North Vietnam Motorbike Tour from Hanoi to Ba Be Lake – 10 days

Have a hearty breakfast before moving to the gathering point on the outskirts of Hanoi by taxi. Take a few minutes to listen to our guide explain the safety rules during the trip and then, we will officially embark on an exciting 10-day motorbike tour from Hanoi to Ba Be. Our first destination today is Yen Bai – a peaceful province located on the gateway to Northwestern Vietnam. This province is still new to travelers, so almost everything here is kept untouched. The pristine natural scenery of vast rice fields stretching the horizon, majestic limestone mountains along with the unique culture of locals will fascinate any visitor.

Make a stop at Viet Tri town to enjoy lunch before heading to Vu Linh, where we will spend the night at Song Hong Hotel. After a long day of riding, we relax and have a good sleep to regain energy for the next challenge.

Summary:

• Distance: 200 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

Our today’s ride will be a bit challenging since we have to conquer dangerous yet unbelievably beautiful off-road tracks. Endlessly extending mountains, vast green tea plantations, roofs looming from afar, and the smoke from the kitchen of locals covering the mountains – All create a dreamy scenery that will feast your eyes.

Khau Pha Pass will be the highlight of this entire road, which is considered one of the four largest passes in Vietnam. Standing on the top of the pass, you will be overwhelmed by the winding roads that look like soft silk strips curving around the mountain. We spend some time visiting lush valleys under the Khau Pha Pass and Tu Le Pass, which boast the most stunning terraced fields in Northern Vietnam.

Keep riding to Mu Cang Chai – home to H’mong people, who have a rustic rural lifestyle and colorful traditional costumes. Immerse yourself in the beauty of majestic nature and picturesque Mo Waterfall before heading to the town center. Dinner and overnight at a local hotel.

Summary:

• Distance: 200 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

It is another fantastic day to conquer the peaks of Northern Vietnam. From Mu Cang Chai, we follow Highway 32 and go through poetic streams and the magnificent Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Famous for Fansipan Mount – the roof of Indochina with a height of 3143 m, Hoang Lien Son is blessed with irresistible charm by Mother Nature. This route is not a joke with many blind bends but once you challenge your riding skills, the reward you get is entirely worth the effort.

On the way, we make a stop to explore the O Quy Ho pass and take beautiful pictures of the marvelous mountain scenery in Vietnam. Continue towards Sapa, where we will have a quick visit around the town before moving to the hotel to rest after a long ride.

Summary:

• Distance: 150 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

Leaving the bustling Sapa town behind, we hit the road to Lao Cai city. This ride gives you a great chance to say hello to China. Upon arrival, we take a short ride to the Chinese border, then spend some time getting to know what life is like on the border. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and have a cup of Vietnamese coffee.

In the afternoon, our crew keeps riding through Bac Ha to reach Pho Rang – a mountainous town famous for its lotus flowers. Locals have grown lotuses for many years; in the summer, the flowers bloom in the warm sunlight, creating an impressive scene. Exquisite cuisine is also what makes visitors fascinated in this town. Do not forget to try Lam rice, special sticky rice wrapped in 7 layers of leaves, and fresh upland fruits (plums, apricots, and more). Overnight at a local guesthouse.

Summary:

• Distance: 150 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: guesthouse

Each day of our tour brings a completely new experience, and today is no exception. Continue to challenge your riding skills on magnificent mountain passes and dangerous trails through the forest. It is not easy at all, but the breathtaking scenery will be a worthy reward for your efforts. Along the way, we can make some stops to relax, take photos, and chat with locals. They are very friendly and hospitable and even can invite you to their home in order to enjoy a frugal family meal.

Lunch at Viet Quang town before heading to Ha Giang. With majestic scenery of rocky mountains and immense rice fields, this could be the most spectacular route of the whole journey. Coming to Ha Giang, you may be tired after long days of riding, so have dinner and go to bed early to regain energy for your next trip.

Summary:

• Distance: 150 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

From Ha Giang city, we ride on winding roads to Dong Van. Considered the most popular travel destination in Ha Giang, it could be a big mistake if you do not pay a visit to this beautiful town. The beauty of the Dong Van rock plateau, Quan Ba ​​Heaven Gate, or Vuong Family’s Palace will make you overwhelmed. Dong Van Old Town nestled among the lush valleys is also an ideal place to learn about the unique architecture and culture of ethnic minorities in Northern Vietnam.

Besides the picturesque natural scenery, Dong Van is also a paradise of delicious food such as grilled meat, triangular cake, stuffed pancake, and especially Shan Tuyet tea. The vast tea hills are meticulously cared for by people with 100% natural remedies for the freshest and cleanest tea leaves. Check in at the hotel in Dong Van town in the late afternoon and enjoy a good night’s sleep after a day of exciting exploration.

Summary:

• Distance: 150 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

Our destination today is Meo Vac, a peaceful mountainous district at the end of the happy road. Meo Vac brings its own beauty in each season – all are worth seeing. Coming to Meo Vac, you are not only immersed in the magnificent scenery of spectacular mountains, lush valleys, and romantic peach blossom gardens but also have the opportunity to explore the unique culture and charming cuisine of the locals.

We will pass Ma Pi Leng pass along the way, which is considered an ideal place to admire the beauty of the Nho Que river. Looking from a distance, the river is like a soft silk strip curving around the majestic limestone foothills. Do not forget to pick your camera up and take some lovely photos here. Arrive at Meo Vac in the late afternoon, then we have dinner and relax at the Hoa Cuong hotel.

Summary:

• Distance: 120 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

From Meo Vac, our motorbike team keeps conquering winding roads to Cao Bang. On the way, we will spend some time going deeper into the remote villages of Tay and Dao people to enjoy the incredible beauty of nature and learn about their customs and daily life.

Follow the stunning tracks to Cao Bang province, where you can stop anywhere for sightseeing. Dubbed the “green pearl” of Northeast Vietnam, you will never get stuck on what to see in Cao Bang. The 8th day of our tour ends with a good night’s sleep at Thanh Loan hotel to regain energy for the next riding day.

Summary:

• Distance: 200km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast, we hit the road to Ba Be National Park, which is famous for some of the most beautiful sceneries in Vietnam. Amidst the high limestone ranges of the national park is Ba Be Lake – the largest freshwater lake in the country. Unlike most freshwater lakes in the limestone areas, Ba Be Lake never falls dry. If we have enough time, we can take a boat tour to get closer to this lake. Then, keep riding until we reach a peaceful small village of Tay people named Pac Ngoi to have dinner and rest.

Summary:

• Distance: 150 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Homestay

Enjoy the last moments of the trip before you head back to Hanoi. It is a long ride today, so we’ll get up early to enjoy breakfast, pack our backpacks, and get ready to go. Once again, we have the chance to ride on wonderful trails along the Red River Delta. Make the most use of the tour to admire the impressive natural scenery of Northern Vietnam. Our 10-day motorbike tour from Hanoi to Ba Be Lake ends in Hanoi at around 5 pm with tons of exciting experiences.

Summary:

• Distance: 250 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Hotel