Can you hike without a guide in Northern Vietnam?

A message in a bottle: For a three-week trip in November... is it possible to go hiking without a guide in northern Vietnam, getting around to the hiking sites by public transport, bikes, or on foot? And if so, which areas specifically? Thanks to anyone who replies!8

Hello,

A message in a bottle: For a three-week trip in November ... is it possible to go hiking without a guide in northern Vietnam, getting around to hiking sites by public transport, bikes, or on foot? And if so, in which areas specifically? Thanks to anyone who replies!

It’s possible if you’re resourceful and know a bit about Vietnam and Vietnamese. Public transport: train to Yen Bai, Lao Cai. Then local buses to Sapa, Bac Ha, and motorbike rentals (you’ll need an international license) or local tour rentals on-site.

Public bus to Ha Giang city, then rent a motorbike to do the Ha Giang loop, Dong Van, Meo Vac. Stop in Dong Van to go to Lung Cu (Chinese border—be careful, you need to register in Ha Giang City for permission to travel in the area near the Chinese border).

Public bus to Cao Bang city, then local bus to the Ban Gioc waterfalls at the Chinese border (there was also a direct overnight bus from Hanoi to Dam Thuy, the commune where the Ban Gioc waterfalls are located).

Basically, in classic tourist spots, it’s easier to get by as a foreigner. Otherwise, you’ll need to use translation apps (they’re pretty good for Vietnamese now).

A few old travel links (by bike) for reference: https://vdquynh.blogspot.com/p/mes-randonnees.html

Best regards,

Hi there, and thanks for the info! We’ve been thinking it over, and we’d like to go all the way to Dong Van using public transport. It seems doable: Hanoi to Ha Giang (it’s long but manageable), then Ha Giang to Dong Van (5-hour bus ride). We’d stay 3–4 days in Dong Van before heading back the same way, as other adventures await us.

Do you know if we can find local guides in Dong Van for hiking? If so, do local guides usually have a vehicle, or should we plan to rent a scooter?

Hello,

Hello and thanks for this info. We’ve thought about it since and would like to go all the way to Dong Van by public transport. It seems possible to do Hanoi/Ha Giang (it’s long but doable) then Ha Giang/Dong Van (5-hour bus ride). We’d stay 3 to 4 days in Dong Van before retracing our steps since other adventures await us. Do you know if we can find local guides in Dong Van for hiking? If so, do local guides usually have a vehicle, or should we plan to rent a scooter?

It’s been a while since I last set foot in Dong Van. That said, there can be different types of local guides (it all depends on the concept of "local"). You might find a local car owner/driver who can act as a guide (or not), or a local guide who will rent/team up with a driver.

Since Dong Van has become a tourist spot, there will certainly be local guides (from ethnic minorities). If the hiking site is remote, you’ll need to either rent a scooter or a car. Local tours (like in Sapa) usually combine a walk with a car ride back. From Dong Van, if you want to go to Lung Cu, for example, since there are two valleys to cross (if I remember correctly), you’ll need a motorized vehicle from Dong Van.

Best regards

Hi there, The Ha Giang to Dong Van route can be done by bus, but you’ll miss out on some highly rated spots like Quan Ba and its hills, Yen Binh, the "retrograde" market in Pho Cao, Sa Phin, and possibly Lung Cu—the northernmost point in Vietnam—along with Ma Le and a Lo Lo village. Yes, you can find guides in Dong Van, and they’ll arrange suitable transport for your activities, whether by car or motorbike. Plan at least a full day to head toward Mèo Vac to admire the Ma Pi Leng Pass, but more importantly, to hike well above the road along the mountain villagers’ path to the Mèo Vac market—it’s breathtaking. Then descend toward the Nho Que River and take a boat back up to rejoin the road before Dong Van. This is just one example. Safe travels! Eric

Thank you so much—your answer really sheds light on the different options available to us. This will help us refine our plans. Best regards,

Great. Thank you so much for this info. I think we now have all the cards in hand!!! We’ll plan our route once we arrive, now that we’re sure we can find a guide on the spot. Best regards, Catherine