Starting in the bustling heart of Ha Giang City, this route serves as the grand opening to the “Happiness Road.” While it’s only about 46 km to the mountain town of Tam Son, every kilometre is packed with the kind of dramatic elevation shifts and legendary views that make Ha Giang famous.
This route blog is part of our Ha Giang Route Planner, so if you are looking for further for ideas on routes and tips to help keep you safe. Check it out.
The BLACK ROUTE will take you on the main road and there will be slightly more cars and truck traffic.
The RED ROUTE is slightly smaller and there are less trucks, beautiful views and more tourists.
NOTE: You may wish to take the road past Little Ma Pi Leng. It is a good idea but just check that it is open as there have been landslides recently. (March ’26)
The next logical move is to move from Quan Ba to Yen Minh. This offers you a choice of routes each with their own stunning features. Alternatively, you may choose to take the lesser ridden route to Du Gia.
Driving in Vietnam is not for the faint-hearted and there is a steep learning curve. As such, here are a few tips that will help speed up your transition to vietnam road demon. Good luck.
Ready for adventure? The Honda XR150 is your perfect companion for rugged backroads, mountain passes, and open highways.
✅ Lightweight, reliable, and fuel-efficient
✅ Comfortable for long rides and multi-day tours
✅ Trusted by riders across Vietnam for the legendary Ha Giang Loop
There are several petrol stations in Ha Giang City, and you should always start with a full tank. There is another major station once you arrive in Quan Ba town.
Between the two, fuel stops are scarce. However, the distance is max 50km so if you start with a full tank you have no need to worry.
Police checkpoints are common at the start of the route. To ride legally and ensure your travel insurance is valid, you must have a valid motorcycle license from your home country and a matching International Driving Permit (IDP) under the 1968 Convention.
If you want to know a LOT more about the legalities of riding in Vietnam , we have plenty of information for you.
Visibility can drop to a few meters at the top of Heaven’s Gate (Cổng Trời) due to mountain clouds.
If it’s raining, the Bac Sum Pass becomes very slippery. We recommend waiting for the mist to clear or riding extremely slowly with your hazard lights on. This is only a short part of the journey so it should not cause too much delay or difficulty.
If you are on our bike it is unlikely, but not impossible to experience a breakdown. You can look for a Sửa Xe (repair shop) sign; they are in almost every small village and then call us to help.
If that is not possible, you can still call us and we will help you find assistance over the phone. The locals are helpful and we can usually get things sorted quite easily.
Aside from the famous Heaven’s Gate viewpoint, a stop at the bottom of the Bac Sum Pass is great for a quick “Ca Phe” to gear up for the climb. Once at the top, the Information Center near the Twin Mountains (Núi Đôi Cô Tiên) offers the best panoramic views of the valley before you descend into the town.
This 50km ascent from Ha Giang City to Quan Baserves as the dramatic opening to the “Happiness Road.” The route features legendary views and steep, winding terrain. Travelers must navigate sharp “U-turn” bends and heavy traffic with high focus.
Essential stops include the Twin Mountains and Heaven’s Gate, offering a perfect introduction to the region’s limestone peaks.
Engine Type
air-cooled, single cylinder, SOHC
Displacement
411 cc
Bore X Stroke
78 mm x 86 mm
Ignition
TCI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
telescopic forks; stanchion diameter 41 mm
Rear Suspension
linkage-type monoshock
Front Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 300 mm, 2-piston floating caliper
Rear Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 240 mm, single-piston floating caliper
Front Tyres
90/90 – 21
Rear Tyres
120/90 – 17
Wheelbase
1465 mm
Seat Height
800 mm
Ground Clearance
220 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
15 litres
Dimensions
2190 mm (L) x 840 mm (W) x 1360 mm (H)
Daily
Total
Rider (CRF 300)
$220
Pillion
$120
Damage Waiver
$20
Private Room
$40
Support Vehicle*
$150
* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group.
Daily
Total
Rider (XR 150)
Rider (CRF 300)
Rider (CB 500X)
Rider (Himalayan 400)
$220
Rider (GS 1250)
Pillion
$120
Damage Waiver
$20
Private Room
$40
Support Vehicle*
$150
* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group.
Daily
Total
Jeep (1 PAX)
$210
Jeep (2 PAX)
$120
Jeep (3 PAX)
$90
Jeep (4+ PAX)
$80
Rider (Easy Rider)
$115
Rider (Self-Drive)
$105
Private Room
$15
* Our jeep tour prices operate on a sliding scale. The larger your group, the less each person pays—each member of your group will pay the lowest daily rate shown. For example, if you have a group of 4 or more, you will each only pay $80/day. All prices are given in USD.
Engine Type
air-liquid cooled, twin cylinder, DOHC, boxer engine
Displacement
1255 cc
Bore X Stroke
102.5 mm x 76 mm
Ignition
FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
12.5:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 37 mm
Rear Suspension
single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever
Front Brakes
dual disc brake, floating brake discs, diameter 305 mm, 4-piston radial calipers
Rear Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 276 mm, double-piston floating caliper
Front Tyres
120/70 R19
Rear Tyres
170/60 R17
Wheelbase
1514 mm
Seat Height
850 mm
Ground Clearance
790 mm
Kerb Weight
249 kg
Fuel Capacity
20 litres
Dimensions
2207 mm (L) x 952.5mm (W) x 1430 mm (H)
Engine Type
air cooled, OHC, single cylinder
Displacement
149 cc
Bore X Stroke
57.3 mm x 57.8 mm
Ignition
CDI
Fuel System
20 mm piston valve carburettor
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Starter
electric with kick starter backup
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
telescopic fork, 180 mm axle travel
Rear Suspension
single shock swing arm, 150 mm axle travel
Front Brakes
dual piston caliper, 240 mm disc
Rear Brakes
mechanical drum
Front Tyres
90/90 19
Rear Tyres
110/90 17
Wheelbase
1362 mm
Seat Height
825 mm
Ground Clearance
243 mm
Kerb Weight
129 kg
Fuel Capacity
12 litres
Dimensions
2091 mm (L) x 811 mm (W) x 1125 mm (H)
Engine Type
liquid cooled parallel-twin four stroke
Displacement
470 cc
Bore X Stroke
67 mm x 66.8 mm
Ignition
PGMI – FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
41 mm SFF-BP USD Forks
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
dual 296 mm discs with 4 piston calipers; ABS
Rear Brakes
240 mm disc; ABS
Front Tyres
110/80R19M/C (59H)
Rear Tyres
160/60R17M/C
Wheelbase
1445 mm
Seat Height
830 mm
Ground Clearance
180 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
17.7 litres
Dimensions
2,155 mm (L) x 830 mm (W) x 1,410 mm (H)
Engine Type
single cylinder, DOHC, liquid cooled
Displacement
286 cc
Bore X Stroke
76 mm x 63 mm
Ignition
Full Transistor Digital
Fuel System
PGM-FI electronic fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
43 mm telescopic upside down
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
Rear Brakes
220 mm disc, single piston caliper
Front Tyres
80/100 21
Rear Tyres
120/80 18
Wheelbase
1455 mm
Seat Height
880 mm
Ground Clearance
285 mm
Kerb Weight
142 kg
Fuel Capacity
7.8 litres
Dimensions
2230 mm (L) x 820 mm (W) x 1200 mm (H)
