What About Vietnam - S3-5 - The Ha Giang Loop - Vietnams’ final frontier

Whether you are the hard-core adventure traveler or just someone who loves scenery that is breathtakingly beautiful, you will love hearing about this region from my guest on today’s show.“The Ha Giang Loop”, as it is referred to on many a travel website and Instagram page is a region of approximately 350Kms and is claimed to be a bike riders paradise.  If you love hiking, trekking, caving, exploring mountainous peaks and travel photography that lets you feel like you are on top of the world, you cannot go past Ha Giang. And NO, it's not exclusive to backpackers as you will soon find out.Long skinny roads wind their way to up peaks and summits which offer staggering views. One of the most photographed scenes of the whole loop is the Ma Pi Leng Pass which links the towns of Dong Van and Meo Vac, and is carved into the side of the mountains. Just type "Ha Giang" into Google and see for yourself the switchbacks and epic scenery.My guest Tom Stone, who now lives in the main town says “If you are prepared to make the journey”, you won’t be disappointed.” Tom, originally a New Zealander, now married to a Vietnamese, has been running tours in the Ha Giang region for nearly 12 years. Tom says “if you come to Ha Giang, I guarantee you will be blown away by the scenery.” In this episode, you will hear about what to expect on “The loop”; forms of transport other than bikes; best times of year to travel; what to consider when you are booking a tour; accommodation misconceptions, and how much time to allow. ...This is the “biggy”!Hà Giang, sits on the Lô river. North of the capital, the Quản Bạ Valley has green hills and caves, and is the location of the Quản Bạ pass, also known as Heaven's Gate for its panoramic views and terraced rice fields below.Tom has been running the Flipside Hostels up till now and offers True North Adventures. Here is the link to those accounts. The best way to contact him is through here  https://www.instagram.com/flipsidevietnam/ and  https://www.facebook.com/flipsidevietnamHe is in the process of building a boutique hotel in the region and we will keep you posted on that. Due to open October 2021. Links are hereFB and Instagram accounts.https://www.instagram.com/villa.xiav/ https://www.facebook.com/villa.xiaIf you are liking what I am doing with the show, I’d love it if you would please consider giving me a short review on Apple Podcasts/ITunes.Sign up for the WAV newsletter - 5 gold nuggets about Vietnam in a 5 minute read - https://www.whataboutvietnam.com/newsletterFor an easy way to search a subject or destination you are interested in, check out the NEW website now UP here : www.whataboutvietnam.comFor Transcripts to download or printable format - go to https://www.whataboutvietnam.com/podcast-transcriptsPlease follow me at Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/whataboutvietnampodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/whataboutvietnamFollow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected] Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTokLet me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam  - See our Travel ServicesDo you need a #Dental Procedure?  Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital