motorbike trip in the North of Vietnam

13 days motorbike trip in the North of Vietnam

The Northernmost regions of Vietnam are rarely frequented by travellers. However, those who do venture there, are treated to some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. Winding your way through the mist strewn mountains, past rice terraces and hidden villages... This trip is a must for motorcycle enthusiasts and those who want to discover the untouched Chinese-Vietnamese border.

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1 : ARRIVE IN HANOI
Dinner
Welcome to Vietnam!
Upon you arrival in Noi Bai airport, our driver will be waiting to welcome you and take you to the hotel where you are going to be staying. This evening, you will enjoy a welcome dinner in the restaurant of your hotel.
Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 2 : HANOI-NGHIA LO (250KM)
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Before the ride, it takes 30 minutes to double check the bikes and insure that we have all necessary tools and equipment to guarantee maximum fun. We head out of Hanoi skirting along Red River to Son Tay and then head up the mountain to Nghia Lo. The road is easy and flat from Hanoi to Thanh Son, from Thanh Son to Thu Cuc and then Ba Khe to Nghia Lo is beautiful, snaking the foot of Hoang Lien Range. Nghia Lo is a big mountain town where we stop for the night.
Overnight in Nghia Lo.

JOUR 3: NGHIA LO-THAN UYEN (180KM)
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Wild and bumpy road with Lung Lo Pass as the first challenge. The next one is the higher Khau Pha Pass. We ride through the Mu Cang Chai massif, almost as high as the Fansipan. From the top, it offers one of the most beautiful views of North Vietnam. The ride is challenging but very rewarding.
Overnight in Than Uyen.

DAY 4 : THAN UYEN-SAPA (140KM)
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
The area of Than Uyen is mainly populated by Flower H'mong and Dzao people. Then direction Sapa. Easy track for 100 km and asphalted mountainous road for the last 40 km. Stay in Sapa and you will find out the reason Sapa is one of the most popular places for tourists in Vietnam.
Overnight in Sapa.

DAY 5 : SAPA-BAC HA (100KM)
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
The drive from Sapa to Bac Ha takes ~3 hours, down from Sapa to Lao Cai (34 km), a border city where we can take photos with China as the background. After lunch, ride up to Bac Ha (70 km) with stunning landscape.
Overnighting in Bac Ha.

DAY 6: BAC HA-HA GIANG (200KM)
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
After breakfast, ride on the track to Xin Man and on many small/back roads with scenic mountain views before joining the main road heading up to Ha Giang where we stop for the night and apply for a permit.
Overnighting in Ha Giang.

DAY 7: HA GIANG-DONG VAN (180KM)
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
After getting the permit to ride in border areas at Ha Giang's Immigration Police, we ride on small challenging mountain roads (but incredibly beautiful) on the land of colorful mountain hill-tribes.
Head up the Ma Pi Leng Pass. Here is yet another amazing place, with cloudy mountain ranges and the poetic Nho Que river winding off in the distance. Ride on a zig-zag track until Dong Van, a remote area and meet the hard-working local people here. It is inspiring to see how they survive as they manage live in the rocks. When we reach town we will have some extra time to wonder the ancient streets lined with H'mong homes of clay bricks and tiles roofs built centuries ago.
Overnight in Dong Van.

DAY 8 : DONG VAN-BAO LAC (80KM)
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
The road is still under construction and tracks what make the ride relatively long in spite of few kilometres. The landscape is among the most beautiful of Vietnam, and the slow tempo is only more appreciable.
We cross the wild regions of the mythical province of Ha Giang. Stop for the night at Bao Lac, the ethnic crossroad of Northeast Vietnam. Many other ethnic groups on the two sides of the border meet at the market every Sunday.
Overnight in Bao Lac.

DAY 9 : BAO LAC-CAO BANG (150KM)
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Beautiful ride down to Cao Bang province. Few passes from where you can dominate the area. The road is easy but there are many blind curves. We can stop very often for photos. All together, stop for drinks and food it should be an 8hour journey. Stay in a hotel.
Overnight in Cao Bang.

DAY 10 : CAO BANG-QUANG UYEN (140KM)
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Ride in 1 hour and half to reach the beautiful village of Quang Uyen, in the middle of a mountain cirque. This is the territory of Nung An people. Homestay in a host family and the hostess is a great cook.
We make our way through spectacular scenery to Vietnam's most impressive waterfall, Ban Gioc Waterfalls, 50km from Quang Uyen. Weather permitting we can swim right up to where the 50m high falls hit the river.
Overnight in Quang Uyen.

DAY 11 : QUANG UYEN-LANG SON (180KM)
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Ride from Quang Uyen to Lang Son on the famous historical Highway 4. We will have time to discover this city which has become a big trading post between China and Vietnam. You can shop for cheap Chinese products at the nearby Dong Kinh market.
Overnight in Lang Son.

DAY 12 : LANG SON-HA NOI (150KM)
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Easy day back to Hanoi on the new Highway 1B. You can wake up late in the morning as we guess you can be tired after 10 long riding days. Arrive in Hanoi around 3pm.
Overnight in Ha Noi.

DAY 13 : BACK HOME
Breakfast
Morning, breakfast at the hotel. Free until transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for the flight to back home.
Thank you for your coming and have a good flight.

Included:

  • English speaking guide
  • Motorbike and fuel
  • Hotels and homestays
  • Meals mentioned in itinerary
  • All transfers described in this itinerary: transfers to and from the airports, tours transfers
  • Vietnamese visa letter
  • A cellphone with credit for joining us

Excluded :

  • International flights tickets(if you need, we can help you to find the best flight)
  • International travel insurance
  • Payment of $ 45 per person for visa simple entry to your arrival at the Vietnamese airport

Contact us for a quote

This trip is available throughout the year. If you wish to book this trip please contact us. If you want us to send you more information on this tour or tailor this tour to your requirements (dates, tastes ...) you only have to ask.

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