Northern Vietnam Motorbike Tour: 10 Days of Challenging and Exploring

Highlights of Northern Vietnam Motorbike Tour: 10 Days of Challenging and Exploring

Vietnam Motorbike Tour will be more amazing and memorable until you actually experience it. Just being on this vehicle you totally can ride through the small, narrow even dirty and road leading to the most picturesque landscapes of the remote lands. Green forests, terraced rice fields, winding passes and the colorful costumes of the ethnic minority communities, etc. just by Motorbike you can feel all the beauty of the rich culture and magnificent nature. Don’t worry about the paved roads hard to ride we have an experienced guide accompanying to you. Let’s get started!

Vietnam Motorbike Tour Detailed itinerary:

Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau (Hoa Binh)

Day 2: Mai Chau - Phu Yen (Son La)

Day 3: Phu Yen -Than Uyen (Lai Chau)

Day 4: Than Uyen - Sapa (Lao Cai)

Day 5: Sapa - Bac Ha (Lao Cai)

Day 6: Bac Ha - Ha Giang City

Day 7: Ha Giang - Dong Van (Ha Giang)

Day 8: Dong Van - Bao Lac (110 km)

Day 9: Bao Lac - Ba Be Lake (150 km)

Day 10: Ba Be Lake - Hanoi (240 km)

DAY 1: HANOI - MAI CHAU (HOA BINH)

To begin your first day tour, you are advised to fuel up yourself before starting to ensure your healthy condition.

Leaving Hanoi, we cross the western edge of the Red River Delta with lively scenery of the countryside. We continue the tour after lunch time. The road quite easy to ride before we ascend to steep mountain the lush valley is gradually appearing.

We will pause at the top of pass to get the panorama view of surrounding sceneries made up of hills, mountains, green paddy fields before driving down to the valley and arrive in a large village of the Thai ethnic group. It is well organized and prosperous village as many others in the region with wooden houses on stilts standing in lines. All the houses are spacious with palm leaf roof and bamboo slat floor; the kitchen is set at one end of the house.

The Thai people cultivate themselves to get the food for daily lives. Also, they still preserve the traditional art of weaving and embroidering to make brocade fabric. If you are interested in you can buy these handicraft products as souvenirs. Take your time strolling around the village, meeting the locals, have some talks. The dinner features Thai traditional dance and local drink. We stay overnight in a Thai stilt house.

Summary:

• Distance: 160 km
• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Home-stay

After breakfast, our team will head out for Phu Yen in Son La province leaving this peaceful land behind. During the ride, the team will stop in Moc Chau for lunch where you’ll see a huge mountains of green tea tree. Due to cool climate, the people here grow green tree to develop the local economic.

Besides this product, Moc Chau is famous for its dairy products like fresh milk, condensed milk, yogurt and milky candy as well. Many households raise milk cow to enhance their income.

After lunch, we ride on the off the beaten road 43 then crossing Da River. We’ll arrive in Phu Yen town about 5pm. We stay in a basic guest-house with warm shower and cold beers!

Summary:

• Distance: 160 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Guest-house

DAY 3: PHU YEN - THAN UYEN (LAI CHAU)

We disembark from Phu Yen then continue riding along the QL.37. Afterwards, the team will conquer the Lung Lo pass which is a border between Son La and Yen Bai province.

58 years ago, during the war time this pass was the key road to transfer foods and others necessaries for the revolutionary army to fight against the fortification of Dien Bien Phu. That is the reason why this pass became the national historic relic recognized by the ministry of culture, sports and tourism in 2011.

After passing this site, we turn to the QL. 32 then keep moving on.

However, do not drive too fast because you might want to stop somewhere to capture the best scenic views such as Mam Xoi hill or Mu Cang Chai terraced paddy field. You will see the lush valley colored by the ripen rice field, the green trees from surrounding mountains, cloud and sky.

What a wonderful picture! Now follow your guide, we might arrive Than Uyen town in Lai Chau province around 5pm.

Summary:

• Distance: 210 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

DAY 4: THAN UYEN - SAPA ( LAO CAI )

This morning, the motorbike route is travelling from Than Uyen to Sapa. Coming to Sapa takes us around 2.5hrs riding over 100 km. this part of Northern Vietnam Motorbike Tour will definitely amaze you by the most challenging but fantastic as crossing O Quy Ho Pass which is listed as one out of four daunting passes in Northwestern Vietnam.

The pass is 50km long through the massive range mountain Hoang Lien Son with a height of 2000m above the sea level connecting Lao Cai and Lai Chau province. From the top of O Quy Ho pass you can get the panorama of Fansipan mountain – highest mountain in Indochina. This legendary experience definitely can inspire any adventure lover.

Crossing this border line, we drive to Sapa town. One of the top attractions up north Vietnam that you should never miss. We reach Sapa at noon so the rest time we spend for Sapa.

The whole area is blessed with awe-inspiring beauty, you can rent local costumes and have a short trip to visit some famous attractions here namely Muong Hoa valley, some villages of the ethnic tribal groups like Cat Cat, Ta Phin, or enjoy “Love Market”. Have local specialties for dinner and overnight at homestay or hotel.

Summary:

• Distance: 110 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

DAY 5: SAPA - BAC HA (LAO CAI)

Bac Ha town is located to the East of Lao Cai province meanwhile Sapa lies in the northwest, it is around over 100km far from Sapa town. “Bac Ha” name derives from the Tay spoken language “Pạc ha” meaning “hundred gianh tree bundles”. This place is well-known as holding a big, bright, and busy but special market – just open on every Sunday. If you come to this market you will see people from other provinces, visitors gathering here trading various goods.

From clothes to foods, from farming equipment to animals like horse, dog, buffalo, etc. Don’t forget to taste the great local delicacies like corn liquor or Thang co, etc.

The traditional minority market is the uniqueness of Vietnamese culture. The lively and dazzling atmosphere reflects a happy and optimistic lifestyle out there. Coming and discover at your leisure. ­­Our group will stay in a local hotel.

Summary:

• Distance: 120 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

DAY 6: BAC HA - HA GIANG CITY

Leaving Bac Ha market today we are going to reach the most northern city of Viet Nam which is Ha Giang a mysterious place that any true motorcyclist never miss. Such an ideal place to experience the road trip on two wheels, soak up the majesty of the landscape and the atmosphere of the remote towns and minority villages, Ha Giang is waiting for you.

During the ride you will see the local homestays in lines, high mountains surrounding, riding along the river. Our tour group will have lunch in Xin Man town then drive to Hoang Su Phi terraced rice fields for photo before stepping to Ha Giang city.

Summary:

• Distance: 200 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

DAY 7: HA GIANG -DONG VAN (HA GIANG)

Dong Van is about 150km away from Ha Giang city in which you can admire the majestic beauties of nature especially the terrain is more rugged and rocky. Riding from the starting point, we will stop in Quan Ba then you can have a good view over Quan Ba twin mountain which is a great scenic spot also a gateway to Dong Van town.

Coming here you will be told a love legend enclosing with this site. The we’ll have lunch in Tam Son town then we head up to Ma Pi Leng pass.

The pass is known as “the king of mountain passes at the elevation of about 1,200 meters in Dong Van Plateau, situated on the street named Happiness, connecting Dong Van, Ha Giang and the town of Meo Vac, this is one of the most challenging passes in northern Viet Nam.

The pass is a winding road, one side is Mount Ma Pi Leng, on the other side is the road to Sam Pun, where lie the border post and gateway to China. Ma Pi Leng has 9 sharp turns, stuck between sky-reaching escarpments and dropping abyss.

It is definitely a wonder of infrastructure construction of our people on this land of Ha Giang. Going through the pass, we follow a winding track to reach Vuong Family’s Residencial Palace.

Nestled in a valley, the Vuong family’s palace stands out for its massive structure and unique design reflecting Chinese architecture. Vuong's Palace is home to Vuong Duc Chinh and his son Vuong Chi Sinh. Vuong Duc Chinh was a mandarin under Nguyen Dynasty.

Vuong Chinh Duc became rich from trading goods, especially opium. Sa Phin is the middle point of opium from the Golden Triangle region of Myanmar Yunnan China to Indochina. he also set up his own army unit of loyal Hmong people and equipped them with weapons, he built his palace, a mansion of his own as a way to enjoy his wealth and assert power.

When starting on building a mansion for his clan, Duc invited a Chinese geology expert to survey the region and throughout the valley Sa Phin. This land was chosen because the terrain here emerged as a turtle shell representing long life and wealth.

After visiting we get to Dong Van town and stay in a hotel.

Summary:

• Distance: 160 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

DAY 8: DONG VAN - BAO LAC (110 KM)

After breakfast, we’ll ride about 30km from Dong Van to Meo Vac for the stopover. Have lunch and take a short rest, we continue driving down until we reach Bao Lac, a friendly and mysterious town of Cao Bang province.

This small land used to be a remote area with rugged terrain, complex topography; however, nowadays the infrastructure is dramatically improved. You can have a walk around the town, visit local market and taste a bowl of noodle. Experiencing local lifestyle is a great way to know more about native culture.

Summary:

• Distance: 110 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

DAY 9: BAO LAC OFF-ROAD MOTORCYCLING TOUR TO BA BE LAKE (150 KM)

We head down about 140km to reach another beautiful place which is Ba Be National Park situated in Bac Kan province with a diversity of flora and fauna, interesting geology and landscapes to discover.

The area was established as a national preserved forest and tourist centre in 1978, before being established as Vietnam's eighth national park in 1992. It was recently recognised by UNESCO as the third Ramsar site in Vietnam - an important wetland of the world.
Tham Ma Pass

Ba be lake is in Ba Be national park, located 145m above sea level, the lake has an average depth of 20-25m and its deepest part is 35m. The lake bed is made up of limestone with millions of crags and crevasses that are ideal for a large variety of marine life - there are over a hundred of species of freshwater fish in the lakes.

Ba Be is home to over 3,000 people from the ethnic minorities of Tay, Nung, Dao and Mong, who live in 13 villages within the park. The Tay people have inhabited Ba Be area for centuries and make up 58 per cent of the population within the park’s boundaries.

The group go into Bac Ngoi village, which is located inside Ba Be National Park. Our home-stay in Tay’s family is right by the side of Ba Be lake with wonderful and peaceful view.

Summary:

• Distance: 110 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

DAY 10: BA BE LAKE - HANOI (240 KM)

Getting up early in the morning, Ba Be National Park gives you a sense of peace, calmness and amazement. Green forest is all around which helps purify the air. Ba Be National Park is both a tourist attraction and an important part of local ecosystem.

We’ll take a boat rowing to the other side of Ba Be Lake and get ready to come back Ha Noi. We try to get back Ha Noi before rush hour to avoid traffic jam and finish our 10 Day Northern Vietnam Motorbike tour.

Summary:

• Distance: 240 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation:

TOUR PRICE ( HONDA XR 150L )

• Tour for group of private solo rider: 200 USD/Day
• Tour for group of 2 riders UP: 150 USD/Day/Person

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TOUR PRICE ( HONDA CRF250L/300CC )

• 170 USD/ DAY / RIDER
• 190 USD /DAY/ RIDER

Tour price includes:

• Experienced English speaking tour guides
• Quality Honda XR150L or Honda CRF250L or other bikes we have with all fuel
• Quality Helmets/Gloves/Knee and elbow pads/Rain jackets/pants
• All meals on tour (All breakfasts, lunches and dinners with local Vietnamese food)
• Accommodation on tour (twin share room in standard hotel or stay at homestay as mentioned in itinerary)
• Boat rides on lakes or rivers as mentioned in itinerary
• All entrance fee / Permits
• Hotel pick up/drop off before and after the tour
• Video of the trip made by updated GoPro ( Send Later )

Tour price excludes:

• Medical insurance
• Bike damages
• Personal expense
• Drinks/Tips
• Air tickets and visa to Vietnam

WHAT TO BRING?

Documents:

• PASSPORT (valid for 6 months with at least 2 consecutive blank pages.
• DRIVER’S LICENSE
• INTERNATIONAL DRIVERS LICENSE.
• MEDICAL AND TRAVEL INSURANCE. Bring contact number and policy Make sure that helicopter medevac is included.
• CREDIT CARD: there are ATM’s in Hanoi. Payment with card only in Hanoi.
• CASH (US$) Bring cash US$ or take from a ATM. You can change for Vietnamese Dong.
• VISA: Please check Visa requirements for your country of origin, prior to travel as for most countries a visa is needed. A visa application form before departure is needed (some countries are exempted) when staying longer than 15 days.

Bring this together with 2 x photo 4×6 cm. with a white colour back-ground. Bring the visa letter as well.

Gear/clothes:

• Protective riding gear (suit, helmet, gloves, etc). The temperature can fluctuate between 26 Celsius (Hanoi) and 5 C° up in the mountains when it’s raining.
• Bring hard (enduro) boots with ankle protection. It will safe your leg/ankle!
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Light rain gear /rain jacket. Temperatures can drop when riding on high altitude or when raining.
• Casual wear for evening dinners and non-riding days.
• Warm fleece and hat for our cooler days/evenings
• Camelbags/Hydration back-pack. Highly recommended! Necessary very handy to prevent dehydration (also to prevent altitude sickness).
• These magnificent views you want to capture!
• Head-light. Some home-stays have no electricity during the night.
• Travel sheets/thin sleeping bag/travel pillow. Can be useful when staying in the home-stays.
• Power pack. As a back-up for charging you electronic equipment/phone.
• Your spirit for adventure!

View more: Vietnam Motorbike Tours Tripadvisor

Highlights :

Vietnam Motorbike Tour will be more amazing and memorable until you actually experience it. Just being on this vehicle you totally can ride through the small, narrow even dirty and road leading to the most picturesque landscapes of the remote lands. Green forests, terraced rice fields, winding passes and the colorful costumes of the ethnic minority communities, etc. just by Motorbike you can feel all the beauty of the rich culture and magnificent nature. Don’t worry about the paved roads hard to ride we have an experienced guide accompanying to you. Let’s get started!

Vietnam Motorbike Tour Detailed itinerary :

Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau (Hoa Binh)

Day 2: Mai Chau - Phu Yen (Son La)

Day 3: Phu Yen -Than Uyen (Lai Chau)

Day 4: Than Uyen - Sapa (Lao Cai)

Day 5: Sapa - Bac Ha (Lao Cai)

Day 6: Bac Ha - Ha Giang City

Day 7: Ha Giang - Dong Van (Ha Giang)

Day 8: Dong Van - Bao Lac (110 km)

Day 9: Bao Lac - Ba Be Lake (150 km)

Day 10: Ba Be Lake - Hanoi (240 km) 

Tour price includes:

• Experienced English speaking tour guides
• Quality Honda XR150L or Honda CRF250L or other bikes we have with all fuel
• Quality Helmets/Gloves/Knee and elbow pads/Rain jackets/pants
• All meals on tour (All breakfasts, lunches and dinners with local Vietnamese food)
• Accommodation on tour (twin share room in standard hotel or stay at homestay as mentioned in itinerary)
• Boat rides on lakes or rivers as mentioned in itinerary
• All entrance fee / Permits
• Hotel pick up/drop off before and after the tour
• Video of the trip made by updated GoPro ( Send Later )

Tour price excludes:

• Medical insurance
• Bike damages
• Personal expense
• Drinks/Tips
• Air tickets and  visa to Vietnam