10 Day Unforgettable Northern Vietnam Guided Motorbike Tour

Overview

You will be touring through North Vietnam to explore the natural beauty of high mountains, hospitable ethnic minorities, typical cultures, and traditions.

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Hanoi
• Ride through the Mu Cang Chai Massif
• Explore the ancient streets in Dong Van town
• Walk around a real Montagnard village in Mai Chau
• 125 cc manual Honda, Yamaha, or Suzuki bike rental available
• Marvel at cultural and natural diversity on scenic rides
• Professional English-speaking guide
• 9 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Hanoi to Mai Chau

   You will start your motorbike tour by leaving Hanoi on dyke roads to avoid heavy traffic, at around 9:00 a.m. You will drive your motorbikes towards the west in direction of Mai Chau, an area of beautiful landscape and home to the Thai ethnic minority. You will ride on highway six passing extensive farming lands comprising a sea of paddy fields split by tree-lined roads punctuated by limestone karst scenery. After a light lunch in Hoa Binh Province, you will cross Thung Khe, one of the most beautiful mountain passes in North Vietnam, and then descend to the mountain valley settlement of Mai Ch

2. Day 2: Mai Chau to Phu Yen (140 kilometers / 87 miles)

   Mai Chau is one of the closest places to Hanoi where you can experience a real Montagnard village. In the morning, you will take a short walk around the village to discover local life. Life here starts early so by sunrise there is a wealth of activity. The Thai women are masterful weavers who ensure that there is plenty of traditional-style clothing to buy in the village center. You will see women weaving on looms under or inside their houses in the village. You can buy some handmade traditional-style clothing, knife, or a cross-bow. After breakfast in your homestay, you will wave goodbye to v

3. Day 3: Phu Yen to Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai)

   In the morning, you will continue motorbiking across Lung Lo Pass before heading up on Road 32. During the first Indochina War, the 15 kilometers long Lung Lo Pass, used by the Vietnamese resistance forces to transport weapons, goods, and food during the Dien Bien Phu campaign of 1954, was heavily bombed by the French in order to sever the front lines from the rear. Lung Lo Pass, situated in the northern province of Yen Bai, was also recognized as a national heritage by the ministry. After lunch, you will ride through the Mu Cang Chai Massif, almost as high as the Fansipan. From the top, it of

4. Day 4: Mu Cang Chai to Sapa

   You will motorbike straight toward the main Fansipan Mountain range via Khau Pha Pass. There is also the option of taking a very challenging back route which will take you through several river crossings. The massive mountain range dominates the road until finally, you must make a splendid climb up from Binh Lu and up to the top of the highest road pass in Vietnam (Tram Ton Pass). Crossing into Lao Cai Province at over 2,000 meters, you will enjoy the views looking out over the main range for miles and miles, before descending to the mountainous Sapa Valley. Sapa is located in Lao Cai Province

5. Day 5: Sapa to Bac Ha (120 kilometers / 75 miles)

   Today you will drive down from Sapa to Lao Cai City and then have a coffee stop on the bank of Nam Thi River, which is at the Vietnam - China border. Enjoy your coffee while taking a view of China. Next, you will head to Road 70 before turning to Bac Ha on Road 153. Long touted as the weekend alternative to Sapa, this small highland town doesn’t have the same dramatic location of its more illustrious neighbor, but it is calmer when Saturday comes. It fills up to a choking point on Sunday morning, when visitors flood in to meet the Flower H’mong at the morning market. Compared with Sapa, touris

6. Day 6: Bac Ha to Ha Giang City via Hoang Su Phi Pass

   After breakfast, you take a motor ride on the track to Xin Man and Hoang Su Phi on many small, back roads with scenic mountain views. Xin Man is right on the border between Vietnam and China. It is, as of this writing, well hidden and completely surrounded by wild mountains and forests. There’s a single road from Xin Man to Hoang Su Phi. Hoang Su Phi is among the most untouched area of Ha Giang Province of Vietnam. The area was separated from mainstream society until very recently. Passing Hoang Su Phi, you will be charmed by the pristine beauty of the wild mountains and the authentic culture

7. Day 7: Ha Giang to Dong Van (160 kilometers / 99 miles)

   After getting the permit for a motorbike tour in border areas from Giang’s immigration police, you will ride on the challenging but incredibly beautiful mountain roads in the land of colorful mountain hill tribes. Next, you will motorcycle up the Ma Pi Leng Pass, yet another amazing place, with cloudy mountain ranges and the poetic Nho Que River winding off in the distance. It is really difficult to find the exact words to describe Ma Pi Leng Pass, located between Dong Van and Meo Vac, near the northernmost tip of Vietnam, it is a nature-painting of astonishing beauty and magnificence that cap

8. Day 8: Dong Van to Bao Lac (110 kilometers / 68 miles)

   Your motorbike ride in the morning will still be winding along the Rock Plateau. After breakfast, you will enjoy a slow motorbike tour on some beautiful mountain passes until Meo Vac where you will stop for lunch. In the afternoon, you will drive down the hill along the river and enjoy different mountain views (less rocky and greener). You will arrive in Bao Lac town at around 05:00 p.m. Hotel stay in Bao Lac.

9. Day 9: Bao Lac to Ba Be Lake (150 kilometers / 93 miles)

   You will have an early start to your day to save time for your boat ride in Ba Be and will start riding at around 08:00 a.m., post your breakfast. Today you will experience the best of Vietnam's off-road. Just 20 kilometers from Bao Lac, you will turn towards a narrow and bumpy road with breathtaking views of terraced rice paddies. You will finish this memorable riding day with lunch in a peaceful village of the Tay people nearby Ba Be Lake, followed by a time to relax on one of the most beautiful and biggest natural lakes in Vietnam in the afternoon!

10. Day 10: Ba Be Lake to Hanoi (240 kilometers / 149 miles)

    Staying off the main road for as long as possible you will head back towards the Red River Delta, passing through areas inhabited by Hmong, Dao, Tay, and Nung minority people. You will ride through a challenging yet glorious sealed road all the way back to Hanoi. Your tour to Ha Giang will end safely in Hanoi before rush hours.

Ride Details

Bike

rental bike

Terrain

mix of asphalt and off-road

Daily rides

110 - 240 kilometers / 68 - 149 miles

Riding gear

included: helmets, elbow + knee pads, gloves

Meals

7 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 7 dinners

Accommodation

You will be staying in various accommodations that include homestays and comfortable hotels. You will be staying at Hong Long or a similar hotel at Phu Yen, at Hoan Quan Hotel in Than Uyen, at Sapa Unique Hotel in Sapa, at Truong Xuan Hotel in Ha Giang, at Lam Tung Hotel in Dong Van, and at Thuy Duong or a similar hotel in Bao Lac. The accommodation will be on twin or double shared basis. Vietnam Motorbiketour has endeavored to select a combination of good quality hotels that reflect the character of the local area, as well as being as centrally located as possible while striving to keep the cost affordable. You will stay in a range of hotels and guesthouses with standardized quality. Please

Food

During the tour you will be served daily delicious meals, as indicated in the itinerary. You will relish local food consisting chicken, pork, beef, eggs, vegetables, and tofu. Breakfasts are included every day in the hotel (except on the first morning). They are usually continental breakfasts and may consist of cereals with milk or yogurt, bread, croissants, cold meats, cheese, and a range of spreads, with fruit juice, tea, or coffee to drink. It is rare to get a hot breakfast in Asia, though on some occasions there may be some hot food available as well. Included evening meals are in local restaurants or accommodation places and are either two or three-course meal. In most cases, table wate

Getting There

During the tour you will be driving through Hanoi, Mai Chau, Phu Yen, Than Uyen, Sapa, Bac Ha, Hoang Su Phi, Xin Man, Ha Giang, Dong Van, Bao Lac, and Ba Be Lake. [+](https://www.tripaneer.com/vietnam-motorbike-tour/10-days-unforgettable-motorbike-tour-in-northern-vietnam# "Zoom in") [−](https://www.tripaneer.com/vietnam-motorbike-tour/10-days-unforgettable-motorbike-tour-in-northern-vietnam# "Zoo