Ha Giang Loop Packing List
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So, you've decided to do the famous Ha Giang Loop: a multi-day, 217.5 mi (350 km) motorbike adventure through the northern mountains of Vietnam.
The winding dirt roads take you on a meditative escape through quaint ethnic-minority villages and lush green valleys all the way up to the Vietnam-China border and back down. It's the perfect way to slow travel through this country and ethically experience authentic Vietnamese living.
However, this daunting and potentially dangerous expedition is not for the weak.
Traveling this road by motorbike exposes you to the elements. And as luck would have it, Ha Giang weather is notoriously unpredictable. One second it's sunny and you can see for miles into the distance, and the next you're caught in a tropical thunderstorm but have no choice but to power through lest you miss the evening cutoff.
During my 4-day tour last autumn, almost half of our group got sick because of constant temperature drops (and we had an exceptionally large tour of 40+ people).
So, set yourself up for success by packing the appropriate clothes and and supplies for your trip. That way, you can comfortably and fully immerse yourself in the experience. Here's the ultimate Ha Giang Loop packing list!
Quick Summary Of What to Bring
Capsule Wardrobe: 11-piece wardrobe featuring multiple quick-dry thermal layers for fluctuating weather. You'll want to protect yourself from the sun, wind, rain, and cold.
Travel Essentials: this is a multi-day trip and you'll be able to strap a daypack onto the bike. Your travel essentials should include important documents, cash, toiletries, and electronics.
First Aid Kit: you're going into the remote mountains of Vietnam with limited access to medical facilities. Travel insurance and a basic first aid kit is essential!
What to Pack for the Ha Giang Loop
Capsule Wardrobe
Your clothes are going to take up the most space in your daypack so make sure to bring a capsule wardrobe with different layers that you can mix and match to adjust for different weather scenarios.
I did the loop with QT Motorbikes and Tours last November and almost all the attendees ended up buying a jacket or sweater at some point because it was so cold. I bought a light fleece jacket at a local market for 80000 VND (roughly $3) and while it was extremely affordable, I could've avoided it entirely if I had just done a little bit of research on what to pack.
So here's what to include in your capsule wardrobe:
3 Comfortable pants or leggings
1 Thermal tank top
1 Long-sleeve thermal
1 Basic tee
1 Waterproof rain jacket
1 Warm fleece or hoodie
Sneakers or boots
Flip flops
Pajamas
Sunglasses
Undergarments and socks
Optional: gloves, scarf, beanie if traveling in the winter
All of this will go in your daypack which gets wrapped in a thick plastic bag (for waterproofing) and strapped to the back of your motorbike. You'll also want to bring a sling bag or fanny pack to put all your daily essentials (phone, cash, sunblock, etc) in.
Travel Essentials
If you're a seasoned traveler like I am, packing these is second nature. But in case you needed a reminder, here's a quick list of travel essentials to bring on the Ha Giang Loop.
Passport and important documents: better to keep these documents in your daypack than at the hostel in Ha Giang town. Remember, if you’re a US citizen, you need a visa to visit Vietnam! It’s not visa-free!
Cash: bring enough to buy snacks and coffee on your journey + enough to tip your driver!
Travel insurance: accidents happen. Travel insurance makes sure that you're covered for any injuries, damages and lost belongings.
Towel: some homestays had them but most didn't. Bring your own just in case.
Basic shower kit + toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, soap, shampoo, conditioner
Sunscreen: high mountains = high uv exposure. It might feel chilly, but you'll probably still burn.
Bug spray: most stays have mosquito nets around the beds but bug spray comes in handy when you're exploring outdoors or karaoking the night away
Hand sanitizer: most bathrooms on the road will not have soap so bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer
Spare toilet paper: not every bathroom is fully restocked with toilet paper! I bring a small tissue pack that functions as toilet paper just in case.
Chargers: power your cell phones, cameras, laptops...whatever it is!
Powerbank: just in case! Taking video footage during your ride can drain the phone battery pretty quickly!
Emergency contact numbers: a little old-schooled, but you never know!
Optional: camera and laptop. Honestly, service and wifi was pretty spotty on the loop but if you feel like you need these electronics, feel free to bring them.
✨ Tip: Use Viettel for cell service in the mountains. It’s the only carrier that works. I bought both an Airalo and Holafly eSIM hoping to be able to get some work done but alas, the connection was so slow that I just ended up canceling my meetings and rescheduling. (Both of those other two providers were perfectly fine for other Vietnamese destinations though!)
First Aid Kit
Again, the Ha Giang Loop takes you through secluded mountains where you might not have access to standard medical facilities or pharmacies. Of course, the tour group will take care of you if anything serious happens, but for small inconveniences like ordinary colds, it's better to to just pack a first aid kit!
Here are some ideas for what to include:
Painkillers and NSAIDs
Antipyretics
Anti-diarrhea medications
Anti-nausea medications
Allergy medications
Motion sickness medication
Altitude sickness medication
Bandaids
Antiseptic ointment
Anti-itch insect bite creams
Vitamins and supplements
Vietnam is one of the safest destinations for solo female travelers in the world. If this were any other country, I probably wouldn’t have taken the risk.
Luckily, this adventure was well-organized and with appropriate packing, it made the adventure of a lifetime!
For more on packing guides and traveling through Asia, check out the following articles:
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