5 Day Awesome Northwest Vietnam Guided Off-Road Motorbike Tour From Hanoi to Cloudy Ta Xua (Son La)

Overview

This motorbike tour is the perfect way to discover the northern part of Vietnam. A cozy homestay, tasty local foods, warm hospitality, a magnificent mountain landscape, and twisted and winding mountain passes will seduce anyone. Thanks to the availability of panoramic views of the scenery, you will have an unforgettable and thrilling riding experience. Immerse yourself in the local ethnic people’s culture by staying with them and sharing meals, and go back home with memories that will last forever. You should never miss this chance!

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Hanoi
• Incredible view of the delta plains
• Boat ride on the lovely Thac Ba Lake
• Honda and Yamaha bikes available for rental
• Ride through the Mu Cang Chai Massif
• Off-road rides into remote villages
• 4 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Hanoi to Ta Xua via Phu Yen (Son La) (220 kilometers / 137 miles)

   In the morning, start your motorbiking tour by leaving Hanoi on dyke roads to avoid the heavy traffic and breaking out of the delta plains. You head out of Hanoi, skirting along the Red River to Son Tay and ride through the peaceful countryside to Ta Xua mountain town (a district of Son La Province in the Northwestern region of Vietnam), Ta Xua is one of the best destinations for cloud hunting in the Northern mountains. Owing to its pristine beauty and nature, Ta Xua captivates the hearts of travel lovers. The high mountains are submerged in a sea of white clouds that covers the whole world. H

2. Day 2: Ta Xua to Mu Cang Chai via Tram Tau (210 kilometers / 130 miles)

   In the morning, keep motorbiking to the famous Dinosaur’s backbone, which can challenge your riding skills. Ta Xua is a paradise for photographers, offering endless opportunities to capture stunning landscapes, dramatic cloudscapes, colorful ethnic costumes, and authentic village life. Whether you’re an amateur or professional photographer, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in this scenic wonderland. Traverse winding roads and mountain passes as you make your way through the captivating landscape of Tram Tau. Stop at scenic viewpoints and villages along the route to interact with locals and le

3. Day 3: Mu Cang Chai to Sa Pa (Lao Cai) (110 kilometers / 68 miles)

   You motorbike straight toward the main Fansipan Mountain Range. There is also the option for a very challenging back route that takes 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, the views look out over the main range for miles and miles, before you descend to the mountainous Sa Pa valley. Sa Pa is located in Lao Cai Province, north-west Vietnam, and 350 km north-west of Ha

4. Day 4: Sa Pa to Thac Ba Lake in Vu Lin, Yen Bai (200 kilometers / 124 miles)

   Take your motorbike down from Sa Pa to Lao Cai City and then have a coffee stop on the banks of the Nam Thi River, the border between Vietnam and China. Enjoy your coffee while taking the view to China before you get back on the road to take a ride to Vietnam Motorbike Tour's Dao friends’ village of Vu Linh, which is located by the side of Thac Ba Lake, the biggest man-made lake in Vietnam. This artificial lake has an area of 23,400 hectares and 1,331 islands and hills with diverse ecological environments. The water in the lake is blue and clear and imprinted with the reflections of the surrou

5. Day 5: Vu Linh Village to Hanoi (180 kilometers / 112 miles)

   After breakfast, you will ride southeast on Highway 2 and then branch off to the sleepy town of Phu Tho. You will follow the edge of the Red River along the dyke, almost to the point where it merges with the Black River and where they flow together to Hanoi. By now, you will be in the lowlands of the delta plains and the north’s main agricultural areas. Harvest time here is really active. Crossing the Black River by a bridge, you will pass Vu Linh through Son Tay and then return to Hanoi on the highway. You should be back in Hanoi before rush-hour, which is at 4 p.m. because traffic only getti

Ride Details

Bike

rental bike (Honda or Yamaha brands)

Terrain

off-road

Mileage

920 kilometers / 572 miles

Daily rides

110 - 220 kilometers / 68 - 137 miles

Riding gear

included: helmet and driving gear

Meals

4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners

Accommodation

During this tour, you will stay in either a private or a shared room in standard hotels and homestay accommodations. Vietnam Motorbike Tour 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. Please be aware that some hotel rooms, especially those in major urban centers or older cities, may be smaller than what you are used to in other parts of the world. Standards and ratings may also be different from your home country. The rooms are en-suite and the options are twin or triple shared, depending on what you have booked. If you are a solo trav

Food

During this tour, all meals are included starting and ending with lunch on the first and last day. Breakfasts are usually continental, which are typical in most countries. A typical breakfast 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 courses. In most cases, table water is provided with meals. If you wish to purchase additional drinks, you can do so at your own expense. If you

Getting There

Tour through the northwest part of Vietnam from Hanoi to cloudy Ta Xua (Son La) via Phu Yen, Khau Pha Pass, Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai), Sapa (Lao Cai), and Thac Ba Lake (Yen Bai). Riding to the awesome Sapa via Khau Pha Pass will thrill any riders for the amazing scenery before reaching Thac Ba for a tranquil boat ride. [+](https://www.tripaneer.com/vietnam-motorbike-tour/5-days-awesome-motorbike-tour