Major city · Vietnam
Ha GiangHà Giang
Use Hà Giang town only as the start and end of the loop: arrive by night bus or van, rest a night, then ride three or four days north to Đồng Văn and Mèo Vạc as a passenger with a local rider.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- VND
- Best months
- Sep–Nov (buckwheat flowers Oct–Nov), Mar–May
- avoid Jun–Aug (landslides), Dec–Jan (cold, fog)
- Airport
- HAN
- Nights
- 1 (plus 3–4 on the loop)
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Vietnam ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Vietnam ↗Crossing streets: walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes flow around you — do not stop or run.
- Vietnam ↗Carry Vietnamese đồng in small notes; many stalls and taxis are cash-only.
Hà Giang town sits on the Lô River at the foot of the far-northern karst plateau. It has little to see itself; it exists for the loop road through the Quản Bạ, Yên Minh, Đồng Văn and Mèo Vạc districts and the Mã Pí Lèng Pass. Since 2025 the province has been merged into Tuyên Quang (check new addresses).
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Ha Giang, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?VND in small notes (10k–100k) for stalls, markets, xe ôm and tips at spas.Vietnam-wide
- SIM or eSIMViettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport and a face photo are required for registration.Vietnam-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Vietnam-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.Vietnam-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/F. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Vietnam-wide
- SafetyRoad risk dominates: ride as a passenger with a licensed rider, helmet fastened, no riding after dark.
- RestroomsWestern toilets in cities and hotels; squat toilets and no paper in rural stops and on long buses — carry tissues.Vietnam-wide
- Emergency numbers113 police · 114 fire · 115 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums close on Monday; the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum is also closed on Friday and shuts for maintenance for about two months each year (usually…Vietnam-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportHAN Nội Bài (Hanoi) (No airport: 6–7 h by sleeper bus or limousine van).
- Getting aroundWalk in town; the loop by motorbike with a rider, or by car with a driver.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Metro or bus rideSleeper bus from Hanoi₫300,000–400,000 (≈ US$12–16)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed or homestay bed, a night, per person₫150,000 (≈ US$6)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room₫700,000 (≈ US$30)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room₫1,500,000 (≈ US$60)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₫600,000 (≈ US$25) · Mid ₫1,200,000 (≈ US$50) · High ₫2,500,000 (≈ US$100)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- HAN Nội Bài (Hanoi) (No airport: 6–7 h by sleeper bus or limousine van)
- Phrases
- Vietnamese phrasebook
Weather and climate
Ha Giang: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
19°C66°F
12°C54°F
8 rd
Feb
21°C70°F
14°C57°F
9 rd
Mar
25°C77°F
17°C63°F
11 rd
Apr
29°C84°F
20°C68°F
14 rd
May
31°C88°F
23°C73°F
17 rd
Jun
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
20 rd
Jul
32°C90°F
25°C77°F
22 rd
Aug
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
21 rd
Sep
31°C88°F
23°C73°F
15 rd
Oct
28°C82°F
20°C68°F
11 rd
Nov
24°C75°F
16°C61°F
7 rd
Dec
21°C70°F
13°C55°F
5 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk in town; the loop by motorbike with a rider, or by car with a driver.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 3–4 days
Motorbike with rider or car
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Near the loop agencies (Nguyễn Trãi, Nguyễn Thái Học)
Hostels with bike hire and luggage storage.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₫500,000–800,000 (≈ US$20–35) excl. bed
- Loop with rider
- ₫1,500,000–2,500,000 (≈ US$60–100) all-in
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × ₫700,000 | ₫700,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₫1,200,000 | ₫2,400,000 |
| Loop package with rider (3–4 days)2 × ₫6,000,000 · check inclusions | ₫12,000,000 |
| Hanoi ↔ Hà Giang bus2 × ₫700,000 · return | ₫1,400,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₫1,650,000 |
| Trip total≈ ₫9,075,000 per person per day, bed included | ₫18,150,000≈ US$700 |
2026 estimate in đồng; flights and tours excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Sleeper bus from Hanoi | ₫300,000–400,000 (≈ US$12–16) |
| Loop package with rider, 3 days | ₫4,000,000–7,000,000 (≈ US$160–300) |
| Motorbike rental per day | ₫150,000–250,000 (≈ US$6–10) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Riding yourself needs a Vietnamese licence or a 1968-Convention IDP for motorbikes: without it, insurance will not pay.
- Party-style group tours ride fast and drink: choose a small group or a private rider if you want a calm trip.
- Border areas: stay off roads to the Chinese frontier unless the route is standard.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 113
- Fire
- 114
- Ambulance
- 115
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Ha GiangHà Giang
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Cho tôi đến địa chỉ nàyPlease take me to this address
Emergency
- Police113
- Fire114
- Ambulance115
Embassy
Embassies are in Hanoi.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Hanoi → Hà Giang, sleeper bus: ₫300,000–400,000 (≈ US$12–16), 6–7 h
Say or show
- Xin chào — Hello (sin chow)
- Cảm ơn — Thank you (gahm un)
- Bao nhiêu tiền? — How much is this? (bow nyew tee-en)
- Không cay — Not spicy, please (khom kai)
- Tính tiền — The bill, please (ting tee-en)
- Dừng ở đây — Stop here, please (yung uh day)
Show the address in Vietnamese with street and house number.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ha Giang. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Sep–Nov (buckwheat flowers Oct–Nov), Mar–May · avoid Jun–Aug (landslides), Dec–Jan (cold, fog) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 2 bands
- 1 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Private rider instead of a group
- A fourth day for Du Già
Sources
- officialVietnam National Authority of Tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage — Ha Giang