A British gap-year student has died after a motorbike accident on the Ha Giang loop, a popular but dangerous tourist route in northern Vietnam. Orla Wates, 19, from Surrey, was riding as a pillion passenger when she fell off and was hit by an oncoming truck, local media reported. She was taken to hospital in Hanoi but died from her injuries last week.
Wates was travelling in Vietnam before starting a degree course at Durham University this autumn. The Ha Giang loop, a 220-mile route winding through mountains and rice terraces near the Chinese border, has become a must-do adventure for young backpackers, often promoted on social media. However, locals and tour operators have raised concerns about its safety.
The loop, which takes three to four days to complete, is known for its rugged road conditions, unpredictable weather, rockslides and loose livestock. An estimated 200,000 tourists visit Ha Giang each year, mostly to do the loop. Some residents say the route has become too congested for the narrow roads.
Matt Struthers, co-owner of tour company Road Kings, said: “There are ways to make the trip much safer, having proper safety equipment and a team that drives carefully.” He hopes Wates’s death will serve as a wake-up call for the industry to raise safety standards. Travellers are advised to choose tour companies carefully and ensure they have proper licences if riding solo.
