Northern Vietnam Motorcycling

Hanoi - Mai Chau - Son La - Dien Bien Phu - Sapa – Hagiang – Bao Loc – Cao Bang – Ban Gioc – Ba Be – Lang Son – Hanoi
14-day trip with 12-day motorcycling
Motorcycling grade: Moderate
From US$ 1,091 per person

The mountainous area of Northern Vietnam has long been famous for its beautiful scenery and great diversity of ethnic minorities. With our adventure motorcycling trip you will make a big loop to experience all the bests that area can offer. Starting in Hanoi you will explore Northwest before jumping into Northeast, back to Hanoi after a day relaxing in Ba Be Lake. The perfect itinerary and the support crew ensure you get the most out of the trip in terms of comfort, enjoyment and adventure. Along the way we encounter dramatic landscapes and sweeping panoramas as the rural population goes about its business. Highlights include the terraced valleys of Sapa, beautiful Ban Gioc Waterfall and many different colorful minority groups.

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
Upon arrival in Hanoi, you meet our guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi.If time permits we can have riding test in the afternoon. Welcome dinner with local delicacies. Tour briefing at the dinner time. Overnight in Hanoi.

Summary:
Airport transfer: private AC car
Meal: Welcome dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 2: Ride to Mai Chau
In the morning we take a short bus drive the starting point on the outskirt of Hanoi where we beginning our adventure journey. We will ride on Highway 6 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 Town, the capital of Hoa Binh Province, we cross two short mountain passes then descent to the mountain valley settlement of  Mai Chau. We ride straight to Pom Coong, a peaceful village of White Thai ethnic minority where we have lunch, dinner and spend our night in a traditional stilt-house of a Thai family. If time and weather permit we will ride toward Ma River to enjoy a short boat ride upstream Ma Rive to a remote Thai Village. Relax and have interesting conversations with the villagers before we walk back to the dock. Return to Pom Coong Village for dinner and overnight.

Summary
Riding: 170km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home-stay

Day 3: Ride up to Son La
Breakfast at the home-stay before we embark on a beautiful ride up north to Son La. The road is in good condition and the scenery is stunning. We may take frequent stops to visit minority villages of H’mong, Black Thai,… or to take photos. Lunch will be in local restaurant en route. The highlight of our ride today could be the tea plantations in Moc Chau Plateau, where you find the best green tea in Vietnam grown along the roads on hillsides. We reach Son La in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Son La.

Summary
Riding: 187km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Son La

Day 4: Descend valley of Dien Bien Phu
It is true to say “the further you go up north the faster you heart rate”. Today the ride is greater with more winding road, longer passes, more colorful minority groups and more stunning scenery. Like yesterday, we may have interesting stops to visit villages and take photos. Lunch en route in local restaurant. The highlight of today ride could be the impressive pass of Pha Din.
Pha Pin means Heaven-Earth, and according to local legend, it was the frontier between Heaven and Earth. Pha Din is some 1,000m above sea-level. Climbing and descending the slopes with their many bends and deep gorges is a really an unforgettable experience. We reach Dien Bien Phu in the afternoon around 4pm. Upon arrival we cound ride around to explore the town. Dinner and overnight in Dien Bien Phu.

Summary
Riding: 170km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 5: Riding along Nam Na River to Tam Duong
After breakfast we will start our 225 km ride along stunning gorges and Nam Na River. On the way we will have interesting stops to visit H’mong and Dzao villages. Lunch in Lai Chau. We would reach Tam Duong around 4.30 pm. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Tam Duong Town.

Summary
Riding: 225km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:  Hotel

Day 6: Ascending Sapa
The ride today is the highlight of the whole trip. Climbing the highest pass in Vietnam, the Tram Ton Pass. Lunch in local restaurant en route. We will reach Sapa in the noon time. Sapa is the former hill station for the French colonists hundred years ago. Today Sapa is the paradise for trekking lovers thank to its beautiful trekking routes, stunning terraces, colorful minority groups and the highest mountain in Indochina, the Mt. Fansipang. Free at leisure in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Sapa.

Note: The weekend market (Sunday market) in Tam Duong is very interesting with lots of colorful ethnic minorities. If this day is Sunday the market will be included in the program and we would reach Sapa around 3pm.

Summary
Riding: 180km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:  Hotel

Day 7: Ride northeastward to Ha Giang
After breakfast in the hotel, we will head to Ha Giang 200km northeast of Sapa. First we descend Laocai through a beautiful area of rice terraces on hill slopes. In Laocai we will have a short ride along the border with China. The road is quite smooth and the traffic is not very busy. Lunch stop in small town of Yen Binh. We would reach Ha Giang around 5.30pm. Tonight we will stay overnight in a house of a Tay family. Dinner and overnight in the house.

Summary
Riding: 200km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home stay

Day 8: Riding to Bao Lac
Breakfast at the homestay. Riding east to Bao Lac Town. Today the ride is shorter and easier thus we may have sometime to wander around the village before leaving for Bao Lac. The lunch stop is in Bac Me, a quiet town on the bank of Gam River. After lunch we continue to Bao Lac. The ride in the afternoon is very nice since we ride along the Gam River. Arrive in Bao Lac around 5pm. Overnight in a mini hotel.

Summary
Riding: 109km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:  Hotel in Bao Lac

Day 9: Riding to Bao Bang
In the morning we head to Nguyen Binh through mining town of Tinh Tuc. The ride is quite peaceful with easy traffic and good road. Lunch stop in Nguyen Binh. In the afternoon we ride to Cao Bang with a stop to visit Pac Po cave, the hideout used by Ho Chi Minh when he came back to Vietnam after 30 years of self imposed exile. It was here that he organized his resistance army against the French. After here we continue to Cao Bang. Dinner and overnight in Cao Bang.

Summary
Riding: 135km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:  Hotel in Cao Bang

Day 10: Riding to Ban Gioc
Breakfast in Cao Bang. Ride to the beautiful waterfall of Ban Gioc. We will have an exploration of Nguom Ngao Cave before reaching Ban Gioc. Lunch in Ban Gioc and spend the afternoon to take photo and relax in the scenic nature setting of Ban Gioc Waterfall. We will ride back to Cao Bang on another road until we reach Quang Yen. Return to Cao Bang around 5pm. Dinner and overnight in Cao Bang.

Summary
Riding: 180km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:  Hotel in Cao Bang

Day 11: Riding to Ba Be Lake
Today we ride to the most beautiful lake in northern Vietnam, which is named “another Halong Bay”. The lunch stop is in Cho Ra. After lunch we have a short ride to Pac Ngoi, a village of Tay ethnic minority on the bank of Ba Be Lake. Upon arrival in Pac Ngoi we have a cruise on the lake. You can relax in the clean emeraude color water of the lake if weather permits. Tonight we will have dinner and overnight with a Tay family.

Summary
Riding: 129km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:  Home stay in Ba Be

Day 12: Riding to Lang Son
Breakfast at the home stay before heading to Lang Son. Today we ride on quiet roads through an unpopulated area. The roads were built and used mainly during the border dispute with China in 1979. We will have lunch in Nari, a small town on the bank of Bac Giang River. We continue riding toward the border gate of Friendship Pass in Dong Dang and to Lang Son where we stop for overnight.   

Summary
Riding: 230km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:  Hotel in Lang Son

Day 13: Riding back to Hanoi
Today we head back to Hanoi. Before leaving for Hanoi we visit Tam Thanh Cave. We ride on A1 National road. Have a stop for lunch in Kep. We will reach Hanoi at 4.30pm. Overnight in Hanoi.

Summary
Riding: 160km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:  Hotel in Hanoi

Day 14: Departure
Breakfast in the hotel and free at leisure until you are transferred to the airport for depature. Trip finishes.

Summary
Airport transfer: 45 mins
Meal: Breakfast

Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including road and weather conditions or for any other factor which may influence client safety.