Ha Giang city is 320 kilometres north of Hanoi and roughly five hours by bus on good days — longer when the mountain roads are slippery in rain. Several bus companies run daily services from Hanoi's My Dinh bus terminal, with overnight sleeper buses available. The drive from Hanoi is not unpleasant: the lowland Red River plain gives way to foothills, then to increasingly dramatic mountain country as you near the provincial capital.
There are no trains to Ha Giang and no commercial flights. If you are coming from Sapa or Lao Cai, the road east via Bac Ha and Bac Quang is a full day's drive. Renting a motorbike in Hanoi and riding up is an option for experienced riders, though many prefer to take the bus to Ha Giang city and hire a motorbike — or join a local Easy Rider — there. For the Ha Giang Loop specifically, having your own transport or joining an organised motorbike tour is essential, as public transport does not serve the plateau route.