Self-Riding the Ha Giang Loop in 2025: Why It’s Now Illegal Without the Correct Licence
- Faye Hilling
- Nov 21
- 8 min read
If you’ve found yourself reading this, chances are you’ve already been hypnotised by the dream: you, a motorbike, and the wild mountain curves of northern Vietnam.
The Ha Giang Loop is backpacker catnip. It’s chaotic, enchanting, borderline spiritual—and now officially far more regulated than it’s ever been.
Yep. As of 2025, the Vietnamese government has rolled out stricter rules and increased fines that make it very clear:
You cannot legally self-ride the Ha Giang Loop without the correct licence.
Not “maybe”, not “it depends”, not “but my friend did it last year and it was fine.” Legally. Cannot.
Before you panic take a breath—because Bong Hostel has been ahead of the curve for years. We’ve got the info, the tutorials, the Easy Riders, the translations, and a very helpful support team to make sure you still have the time of your life up north.
This blog is your 2025 guide to how the laws changed, what happens if you decide to risk it, and the easy, legal, zero-stress alternatives.
Let’s start at the beginning…
Why Self-Riding the Ha Giang Loop Is Illegal in 2025
The Ha Giang Loop used to be the Wild West of Vietnam—dusty roads, cheap rentals, and absolutely zero proof that the person blasting around hairpin bends at 60km/h had ever even seen a motorbike before.
Charming? Yes. Chaotic? Also yes. Dangerous? Increasingly.
With accidents skyrocketing in 2023–2024, authorities finally said, “Enough TikTok cowboys.” So they introduced:
More police checkpoints.
Zero-tolerance alcohol laws.
Higher fines for unlicensed riding.
Legal accountability for tour operators.
For travellers, this means one thing:
If you don’t have the right motorcycle licence + the correct International Driving Permit (IDP), you cannot self-ride the Ha Giang Loop.
But don’t worry—you can still do the Loop. In fact, you can still do it better. We’ll explain how soon.
Related article: Is the Ha Giang Loop Dangerous for First-Time Riders?
New Driving Regulations Introduced for Self-Riders in 2025
There were many new driving regulations introduced in January 2025. These included no speeding, no driving in the wrong direction, no running red lights, and no using the phone while driving, etc. (it was a long—safety conscious—list).
But here are some that the local police along the Ha Giang Loop especially look out for:
1. Having the Correct International Driving Permit
Under Vietnam’s updated Traffic Laws 2025:
Your International Driving Permit (IDP) must:
Be issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention.
Include motorbike eligibility (Category A1).
If your licence doesn’t allow motorbikes?If your IDP is from a non-recognised country?
You’re riding illegally—and you will be fined.
At Bong Hostel, we:
Check your licence when you arrive.
Help translate your documents.
Confirm whether you can legally self-ride.
Provide instant alternatives if you can’t.
Yes, we’ve held many hands through the emotional spiral of “But my home country licence doesn’t count here??!”
What we won’t do is allow you to self-ride on one of our Ha Giang Loop tours, if you don’t have the correct licence.
Related article: Can I Do the Ha Giang Loop Without a License?
2. Quality Helmets
You know those cute little half-shell helmets that look like half a coconut wearing a chin strap? Yeah—those are now very illegal.
Police in 2025 will check:
Whether your helmet has official quality markings.
Whether it has a chin strap.
Whether it’s damaged, cracked, or feels like styrofoam.
Whether it’s a real helmet, not a fashion accessory.
At Bong Hostel, we only use high-quality helmets, cleaned between trips, and replaced often. No coconut shells here.
Pro tip from us: If you’re riding in colder months (Oct–Feb), wear a balaclava or beanie under your helmet. Your ears will thank you.
3. Vietnam’s Alcohol Law: Zero Tolerance Means Zero
Drank a beer at lunch?Had a taste of Happy Water at a homestay?Sipped something suspiciously fragrant that a local grandma insisted you try?
If you ride afterwards with any alcohol in your blood, it’s illegal.
Police frequently run breath tests on:
Early mornings in Yen Minh and Meo Vac.
Ridge road viewpoints.
Town entrances.
After-dinner hours.
If you want to drink, choose an Easy Rider. Let someone else handle the bends while you handle the Happy Water.
Related article: Evenings on the Ha Giang Loop: How Bong Hostel Creates the Best Memories.
Tour Operators Are Now Legally Responsible
Here’s the big one:
Tour companies must ensure riders are legal, trained, and properly geared—or we get fined too. There is even the risk that tour companies can be shut down if they allow self riders to drive without a legal license.
So at Bong Hostel, we go beyond the minimum. We offer:
Bike tutorials.
Safety briefings.
Gear fittings.
Pre-loop licence checks.
Route guidance.
Beginner-friendly itinerary adjustments with private tours.
We’re not here to babysit you—we’re here to make sure you come back safe and happy.
But this is why we no longer allow you to join our tour if you do not have the correct license, we cannot afford to be fined or worse.
Police Checkpoints on the Ha Giang Loop in 2025
Expect checkpoints in:
Ha Giant City.
Dong Van.
Meo Vac.
Yen Minh.
Quan Ba.
Border areas near China.
Long straight roads leading into towns.
Random spots just to keep you humble.
Most self-riders will be stopped at least once.
Here’s what to expect:
Officer whistles → You pull over.
Engine off, helmet off.
Show IDP, passport, bike papers.
Answer simple questions.
Continue if everything is legal.
Get fined if not.
Bong Hostel riders usually breeze through. We prepare you, brief you, and send you out legal and confident.
Did you know? Your travel insurance may NOT cover unlicensed riding. This means if you get into an accident you may have to cover the costs from your own pocket.
Fines for Self-Riding Without a Licence in 2025
This is the part most people skim until they get caught. Don’t skim. These fines are real, and they hurt.
2025 fine: 3,000,000+ VND (roughly $110+ USD)
Repeat offenders or multiple violations? Up to 18,000,000 VND ($700+ USD)
And if you can’t pay? Your bike (and your passport) can be confiscated on the spot.
Rental companies charge hefty fees for impounded bikes—sometimes $300–$500.
Don’t want to donate half a flight home to the Vietnamese government? Ride legally—or ride with an Easy Rider.
Related article: Tips on How to Self-Ride the Ha Giang Loop.
How Fines Are Issued to Self-Riders on the Ha Giang Loop
To be honest, police fines are still issued rather unofficially on the Ha Giang Loop in 2025.
In remote towns, systems can glitch so they rely on handwritten tickets.
Some officers may stop you outside of unofficial police checkpoints on the side of the road, which can feel very dodgy.
Some areas rely on local procedures.
This is why you want Bong Hostel in your corner—we help navigate whatever version of the process you encounter.
Top Tip: It's very important that whenever you are stopped by police in North Vietnam you do not attempt to video or photograph the officers as this can land you in more hot water.
Ha Giang Loop Licence Requirements 2025
Here’s the honestly painful part.
Most travellers’ home licences are not valid in Vietnam.
To legally self-ride, you must have:
1. A valid national motorcycle licence from your home country.
AND
2. A 1968-Convention IDP with motorcycle approval.
Countries whose licences / IDPs are not legally accepted for Self-Riding in Vietnam:
USA (all states).
Canada.
Australia.
New Zealand.
UK.
Ireland.
Japan.
Iceland.
India.
South Korea.
So, if you’re from one of these?
You cannot legally self-ride the Ha Giang Loop in 2025.
Related article: What License Do I Need to Ride the Ha Giang Loop in 2025?
Why It’s Hard to Make a Perfect “Not Allowed” Country List
Countries that are signatories to the 1968 Vienna Convention may still fail to meet the “motorcycle eligibility” requirement (i.e., the licence must cover motorcycle operation). So nationality alone doesn’t guarantee legal riding.
Some ASEAN-country licences should be valid—but in practice police may still demand a 1968-Convention IDP, causing confusion.
Rules and enforcement can vary by region, police officers, and even over time. What works in one province may fail in another.
What This Means for You (As a Traveller)
If you come from one of the countries listed above (USA, Canada, Australia, etc.), you should assume you cannot legally self-ride the Ha Giang Loop—unless you manage to get a 1968-Convention IDP and a valid national motorcycle licence covering the correct vehicle category (A1).
If you’re uncertain:
Opt for a local-licensed rider (i.e., Easy Rider service).
Or join a guided tour that handles all licensing/documentation for you.
Always check with us at Bong Hostel—we’re happy to help!
Why the Sub-50cc Loophole Doesn’t Work
Technically, vehicles under 50cc don’t require a motorcycle licence.
But:
No one rents them for the Ha Giang Loop.
They can’t handle steep climbs.
They overheat.
They’re unsafe.
Police still stop you because no one believes you're voluntarily riding a hairdryer across the mountains.
So, no. This is not your loophole to freedom.
Common Mistakes Self-Riders Make in 2025
Please read this. Please.
Travellers who get in trouble usually:
Assume their car licence covers motorcycles.
Rely on travel Facebook groups (dangerous).
Believe rental shops that say “It’s fine, no one checks”.
Think they won’t get stopped.
Try to drive off after being stopped.
Ride after drinking.
Don’t carry documents.
Don’t understand road signs.
Video or photograph police officers.
Follow outdated advice from 2019 era blogs.
If you only take one thing from this article, let it be:
The Loop has changed. A lot. You need to adapt.
How to Legally Ride the Ha Giang Loop in 2025
There are two legal ways to experience the Loop if you don’t have the correct licence:
1. Ride with a Bong Hostel Easy Rider
You sit on the back. Your driver handles the road. You handle the scenery, the photos, and the existential joy.
Benefits:
Totally legal.
Zero stress.
You can drink.
No fines.
No injuries.
No licence needed.
No navigating.
No worrying about potholes disguised as portals to the underworld.
This is why 90% of Loop travellers choose our Easy Rider Group Tour option.
The downside:
You’re about to make a new best friend (no please don’t fall in love with him, he already has a wife and three kids) who you’ll then have to say goodbye to. Warning: this may result in tears.
Related article: Why You Should Get an Easy Rider for the Ha Giang Loop.
2. Join a Bong Hostel Group Tour
Even if you can self-ride legally, joining a tour means:
Safety briefings.
Route planning.
Mechanic support.
Local guides.
Cultural experiences.
Friends.
Food stops.
Homestay organisation.
Basically, the Loop—but with backup. You don’t have to stress about where you’re sleeping or what you’re eating, just what gear you need to be in for the Tham Ma pass.
Final Thoughts: Self-Rider Licensing Requirements 2025
The Ha Giang Loop remains one of the most beautiful travel experiences on Earth.
The laws haven’t ruined it—they’ve simply made it safer, clearer, and more respectful for everyone involved.
If you can legally self-ride: Great! Bong Hostel will check your documents, gear you up, and send you out safely.
You’ll also get added support on our group tours, where we look out for you and guide you every step of the way.
If you cannot legally self-ride: Even better—do it with an Easy Rider. Your experience will be richer, safer, and infinitely more fun.
Either way? Booking with Bong Hostel guarantees that your Ha Giang Loop is unforgettable—and 100% legal.