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My spouse and I, in our late 50s, are keen to experience the Ha Giang loop on a motorcycle tour. However, most of the guides and YouTube videos online suggest that it caters mostly to younger backpackers.
We have definitely moved past the stage of overcrowded buses and shared dormitory rooms, so we are looking specifically for private-room lodging and truly VIP transportation from Hanoi to Ha Giang.
Is this kind of tailored trip feasible? Or should we concede and leave this adventure to the younger demographic?
Thank you in advance for your advice x
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Age is a number. What’s important, and directly linked to any motorbike skills, is your conditioning and muscle strength.
Preferable, in addition to overall strength, muscles built up specifically from time riding a motorbike (passengers also).
Balance is important on a bike, good balance comes from strength, core strength and training.
The stronger you are, the longer you’re able to ride safely.
Fatigue operating a motorbike, is much more dangerous than driving a car.
Fatigue comes on quickly, then multiply all of the above many times when riding up and down mountains, on rough terrain, and around curves.
I’m heading out to Vietnam to meet up with my son and his g/f. They’ve booked us to do the loop 25/26 Feb. They’re in their 20’s, I’m about to turn 51! Hoping I’m not the only oldie in the group but will be making the best of it either way!!
My husband and I also plan to do the ha going loop and we are in a similar age bracket. We will be going around the 20 of February and appreciate any advice
My husband and I have done two motorcycle tours as pillion passengers with Hue Easy Riders . We definitely would not have driven ourselves as we have no experience of riding motorbikes . The first trip was when we were in our very late 40s and the second in our early/ mid 50s. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and felt very safe as pillion passengers as the drivers were very experienced. Our bodies did ache at the end of the day though LOL.
The loop is way better by motorcycle.
As is most of Vietnam
You can find many operators in either Hanoi or Ha Giang its self
You just ride on the back and enjoy the scenery.
Plus bikes can stop where cars cannot.
My father and I have ridden a motorbike twice in recent years in the Ha Giang region aged early-40s and early-70s. One trip we spent 10 days riding one-way from Ha Giang to Cao Bang, the second trip we spent 24 days making a big loop around the north starting and finishing in Hanoi.
We generally look for budget hotels around US$15-25 with a comfortable bed.
You see a lot of young backpackers riding on the loop, sometimes hundreds each day in groups of 10-20, but you rarely see them in towns during the evening. I think they must all congregate in cheap hostels/homestays somewhere.
Another suggestion is catch the night train to Lao Cai and early morning bus to Bac Ha. Spend a few days in Bac Ha, visiting the large ethnic markets on Sat/Sun. Arrange a car a driver to drive from Bac Ha to Ha Giang, staying overnight in Hoang Su Phi. You can arrange to rent a motorbike in Ha Giang, or continue on with your car and driver for a further number of days.
If you want to send me a private message with your email address, I can email you a list of the hotels we have stayed in, and some other info about restaurants etc.
We had a car with a driver/guide for a 4 day Ha Giang trip but we saw plenty of people on motorbikes (including one that had come to grief). My understanding is that most people travel as a passenger on a bike owned by the driver (usually contracted to a tour company). We saw only a handful of tourists driving the bikes themselves. The roads are mostly sealed but very winding and usually high up a mountain with a steep drop to one side. We heard people on the bikes comment about how hot it was on the bikes. We were pleased to have hired our driver/guide (Bon of Bon Bon Travel) because we always felt safe, we got a break from the heat in his airconditioned vehicle, and we were able to carry all our luggage with us. We also had the benefit of his expansive knowledge of the area.
We are going to do it later in the year. By private car.. im too old and decrepit to do a motorbike tour. Although I’d love to.
Replying to 886annie6060
Hi Annie,
I am 68 and fit and love motor bikes but seems there’s increasingaccidents about 1x fortnight and fatalities and am a little nervous too. Wonder if you have been and if you would share the company with me. I want to do it the last week in June this year.
Thank you
We have just done the loop by car – myself and my 84yo mother. We loved it. Most international travellers were young people on the back of bikes. Plenty of Vietnamese travellers were staying in the same simple hotels as us, and travelling by car or bus.
In regards to safety on a bike, we sadly saw a motorcyclist who lost their life in an accident in Hanoi today.
I was slightly younger than you when I completed this journey by motorbike, and to this day, it remains the most incredible thing I’ve ever experienced.
In my view, this is certainly a trip best enjoyed from the back of a motorbike; whether that appeals to you is entirely your choice.
I would strongly recommend reaching out to a reliable operator—I know Toan has an excellent reputation here (I don’t have his contact, but I’m sure someone can provide it, tagging Scott).
We started our ride in Hanoi and took the overnight train for the return trip, which, though not VIP, was another unforgettable, amazing experience.
Take some time to research and determine what fits your needs, but please be assured it is absolutely achievable at your age. Oh, and we lodged in quite nice places—a blend of homestays and motels—and all were very comfortable and private.
Hope this information is useful.
ColVal
Replying to ColVal
Here you go –
https://ninhbinhpuluongtours.wordpress.com/
And Kate, no, you’re not too old.
Far from it.
Scott