There are many ways for you to travel from Ha Giang to Cao Bang, including motorbike, bus, minivan, and private car. You should consider your demand, favorite, and real-time budget to select the right way and have an interesting journey.
Overview Of Ha Giang To Cao Bang
Combining Ha Giang and Cao Bang in a Northern Vietnam itinerary has become very famous for adventurous travelers. Ha Giang is well-known for its iconic “Ha Giang Loop,” a thrilling but strongly worthwhile motorbike course that winds through the UNESCO Global Geopark of Dong Van Karst Plateau. You can see the dramatic, jagged limestone peaks and deep canyons (like the Nho Que River and Tu San Canyon). In particular, you can try to go through steep and winding passes like Ma Pi Leng.
On the other hand, Cao Bang is highlighted by the wonderful Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in Southeast Asia. Arriving here, you can witness peaceful rivers just like the Quay Son, quiet lakes such as Thang Hen, and important historical sites of Vietnam like Pac Bo Cave. By combining Ha Giang and Cao Bang, travelers can get to experience both lush, green, captivating natural scenery and significant historical depth.
How Far Is It From Ha Giang To Cao Bang?
The most common distance between Ha Giang and Cao Bang is about 250 to 330 kilometers. While this route may not seem so far, this adventure is still challenging and thrilling due to winding roads, steep mountain passes, as well as variable road conditions. A common way for travelers to arrive in Cao Bang from Ha Giang is to go through the Ha Giang Loop’s well-known parts, like Meo Vac Town and Bao Lac District, and then head towards Cao Bang.
If you choose a private car or a motorbike, the journey from Ha Giang to Cao Bang will generally take from 7 to 9 hours. If the transportation is a local bus, the adventure can be longer, about 8 to 10 hours or sometimes more, because the local bus frequently takes a slow pace. Besides, the road conditions can be changeable, particularly during the rainy season, as the roads are muddy, causing delays or even road closures.
How To Travel From Ha Giang To Cao Bang?
Taking an itinerary from Ha Giang to Cao Bang, you can use many types of transportation, like a motorbike, bus, minivan, or private car. In this section of this article, Seni World will help you to know how to get from Ha Giang to Cao Bang.
By Motorbike
The primary gain of a Ha Giang to Cao Bang motorbike trip is the top-notch freedom to explore at your preference. You will freely navigate winding mountain passes like Ma Pi Leng and Me Pia, witness and take memorable photos with beautiful scenery like extensive terraced rice fields, and comfortably take breaks to meet and talk with remote communities.
However, this exciting journey additionally comes with challenges and drawbacks. The wonderful mountainous roads are still regularly winding, steep, and along with ugly potholes, loose gravel, and dirt. Weather can change continuously, with fog decreasing visibility and heavy rains making the roads slippery, and even maybe landslides. Therefore, you must be a skilled and confident rider, and always ride carefully when traveling by motorbike from Ha Giang to Cao Bang.
| Aspect | Details |
| Route | The most popular route for travelers (through Meo Vac and Bao Lac): Ha Giang City → Quan Ba → Yen Minh → Dong Van → Meo Vac → Bao Lac → Tinh Tuc → Nguyen Binh → Cao Bang City |
| Another great route for travelers (through Ba Be Lake): Ha Giang City → along QL34 → Ba Be Lake → Cao Bang City | |
| Distance | About 250 to 370 kilometers, depending on the right route taken |
| Travel time | A minimum of 7 to 9 hours of continuous riding a motorbike, without breaks, but this is very dangerous |
| At least 2 to 3 days, including breaks and sightseeing, for both safety and enjoyment, attractions along the way | |
| Suggested Stop | If you choose the Meo Vac – Bao Lac route, the suggested stops will be Dong Van Ancient Town, Meo Vac Town, Vuong Family Mansion (King of H’Mong Palace), Ma Pi Leng Pass, Bao Lac District, and Nho Que River |
| If you choose the Ba Be Lake route, the suggested stops are Ba Be Lake and Ba Be National Park |
By Bus or Minivan
The Ha Giang to Cao Bang bus or minivan journey is a common choice for both Vietnamese and global travelers. The local bus is a budget-friendly selection, and the minivan is suitable for those who want to have a comfortable and high-end experience.
Seni World will give you some information about the local bus and minivan, including the price, the travel time, and some important notes about each type below:
| Vehicle Type | Price (VND) | Travel Time | Notes |
| Local bus (via transfer) | About 250,000 – 350,000 VND (for 2 segments, per person) | About 7.5 – 9 hours (including the transfer time) | There are no direct buses from Ha Giang to Cao Bang. You will want to take two segments: segment 1 is from Ha Giang to Bao Lac or Bac Me (about 3 to 4 hours), then segment 2 is from Bao Lac or Bac Me to Cao Bang (about 4 to 5 hours).
Those local buses can be normal seats or sleepers, and they are not VIP buses. |
| Minivan | About 2,500,000+ VND (per car, not per person) | About 6 – 7 hours | This is the most comfortable and secure selection for travelers, especially appropriate for companies or families, saving you quite a bit few time. Although the cost is notably higher than the local bus, the minivan offers the best privacy and flexibility in scheduling.
They can be 4-seater, 7-seater, or 9-seater minivans catering to the wide variety of travelers. |
By Private Car
If you want an affordable price, the Ha Giang to Cao Bang sleeper bus trip is the best idea, but if a comfortable and modern amenities trip is the priority, let’s choose the private car.
Let’s see more information private car from Ha Giang to Cao Bang below:
| Car Type | Estimated Price (VND) | Travel Time | Best For |
| 4-seater sedan | About 3,200,000 – 4,000,000 VND | About 6 – 8 hours | Solo travelers, couples, groups of 1-3 friends, or small families of 3 with light baggage |
| 7-seater SUV/MPV | About 3,500,000 – 4,500,000 VND | About 6 – 8 hours | Small groups of 1-5 members or families with standard bags and love the comfort |
| 9-seater luxury limousine van | About 4,800,000 – 6,000,000 VND | About 6 – 8 hours | Up to 8 members in a group or small businesses who love top-rate comfort, want to enjoy large seating, and many amenities |
Tips For Traveling From Ha Giang To Cao Bang
If you want to have a comfortable, smooth, and memorable trip from Ha Giang to Cao Bang, you need to learn more about the travel experience in this itinerary. Seni World has collected some important tips for you to have a perfect adventure from Ha Giang to Cao Bang.
- Be careful when driving or riding on the roads: While typically light enough outside of towns, you must still be cautious of big trucks, buses, as well as unpredictable local traffic (people, cattle, and children or kids on roadsides).
- Health protection: Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to protect your skin, body, and health, even on cloudy days. Moreover, a first-aid kit is also very important because it will help you to solve simple problems, like cuts, headaches, scrapes, and motion sickness.
- Say no to night riding: Visibility is terrible when it is dark. It will be very difficult for you to see dangers, and locating assistance in faraway regions is also hard.
- Cash is king in rural areas: Many faraway areas and rural areas simplest accept delivery of cash. You can only find ATMs in large towns or primary town regions.
- Test your motorbike carefully: If renting the motorbike, you must carefully check out the tires, brakes, lighting fixtures, horn, and engine before setting off. In particular, let’s choose a reputable rental store that has a good support service.
- Study simple Vietnamese phrases: You should learn some Vietnamese phrases to easily communicate with local people, such as Xin Chao (hello), Cam On (thanks), Tam Biet (goodbye),…
FAQs About Traveling From Ha Giang To Cao Bang
If you want your journey from Ha Giang to Cao Bang to be safer, more memorable, and interesting, don’t forget to learn more about some FAQs below. Seni World has collected these insights from various Vietnamese and global travelers from Ha Giang to Cao Bang throughout time.
Is there a train from Ha Giang to Cao Bang?
At present, there is no direct train system between Ha Giang and Cao Bang. Neither destination has a railway station. Therefore, the main transportation selections between these two provinces are by bus, by minivan, by private car, and by motorbike.
Will I do the Ha Giang Loop and then continue to go to Cao Bang?
Yes, this route is a very popular itinerary for travelers. After finishing the loop, you can continue driving from Meo Vac Town or Dong Van Town to Cao Bang via the QL4C and QL34 highways.
What is the most beautiful route for travelers?
If you want to go through the most beautiful route for sightseeing, the famous Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark route is the selection. You will go to Dong Van Town, Meo Vac Town, and after that, go over the captivating Ma Pi Leng Pass. This route is longer than the Ba Be Lake route, but has incredible landscapes.
Can I know the departure times of local buses?
Most local buses depart early in the morning (about 7:00 am) and late in the evening (from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm) if you choose the overnight journey. Minivans will have more flexible and comfortable daytime schedules than local buses. You should check them with the ticket system, especially to confirm where to stay in Ha Giang and Cao Bang, to have the right time and pick-up point.
If I choose the motorbike journey, can I rent one in Ha Giang and return it in Cao Bang?
Some rental agencies offer travelers this service; however, this is less popular and needs a significant extra fee (usually called a “drop-off fee”) for you to have your motorbike returned. If you want to know more information, let’s ask the rental agency before booking.
What should I pack for the adventure from Ha Giang to Cao Bang?
Don’t forget layers of apparel because the weather in these two places can change quickly. Next, let’s bring a raincoat, comfortable footwear, a power bank, water bottles, snacks, as well as suitable motion sickness medication in case you are prone to it.
Is it better to explore from Ha Giang to Cao Bang or vice versa?
Both directions are wonderful. However, beginning in Ha Giang is more popular for travelers who want to unveil the famous “Ha Giang Loop”. Afterward, let’s continue the journey from Ha Giang to Ban Gioc waterfall, Cao Bang, as well as many different attractions in this province.
Final Thoughts
Traveling from Ha Giang to Cao Bang, you can select many types of transportation, like a motorbike, local bus, minivan, and private car. It will depend on your travel plan, demand, favorite, and budget. If you want to take an adventure from Ha Giang to Cao Bang, consult about interesting things to see and to do in these 2 destinations, and receive support for the visa process, let’s contact Seni World, a reputable tour operator from Vietnam. We are here to help you from A to Z on your Ha Giang to Cao Bang trip.
