Embarking on a motorcycle tour from Hanoi through the scenic routes of Vietnam is a thrilling adventure. Starting in Hanoi, the bustling capital, you’ll soon find yourself immersed in the beauty and culture of the country. We begin our journey in Hanoi, where the chaotic streets and historic landmarks create a vibrant atmosphere. Take some time to explore the city’s rich history, perhaps visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum or the Old Quarter before setting out on your motorcycle.
Heading west towards Mai Chau, known for its stunning landscapes and the hospitality of the Thai ethnic minority. The picturesque valley, surrounded by lush greenery, offers a serene riding experience.
Continue your journey south to Phu Yen, a province known for its pristine beaches and peaceful countryside. Enjoy the coastal scenery as you ride along the roads.
Venture into the mountainous region of Mu Cang Chai, renowned for its terraced rice fields that create a breathtaking mosaic on the hillsides. The winding roads offer both a challenging and rewarding riding experience.
Riding northwest to Sapa, a town nestled in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Explore the vibrant markets, encounter diverse ethnic groups, and soak in the stunning views of the terraced landscapes.
Heading to Bac Ha, known for its colourful Sunday market and the ethnic diversity of the Flower H’mong, Phu La, and Dao Tuyen people. The vibrant atmosphere and unique cultural experiences make it a must-visit.
Travel through the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark to reach Quan Ba, where the iconic Twin Mountains (Tam Son) dominate the landscape. The challenging roads and dramatic scenery make this leg of the journey memorable.
Explore the town of Dong Van, surrounded by rugged mountains and unique geological formations. The Ma Pi Leng Pass offers breathtaking views of the Nho Que River winding through the valley.
Head southeast towards Ba Be Lake, Vietnam’s largest natural freshwater lake. The serene surroundings and the opportunity to experience the local culture of the Tay ethnic group add a tranquil touch to your adventure.
Conclude your journey by riding back to Hanoi, reflecting on the diverse landscapes, cultural encounters, and the sense of freedom of exploring Vietnam on a motorcycle.
Throughout this motorcycle tour, you’ll not only enjoy the thrill of the ride but also have the chance to connect with the rich history and diverse cultures that define Vietnam. It’s a journey that combines the joy of motorcycle riding with exploring unique and historical places.
| DEPARTURE / RETURN LOCATION | Hanoi / Hanoi |
Map
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival – Hanoi
Today, our Team will pick you up on the arrival day at a pre-arranged time, at the Airport or your Hotel if you are in the country already. We will take you to your Hotel for Check-in. Around 5:00 pm, we will meet for a riders’ briefing, meet your bike and the crew, and then head out to a specially picked local restaurant to share traditional Vietnamese food to get you started on your Vietnam adventure.
Day 02: Hanoi to Mai Chau (Riding Day 1 – Approx 200 km)
Although the traffic in Hanoi gets really busy, we’ll start at the city’s edge, quickly leave the traffic behind, and enter the countryside towns to the south. After a couple of hours of small towns and farmland, we’ll be able to see the mountains ahead. As we enter the area of the White Thai tribe, we’ll stop for some hill tribe-style lunch in a traditional wooden-framed building. As the road twists through the jungle-covered mountain, we’ll continue further into the mountains. We’ll stop at the top of White Rock Mountain for a stunning view across the Mai Chau Valley, set amongst small villages of wooden stilt houses and traditional farming families. There, we can watch the sunset over the rice paddies and mountains.
Day 03: Mai Chau to Phu Yen (Riding Day 2 – Approx 160 km)
Leaving Mai Chau, we’ll get a great view over the vast Hoa Binh lake. Then, it’s off to a hidden waterfall for a photo, followed by the high mountain roads of Moc Chau around the hundreds of tight bends and steep cliffs. We’ll stop for White Thai-style food for lunch at a local restaurant before heading down a beautiful valley to reach the banks of the giant Da River Lake, which we’ll cross by ferry. The road twists and turns its way along the banks of the lake past small fishing and farming villages. Expect to see the local people using small horses to carry their goods to market. Finally, we’ll pass back into rice farming areas as we make our way to our hotel at Phu Yen.
Day 04: Phu Yen to Mu Cang Chai (Riding Day 3 – Approx 180 km)
We begin with a trip over the Lung Lo Mountain Pass, where the Viet Minh made their way west to defeat the French in 1954. As we head north, the mountains get steeper, and we’ll have the opportunity to enjoy countryside views. From here, we can climb up to a sleepy hill tribe village at the top of a mountain to get great views Next, we’ll have lunch at a hill tribe restaurant in Nghia Lo. As we continue north, the hills become steeper, and the terraced rice paddies get steeper. This area has some of the best scenery in Vietnam. We’ll arrive at our traditional hill tribe accommodation in a wooden stilt house surrounded by rice paddies and mountains, where local food & cold beer will complete the day.
Day 05: Mu Cang Chai to Sapa (Riding Day 4 – Approx 140 km)
The mountains get bigger, and the road gets windier as we continue north. We’ll finally come to the incredible O Quy Ho pass, the biggest climb of our tour. We’ll stop at the top, at 2035 meters and enjoy some fresh tea and dried buffalo meat with the local hill tribe folk who live up there. As we come down the other side of the mountain, we’ll stop for photos at the impressive 100-metre Silver Waterfall. Continuing, you’ll get views over the amazing Cat Cat Valley and Vietnam’s highest mountain, Fan Si Pan. Finally, we’ll arrive in Sapa for lunch, and then the afternoon is free to explore the town. Optional: ride the world’s longest cable car ride to the top of Fan Si Pan mountain (3140 metres), the highest point in Vietnam.
Day 06: Sapa Adventure Day (Non Riding Day)
Today is free to explore the town and visit the local markets. If you didn’t yesterday, today, you can visit the world’s longest cable car ride to the top of Fan Si Pan mountain at 3140 meters, the highest point in Vietnam.
Day 07: Sapa to Bac Ha (Riding Day 5 – Approx 170 km)
To start the day, a steep, winding road leads us off down the mountain to the busy border town of Lao Cai, where we can stop at the busy Chinese border gate. Following the border, the road twists and winds along the high peaks and steep valleys. You can see stepped rice paddies everywhere and tiny wooden houses halfway up the slopes. We’ll wind along the side of the giant Chay River dam and then head towards Bac Ha town, which is famous for its hill tribe markets. Here, the many different tribes of the area can be found bartering and swapping their goods.
Day 08: Bac Ha to Quan Ba (Riding Day 6 – Approx 240 km)
The palace of King Hoang A Tuong is well preserved on the outskirts of Bac Ha. He ruled the hill tribes of the area with French permission as he controlled the trade routes out of the mountains—notably the opium trade. You’ll see more mountains, countryside, hill tribe villages, and more. Heading into the giant Karst formation mountains of Ha Giang province, we’ll reach the top of Bac Ha mountain pass. As we head towards the beautiful Quan Ba mountains, you’ll see small roads and limestone Karst formation mountains. Also known as ‘Heaven’s Gate’, this area is famous for secret grottos, caves, and colourful plum and peach trees. As you look over the valley, you’ll be greeted by the two amusingly shaped hills famously known as the ‘stone breasts.’ Our rooms are in a traditional Red Dao village where a local Dao family will look after you.
Day 09: Quan Ba to Dong Van (Riding Day 7 – Approx 140 km)
To the north, the road is like a rollercoaster winding over the Karst formation mountains up towards China. Along the way, we’ll visit the old palace of the Hmong emperor. Surrounded by steep cliffs, the Hmong were unassailable to both French and Chinese. We’ll follow all the way to the Lunc Cu tower, which marks the northernmost point In Vietnam. Climbing the tower gives you views across the border into China. Next to our hotel is the old French fort set on top of a high cliff. The stairs are steep and many, but it’s worth it for the area’s panoramic views.
Day 10: Dong Van to Ba Be Lake (Riding Day 8 – Approx 240 km)
We’ll leave on the Ma Pi Leng mountain pass, climbing over 1500 metres, surely one of the best roads in Vietnam. We’ll make many stops to look out over the steep cliffs and high valleys. Heading south will take us on small roads through steep-cliffed mountains. Carrying on, we’ll head into Ba Be National Park and go to the wooden stilt house we will stay in. We may have time to jump on a boat to explore the lake. Waterfalls, caves, jungle, and mountains make this a truly beautiful place.
Day 11: Ba Be Lake to Hanoi (Riding Day 9 – Approx 230 km)
Leaving the lake, we have hills and countryside for the first half of the day. In the afternoon, you’ll gradually see the towns get bigger and the roads more crowded, but we’ll take the easiest route back to the city. We finish the tour with a nice cold beer when we reach the city centre!
Tour Dates:
| Tour | Date from | Date to | Booking deadline |
| Sapa and Ha Giang Adventure Tour | 9-Apr-24 | 19-Apr-24 | 9-Mar-24 |
| Sapa and Ha Giang Adventure Tour | 18-Sep-24 | 28-Sep-24 | 18-Aug-24 |
Prices (USD) US Dollars
2 people / 1 vehicle / 1 shared room: From $2,185.00 per person
2 people / 2 vehicles / 1 shared room: From $2,390.00 per person
1 person / 1 vehicle / 1 single room: From $2,640.00 per person
1 person / 1 vehicle / 1 shared room: From $2,390.00 per person
Private Tour From $500.00
Inclusions and exclusions
| INCLUDED | Experienced English-speaking tour guide As New condition motorbikes All fuel, oil, spare parts, tools as required All meals while on tour Snacks Water & soft drinks while on tour First aid kit Accommodation fees while on tour Entry fees, tolls and other ‘on the road’ fees Waterproof jacket & pants Tour mechanic Pick up & return to hotel (or airport) |
| NOT INCLUDED | Airfare If the group is less than 8, no support van. Anything not listed in “INCLUDED” above |
The above information should be taken as a guide only as things can change. If you have any questions, please contact us.
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