“Go where you feel the most alive”
11 Day Adventurous Loop Guided Motorcycle Tour in Northwest Vietnam
Pom Coọng, tt. Mai Châu, Mai Châu, Hòa Bình, Vietnam
Spectacular Vietnam Motorcycle Tour
This motorcycle adventure is a great chance to experience firsthand the local ethnic minorities and their hospitable atmosphere. The central north is more remote. With many weekly markets, it offers a chance to explore their wonderful culture and all places around this eye-catching area. It has stunning splendid natural scenery and cultural sights and attractions. See colorfully dressed ethnic people and get to know their different traditions in this tour.
Key information
- Terrain: mix of asphalt and off-road
- Bike: rental bike (Honda XR150)
- Total mileage: approximately 1550 kilometers / 963 miles
- Daily rides: approximately 130 to 220 kilometers / 81 to 137 miles
- Riding gear: included: rain gear, helmets, motorbike jacket
- Meals: 10 breakfasts, 11 lunches, and 10 dinners
Meet the instructors
Tran Khac
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Highlights
- Starts and ends in Hanoi
- Honda XR150 motorbike rental
- Tour of the H'mong King's Palace
- Cruise on Ba Be Lake and trek to Dau Dang Waterfall
- Shopping at the colorful Bac Ha Market
- Visit to the Black Thai villages
- 10 nights accommodation
- English-speaking guide
Skill level
- Intermediate
10 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: French
Group size: 2-10 participants
Airport transfer available:
Noi Bai International Airport (US$ 26 per person)
Noi Bai International Airport (US$ 26 per person)
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
08:00
Check-out Time:
17:00
Please note that the hotels mentioned in this list are for reference only. Depending on availability and your preference, they can be changed. If we are unable to book any hotel, it will be replaced by another hotel at least of equivalent standard and value.
- Mai Chau: Homestay (1 night)
- Son La: Homestay (1 night)
- Than Uyen: Minh Hang Hotel (1 night)
- Sa Pa: Holiday Sapa Hotel (1 night)
- Xin Man: Huyen An Hotel (1 night)
- Ha Giang: Homestay (1 night)
- Dong Van: Tung Lam Hotel (1 night)
- Bao Lac: Song Gam Hotel (1 night)
- Ba Be: Homestay (1 night)
Program
Day 1: Hanoi to Mai Chau (160 kilometers / 99 miles, 4 hours)
Once out of the Red River Delta, which brims with traditional farming activity, you will pass through limestone monoliths and into foothills populated by the Muong people. You will head straight at the main range before breaching a high and beautiful forested pass, which descends into the hidden valley of Mai Chau, where you will spend the night with friends in a traditional Thai stilt house in Pom Coong village.
Meal plan: lunch, dinner
Day 2: Mai Chau to Son La (180 kilometers / 112 miles, 6 hours)
On a good road looking high over distant mountains, you will head up into a forested region populated by H'mong people before descending into a mountainous tea-growing region. Soon after, you will follow a long valley floor covered in a sea of rice surrounded by Black Thai villages all the way to Son La with its bargain-filled market.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Son La to Than Uyen (160 kilometers / 99 miles, 6 hours)
After breakfast, you will keep riding on road 6 to Tuan Giao with a beautiful and stunning landscape. Along the way, stop to visit a Black Thai village on an off-the-beaten-track where you will ride through a dark cave to get there. Have lunch in Tuan Giao. You will then turn to road 279 to Than Uyen. You will have a great experience of driving while riding up the steep winding passes through the forests and terraced rice fields along the road. Enjoy a short break on the Pa Uon Bridge to take in the surrounding landscape.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Than Uyen to Sapa (130 kilometers / 81 miles, 4 hours)
The road follows the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range and winds through tea plantations and rice terraces as it hugs the Nam Ma River. This stunning valley is dotted with Tay, Dzao, and H'mong hill tribe villages. Ride over the 1,900-meter Tram Ton Pass to Sa Pa located in the breathtaking Hoang Lien Son Mountains. Arrive at Sapa in the afternoon.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Sapa to Bac Ha to Xi Man (160 kilometers / 99 miles, 5 hours)
After breakfast, you will ride down to Lao Cai. It is the center of Lao Cai province, which is next to the international border with China, where important trading in the north happens. Have a short break at the border before you head to Bac Ha town. Bac Ha is well known for its century-old colorful market and real mountainous people, including the Dzao and the Flower H'Mong. The market only opens on Sunday mornings.
You will then continue up north to Ximan via a small trail that has deep, impressive scenery while riding through a forest. Take a short break at Lao Chai village on top of the mountain to have a look at the overview of the Chay river, which is high up and hidden in the clouds. There are particularly interesting tracks in this area, including one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Vietnam.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6: Xi Man to Ha Giang (150 kilometers / 93 miles, 6 hours)
Breakfast will be served at a local restaurant near your hotel. You will visit a local market in the morning, where you will have the chance to meet minority groups, such as the Dzao, Nung, and Flower H'mong. Do not forget to take some memorable pictures and buy some souvenirs.
The roads go through some mountain passes, but there are lots of tortuous roads, which give a great opportunity to test your riding skills. After lunch in Tan Quang, the last 50 kilometers to Ha Giang become of ease on road 2. If time permits, you can visit Thanh Ha to relax and enjoy the hot springs.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7: Ha Giang to Dong Van (150 kilometers / 93 miles, 6 hours)
After obtaining a visit permit at the immigration office in Ha Giang, you will then continue your trip exploring the area of Quang Ba, Yen Minh, and Dong Van, which is famous for picture opportunities of the natural, impressive, and magnificent landscape. The local people living there are dedicated to working long hard hours but overcoming all difficulties on rocky farmland in a harsh environment. They are very friendly and outgoing people and live a happy life without modern-day necessities.
You will have a short break at an information coffee shop where you can climb up a set of stairs to take in a spectacular viewpoint of Quang Ba. After lunch at Yen Minh town, you will visit Pho Bang, which was built many centuries ago and features multi-story houses made of clay bricks and tiled roofs.
In the area, visit the infamous Vuong Palace of the H'mong family of high rank during French colonial rule, Vuong Chi Sinh, who was purported to be the H'mong King in Vietnam. This palace attracts keen interest from architecturally minded visitors due to its mixed style of European and Chinese architecture. Then you will arrive in Dong Van.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8: Dong Van to Meo Vac to Bao Lac (120 kilometers / 75 miles, 4 hours)
Climb over the Ma Pi Leng Pass, from which you can see and enjoy beautiful scenery overlooking the Nho Que River before going down to Meo Vac. You will 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.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9: Bao Lac to Ba Be (120 kilometers / 75 miles, 4 hours)
Ride a few passes from where you can dominate the area. The road is easy but has many curves. You can stop a lot. Altogether, stop for drinks and food. It should be an eight-hour journey. You will spend the night in the traditional stilt house of the Tay minority people.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10: Ba Be Lake (visit and relax)
Enjoy easy boating on the lake and river. Go to the market if you arrive during the day. Stop at the beautiful waterfall. The house of Ong Pirate, the chef of Dau Dang waterfall, is where you will enjoy dinner. Down the waterfall, you could visit the village and a small school. You will stay in the stilt house of forest guards.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11: Ba Be Lake to Hanoi (220 kilometers / 137 miles, 7 hours)
On the last day of the tour, enjoy an easy ride of 220 kilometers through Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan, and Vinh Yen provinces on a small road with little traffic. You will arrive in Hanoi around 5:00 p.m.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch
Skill level required for this tour: intermediate
Intermediate
- can ride for three to four hours
- average riding experience
- little assistance required
- comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- average experience with unsurfaced roads
- steep ascents and descents
International drivers license is required to attend this tour.
Included excursions
Motorbike jacket, rain gear, helmets
All petrol (gasoline)
Motorbikes: 1 bike per person - Honda XR150
Accommodation at ecolodges, hotels, homestays as mentioned
Experienced English-speaking guide
Meals as stated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner)
(Optional) Vegetarian and vegan food is available
Bottled water
All sightseeing tickets and travel permits on frontier
All Taxes and Fees
No extra charge after confirmation
24/7 hotline support guaranteed
Instructors
Tran Khac Cuong
Mr. Cuong is a local guide in the northern mountainous region in Vietnam since 2010. He is an expert in paths and passionate in conquering the most zigzag roads of Vietnam. He graduated in Tourism and has a deep local knowledge where he can take travelers to the off-the-beaten-tracks. He is also an expert in repairing motorcycles with skills to support travelers in dangerous situations, Mr. Cuong is confident in guiding international travelers who are passionate about off-road adventures.
Location
- Ba Be National Park - A wild treasure home to one of the biggest natural freshwater lakes in Asia
- Bac Ha - Home of colorful markets rich in several ethnic minority groups
- Ha Giang Province - Vietnam's final frontier rich with a multitude of ethnic cultures and stunning landscapes
- Hanoi - Bustling capital city of Northern Vietnam
- Mai Chau - Idyllic countryside valley with rice fields and ethnic villages
- Sapa - Northwestern Vietnam's first trekking base through terraced rice fields
Food
During this tour, all meals will be provided, except for breakfast on the first day and dinner on the last day.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- Honda XR150 motorbike rental
- All petrol (gasoline)
- Rain gear and helmets
- Motorbike jacket
- Boat trip
- 10 breakfasts
- 11 lunches
- 10 dinners
- 10 nights accommodation
- Local English-speaking guide
- All entrance fees and permits to visit the frontier area
What's not included
- Visa to Vietnam
- Any other transportation not mentioned in the itinerary
- Insurance
- Drinks
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Tip for guide
- Other personal expenses
- 1000 USD security deposit for the rental bike
How to get there
Recommended Airports
HAN
Noi Bai International Airport
98 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 26 per person
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). Airport transfer is available at an additional cost of 26 USD.
Airport: Noi Bai International Airport
Airport transfer available:
Noi Bai International Airport (US$ 26 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
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