A trip to Hanoi and the famous Ha Giang Loop

The trip started in Hanoi, a capital city that is chaotic, beautiful, and full of character.

Walking through the Old Quarter felt like stepping into a movie - motorbikes covering every single inch of space possible, street vendors selling everything from fresh banh mi to handmade souvenirs, and small stools packed with people eating all the delicious street foods.

It’s a city that keeps you on your toes. One minute you’re stuck in noisy traffic, the next you’re drinking coffee and playing games with local kids by Hoan Kiem Lake, and somehow, it all just works.

I loved the vibe of Hanoi, but after a couple of days, I was ready for something a bit more green and peaceful.

The Ha Giang Loop is without a doubt the kind of adventure you’ll never forget. It’s a motorbike route that takes you through Vietnam’s northern mountains, right on the border with China.

The scenery is unreal, and it just gets better day by day. We signed up for a 4D3N tour with the company Buffalo Tours, a decision we were really pleased with. They arrange for you to travel with a sleeper bus from Hanoi to the town of Ha Giang.

The accommodation for the rest of the nights were either homestays or hotels with comfortable beds and airconditioning. One of the homestays even had a pool!

Buffalo also offers the option of riding on the back of a bike with a driver, which is perfect if you’re not confident driving yourself (or just want to sit back and take in the views).

If you do have a driver, please note that it is normal to tip them at the end of the tour. This is definitely something I thought was well deserved. The drivers were amazing—funny, friendly, and total pros on the road.

They’d sing, joke around, and teach us random Vietnamese phrases and drinking games along the way. And of course, they were masters at karaoke, like any other Vietnamese! They made the trip feel less like a tour and more like a road trip with a big group of friends.

One of the best parts of the Loop was the food. Every night, we’d stop at a local homestay where we’d sit down to huge family-style dinners.

There were spring rolls, fried rice, sautéed veggies, and so many other dishes that I don’t even know the names of - but everything was delicious. After dinner, the fun really started.

Karaoke is huge in Vietnam, and even if you’re the type to avoid a mic, you’ll probably find yourself singing at some point (blame the rice wine).

Those karaoke nights were some of the best—completely ridiculous but so much fun. By the end of the trip, it was hard to understand that it had only been four days as it felt like we’d all known each other forever.

The Loop isn’t just about the landscapes (though they’re stunning). It’s also about the people you meet along the way.

Spending hours on the road together, eating meals at the same table, and cheering each other on through tricky sections of the route—it’s the kind of experience that forms instant friendships.

That being said, the scenery is absolutely worth the hype. Every turn on the road felt like a new postcard-worthy view. I kept taking my phone up for a photo, putting it back down, only to take it back up again just around the next corner.

Make sure you have enough camera storage! There were moments where I couldn’t believe what I was seeing - rice terraces that stretched on forever, misty mountain peaks, and locals going about their daily lives in all the tiny villages along.

If you’re trying to decide what to do after your semester in Hoi An, let me make it easy for you: go to Hanoi, and then do the Ha Giang Loop.

It’s the perfect mix of city chaos and natural beauty. You’ll eat amazing food, meet incredible people, and come back with stories that will make everyone jealous!