NORTHWEST VIETNAM 10 DAYS ON TWO WHEELS

This amazing 10-day Northwest Vietnam motorbike tour takes you deep into one of the most fascinating and mysterious regions of Vietnam. The journey combines spectacular mountain scenery with the rich cultures, traditions, and customs of numerous ethnic minority groups in Northwest Vietnam.

The landscapes are truly spectacular, ranging from towering mountain passes and terraced rice fields to remote valleys, rivers, forests, and traditional villages. Along the way, you will also have many opportunities to meet the friendly local people and experience their traditional way of life.

For travelers with very limited time, or for those who prefer not to negotiate the busy traffic between Hanoi and Sapa, we have designed two shorter versions using the train: 4 days here and 5 days here.

Please note that these shorter tours cost more per day because of the additional train tickets for passengers and motorbikes.

Below is a video clip featuring some sections of this Northwest Vietnam motorbike trip. If you would like to watch more videos from our motorcycle adventures, please visit our YouTube channel.

NORTHWEST VIETNAM DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau. (~170 km, ~4-5 hrs)

We start around 9:30 am and leave Hanoi from the western side of the city. Starting a little later helps us avoid the heaviest traffic in central Hanoi before beginning our Northwest Vietnam motorbike adventure.

After preparing our bikes, we begin riding our “Iron Buffaloes.” We first follow the beginning section of the Ho Chi Minh Highway before turning onto a small, winding road running around the foothills.

We pass through several Muong ethnic minority villages near Kim Boi Hot Spring, where we can stop for a drink or take a swim before continuing to Muong Khen for lunch. Muong Khen is a small Muong community in Hoa Binh Province.

In the afternoon, we climb through mountain passes surrounded by beautiful rice fields and green valleys before descending into Mai Chau, home to the White Thai people.

After arriving, we take a short hike around the village and through the rice fields to discover the traditional lifestyle of the local people.

In the evening, we dine with a Thai family, where we spend the night. Later, we join a traditional village dancing group, hold hands with the locals, and enjoy ruou can, a traditional communal rice wine.

Day 2: Mai Chau – Phu Yen. (~150 km, ~4 hrs)

Today brings a genuinely challenging motorbike ride. After approximately an hour on the new Highway No. 6, we leave the main road and take a rough, torturous, and bumpy route into the mountains.

We explore the colorful customs and traditional lifestyle of the H’mong hill tribes, visit H’mong families, walk through their villages, and then continue along the dirt road toward Moc Chau.

The beautiful grasslands of Moc Chau offer breathtaking scenery and a remarkably pleasant climate. The area is often covered by clouds and enjoys conditions that make it one of the most attractive highland regions in Northwest Vietnam.

Moc Chau also has diverse vegetation, ranging from forests and extensive tea plantations to fruit-growing hills and open grasslands.

We can walk to local dairy farms and learn about the area’s dairy industry, as well as try some products from local processing facilities. Moc Chau dairy products are one of the region’s specialties and are exported to other countries.

We then descend to the Da River and take a boat across the river. From there, we ride along the river toward Phu Yen Valley, one of the prosperous and beautiful areas inhabited by Thai people in Northwest Vietnam.

Day 3: Phu Yen – Son La. (~130 km, ~3-4 hrs)

Although today’s riding distance is relatively short, we take a small and wild road toward Bac Yen, following Road No. 37 into the mountains.

The route offers beautiful views of steep mountain slopes and terraced rice fields growing high on the hillsides. This is a fantastic section for riders who enjoy quiet roads and remote landscapes.

We then cross the Black River (Song Da) and continue onto the Son La Plateau, where large areas are covered by maize and manioc plantations.

After lunch in Son La, we have time to visit the former French Prison and the provincial museum before continuing our ride.

Finally, we head to a local hot spring, where we can relax, wash away the dust from the road, and recover before another day of mountain riding.

Day 4: Son La – Dien Bien Phu. (~170 km, ~4-5 hrs)

Today brings more challenging mountain passes in Northwest Vietnam, including Son La, Chieng Pac, and the famous Pha Din Pass.

Along the route, we make numerous stops to visit villages inhabited by Thai, Khang, Kho Mu, and H’mong ethnic groups. These encounters provide a glimpse into the traditional cultures and everyday lives of people living in the remote mountains.

At present, sections of Pha Din Pass, one of the longest and most spectacular mountain passes in Northwest Vietnam, are under construction. Our guide therefore leads us through the mountain foothills and valleys using a smaller, rocky road.

After lunch in Tuan Giao, we follow Road No. 279 toward Dien Bien Phu, the historic site of the decisive 1954 battle in Vietnam’s struggle for independence.

Day 5: Dien Bien Phu – Lai Chau (Tam Duong). (~210 km, ~5-6 hrs)

We continue riding north through remote mountain passes and forests along Road 12. During the rainy season, some sections can become difficult because of landslides, mud, and poor road conditions, adding an adventurous element to this Northwest Vietnam motorcycle journey.

Eventually, we arrive in Muong Lay, formerly associated with Lai Chau, where we stop for lunch.

In the afternoon, we follow the Nam Na River along a better road, with plenty of opportunities to stop at remote hill-tribe villages and meet local people.

The combination of wild mountain scenery, rivers, villages, and changing road conditions makes this one of the most memorable riding days of the trip.

Day 6: Lai Chau – Sapa. (~100 km, ~3-4 hrs)

In the morning, we ride approximately 50 km to a village inhabited by the Lu ethnic minority, whose origins are traditionally connected with Laos.

Here, we have an opportunity to see beautiful traditional stilt houses and learn about the local culture. We may also see Lu women with their distinctive traditional appearance and customs.

We then cross the Nam Mu River and rejoin National Highway 4D toward Sapa.

We enjoy a picnic lunch at the top of Tram Ton Pass, one of the most spectacular mountain passes around Sapa. From here, the views across the surrounding mountains are breathtaking.

In the afternoon, we have free time to explore Sapa, a mountain town often surrounded by clouds. After enjoying a cup of local artichoke tea, we walk around town, discover its charming streets, and meet the local people who give this area its unique character.

Day 7: Sapa – Bac Ha – Xin Man. (~140 km, ~4 hrs)

In the morning, we ride down toward Lao Cai and visit the Lao Cai border gate with China.

We then follow Route 70 toward Bac Ngam, stopping along the way to enjoy the beautiful scenery of mountains and rivers.

From there, we climb toward Bac Ha for lunch. We also take a short hike to explore some of the surrounding H’mong villages and experience the traditional mountain lifestyle.

In the afternoon, we continue along a small trail toward Xin Man. The route can be rocky, muddy, and slippery, providing an exciting taste of off-road motorbiking in Vietnam.

Day 8: Xin Man – Luc Yen. (~120 km, ~6 hrs)

We begin another special day by heading south along a bumpy, dirty, and muddy mountain road. After climbing toward the top of the hills, we reach a road in better condition and enjoy a fantastic descent through the mountains.

The route offers beautiful views of rice paddies on the mountainsides, although some sections can become extremely challenging during heavy rain.

Along the way, we can stop at numerous villages to chat with local people, learn about their traditions, and discover more of the diverse cultures of Northern Vietnam’s ethnic minority communities.

After approximately three hours of riding, we reach a small but good-quality road that remains quiet and wild. It is an excellent route for riding through rice fields and the impressive limestone karst mountains of Luc Yen.

Day 9: Luc Yen – Vu Linh. (~80 km, ~2-3 hrs)

In the morning, we ride southeast along the shores of Thac Ba Lake, passing peaceful villages, limestone karst mountains, rice fields, and palm plantations.

We arrive in Vu Linh, a village inhabited by the White Trouser Dao people on the shore of Thac Ba Lake.

We leave our motorbikes with our host family, where we will spend the night. We then experience a very different way of exploring the area by paddling a small boat with our feet alongside local people.

This peaceful experience provides an opportunity to discover the traditional lifestyles and cultures of the Dao, Cao Lan, and other ethnic minority communities living around Thac Ba Lake.

Day 10: Vu Linh – Hanoi. (~165 km, ~ 4-5 hrs) End of Northwest Vietnam ride.

Today, we make an easy return toward Hanoi, following the Chay River and passing through many peaceful villages inhabited by Tay and Viet people.

The final section of the journey offers a more relaxed ride after the challenging mountain roads of the previous days. We stop in Son Tay for lunch before continuing toward Hanoi.

We aim to arrive in Hanoi at around 4 pm, before the afternoon rush hour, marking the end of this unforgettable 10-day Northwest Vietnam motorbike tour.

Contact us at [email protected] for more details, availability, or other options for Northwest Vietnam motorbike tours, Northern Vietnam motorcycle adventures, and off-road riding trips.