Fuel & EV
Plan energy like you plan water: before you need it.
122 places on the map
Green lines are the roads our journeys use, drawn from OpenStreetMap. They show where the route goes, not whether it is open. We have no live source for landslides or closures, so ask locally before you set out.
Orange and red stretches come from public field notes by riders who travelled them (31 Oct–1 Nov 2026). We have not ridden them, so check locally. The main national-highway axis is rated good.
Locations come from OpenStreetMap, which volunteers edit, so a station may be missing, moved or closed, and opening hours are mostly unknown. Fuel types and phone numbers appear only where someone added them. Confirm by phone or at the pump, and do not count on a charger working before you reach it.
Petrol
- Fill up in Hà Giang city before you leave, and top up whenever you pass a station in a town.
- Stations are usually further apart on the high plateau than in the city, so do not wait for the last bar.
- Ask the owner of your rental bike how far a full tank really takes you.
Cash, signal and maps
- ATMs are in the towns only, so carry spare cash.
- Phone signal is weak in some valleys. Download offline maps and bring a power bank.
Heading on to Cao Bằng
- There is no expressway. The road is long and slow, and one source says seven to nine hours by car. Websites claiming an hour and a half are not realistic.
- On a motorbike, plan one or two days with a night at Bảo Lạc, and do not ride after dark.
- One guide says to fill up at Mèo Vạc, Bảo Lạc and Nguyên Bình. Confirm locally.
EV and e-bike charging
- Public charging along the loop is limited. Do not plan an EV or e-bike loop without confirming chargers in advance.
- Ask your accommodation at each night stop whether you can charge, and carry the right plug.
Before each day
- Check the tank or battery against the distance to the next town.
- Keep a little reserve for detours and weather delays.
Sources: Vietnam Tourism (October 2026). None of our sources list station or ATM locations along the loop.