23 Epic day Motorbike trip: Northern Vietnam – Top Gear Hanoi to Saigon Route

We take a ride along the Red River. Life along the river levee is like a small world in miniature with the traffic of tiny dings and boats through pretty fishing villages, detached ferries crossing the river, and immense cornfields, enjoy the quaint and tranquil scenery before reaching Trung Ha Bridge. After lunchtime, we arrive at Xuan Son National Park.

Get onto a bunch of mild back-road and off-road tracks, then cross two long passes leading to Nghia Lo township. Nghia Lo welcomes you with pleasant weather, unique cultural features, and many revolutionary relics such as Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area, We will spend a night at the Mien Tay hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Mien Tay Hotel

After having breakfast, go for a 50km ride to Tu Le on winding roads cutting through untamed land and rice terraces spreading as far as the eyes can see. If the weather is nice, prepare ourselves for the upcoming off-road trail with a coffee break. Go back in the direction we have come to the National Route 32 for a photo hunt at the Parasailing site. From the peak, you can eye-witness the panoramic view of Tu Le terrace valley and the foot of Khau Pha Pass. With a length of over 32 km, Khau Pha Pass is the most rugged and longest pass on National Route 32. The pass also takes us through must-visit attractions such as La Pan Tan, Mu Cang Chai, Tu Le, Che Cu Nha, and Nam Co. Spend time visiting La Pan Tan mountain peak before worry-free Mu Chang Chai Town.

Have lunch at Mu Cang Chai township, then make our way to O Quy Ho Pass – one of the longest, most daunting yet imposing mountain passes in Vietnam’s northwestern region. Here, halt our journey for a short period to behold the twilight before saying hello to Sapa. Stay overnight at Cat Cat View Hotel in this peaceful rural town.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Cat Cat View Hotel

Kick off the day by visiting the most distinctive attractions in Sapa on your motorbike. Make tracks for Sin Chai valley, then ride through Cat Cat village. After crossing a short off-road section, we continue to ride along National Highway 4D to subsequently reach Khoang Village and uncover Ta Phin valley.

Have a short break before rolling into Lao Chai – Ta Van valley and Sau Chua Peak. The next point is Y Linh Ho village on the other side of the mountain, then move on to Ta Van village for lunch at a homestay. The road from Y Linh Ho to Ta Van village is a newly paved one with medium curves and scenic spectacles on both sides.

From there, we follow a small road that has two sides of palm trees, together with great mountains. Ride for a few more kilometers; the road becomes better and larger with beautiful views.

That is when we get closer to Lam Thuong. After approximately 6 hours of sitting on your motorbikes, our tour team arrives in Lam Thuong and spends the 3rd night here when you are welcome in the hospitality of the local host.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Still House bungalow

Get on the bikes and ride along on a small road lined by palm trees and scenic mountain views. We will have some interesting offroad ride through some beautiful villages before heading up to Ha Giang, you will be charmed by the pristine beauty of the wild mountains and the authentic culture of the local ethnic groups the Tay, and the Ha Nhi People.

The Ha Giang roads are intrinsically difficult due to their winding and rocky terrain, but as we zoom in, we get to gaze on the majesty of the plateau. It is another highlight of Ha Giang Motorbike Touring.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

Today is surely the highlight of this trip. We will have one of the best Vietnam motorbike tours today with amazing view of nature. We will ride on small challenging mountain roads with incredibly beautiful land of colorful mountain hill tribes.

We stop at Quan Ba to watch the vast pine forests and winding slopes. Ride on a zig-zag track until we reach Vuong Family’s Residence, 14 km from Dong Van. Vuong’s Family was considered the King of the Hmong People in Dong Van, Ha Giang. Their residence was built in the scenic valley of Sa Phin with Chinese architecture. The whole house was built out of wood and rock only.

The rocks for the buildings were imported from China. Vuong’s Family Residence is a masterpiece. It is in the valley of the heavenly beauty of Sa Phin. This is a remote area, and you can meet the hard-working local people here. It is inspiring to see how they survive as they manage to live in the rocks. When you reach Dong Van town, you will have some extra time to wander the ancient streets lined with H’mong homes of clay bricks and tiles roofs-built centuries ago.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

After enjoying breakfast, you ride your motorcycle 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.

It is difficult to find the exact words to describe Ma Pi Leng Pass, located between Dong Van and Meo Vac, near the northernmost tip of Vietnam, as a painting of astonishing beauty and magnificence that captures the eyes of all viewers and nature lovers. The landscape is among the most beautiful scenery of Vietnam, and the slow tempo is only more appreciable.

You ride your motorcycle across the wild regions of the mythical province of Ha Giang, (Meo Vac) is included.  It is inhabited by different ethnic minorities including the H’mong, the King, Tay, and Dzao. Most ethnic groups have maintained their culture untouched by the outside world. enjoy slowly Vietnam motorbike tour on some beautiful mountain passes until Meo Vac where we overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Cao Bang Province – the destination of the day is popular for various tourist sites: Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave, Pac Po Cave, Lenin Stream, and the 15-storeyed pass curve. Our crew will experience a dream ride throughout the route – an amazing mix of on-road and off-road riding accompanied by fascinating sceneries on sides.

Depending on the weather and your riding skills, we sort out the most suitable and exciting route for you. Our planned route is for experienced riders in favorable condition weather, but we always have backup plans to go sideways.Heaving in our sight, the way to Quang Uyen is a land of unrivaled and unique beauty.

Thereafter, we uncover the west of Cao Bang along the Vietnam – China frontier, surrounded by limestone mountains, luscious cornfields, and small villages. Finally, we will check in at a homestay in Cao Bang.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

Today will cover a 210 km distance with seven riding hours to explore the marvelous landscapes in Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces. Cao Bang surprises tourists with one of the most impressive natural sights with multiple levels and green jade water flowing down the huge lake below – Ban Gioc waterfall. Go boating on foot or go swimming on the side of the fall; you will be closer to nature without being cornered by crowds of tourists.

The Vietnam – China frontier divides the fall and river in half, so you will see lots of Chinese tourists here. Get back your energy with a cup of coffee, then depart to Nguom Ngao Cave. Spend 45 minutes exploring one of the most well-known caves in the North with countless stalactites and stalagmites of all shapes and sizes.

After lunchtime at Quang Uyen, we have an excursion to Bac Son valley, which is known as an ideal cloud hunting site of Na Lay peak. Standing on the peak with an altitude of about 600m above sea level, the panorama view of Bac Son is surely worth your effort of climbing 1200 steps of stairs! Arrive at a homestay in the village, and we will get to learn and experience the craft-work on the roof tiles – the exotic feature of all houses in this area. Have a stroll around or enjoy some beer with a great view.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

Leaving Bac Son – the valley of love and reminiscence, we can run along National Highway 18 to Ha Long Bay. However, these are the main artery roads in and out of Quang Ninh province, riddled with heavy traffic; we’d rather guide you to move towards Khe Ro’s old-growth forest and go on the spiritual route west of Yen Tu to reach Ha Long.

Yen Tu nature reserve – one of the spots we run through stretches over five communes, including Thanh Son, Thanh Luan, Tuan Mau, An Lac, and Luc Son. It’s a national landmark welcoming millions of travelers every year with its exotic religious and casual sightseeing.

Yen Tu is also a sacred Buddhist land where the ancient Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong achieved enlightenment and started a branch of Buddhism distinctive to Vietnam. Right after lunch, we from Yen Tu head towards Quang Ninh city – the province of coal, in which Ha Long city is situated. In the late afternoon, we will arrive at Ruby Hotel in Ha Long city, where we will provide you with a hearty supper with beer and freshly caught seafood.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Ruby Hotel

After long days of riding hard, sleep a bit more today. Get up at 9 in the morning for a fresh start; we offer you breakfast with Vietnamese coffee. Start off your new day with a wander around the city for a while by bike or on foot. Embark on a cruise to explore the World Heritage Site of Halong Bay.

Your lunch is on at 1 p.m., savoring your meal while the cruise keeps crossing the bay to show you the majestic and mighty nature. Halong teems with abundant scenic beauty, archeological and geological significance, cultural and historical connections, and fresh seafood. All are blending together to make Halong Bay one of Mother Earth’s most incredible natural wonders and one of Vietnam’s most prized treasures.

In the afternoon, we disembark from the cruise to Titop island, climbing 430 steps to the top of the island for a view of Halong bay from up high. Back to the cruise and join a cooking class held by the cruise chefs to learn the recipe for spring rolls. Dinner is on at 7:15 p.m. Then you can go fishing for cuttlefish, ending fun and relaxing day on our cruise ship.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Luxurious cruise

After savoring a light breakfast with a cup of coffee, we will explore Sung Sot Cave (the Cave of Astonishment) – the largest cave in Halong Bay made of stalactites and stalagmites in unique and special shapes like an old banyan tree with luxuriant foliage. It’s also one of the ten largest caves in the world, with an area of 10,000 m2.

Reaching the highest peak of the cave, you will see the beautiful landscapes of a royal garden that appears with a clear pond. After a brunch buffet, we will check out of the hotel at 11:30 a.m. Head to Ninh Binh

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Villa homestay

Say goodbye to the Tam Coc Valley we then head south on a beautiful winding road, this route leads us due south, through remote back country. Lunch will be on the way with local foods. In the afternoon we cut eastward towards the coast and stay overnight in the peaceful city of Vinh, which is close to where Ho Chi Minh was born.

Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight in a hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Vinh City

Drive primarily on the beautiful new highway of Ho Chi Minh, we continue on the quiet highway to Dong Loc Intersection, (main junction for supply lines during the war) which is widely regarded in Vietnamese eyes as the beginning of Ho Chi Minh Trail. We then pass through remote back country, close to the Ha Tinh motorcycle tours border, as the scenery steadily becomes dominated by karst limestone rock formations.

Ride on Ho Chi Minh Highway until Pho Chau where we stop to visit the HCM Trail victory monument which is in fact the real starting point of our HCM Trail ride. Motorcycle all the way to Phong Nha – Ke Bang, the biggest and also the most beautiful cave in Vietnam and Indochina and is now a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

We will make a turn to join the western Ho Chi Minh trail; known as the hidden trail that the US army did never know and bomb, the western Ho Chi Minh trail offers us the wonderful motorbike ride today.

Along the way, we pass a number of significant locations where the bulk of North Vietnam’s foot soldiers and trucks crossed into Laos during the war. In the afternoon, having passed over the mountainous border divide between the former north and south Vietnam, we arrive at Khe Sanh – The site of the former US Marine base and location of the famous siege that precluded the Tet Offensive in 1968.

We will head down to the Khe Sanh town and finish the great day for motorcycle touring Vietnam at about 5:00 pm.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Khanh Phuong Luxxury Hotel

After a visit to the fascinating Khe Sanh museum, we will leave the Ho Chi Minh trail today to ride along the historical road No 9 along the Dakrong river. we head towards the coast through the former DMZ to visit the Vinh Moc Tunnels.

An underground tunnel network that was home to thousands of villagers during the course of the war. We then follow the beautiful coastal route south to the Imperial City of Hue, which lies along the banks of the Perfume River.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

It’s beautiful Vietnam motorcycle tour on coastlines from Hue to Hoi An, we head east along a beautiful coastal route that passes through many colourful fishing villages beside a seemingly endless beach stretch.

The salty air and coastal scenery are a dramatic contrast to the mountains from the previous days. We’ll stop often to dip our toes in the sea, chat with fishermen and to take photos. We will cross the Hai Van pass or Cloudy pass – one of the most beautiful passes in the central Vietnam in which presents a great view of mountain and ocean.

The road then winds down toward Hoi An, passing through Danang city, Marble Mountain and along the coastline.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Today, after having breakfast at hotel you’ll be taken to walk inside the old quarters of Hoi An to explore timeless beauties of monuments, relics like the ancient houses, pagodas, temples, markets…

To understand more about the history of this fascinating ancient town as well as the lifestyle of the locals. In the afternoon, you’ll be free on your own to laze on the beach. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Later on, we’ll keep riding along the coastline through coconuts homeland of central Vietnam & through rice fields and rural villages and mountainous area to get to city of Quang Ngai. Have breakfast at the hotel and check out.

We then will ride our bikes south of Hoi An to Cua Dai beach and cross Thu Bon river. Ride on back roads through yellow sand dunes, crossing the Local ferry to Tam Hai Island . Have lunch before we keep riding on country roads to My Lai village to visit the memorial of the massacre to remember 504 locals who died.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Coco land Resort

After having breakfast at hotel, you’ll be at leisure then keep jumping on the bikes again to ride to visit the most famous travel spots in Quy Nhon as Fishing Villages, in the afternoon, you’ll be free by yourself to relax on the beach

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Transfer 30 minutes to the suburb of Qui Nhon city then we’ll start riding along the coast and you could also race along a railway through hills to La Hai, have lunch on the way. After having lunch, we’ll take a rest a bit before riding straight to Nha Trang.

Upon getting to Nha Trang, you’ll be helped to get checked in.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Nha Trang

Enjoy the morning sunrise with stroll along the beach & dip in the ocean . After breakfast is time for us to head across to the VMT HQ for our rider briefing. Guided through the bustling streets of seaside town Nha Trang and on towards the Central Highlands.

A blissful day of twisty mountain passes and stunning landscapes dotted with rural minority villages as we ride up through the clouds and elevation of 1600m meters towards the city of love Dalat, the capital of Lam Dong Province, is centered around a lake and surrounded by hills, pine forest, lakes and waterfalls.

Known as the “City of Eternal Spring”  famed for its cooler temperatures and striking French architecture. Dalat is a popular destination  Great overnight stay in the comforts of our hotel. Enjoy a wander of popular evening night markets and the many local restaurants and bars Dalat has to offer.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

The journey from Da Lat to Mui Ne showcases the diversity of Vietnam’s natural beauty. As you depart from Da Lat, you’ll ride through winding mountain roads, surrounded by verdant pine forests and cascading waterfalls.

The fresh mountain air invigorates your senses as you take in panoramic views of the mist-covered valleys below. As you continue your ride, the landscape gradually transitions into vast rice fields and picturesque rural scenery.

Finally, you’ll be rewarded with the awe-inspiring sight of Mui Ne’s pristine beaches and towering sand dunes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Today is our final day on the bikes as we head to Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Pearl of the Far East it’s now Vietnam’s economic hub and vibrant southern capital.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch