A shared Ha Giang Loop tour puts you in a group with travellers you have not met, each behind their own easy rider. Many operators in Ha Giang City sell them. TVPalm does not. We run private trips only: your group, your pace, your own guide.
Below: how shared tours work, when a private trip makes more sense, what a fair price should include, the usual routes, and what to pack.
Shared or private: what changes
1. Price
On a shared tour, the guide, the logistics and the rooms are split across the group, so the price per person is lower. A private trip costs more, because the guide and the plan are yours alone. Whatever you choose, ask what is included before you compare prices.
2. Pace and route
A shared group moves at one speed and follows a fixed route. On a private trip, you decide where to stop, how long to stay and when to call it a day. Highway 4C has steep drops, loose gravel on the bends and trucks on blind corners, so a slower pace is also a safer one.
3. Company
Shared tours suit travellers who want to meet people, and many solo travellers choose them for that. If you travel as a couple, a family or with friends, a private trip keeps the days and the evenings to yourselves.
4. Where the money goes
Ask any operator where you will sleep and who will drive you. Groups that stay in family homestays and ride with local easy riders keep more of the money in the valleys. That is how TVPalm works, with every group.
What a fair loop tour should include, and the extra costs to watch for
Whichever operator you choose, check that the price covers the items below. It is the simplest way to avoid surprise charges on the road.
| Included in a fair loop tour | Standard Specification | Red Flag: Common Hidden Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Rider & Motorcycle | 1:1 ratio, 125cc-150cc bike with fuel included | “Fuel surcharge” charged daily |
| Lodging | Clean mattress with privacy curtain or private room option | Extra charges for blankets/towels |
| All Meals | Full breakfast, lunch, and family-style dinner daily | Only breakfast included; expensive set lunches |
| Entrance Fees & Permits | Border Permit (260,000 VND, about $10 per guest) & Nho Que boat ticket | Permits not arranged, risking police fines |
| Safety Equipment | Certified 3/4 or full-face helmet, elbow/knee guards | Cheap flimsy plastic half-helmets provided |
The usual 3-day and 4-day routes
3-day loop
- Day 1 (Ha Giang to Dong Van, about 140 km): leave TVPalm Ecolodge, climb Bac Sum Pass, stop at Quan Ba Heaven Gate and the Twin Mountains, cross Tham Ma Pass, visit the Hmong King’s Palace (Dinh Vua Meo), and sleep in Dong Van old town.
- Day 2 (Dong Van to Meo Vac / Du Gia, about 110 km): ride Ma Pi Leng Pass, take the boat on the Nho Que River through Tu San Canyon, then continue through Meo Vac and the valleys around Mau Due.
- Day 3 (Du Gia to Ha Giang, about 95 km): swim at Du Gia Waterfall, stop at Lung Tam, a hemp-weaving village, cross Quan Ba Pass and return to Ha Giang City for the evening transfer to Hanoi.
4-day loop, with Lung Cu and Du Gia
The 4-day route adds Lung Cu Flag Tower, near Vietnam’s northernmost point, and more time in the villages around Mau Due and Du Gia. The days are shorter and the pace is easier.
What to pack as a passenger
You will spend long hours on the back of a motorbike. A few things make that much easier.
- A 20–30 L soft daypack. Leave big luggage at TVPalm Ecolodge; storage is free.
- Closed shoes, such as trail runners or hiking boots. No sandals or flip-flops.
- Long, breathable trousers and a light wind- and waterproof jacket for the high passes.
- Sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen and lip balm. The sun and wind are strong at altitude.
- A power bank (10,000–20,000 mAh) and cables, packed in a dry bag.
Shared and private Ha Giang tours: common questions
Does TVPalm run shared tours?
No. TVPalm runs private trips only, for your own group, with a local easy rider for each guest. We do not sell self-ride trips either.
I am travelling alone. Can I book with TVPalm?
Yes. A private trip can be for one person. It costs more than a seat on a shared tour, so ask us for a quote for your dates.
What happens if it rains?
We give you a rain suit and a cover for your bag. On wet roads the riders slow down. If a pass is unsafe after heavy rain, the guide decides whether to wait or change the route.
Written by Nguyễn Văn Trung, founder of TVPalm. He has led small-group trips across Northeast Vietnam since 2021.
