there are the cloud forests of Ta Xua National Park, the *incredible* rice terraces of Mu Cang Chai, the trickling falls of Bang Gioc, and the rarely visited homestays within Pu Luong. All are well off the beaten tourist path. But you can easily reach them via motorcycle.
In fact, it’s pretty easy in Vietnam to navigate ANYWHERE on a motorcycle. The country is well-connected by paved roads and numerous gas stations, which means you can pick a point on the map and just go! After traversing the Northern half of Vietnam on a motorcycle for several months, I have devised a few scenic motorcycle loops that rival Ha Giang in impressiveness but leave the crowds and party culture of the Ha Giang loop behind.
These are the four motorcycle routes I would do again, divided up by time and skill level.
Note: All four routes can be made into a loop by returning to Hanoi OR by packing your motorcycle onto a bus bound for Hanoi from the last city listed. Buses will store a full motorcycle in the undercarriage, which means you don’t have to drive the boring route 1A that leads back to the capital city yourself. Instead, you’ll be comfortably snoozing in a sleeper berth above your bike.
1. A Taste of Rice Terraces
Destinations: Ninh Binh, Pu Luong, Mai Chau
- Recommended: For riders who want to try out driving a motorcycle in Vietnam with pretty scenery while still visiting iconic attractions.
- Length of Trip in Distance: ~450 KM
- Length of Trip in Days: 4-6 days
- Difficulty: Easy
These three destinations are just a short jaunt from the city of Hanoi. You’ll be traveling pretty exclusively on easy, paved, well-traveled roads. Ninh Binh has lots of day hikes, temples, and attractions worth visiting, and many tourists come to the town by bus to spend a few days in the rural countryside. But Pu Luong is my favorite of the three destinations on this easy route. This small village has some truly spectacular rice terraces and lots of incredible guesthouses worth a stay. You can even do some village-to-village treks in the area if you’re willing to stick around. Mai Chau is another relaxed rural village filled with homestays and great scenery.
This is a quick and easy trip and doesn’t involve any major cities besides Hanoi, which means you’ll have to complete it all on motorcycle yourself. For all the route details see days 1-3 on my 3-week Vietnam road trip post.
Alternatives to Ha Giang Loop Map Route 1: A Taste of Rice Terraces
Here’s a quick look at my suggested route.
2. Islands + Waterfalls
Destinations: Cat Ba Island, Bang Gioc, Cao Bang
- Recommended: For riders who want to see remote corners of Vietnam known for their natural landscapes but don’t want to venture too far off the beaten path.
- Length of Trip in Distance: ~700 KM with bus back to Hanoi
- Length of Trip in Days: 6-8 days.
- Difficulty: Medium
I love this route for active travelers. Cat Ba Island is a slightly more hidden gem than the overtouristed Ha Long Bay. You can ride the major highways from Hanoi to the Cat Ba Island ferry in a single afternoon. You’ll want a few days to explore the island properly, including hikes to jungly viewpoints and excursions into Lan Ha Bay.
After Cat Ba Island, you’ll venture into more off-the-beaten-path territory and cover a lot of ground over the next few days to reach the Vietnam/China Border and the Bang Gioc Waterfall. While the waterfall itself isn’t that impressive anymore (it has slowly trickled to a halt thanks to dam construction in China), the area near it is STUNNING, and every small town you pass through is prettier than the last. The route ends in Cao Bang. The only major city in this part of Northeastern Vietnam. Here, you’ll choose to cut through the center of the country on your way back to Hanoi or hop on an easy overnight bus.
For more detailed information on where to stay and what to do on this route, check out my 3-week motorbike Loop blog post days 16 through 20.
Alternatives to Ha Giang Loop Map Route 2: Islands + Waterfalls
Here’s a quick look at my suggested route.
3. Stunning Natural Landscapes
Destinations: Mai Chau, Ta Xua National Park, Mu Cang Chai, Son La
- Recommended: For riders who want to get well off the beaten path. You’ll see some of Vietnam’s most spectacular national parks and the most beautiful rice terraces in the country.
- Length of Trip in Distance: ~600 KM + bus ride to Hanoi
- Length of Trip in Days: 7-9 days
- Difficulty: Med/Hard
Of the three shorter routes on this list, this one is my favorite in terms of diversity. You’ll get to see the best rice terraces and the coolest national parks, drive the most scenic route, and get a little further off the beaten path than your average traveler. From Hanoi, you’ll head to Mai Chau, then to Moc Chau for a stopover. Both of these towns are small but have a few sights like a viewpoint, cave, and the iconic “dragon bridge”. From there, it’s up into Ta Xua’s cloud forest. This is where the road is a little difficult. It’s narrow, steep, and very winding. But the views at the summit (and the scenic places to stay) make it worthwhile.
But if I had to choose my very favorite scenery in Vietnam, it would be Mu Cang Chai. The road to reach it is also spectacularly beautiful. These are the rice terraces you imagine when you think about Vietnam. 10X prettier than Sa Pa. Son La is a major city with some good food but not a ton of sights. From here, you can drive back to Hanoi or hop on a bus and take your bike with you in the undercarriage.
For all the tips on where to stay and route information, check out days 3-7 on my 3-week motorcycle itinerary. If you plan on bussing back into Hanoi, be sure to use the alternative route listed, which goes straight to Mu Cang Chai from Ta Xua and then to Son La.
Alternatives to Ha Giang Loop Map Route 3: Stunning Natural Landscapes
Here’s a quick look at my suggested route.
4. Full North Vietnam Itinerary
Destinations: Nihn Bihn, Pu Luong, Mai Chau, Ta Xua National Park, Mu Cang Chai, Son La, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Bang Gioc, Cat Ba Island
- Recommended: This is for riders who want the full North Vietnam experience.
- Length of Trip in Distance: ~2,000 KM
- Length of Trip in Days: 21+ days
- Difficulty: Hard
This is the dream motorbike route in Vietnam. It combines all the most scenic routes and destinations in North Vietnam (yes, including the Ha Giang Loop). Fortunately, I wrote a step-by-step guide to embark on this multi-week adventure. This lays out the route for you day by day with advice on where to stay and hazards to avoid.
The only catch is…it’s a long time to ride a motorcycle. With a 30-day Visa in Vietnam (for most travelers), this will constitute the bulk of your Vietnam trip. But believe me when I say it’s totally worth it. I wouldn’t recommend this route to new riders (even though this was our first time riding a motorcycle) just because of the distance covered and the occasional slightly difficult roadway. But if you’re feeling bold, I say go for it.
Full Northern Vietnam Motorcycle Itinerary Map
The other reason that people enjoy the Ha Giang Loop is the ability to join an easy rider.Or in other words, not drive the bike yourself. While this is a decent option for travelers without experience riding, you end up locked into the route that the bar-hopping 20-somethings take through this part of the country. This blog post is meant to show that there is something better. Other options to extend your moto journey or try a different one.
Save These Alternatives to Ha Giang Loop For Later!
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