North Vietnam Motorbike Tour from Hanoi to Ba Be – 15 days

We can have our trip commenced right after a short briefing and safety instructions. The fastest way from Hanoi to Mai Chau is to take the route via Xuan Mai, Luong Son, Hoa Binh, and Muong Khen in succession. The tranquil landscapes of the countryside on the way will help reduce fatigue. Of course, we can stop somewhere to rest or snap a picture with stunning backgrounds. In the late afternoon, we are supposed to reach Mai Chau in Hoa Binh province. In this valley, not only can you see the grandeur sceneries of caves and mountains, but you have a great chance to witness the distinctive cultures in the villages of Muong and Thai people. We will stay overnight in a homestay here.

Summary:

• Distance: 160 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Homestay

Let’s wake up early and breathe the fresh air in Mai Chau before bidding a farewell. Today’s destination is Phu Yen, but we will drop by Moc Chau first. Having lunch in Moc Chau Plateau while contemplating the endless tea fields is an experience we’d better not ignore. After that, we will keep riding down until we see Da River and cross it by ferry.

The way to Phu Yen won’t be something too difficult for us. We will follow the river bank to approach the mountainous district. With an altitude of over 1000 meters, Phu Yen is the upland with irresistible spectacles such as Suoi Chieu Lake, Noong Cop woods, Muong Tac terraced field, etc. We will enjoy tonight in this locality.

Summary:

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

There is no doubt that Phu Yen is alluring, yet we still have to say goodbye and move on. The third day of the trip is for exploring attractions around Son La city. The route offers us a precious chance to weave through modest villages of Muong, Tay, and Thai people. Passing by their vast sugarcane and cornfields, you can witness laborious farmers working with joy. Our crew will also go through several local kermises, and once again, you will find out more about Vietnamese ethnic minorities. We expect to show up at Son La city at around 4 PM. Then we will have time to visit an impressive attraction – Son La Prison. French Colonialism built this construction in 1908, and it has an incomparable historical value. Visiting such a site makes our trip more meaningful.

Summary:

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

Let’s say goodbye to Son La and continue our journey. The fourth day will full of extraordinary experiences. Waiting for us is not just normal twisted road through mountains and jungles, but Pha Din Pass – one of the four greatest passes in the North. This 32-kilometer pass is 1000 meters above sea level. So basically, we will be moving with an abyss aside. Plenty of sharp curves make this striking pass even more challenging to subdue. We will have to exert ourselves to drive with full attention, although the remarkable landscapes are overwhelming.

After overcoming Pha Din’s tough challenge, we will approach Muong Lay, where we will stay for tonight. Muong Lay town possesses absolute tranquility amidst the grandeur of nature. Besides the imposing green mountains, the lovely stilt houses and the graceful Thai women here can make you want to stay in perpetuity.

Summary:

• Distance: 190 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

Once again, we will let Da River lead us to a new land – Sin Ho district. If you derive pleasure from photography, this is the best time for you to show off your talent. Sin Ho is considered the rooftop of Lai Chau as it is 1500 meters above sea level. This is also why this is an ideal place to “hunt” clouds. You can admire an immense sea of floating clouds at some spots like Ta Ngao or O Da.

If we arrive at Sin Ho at the weekend, we can visit the kermises where different ethnic groups (H’ mong, Phu La, Lu, Dzao, etc.) come to trade almost everything. Their colorful clothes will capture your attention immediately. It will be a pity if you don’t try several delicacies here. We will have lunch in Sin Ho and continue to go to Lai Chau.

Summary:

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

We will leave for Sapa at 9 AM when the fog is gone. Today we will have to confront another one among the four greatest passes – O Quy Ho. This nerve-racking pass is up to 50 kilometers long, and it is also the highest pass in Vietnam with a height of 2000 meters. If nothing changes, then we will come to Sapa right for lunchtime. Then we have a full afternoon to explore Sapa – one of the hottest tourist destinations in the Indochina Peninsula.

Sapa is where many ethnic groups reside – H’mong, Dzao, Dzay, Tay, etc. Therefore, the diversity of traditions and customs in the town is not hard to realize. Although Sapa has dozens of attractions, we can hardly visit them all. We will ride to Muong Hoa valley to see the majestic terraced fields and ancient stones engraved with strange symbols. Ta Van village is where we spend the night on this sixth day.

Summary:

• Distance: 130 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel or Homestay

Today we will move from Sapa to Xin Man. There are two options available. We can either take a smooth road or a tortuous one through mountainous villages. Whatever you choose, we still have incredible landscapes to behold. Sipping a cup of coffee at the Vietnam – China borderline sounds like a good idea, right? In spite of poverty, Xin Man wins tourists’ hearts with its serene atmosphere and a great view. You will have a relaxing night in this peaceful town.

Summary:

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

Going from Xin Man to Ha Giang, we admire the most beautiful spots in the trip. First, we will drop by Hoang Su Phi and observe the most impressive terraced fields ever. Next, our team has to conquer rugged dirt tracks across Tay Con Linh. This is the rooftop of the Northeast, and it is undoubtedly not an easy challenge to overcome. But as soon as we take the dare of Tay Con Linh, your sense of adventure will be kindled. The last 30 kilometers to Ha Giang will be easier as we will be moving on wide roads. We will check in our hotel in Ha Giang at about 5 PM.

Summary:

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

We are about to visit Dong Van – a place with high values to archaeology and geology. On the way, we will come by the villages, where Lo Lo and H’ mong people live. Well, you can see that this is more than just a sightseeing tour. After this trip, you will have learned a lot about ethnic minorities in Vietnam. Don’t forget to take some pictures while we approach Dong Van. By 5 PM, we may have come to Dong Van already. You can freely wander around this area, but remember to save your energy for tomorrow.

Summary:

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

Not to waste a single precious moment, we will wake up early and take a closer look at the ancient building in the town. These constructions are believed to exist for the last 200 years. At 9:30 AM, we will hit the road and come to Dong Van Karst Plateau. With its enchantments and scientific values, this area is recognized as a global geological park.

For adventurous travelers, today is going to be memorable as we will conquer Ma Pi Leng pass. According to many tourists, this is the most dangerous and beautiful pass in the North. The terrific slope and series of sharp turns are a real dare for even experienced riders. Scenic Gam and HA GIANG TO DONG VAN will lead us to Bao Lac town (Cao Bang) around 4:30 PM.

Summary:

• Distance: 140 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

After having a tight sleep in Bao Lac, we will leave for Quang Uyen. Accompanying our crew are still exciting backroads and majestic landscapes of forests. Going through Cao bang province, we can reach the Vietnam – China border before finding Quang Uyen town. This is another tranquil locality with exotic cultures of Nung and Tay people. It will be better if we can join some local kermises or festivals. Surrounded by towering mountains, Quang Uyen is really alluring. We will rest in a homestay here.

Summary:

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

To reach Ban Gioc Waterfall – our first destination for today – we have to go further to the North. Cao Bang is a province with countless notable attractions such as Nguom Ngao Cave, Thang Hen Lake, etc. But Ban Gioc Waterfall still stands out as it is considered the most majestic waterfall in Vietnam. No word can adequately describe the beauty of the landscape here. We can assure you this is an excellent place that should visit once in your lifetime. After enjoying the cool water under the fall, we are now ready to move on to Cao Bang city.

Summary:

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

We hope that you have realized that our journey is getting more and more exciting. Today’s destination is Ba Be Lake – one of the twenty most beautiful freshwater lakes in the world ranked by UNESCO. The only way to have the best experiences in this site is to take a boat trip. Also, we will visit some other attractions with equal allure – Puong Cave and the Fairy Pond. Once we swim in this grand lake, our minds are rid of anxiety, and our hearts are filled with pure happiness.

Summary:

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

In the morning, it’s advisable to have a hearty breakfast with our hosts (a Tay family) to hear the fascinating legends about Ba Be. And then we will mount on our motorbikes and have the trip continued. Our destination is Thac Ba Lake in Yen Bai province. To get there, we need to drive on small bumpy trails. It will be better if we can reach the Dzao’s village near Thac Ba Lake by 3 PM.

With more than 1300 islets of different sizes, Thac Ba Lake is dubbed as the “upland Halong Bay.” People also know about it as one of the three largest artificial lakes in Vietnam. The majesty of the lake fits perfectly with the grandeur of the adjoining scenes. In order to optimize your experiences, a boat trip is the right choice. At 5 PM, we will come to a Dzao homestay and rest there for tonight.

Summary:

• Distance: 160 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Homestay

This is already the last day of our trip. We choose the smooth routes to go back to Hanoi before rush hours. Getting stuck in crazy traffic is not the way we want to end this fantastic journey. Our 15-day motorbike tour exploring the North of Vietnam will undoubtedly end up with good memories that we will likely keep for the rest of our lives.

Summary:

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