Northern Vietnam Motorcycle Tour

Hanoi – Mai Chau Valley (170 km)

Start the motorbike adventure from Hanoi at about 9.00am and drive along the scenic freeway. After 1 hour riding, you will be in the green countryside area with amazing nature and local people.

In the afternoon, during the route of riding, we will have a lot of stopovers where you can get the fantastic photos of Northern Vietnam. Arriving in Mai Chau at about 5.00pm, stop at a homestay in the village of Thai people where we spend the night. Overnight at local homestay.

Mai Chau – Phu Yen (Son La) (160 km)

After breakfast, say goodbye to the kind host to continue the riding adventure up to the North of Vietnam to Phu Yen (Son La). The riding route today is short but we have chance to conquer some easy off-road challenge, along with many stops for capturing and contemplating breathtaking landscape, or even meet and interact with local hill tribes.

Then, this adventure also takes you via Moc Chau Plateau, where you’ll be surprised by the beauty of large green tea fields. The nice view of Da River will be a beautiful image to remark the end of second day that we arrive in Phu Yen town at around 5.00pm. Overnight at hotel.

Phu Yen – Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen (210 km)

Today, we will prepare the best for riding along one of the best driving routes in Vietnam: Phu Yen to Than Uyen via Mu Cang Chai, the paradise of mountainous area in the North of Vietnam with terraced rice field, the colorful hill tribes, calm landscape and awesome views. 

You also have chance to take many stops for capturing and visiting the local people to learn more about their life, their culture and so on. At around 5.00pm, arriving in Than Uyen and check in hotel for overnight.

Than Uyen – Sapa (110 km)

If the 3rd day takes you along the best route of riding motorbike, this day taking you from Than Uyen to Sapa will give you the champion view of nature with large green tea fields and imposing Fanxipan peak. Especially, the ride crossing O Qui Ho surely will make you want to stop several times for taking photos.

O Qui Ho is one of most beautiful passes in Vietnam and riding a motorbike on this pass is a not-to-be-missed experience of all riders. By noon time, reaching Sapa where you can spend half day to explore the surrounding area by foot or simply relax in the town. Overnight at hotel or homestay (optional).

Sapa – Bac Ha (160 km)

After breakfast, we start riding downhill from Sapa on other sides of Hoang Lien Mountain range, which offers much more beautiful scenery of nature filled up with terraced rice fields.

The ride today is almost on the smooth roads along the Chinese border, through some rustic villages inhabited by friendly local people. Finish the ride today in the small town of Bac Ha at about 4.00pm. Overnight at hotel.

Bac Ha – Ha Giang (190 km)

Considered as the paradise of nature and mountainous view in Northern Vietnam, Ha Giang is our destination today. All the landscape you see today is different from that you enjoyed before.

Especially, the ride through Hoang Su Phi surely will make you feel mesmerizing by its unique natural picture of terraces. Hoang Su Phi is voted by many motor riders as the worthy place for motorbike riding. Arriving in Ha Giang at around 5.00pm, check in hotel where you spend the night.

Ha Giang – Dong Van – Meo Vac (170 km)

Today, we will spend a full day exploring some of the best places in Ha Giang like Dong Van Stone Plateau & Global Geo-park with finishing point of Meo Vac. Especially, Dong Van is where all motorcyclists feel excited thanks to its terrain and scenery. We will end the ride today in the middle of the stone plateau, the little town of Meo Vac at about 5.00pm. Overnight at hotel.

Meo Vac – Quang Uyen (200 km)

Leaving the amazing stone plateau of Dong Van behind, we will continue the ride to Quang Uyen where the beauty of Northern Vietnam is different: the mountains are greener, lower with more tiny authentic villages where the locals are very eager to see new faces. Passing Cao Bang City, we will reach Quang Uyen town where we put the end for a ride today and stay overnight. Overnight at hotel.

Quang Uyen – Ban Gioc Waterfall – Cao Bang (180 km)

Today is one of the highlighted days in this motorbike adventure in the North of Vietnam with an amazing ride on almost quiet roads through some tranquil villages dotted with a green view of nature. After lunch nearby the poetic Ban Gioc Waterfalls, we’ll take some pictures of this Vietnam’s biggest waterfall before riding head to Cao Bang on another road.

Arriving in Cao Bang City at about 4.30pm, check in hotel and spend some time to enjoy local beer.

Cao Bang – Ba Be Lake (150 km)

This easy riding day will take you from Cao Bang to Ba Be natural lake, which is celebrated as the lake of fairy scenery. After lunch there, we will companion with Hello Vietnam Travel Team to explore the lake by boat and let the motorbike rest. And you also can take time swimming to relax or walk around the nearby villages and Ba Be National Park. 

For overnight, we will stay with the Tay people at a nice house-on-stilt.

Ba Be Lake – Thac Ba Lake (170 km)

The ride today is easy and offers a nice view of nature with green fields. The mountains are not so high but give chance to visit some rural villages inhabited by hospitable hill tribes.

Reaching a village of Dao people, we will stop and leave the bikes rest at the homestay for a nice boat trip around Thac Ba Lake and a walking trip around village. Overnight at homestay of Dao people.

Thac Ba Lake – Hanoi (180 km)

Saying goodbye to the family at a homestay, we pack stuff and start riding out of villages, take some relaxing time on the dyke road along little rivers on the way back to Hanoi. The last 15km of the route will be more difficult but surely make you feel more interesting before we end the adventure.

Arriving in Hanoi, we will stop to leave the bikes at our shop. Our tour guide will take you to your hotel by car or taxi and say goodbye with the hope that, we will see again in another adventure.

• See more options: Vietnam Motorbike Tours
• Tour operator: Vietnam Aurora Travel