Off-road Vietnam Motorbike Tour from Hanoi to Thac Ba Lake – 4 Days

The whole crew will depart from Hanoi at about 9 am to Mai Chau – one of the most famous tourist destinations of Northwest Vietnam. The distance seems quite long, so it is better for you to sleep enough the night before the trip. Mai Chau is not strange at all, especially for many adventure motorcyclists. Here, the riders can run their motorbikes on endless rural roads and discover the real charms of Vietnam’s mountainous areas.

Escaping the bustling city life in Hanoi, we will turn on small roads and enjoy 40 minutes of riding with full of surprises and excitement promised through orange farms and winding roads on two sides. Next, we will follow Highway 6 and pass through magnificent limestone mountains and glorious vast terraced fields on the way. It’s lunchtime already. You will then take a rest in Hoa Binh before continuing to ride to the majestic Thung Khe pass. At the next junction, we will turn right and run 50 km more to arrive at Ba Khan, a famous lake with incredible rocks of a variety of shapes and sizes appearing from the lake’s water surface. Looking from a far distance, Ba Khan lake really looks like a mini Halong bay on land.

Next, you will motorcycle through Mai Chau to get to the dreamy Go Lao waterfall. The route is quite tough but you will be well treated with breathtaking views. Spend your time taking stunning photos to show your family and friends later. Dinner will be served with rice wine and delicious local specialties. Then, you will enjoy a good night at a local stilt house hosted by the Thai. Regain your energy before the next days of your trip!

Summary:

• Accommodations: Homestay
• Distance: 160 km
• Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Another long day for discovery and exploration of the mountainous area. Today, we will take a tour around Mai Chau and finally, visit Phu Yen town, the symbol of tranquility in Son La. Get ready to explore the true rural life in Moc Chau, one of the highlights of Northern Vietnam’s tourism. Walking around some local villages of the Thai, we will find countless stalls where many colorful traditional clothes or embroidered clothes are being sold. Choosing some unique items as gifts to bring back home is a good idea!

Then, come back to your homestay, grab your gear and get ready to ride to peaceful Phu Yen town. We will take a short rest by Moc Chau Plateau and enjoy the natural beauty here covered with gorgeous peach and plum gardens and vast green tea hills. Enjoy your lunch and breathe the fresh cool air amidst the clouds and mountains. That’s awesome! Keep riding to reach the targeted destination through multiple steep mountains, immense forests, and the well-known Da River. The route will end at about 4:30 pm. Here, in the wonderful Phu Yen town, you will take a shower, enjoy dinner, and have an overnight stay at a local hotel.

Summary:

• Accommodations: Homestay
• Distance: 140 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The third day of your journey will be much easier with tons of magnificent landscapes and unforgettable experiences promised. Passing through Lung Lo Pass, you will head up about 15 km on historical Road 32 which is one of the most important routes in the Indochina wartime. In the past, this road is used to transport food, weapons, and goods. Riding continuously through Ba Khe Junction to Yen Bai city, you will stop a bit for lunch. Then, we will take a short tour of Thac Ba lake – one of the top three largest and most modern artificial lakes in the country. This lake is formed in 1971 to provide water for the Thac Ba hydroelectric plant.

With over 1.300 emerald-colored islands on its water surface, fantastic limestone mountain ranges, tons of marvelous caves, pagodas, and temples associated with long stories and legends of the indigenous people, Thac Ba lake is named “Halong Bay on the mountains” with charming pristine beauty. One of the most interesting ways to explore Thac Ba lake is to hire a boat to magical caves hidden deep in the fanciful shimmering limestone mountain ranges. You and your fellow drivers will move toward Dao village for dinner and sleep overnight at a local homestay here.

Summary:

• Accommodations: Homestay
• Distance: 40 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The way coming back home is once again quite long (185 km), so you should sleep more and wake up later today to prepare enough energy and health conditions for the long distance. In the morning, we will have breakfast and drink a cup of coffee. After grabbing your luggage for the trip, you will prepare to backtrack the road to Hanoi with two following options. The first choice is that we will follow the highways and smooth roads to quickly return to the office. Another choice is to ride on the Red River’s edge so that you can have more time exploring nature.

Returning to the capital city before rush hour will save your time and health the best. So, the choice is yours! Even, if you choose one way or another, your 4-day motorbike trip to Northwest Vietnam will be closed up with fantastic moments.

Summary:

• Accommodations: Homestay
• Distance: 40 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch