Can I drive an automatic motorbike on the Ha Giang Loop?

We get asked this question on a regular basis from guests looking to rent motorbikes and tackle the Ha Giang loop on their own – so let’s break it down!

What motorbikes do we recommend?

If you are wanting to self-drive the loop, we recommend either a semi-automatic motorbike or a manual motorbike and here are the reasons why!

• The steep ascents require the correct gear and significant power to be able to tackle them safely
• The steep descents can be very hard on the brakes and cause unnecessary wear and tear
• The difficult terrain often requires drivers to anticipate and change gears quickly, reacting to the road conditions

But my friend drove an automatic motorbike last year and said it was fine, why can’t I?

Different motorbike rental shops have different policies, so it’s possible that your friend rented from another shop and found it relatively easy. If you are wanting to drive close to the City, we would be happy to rent an automatic motorbike to you.

Our company prioritises safety and quality – it would go against our values to rent an automatic motorbike to tackle the loop because it is not a safe choice. Although travelers have successfully done so, many have not, and we are not willing to prioritise profit at the expense of your safety. We would rather not rent anything at all, than be dishonest and allow you to do the loop with high risk.

Want further information? We would be happy to answer any additional questions that you have! Contact us for more details!