Orla Wates

Orla Wates, a 19-year-old British gap-year student from Surrey, recently died in a motorcycle accident in northern Vietnam. The incident occurred on the Ha Giang loop, a popular but reportedly dangerous motorcycle route through the mountains. Wates was a pillion passenger when she fell off the motorcycle and was subsequently hit by a truck. She was taken to Viet Duc university hospital in Hanoi, where she died. Her death has brought renewed attention to the safety concerns surrounding the Ha Giang loop, prompting discussion about the risks faced by tourists on this route. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is providing consular support to Wates' family. The family has paid tribute to her following the tragic event.