I fell in love with Northern Vietnam last year while doing the Ha Giang Loop, and now that I have returned to Vietnam again, I have also just done the Cao Bang Loop. Both are absolutely amazing, seriously. If you are looking to compare the two, this might be of some help.
Before I even start going in about this, if you are deciding between the two and it is your first visit to Vietnam…you must choose the Ha Giang Loop. There’s no choice. It doesn’t matter if you drive it on your own, or if you do it with a group, the Ha Giang Loop is one of the greatest things that you will ever do in your life and you must experience it first, before you dive deeper into exploring Northern Vietnam. Trust me, seriously.
If you can, do both during your first visit to the country! If you don’t have time, you’ll be back, everything about Vietnam will have you thinking of returning for as long as you live.
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Tourism On The Ha Giang Loop vs. The Cao Bang Loop
Of course, the biggest difference between the two is the amount of tourism that the areas see. On the Ha Giang Loop, there’s no way to avoid seeing a good amount of young westerners and larger tour groups. Cao Bang is much, much quieter, with the occasional tourist exploring on their own bikes.
With this, is a significantly smaller amount of options to choose from if you don’t plan on driving yourself. And don’t expect a tour group like you see on the Ha Giang Loop, it is just going to be you and a driver.
The roads are very easy to drive compared to the Ha Giang Loop, but going with a local driver contributes to the lives of the people that are kind enough to welcome us into their homes. It will also give you a different experience with translations and connections with the people in the province.
People are kind everywhere in Vietnam, but here it feels a bit different because you aren’t just another one of the hundreds of faces that are coming and going everyday to most people here.
My Recommendations Of Groups To Do The Ha Giang And/Or Cao Bang Loop With:
The Ha Giang Loop: Mama’s Homestay
Visit Mama’s Homestay’s website here. Read more about my experience here.
The Cao Bang Loop: Cao Bang Travel
Read more about my experience and find Cao Bang Travel’s contact information here.
Length Of The Ha Giang Loop vs. Length Of The Cao Bang Loop
This is a little tricky to say definitively because you should definitely take your time and explore off the route’s man roads if possible, but on the Ha Giang Loop, at minimum your ride should be at least four days, and 3 days minimum on the Cao Bang Loop.
The Ha Giang Loop is focused on the amazing, rigid mountain views as you’re driving, while the Cao Bang Loop is more focused on specific spots like waterfalls and historical spots, as this area is so incredibly rich in history that has shaped Vietnam. So you can really make the duration however long works for you.
Accommodation On The Ha Giang Loop vs. Accommodation On The Cao Bang Loop
Like the Ha Giang Loop, you won’t have any problems with finding accommodation around the Cao Bang Province. Also, you won’t have any problems running into homes not having enough room like you might around Ha Giang, as there’s such less amounts of tourism in Cao Bang out of the two.
The one difference though, is how you are able to stay in Cao Bang City and take day trips to the spots, instead of driving all of your bags around from guesthouse to guesthouse like you have to while doing the Ha Giang Loop. This might be good for you if you don’t want all your things on you at all times, but I really recommend staying in the small villages at night. Experiencing that way of life with families along the border of China is one of the most amazing things that you can do.
Roads On The Ha Giang Loop vs. Roads On The Cao Bang Loop
Again, the roads are very easy to drive compared to the Ha Giang Loop, to the point where there almost is no comparison. The roads around the Cao Bang Loop are perfect, even way out in the tiny rural villages. It is almost like a night and day difference.
This only really matters if you are driving yourself, but if you have done the Ha Giang Loop, you know some gnarly some of those roads are. I would so much rather drive the Cao Bang Loop on my own over the Ha Giang Loop, but as the years go on and as tourism is absolutely booming in Ha Giang, the roads being redone will be much better in a year or two.
If you’re interested, you can read about my experience on the Cao Bang Loop here, and the Ha Giang Loop here.
Overall, you cannot really go wrong doing either (but again you should do the Ha Giang Loop first). Both provinces are just so amazing, and Northern Vietnam is one of the best places on this earth.
Madigan Murphy 