Hanoi to Mai Chau Motorbike Tour – 3 days

Let’s leave the hustle and bustle of Hanoi! It’s time to explore the new lands. Our first destination is Ninh Binh – the former capital of Vietnam. Before hitting the highway, we will follow the route along the Red River. You then will see small rural houses, vast rice fields, and hard-working farmers – absolute tranquility that we hardly find in the city center.

From Ninh Binh city, we will continue to visit Van Long – the most significant wetland nature reserve in the Red River Delta. You will surely fall in love with the landscape here immediately. The towering limestone mountains, the scattering grass, and the crystal clear water conspire to make the site attractive. The rich flora and fauna in Van Long are another reason why travelers keep coming here all year round. A boat trip is perfect for us to behold the full beauty of the land and take some impressive pictures.

After meandering around Van Long, it’s time to get to our hotel near Tam Coc. We will have dinner and stay overnight here. Tam Coc is truly a highlight of not only Ninh Binh but the whole North of Vietnam. The site offers incredible landscapes – hundreds of towering limestone mountains covered with verdant green trees, endless paddy fields lying one after another, poetic rivers, and breathtaking caves. It is no wonder why Tam Coc is on so many people’s bucket lists.

Summary:

• Distance: 160 km
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Our trip will continue at 9 AM. Therefore, you have plenty of time to enjoy breakfast while enhancing the fresh air and contemplating the gorgeous surrounding scenery. The rural trails will lead us to Mua Cave – a favorite spot for many foreign tourists. To admire the splendor of the cave, we will need to climb 486 stone steps. As we get to the top, the whole picturesque panorama of the area spreads out – countless mountain ranges overlapping each other on the large green field.

Right next to Mua Cave is Trang An complex. The most common thing to do here is take a boat trip. That’s the best way to enjoy the beauty of this attraction. The boat trip may take several hours, but that’s far from enough to explore Trang An completely. There are 31 lakes and up to 48 caves with exquisite stalactites inside. The water is so clear that you can see all the plants under the river. In front of the greatness of nature, we will feel small, curious, and somehow relaxed.

Then we will continue our journey by following the Hoang Long River to reach Cuc Phuong – the first national park in Vietnam. Right as we commence going on the Ho Chi Minh trail, you can quickly realize that the sight keeps changing dramatically. You’d better ride more carefully from now on since the rough tracks will appear more and more. Especially, when we approach Thung Khe pass, don’t let the grandeur of the pass capture your full attention. Although this white rock pass is remarkable, it can still pose a threat to careless riders.

And at last, we made our way to Mai Chau. After a glimpse of the area, we will have dinner and rest in a homestay. Delicious local food and good sleep are more than enough for us to regain energy.

Summary:

• Distance: 180 km
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The last day of the trip can still amaze you with outstanding tourist attractions. Ba Khan Lake is what we are eager to visit today. Visitors expect to see the intact beauty of a lake, which is often likened to Halong Bay. The reason is that there is plenty of green islets emerging on the lake, and that’s really an extraordinary scene. Ban Khan is like a forgotten paradise in Hoa Binh. Actually, that’s perhaps a good thing because we can still contemplate the natural features of the lake.

Another thing we must do in Mai Chau is to come to the rustic villages. Lac Village is definitely the perfect choice since we can see well-maintained stilt houses and ethnic minorities’ unique culture. Watching friendly local people dancing happily in their colorful traditional clothes will make you love Vietnam more. The scenic terraced fields are also available so that you can have some more lovely pictures.

So it’s time to say goodbye to Mai Chau and come back to Hanoi. Why don’t we light up our sense of adventure by taking off-road tracks on the way back? Some more challenges and the tranquil scene of fruit gardens will complete our experiences. That’s it – our 3-day motorbike tour from Hanoi to Mai Chau will undoubtedly bring you unforgettable memories.

Summary:

• Distance: 170 km
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch