NORTHWEST VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM HANOI TO MAI CHAU – 6 DAYS

Our journey begins at 9 AM from the Hanoi center. Our destination for today is Thac Ba Lake in Vu Linh commune, Yen Bai province. By picking off Hanoi city, we will not follow common routes but hit some smaller dirt tracks. This will help us avoid heavy traffic and encounter beautiful rural sceneries.

To reach Vinh Phuc, we need to go on Nhat Tan Bridge and then cross the Red River by raft. The first highlight we see is an ancient temple with a gate attached to a perennial tree. After a break, we will resume conquering off-road tracks before getting on National Highway 2. We will have lunch once we reach the stilt house near a river.

After lunch, we have to cross the river by raft again. And finally, National Highway 37 will lead us to Ngoi Tu village. This means we have arrived at Thac Ba Lake. Together, we will go around evergreen tea hills and rest at a homestay in Yao’s village. Thac Ba Lake is likened to “Halong Bay in the Northwest”. It is one of the three largest artificial lakes in Vietnam. A boat trip is an optimal option to enjoy the full beauty of Thac Ba. Also, visiting the nearby waterfall is the right choice. The first day of the trip will end up with a hearty dinner with local delicacies and wine.

Summary:

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

After breakfast, we will continue our journey by riding to Yen The town. As we approach the town, we will see more imposing mountain ranges, vast rice fields, and lush palm trees. Local people here still live on paper making – their traditional craft. The locality is also famous for gemstones. They even have a market only for trading gemstones.

Bid a farewell to Yen The, and we head to Sapa in Lao Cai city. We’d better go on the 4E road rather than hazardous trails to the borderline between Vietnam and China. The landscapes on the way won’t lose any allure. We can still contemplate towering mountains mixed with dense forests.

You will be amazed at the tranquil beauty of the Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, and Ta Van villages in Muong Hoa valley. Going through small villages, we can learn more about the unique culture of ethnic minorities. The charming terrace fields here will urge you to find a higher spot to behold the alluring panorama of the area. And that’s why we will climb the Sau Chua Peak. This is also a perfect spot for “hunting” clouds. And of course, we will miss our chance to experience a vibrant night in Sa Pa town. You can savor not only the luscious local dishes but also join several exciting activities. A tight sleep is necessary to regain energy and be ready for the next day of the trip.

Summary:

• Distance: 210 kilometers
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we will leave Sa Pa for Mu Cang Chai, where we can find the most beautiful terrace fields. But Mu Cang Chai is not the only worthwhile attraction today. We will first uncover two majestic villages in Sa Pa – Cat Cat and Sin Chai. They are both humble villages nestling in the greatness of nature. The ancient cultural values are still kept intact here. The modern world hardly affects local people’s lives too much. As a result, they have to confront evitable poverty.

After peaceful moments in the villages, we have to overcome a real challenge – O Quy Ho Pass. This is one of the four greatest passes in the Northwest. With an altitude of 200 meters, O Quy Ho is the highest pass in Vietnam. There is no need to say how dangerous this pass is. But to arouse your sense of adventure, the pass is an indispensable part. Just don’t forget to take some pictures here – the landscape is absolutely worth it.

Following National Highway 32, we can reach Mu Cang Chai. As we have said, the terraced rice fields are what make the charm of this place. They are not only stunning but also meaningful. The landscape in this area often shows up in magazines because they represent the creativity and laboring spirit of Vietnamese people. We will have lunch in Than Uyen district – an upland filled with outstanding spectacles.

Summary:

• Distance: 180 kilometers
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The fourth day of the trip will bring us to Phu Yen in Son La province. If morning coffee can’t keep you awake, then Khau Pha pass will. Once again, we can experience another pass in the four greatest ones. This renowned pass is extremely tortuous and steep. Besides the danger, this 50-kilometer pass will elicit your interest as it offers countless splendid sceneries.

So why don’t we stop at Tu Le to have lunch? Tu Le commune is famous for its special rice and hot spring. Well, Thai people really know how to enjoy life, don’t they? Let’s mount on our motorcycles and keep going to Nghia Lo town, where we can find not only remarkable terraced fields but also vividly red Ban flowers.

Today will be a perfect day for those eager to conquer the toughest roads in the North. Lung Lo Pass is daring us to come, and we shall not falter. This 15-kilometer pass once contributed to the victory of Vietnam against the French colonial. After a long day riding through bumpy roads, we will relax and sleep in Phu Yen.

Summary:

• Distance: 190 kilometers
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we have two different routes available:

We ride on National Highway 43 to get to a ferry named Van Yen. Then we’ll follow National Highway 6 to reach Hua Tat Pass. These landscapes along the pass are gorgeous. However, you have to ride with 100% attention here because its roughness and slope are not a joke. Moc Chau highland is our next destination. In front of colorful flowers of different types on the plateau, no stress can survive. After that, we will visit some rustic Thai villages to find out more about this ethnic group. Then you can immerse yourself in the freshwater of the Tat Nang waterfall. This silvery waterfall is the feather in the Son La people’s cap. And at last, we will arrive at Mai Chau and enjoy Can wine – a specialty of Thai.

Our second choice is to follow a dirt trail to Da Pho, Bac Phong. We will also go by Van Yen ferry before getting to Moc Chau town. In opposition to Mu Cang Chai, Moc Chau has been modernized a lot. From the town, we’ll move to Pha Luong – a site mentioned so often in Vietnamese literature. In Pha Luong, we admire the spectacular sceneries of mountains, forests, and Dai Yen Waterfall. And then to reach Mai Chau, we have to go through several off-road single trails.

Summary:

• Distance: 152 kilometers
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The last day of our journey will be equally fantastic as other days. Firstly, we will stop at Go Lao Waterfall and take some elegant pictures. The way to the waterfall is not easy, but once you witness the grandeur of Go Lao, you know that your efforts have paid off. Next, we will keep riding until we can see if Ba Khan Lake is worth the title “Halong Bay on land”.

After contemplating the charm of Ba Khan Lake, we have to ride through the forest and pass many rough tracks before reaching Thung Khe Pass. This breathtaking “white rock” pass will capture your attention immediately, but you need to ride more carefully. Passing Luong Son and Quoc Oai communes, we will join Thang Long Boulevard to return to the Hanoi center. Our 6-day tour will end up with memorable experiences then.