Have you always wanted to tour the wonderful North Vietnam by motorbike but didn't have the time to travel for 3 weeks? Then this is your chance! The high mountains of North Vietnam are inhabited by tens of hill tribes. All these peoples have their own traditions, language and dress.
"On our journey, we will explore stunning mountain trails, vibrant markets, and unique tribal communities. You'll ride along the most scenic routes as part of our three-week North Vietnam Motorcycle Tour. Accommodations include overnight stays in local homes, and at the end of the trip, you have the option to extend your adventure with an overnight boat stay in Halong Bay.
This motorcycle trip through this relatively unexplored region reveals the pristine beauty of North Vietnam. Alongside the warm hospitality of the locals and the untouched landscapes, this journey promises to be an exciting challenge.
Everything you need to know about this tour. Do you have any further questions? Please contact us!
Depending on the airline, you will arrive at Hanoi airport in the morning or afternoon. It is then another half hour to the hotel in the centre of the old city. Our first accommodation is in the heart of the Old Quarter, with a variety of small alleys and shops.
From the bustling capital we head north. The first part of the ride is still lively with cargo traffic. But once we are on the narrow roads along the Red River, it is quiet and there is plenty to see. Nghia Lo is a small town where we meet the hill tribes Dao and Hmong. We will spend the night here and in the evening we have a choice of several cosy restaurants with delicious food.
We continue towards the north. The landscape becomes very beautiful here. On both sides of the road there are green rice terraces attached to the mountain walls. We enter a high mountain range here and cross it on a few high passes. We meet more people of the white Dao tribe here. We stop for lunch in the village of Than Uyen and then it is about 60 km to Sa Pa. This stretch is the highest pass of this trip. The views on the way to Sa Pa are fantastic, also the roads have been renewed. Sa Pa is the most touristy town on this trip. However, we are not here on weekends to visit the market, so we don't see to many tourists. Sa Pa is situated at an altitude of 1500 metres and became a summer refuge during the French colonial period to escape the oppressive heat in the lower areas.
The first 110 km we ride today is on a completely paved road. We stop in Lao Cai to take a look at the Chinese border. The Red River separates the two countries, yet they are connected by a bridge. On the other side of the river we see the high-rise buildings of the relatively much richer China. Situated in a valley, Bac Ha is a typical North Vietnamese village with colourfully dressed people. If we still have time, we take a nice shortcut via Coc Ly.
In the morning we walk around Bac Ha. On the way we visit some H'mong villages. Alternatively, we can explore the villages by motorbike. Afterwards we leave and ride towards Xin Man. A little north of Bac Ha we turn right and take a dirt road. There are never tourists on this route and the road is not suitable for much traffic. The rocky highlands between the two places make for a special landscape. In the north of Bac Ha, we turn right onto an unpaved road. We then ride in a wonderful area with sharp rocks. The small Hmong villages on the way do not often see passers-by. After a great descent we arrive in Xin Man. Here we stop for an early lunch. Just outside Xin Man we cross the bridge and turn right. We follow the river to Huang Su Phi. Here there are many people from the Nung tribe. There are also many Nung villages along the way. After a coffeebreak we reach one of the most beautiful rice terrace areas in Vietnam. After every corner, you have a new view of the beautiful green terraces. From the junction with the main road, we have to be a bit more careful with the heavy traffic to Ha Giang, the provincial capital. Here we spend the night in a resort on the river, a little outside the centre.
"The contact with Motor2Travel was good and trustworthy from the first conversation. Pleasant effort to respond to individual wishes. The trip was well organised, an experienced and safe guide with clear instructions on the course of the tour and pleasant flexibility, a good accompanying team, a pleasant balance between guided and individual sections. Highlights included the various encounters with people, partly spontaneous but also well organised by the guide, and the off-road driving. We were really enthusiastic.”
After breakfast in the big city, we drive to a particularly beautiful mountain area.This is popularly known as "Dong Van - Meo Vac", after the two largest villages. Immediately after Ha Giang, the road narrows and a magnificent mountain ridge follows. Nestled in a valley is the small town of Yenh Minh. We are also the attraction around Dong Van. These rare tribes very rarely encounter foreigners. So we are indeed strangers to them. And you can tell!! All eyes are on us. In the remote areas of this province, there are still real communist strongholds, such as Meo Vac. All the stone buildings in the town belong to the government and are decorated with red flags. We continue over several high passes and are then not far from the Chinese border. We take our time to explore the country roads of this area. Overnight we stay in a good but basic hotel.
A long but eventful day lies ahead. In the morning we ride from Meo Vac to Bao Lac. On a wonderfully quiet route we ride through hilly countryside with numerous rice terraces. After lunch in Bao Lac, we drive along narrow paths to Ba Be Lake. The lakes of Ba Be are located in the national park of the same name with a beautiful karst landscape. The peaks of the characteristic mountains jut out everywhere. We spend the night here in a small village at the locals' home. The conditions in the homestay are very simple. We sleep on a mattrass on the floor in a large shared room, an unique experience.
It is a long day back to the capital. In the morning the streets are still quiet but after Than Nguyen it gets busier and busier. Driving through the city with its hectic hustle and bustle and traffic rules we don't recognize: this is a fantastic end to the trip for most participants.
Those who have not booked the extension to Halong Bay will be transferred to the airport for their flight home.
In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel by minibus and transferred to Halong Bay. This journey takes about 4 hours. The peaked mountains in Halong Bay make this bay very special. It is a beautiful place to sail through by boat. You arrive in Halong Bay around noon. Here we board a traditional boat with other international passengers. You will then sail into the bay and spend the night on the boat in a wonderful place. If there is interest, there will be stops at various caves.
In the morning we return ashore and board a minibus back to Hanoi. You can use the afternoon to visit the old part of Hanoi. Depending on your flight, we will transfer you to the airport in the evening or the next day.
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
During this trip we ride Kawasaki KLX 150 cc motorbikes. Upgrade to Honda XR 250 cc is possible and costs 245,-€ extra. Please specify when booking.
This touris accompanied by our Vietnamese tour guide or local mechanic for up to 8 participants. This person has been a mechanic on motorbike tours through Vietnam for 16 years. He knows all routes, hotels, restaurants and speaks English in a Vietnamese way. For groups of 8 or more participants, a Dutch/German/English-speaking tour guide will accompany them on the motorbike.
During this tour we will not ride on significant heights and also not through very deserted areas. We ride on light motorbikes and therefore this tour is also suitable for people who do not have any experience with adventurous motorcycle tours. The daily stages are not long, which gives the opportunity to visit or photograph different villages along the way. One inconvenience may be the traffic density in and around Hanoi. Thousands of motorbikes, scooters, rickshaws and bicycles make their way through the streets every day. On the main road (which we avoid as much as possible), take into account the trucks and buses because the traffic rules they apply are mostly hidden to European eyes.
Only a small part of this trip will be on dirt roads. In the current itinerary these are only 2 or 3 days. These routes are not difficult. So they are easy to drive even for participants without off-road experience. Only in bad weather these routes can be a challenge.
A helmet is compulsory, as well as protective clothing with protectors, good gloves and boots or sturdy shoes. Especially in spring and autumn, it can get very warm in the lower regions. We therefore recommend wearing breathable protective clothing. On the higher, colder parts in the mountains you can wear extra warm clothing under your motorbike clothing if necessary. Because of the dust, it is advisable to have a good pair of goggles or a visor with you. In the north of Vietnam, the rainy season (monsoon) is from June to the end of August. We plan our trips before or after the monsoon season. Nevertheless, we have to expect short rain showers at any time. Finally, temperatures in the mountainous regions can drop to 5 C in winter (December & January), so it is advisable to take warm clothes as well.
Passports must be valid for 6 months on arrival. Visa or additional documentation can be required for Viet Nam depending on your nationality and length of stay. To apply for an e-visa check: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en_US/web/guest/home costs are 25 USD. You are yourself responsible for having the correct traveldocuments. For more information you can contact the Vietnamese embassy in yourcountry. You can also check Travel Doc for further info https://www.traveldoc.aero/
Since 1 January 2016, for most countries, you can officially ride a motorcycle in Vietnam, if you have besides your own, national driver's license, an International Driving Permit (IDP). Your own driver's license is not valid without this IDP. Only the IDP model 1968 is accepted.
More details about the trip and what you should take with you can be found in the traveldocuments, which you will receive about 1 month before departure.
Rider starting at: € 1850,-
Pillion: €1650,-
Singleroom occupancy additional charge: € 235,-
Pocketmoney to bring with you: € 250,-*
Minimumnumber of riding participants: 8
Maximumnumber of riding participants: 12
Maximumnumber of pillion riders: 2
Extension Halong Bay 2 days: €265,- per person including overnight on board and transfer from and to the hotel and hotel overnight in Hanoi. Single room supplement €75,-.
This tour is available on these dates:
.svg)
.svg)
