Expedition Northern Vietnam HIGHLIGHT (14 Days – 1 Nights/ 2190 Km)

For many riders, northern Vietnam represents some of the best motorbiking opportunities anywhere in the world. The north offers the most majestic scenery on the grandest scale in Vietnam: the mountains are higher, and the passes are loftier than anywhere else in the country. Riding can be slow, but the scenery is sublime, the roads are extraordinarily ambitious, and the history and culture is fascinating. The north of Vietnam is the best riding they’ve ever experienced. This 14-day motorcycle tour in Northern Vietnam will give you a full view of the hidden beauty and rich tradition of Vietnam. It covers all the famous attractions in Northern Mountain areas also the untouched lands in remote areas near Chinese border that not many tourists can come. We can be sure it’s one of our greatest adventures and this will be your trip of your lifetime. 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

Pu Luong / Mu Cang Chai / Spectacular scenery Different Ethnic Minority Groups / Local Cuisine / Narrow windy roads and much more

Day 1: Ha Noi _ Pu Luong 180km 

After meeting your guide we head out of Hanoi to Hoa Binh. The first day is difficult day but for us the first day ride to Pu Luong is the highlight of this motorbike our. We branch off onto smaller roads that wind through the hills and villages to meet the Black River (much more beautiful than it sounds!). We can enjoy an interesting motorcycle tour in North Vietnam through some peaceful villages on the back-roads that offer you amazing view of green mountain and rice fields. 

In the afternoon we hit the trails and carve through the forests to our destination of Pu Luong Valley. Tonight we stay in a stilted house with a local family. It’s a beautiful setting that feels a world away from the city we left behind this morning! 

Enjoy a stroll around the village before enjoying the incredible feast put on by the local family. 

Accommodation: Homestay. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 2: Pu Luong – Moc Chau / 150km 

Plenty of singletrack and dirt roads today as we pass through remote areas inhabited by the Hmong tribes, where the locals are dressed in their colorful attire, take some souvenir photos, then keep moving ahead, the road is quite steep and it might make you unforgettable memory for you.  Only when it comes to the forest, you will feel overwhelmed by the beauty of the northwestern forest. Perhaps the flower begins to bloom this time, and the scene becomes even more appealing and romantic. 

Accommodation: Guesthouse. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 

Day 3: Moc Chau – Tram Tau/ 180km 

Finishing with a challenging ride up to our overnight stop, we will be greeted with some much-appreciated cold beers! 

Accommodation: Hotel. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 

Day 4: Tram Tau  - Mu cang chai / 180km 

On this day, we venture further into the remote regions of the Hmong and Dao minority villages. Make sure your cameras are charged today – the colorfully dressed locals combined with the beautiful villages and mountainous backdrop make for some truly incredible sights. This legendary route presents us with a demanding challenge in addition to its spectacular splendor and dangerous curves and twists. More technical off-road riding today as we traverse the rugged landscapes on our way to Mu Cang Chai. This day could be the most scenic motorbike ride in Vietnam, it offers one of the most beautiful views of North Vietnam. The ride is challenging but very rewarding.  

Accommodation: Guesthouse. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 

Day 5: Mu cang chai – Sapa / 170km 

Today we pass through forests and alongside tea plantations as we continue through the highlands. We cross numerous passes, including the highest pass in Vietnam: Tram Thon pass, at 1900m. This pass is known as ‘Heaven’s Gate’, It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to view the spectacular majesty of Fansipan mountain from the top of the pass.  Before you descend to the mountainous Sa Pa valley, a must-see location on North Vietnam motorbike adventures, the terraced rice fields of the Sapa region are some of the most spectacular in the world and tonight’s accommodation is perched atop a hill, slap bang in the middle of it all. Its naturally gifted beauty keeps attracting more and more people to spend their vacation there. Particularly, the place is the foremost choice for honeymoon couples! Overnight at Hotel! 

Day 6: Sapa day tour 

After 5 fun days of this amazing motorcycle tour Vietnam, it’s really joyful to have an easy day off the bikes.  Sa Pa is lovely little town located at the height of 1600 meters above the sea, surrounded by amazing valley with the villages of minorities, we can either take it easy in Sa Pa town, or take another SaPa motorbike tour along Muong Hoa valley-one of the most beautiful valley in northern Vietnam, or down deep into the valley to see more interesting local people. All options are dominated by the crest of the enormous Fansipan mountain range. The entire region is populated by Hmong, Giay, Tay and Dao people. 

Vietnam Motorcycle Adventures suggestion is to take a short walk to Ham Rong – a highest peak of the town where you can get full view of Sa Pa or take a short Sapa motorcycle tour along the Muong Hoa valley where you can see the amazing view of rice terrace fields and visiting more H’mong and Zay people. 

Overnight in hotel. 

Day 7 : Sapa to  Bac Ha (Lao Cai) Motorcycle Tour: 130km 

We visit the Bac Ha Lao Cai district on the fourth day of the tour. When we arrive in Bac Ha town, we will see nature's magnificent scenery bestowed on this land, with terraced fields stretching and majestic mountains beside deep blue abysses. Each ethnic group of Mong, Tay, Dao, etc., wearing beautiful brocade clothes, smiles and converses, leading horses carrying various wares to the market. They sell various highland goods in the market, including vegetables, fruits, honey, or even important agricultural equipment like plows, hoes, shovels, and knives. Yet, the most alluring item is still jewelry, and brocade gowns made by the ethnic Bac Ha highland are hand-woven with colorful designs. (We bet these will make good keepsakes for your beloved ones).

One of Bac Ha's main industries is the manufacture of alcoholic home brews (rice wine, cassava wine, and corn liquor). The corn hooch produced by the Flower H'mong is so potent it can ignite! Bac Ha is the only place in Vietnam where you'll find this particular moonshine; there's an entire area devoted to it at the Sunday market. Overnight in Bac Ha. 

Day 8: Bac Ha to Ha Giang City Motorbike Tour: 200km 

After breakfast, you take a motor ride on the track to Xin Man and Hoang Su Phi on many of the small and scenic mountain views back roads. Xin Man is right on the border between Vietnam and China. It is, as of this writing, well-hidden and surrounded by wild mountains and forests. There's a single road from Xin Man to Hoang Su Phi.

Hoang Su Phi is among the most untouched areas of Ha Giang Province of Vietnam. The area was separated from mainstream society until very recently. Passing Hoang Su Phi, you will be charmed by the pristine beauty of the wild mountains and the authentic culture of the local ethnic groups which include: the Nung, the Flower H'mong, the Tay, and the Ha Nhi People. After stopping for lunch in the village of Xin Man, our group will travel to Hoang Su Phi to take pictures before arriving in the city of Ha Giang. 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. 

Day 9: Ha Giang to Dong Van 170km 

We will ride on small challenging mountain roads with incredibly beautiful land of colourful mountain hill tribes. We stopp 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. 

Day 10: Dong Van to Bao lac 160km 

Another enjoyable motorbike touring day with a lot of joys ! After breakfast, enjoy easy walk around Dong Van town to feel daily life of the hill tribes at the local market, or enjoy the beauty of ancient architecture of the houses that were built during the French time. 

Start the best motorbike tour in Ha Giang at about 10 AM. Keep riding on narrow roads along the Rock Plateau, right after Dong Van town we will have amazing motorbike ride on the Ma Pi Leng pass( One of 4 longest and most beautiful passes in Vietnam). 20 km on the mountain pass with many picture stop, this is one of the best part of this motorcycle tour Vietnam. We will be in Meo Vac town at noon. After lunch in Meo Vac, we go along the Gam river to Bao Lac. 

Dinner and stay overnight in hotel. 

Day 11: Bao Lac to Cao Bang 180km 

Beautiful motorbike ride down to Cao Bang province. The road is easy and there are many beautiful villages along the way, so we can do some stoppage for visiting the local to learn more about minority people’s culture and for photos.  We will be at Co Bang in early afternoon. Check in hotel before seeing around the town or being lazy with cool beer ! 

Day 12: Cao bang to Bangioc waterfall 130km

This is another highlight of this motorcycle tour Vietnam. After breakfast, we have beautiful north Vietnam motorbike tour to nice village of Quang Uyen, in the middle of a mountain cirque. This is the territory of Nung An people. Home stay in a host family and the hostess is a great cook. After good lunch with the family, 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. After the waterfall, we will take another beautiful road back to Quang Uyen. Cao Bang is quite flat with full of green rice fields so the ride around this land is surely enjoyable. 

Home stay in Quang Uyen village. 

day 13: ban gioc waterfall - lang son 160km

The motorcycle tour to Lang Son is mostly on the famous historical Dong Khe and That Khe passes where many battles between the Vietnamese and French occurred. Arrive Lang Son in early afternoon. We will have chance to discover this city which has become a big trading post between China and Vietnam. You can buy cheap Chinese products for souvenirs at the Dong Kinh market so if you like shopping, this amazing motorcycle tour Vietnam is also a good choice for you. 

Overnight in hotel in Lang Son. 

day 14: Lang Son to Ha noi 150km 

Closing up this Amazing North Vietnam Motorcycle Adventures. Today is the most easy day of 14 busy ones but it is an enjoyable day. Waking up late, slowly enjoy good café, and after breakfast motorcycle down to Hanoi. We will finish the memorable  North Vietnam tour at around 3 PM. Saying goodbye to the guide team of Vietnam Motorcycle Adventures then we will take you back to your hotel in Hanoi by taxi/bus. 

• Experienced English Speaking Guide
• Motorbike for self-riding (licence required)
• Fuel
• 13 x Breakfast, 14 x Lunch, 13 x Dinner
• 13 Nights’ Accommodation in twin share room (single rooms available at surcharge)
• Entry Fees and Ferry Crossings
• International Safety Standard Helmet
• Drinking Water on the Road
• Saddle Bags, Gloves & Rain Ponchos (if needed)
• If more than 6 riders there will also be a tour mechanic coming
• If more than 10 riders there will also be a 2nd guide and support van for luggage coming along

• Alcohol / Minibar Drinks
• Drinks (after travel time on the road / during dinner)
• Personal & Motorbike Insurance (for motorcycle accident)
• Personal Expenses / Laundry / Tips
• Damages to Motorcycle/ Tour Equipment