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<\/p>\nAwakening the following day, I was eager to begin my second day on the Ha Giang Loop in northern Vietnam. Thankfully, the remainder of my first day on this road went without further incidents with local law enforcement.<\/p>\n
As I continued northward in this beautiful mountainous region there wasn\u2019t a day that went by where I wasn\u2019t pulled over at least once.\u00a0 The officers I had paid the 8 million Dong to were true to their word as each time I was pulled over at license checkpoints the officer would pull out their phone and scroll through the many photos of tourists until I would stop them. \u201cRight there!\u00a0 That\u2019s me.\u00a0 See?\u00a0 I paid.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The police officers then signaled me to be on my way.\u00a0 Outside a few verbal warnings to slow down, the police check points just became part of my daily routine as my journey continued.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/exhaustnotes.us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1000035707-600.jpg\")
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Hitting the Vietnamese North Pole was one of my objectives along this ride. Starting off early in the morning was the best way to go.\u00a0 The early start was not only to avoid police check points and tourist traffic, but also to watch the mystical fog burn off the mountains as I weaved my way north. The roads were in pristine condition.\u00a0 The only thing more pristine was the green mountain views that unfolded as I powered through the corners.\u00a0 It was wonderful to have the road to myself, outside of the few meandering water buffalos that lazily crossed in front of me every so often.<\/p>\n
Every day as afternoon approached, the police check points would appear. After a few days of constantly being pulled over to scroll through the police text thread, point out my photo, and on occasion be given a breathalyzer\u00a0 test (Vietnam has zero tolerance for driving under the influence), it began to get old.\u00a0 The road was filled with rental scooters.\u00a0 Most carried Westerners.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/exhaustnotes.us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1000035712-600.jpg\")
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After four days of riding along the Ha Giang Loop, I reached my limit.\u00a0 I’d had enough of tourists, police stops, and crowds.\u00a0 Tigit Rental had written a solid itinerary, but at this point I needed more solace. I pulled into a coffee shop to see if there was another route I could take to deviate from the Ha Giang Loop (and there was).\u00a0 I hit smaller, less traveled roads. The coffee shop owner must have seen the frustration on my face as I zoomed through maps and roads to explore on my phone.<\/p>\n
Using Google Translate with the shop owner, I described what I was looking for in terms of roads and a Vietnam experience.\u00a0 She quickly pointed out a direction.\u00a0 The roads she identified were remote and they met my criteria.\u00a0 The path would also send me north along the Chinese border, and then loop down to Hanoi.\u00a0 This would get me away from the Ha Giang Loop chaos.<\/p>\n
Catch up with Huber in Vietnam:<\/p>\n
Ha Giang Loop: Part 1<\/a> More Huber? Check out\u00a0A Trip Into The Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n Join our\u00a0Facebook ExNotes page<\/a>!<\/p>\n
\nHa Giang Loop: Part 2<\/a>
\nHa Giang Loop: Part 3<\/a><\/p>\n
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\nHelp us keep the lights on:<\/h3>\n
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