Northeast Vietnam Tour from Hanoi to Lang Son in 8 Days

On the very first day of your Northeast Vietnam Tour, you will start from Hanoi and get to Lao Cai city by train. To head to Lao Cai in the early morning, you need to come to Hanoi Railway Station, then send a motorbike on that train before taking the railway from Hanoi to Lao Cai. Since you will have to ride through endless rugged mountain paths, the tip for you is to choose a powerful motorbike like Honda CRF 250 or Honda XR150L.

Spend your night time on nice sleep before getting off the train. Coming to Lao Cai, it will be extremely regretful to miss the trip to the gorgeous Sapa and crowded Bac Ha market. Sapa is a dreamy landscape with an enchanting mix of dazzling rice terraces, magnificent high mountains, glorious rolling hills, and multiple deserted trails leading to overgrown valleys. Meanwhile, the vibrant and cheerful atmosphere in Bac Ha, the largest market in the highland region will make you fall right into its authentic charms with unique clothing and special products made by ethnic people.

After the train stops, you will check in at a cozy local homestay in Lao Cai. Enjoy breakfast before your motorbike tour through the twists and turns of peaceful Sapa town. Take a tour around the splendid town while immersing in the fresh cool weather. Next, have lunch before backtracking Lao Cai. Take a nap before continuing your journey. To reach the Bac Ha market, you will bypass the nearby Coc Leu bridge, then follow the NH70 Road. Proceed until you reach the Bac Ngam intersection. Here, you just need to turn left before gaining your energy back with a delicious dinner and an overnight stay at a nearby hotel/motel in the Bac Ha district.

Summary

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

Enjoy a tasty breakfast with local cuisines in Bac Ha, and you will be ready with enough energy to hit the winding roads of Ha Giang. The city is such a bunch of cultural colors with 22 different ethnic groups living here and breathtaking views. All are combined to be special and unique. Located about 70 km from Bac Ha, Xin Man is nestled poetically among immense forests and majestic mountains of Ha Giang. The incredible scenery seems to open a new untouched natural world that attracts every tourist at first glance.

Take a little time to capture all the most fascinating photos of the charming Xin Man. Then, following the DT178 road, you will get to the next destination, Hoang Su Phi which is home to the most impressive and brilliant rice terraces in amazing Vietnam. Sightseeing the shiny golden rice fields midst white floating clouds makes you feel like being lost in a fairyland place. Terraces here are not about agricultural cultivation only, they are real artworks created by the skillful hands of the locals.

Go to a nearby restaurant for lunch. Then, the entire afternoon will be spent at a hotel in the Hoang Su Phi district. Here, you can connect your adventure soul with the perfect beauty of forests and mountains overlapping together. Riding through pristine Hoang Su Phi, the diversity in cultures of local ethnic minorities including the Nung, H’mong, Tay, Ha Nhi, etc also captivate our attention. Continue following the main road leading to Ha Giang where you and your fellow travelers will enjoy local cuisines for dinner. Stay overnight at a local hotel to regain enough energy for the next happy day of the trip. 200-km-distance travel is full of joy, surprises, and unforgettable moments.

Summary

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

Today, you and the whole crew will need to wake up earlier than usual to have enough time to challenge their riding techniques on cramped mountain roads heading up to the majestic Dong Van district. Make sure your stomach is full before your department since your day will not be an easy task. However, you can admire a water painting of nature with steep cliffs and crooked mountain passes. That must be awesome!

Motorcycle to the top of the popular Ma Pi Leng Pass, and you will feel yourself floating among cloudy mountains. Looking down from the majestic pass, you will be greatly impressed by the romantic and peaceful Nho Que river with its emerald green color. Simply take your camera out of your bag and you will surely take the most fabulous pics of the jaw-dropping mountainous landscape in Northeast Vietnam.

Crossing through 14 km of zigzag roads from Dong Van will lead you to H’mong King’s mansion. Looking from a far distance, the house is such an old castle covered by lush green canopies. Getting great influences from traditional Chinese architecture, the entire structure was mixed from stone and wood only, giving an authentic corny beauty. Riding to ancient Dong Van, you will join a tour to discover the ancient town with crowded streets and visit H’mong houses built of tile roofs and clay bricks long ago. We will stop by a hotel for dinner and enjoy a restful night after a long day of wandering around.

Summary

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

Another happy day with a short trip full of amazing experiences awaiting. Be well prepared mentally since the short road will waste a lot of time through winding and rugged kilometers. However, the breathtaking views will surely heal all the exhaustion and difficulties. Your effort through the short slow tempo is highly appreciable.

Following winding Ma Pi Leng pass, we will drop by Meo Vac where you will meet people from multiple ethnic groups such as the Dzao, H’mong, Tay, etc. The more modern and developing life can not prevent them from maintaining their unique cultural life. Friendly smiles are always on their faces while enjoying the peace of rural life. Watching ethnic women making special embroidery and weaving colorful clothes is extremely impressive as a highlight on your Northeast Vietnam trip.

After saying goodbye to rustic Meo Vac, the whole motorbike team will travel via the QL4B road, pass Ly Bon bridge, then turn left into the road QL34. Continue your ride until you reach Bao Lac. Do the check-in procedure and ride downtown for dinner. Take a walk around the local town to see how the nightlife here is. Your day through 80 km will end up with a relaxing sleep at the hotel.

Summary

• Distance:  80 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel

Let’s join a 130-km motorbike ride from Bao Lac to Cao Bang which is known for its charming geo-cultural sites. The remote lands are also one of the most gorgeous landscapes that you should not miss once you’ve ridden in Vietnam. Situated in a wide range of immense forests and mountains, Cao Bang ensures year-round fresh cool air. Riding through incredible limestone caves, spectacular dreamy waterfalls, majestic mountains, and several local villages, you will surely not want to leave. Adventure enthusiasts will fall right into the undeniable charm of this incredible tourist destination.

Although the road from Bao Lac to Cao Bang is quite easy, there are many blind curves. Hence, you should be very careful and slow down. Along the way, our group can make some stops to have lunch and take stunning photos. After 8 hours of roaming the roads, we end the 5th day of the trip at a good hotel in Cao Bang town, where we can relax and be ready for the next promising day.

It’s time to leave the town and go straight ahead to the poetic and majestic Ma Phuc Pass, one of the most marvelous passes on Highway 3 and also the most favorite stop for tourists on the short journey to discover the hidden charm of the Northeast Vietnam mountains. Don’t forget to conquer undulating mountains, sharp curves, and green terraced fields dyed yellow under the afternoon sunlight.

Jump on your bike to romantic Ban Gioc Waterfall, the largest waterfall in stunning Vietnam. Covered by the vast deep green forests and emerald water running down from above, Ban Gioc waterfall appears as jaw-dropping as a fairy region, stirring the weak hearts of tourists all around the world when coming here. However, until now, this hotspot still retains its untouched beauty that is hardly seen in others. Take a tour on a bamboo craft to sightsee the steep cliffs and unique-shaped rocks covered by the green color of multiple moss arrays. All is mixed to contrast down the green water, creating spectacular scenery.

Lunch will be served in the late afternoon at a nearby local restaurant. Take a rest, then prepare for the ride to return back to peaceful Quang Uyen village which is the home to Nung An people for centuries. We will have dinner with the local hosts and listen to interesting stories about their lives.

Summary

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

Your day trip to Lang Son will start right after you finish your hearty breakfast. Besides its striking landscapes, one of the most unique features of this land is its wide range of different markets. Here, you can purchase countless souvenirs for your family and friends at a very low cost. Shopping in Lang Son markets will not break the bank.

The way from Quang Uyen to Lang Son city is also easy to follow. We will pass through Phuc Hoa, then cross the road QL3 to TL208. Take a rest at Dong Khe town then turn on Highway 4A until you visit Dong Dang Town. Keep riding 10 km more, then follow the left-hand direction to Tan Thanh- the border gate connecting China and Vietnam and also an important trade exchange point. Take a look at cheap but high-quality products made by the locals before enjoying lunch.

Take your time to relax for a while before running on the road QL1A to the frontier region, the homeland of Vietnam, Lang Son. This short route is as smooth as a piece of cake to riders. When you arrive at the amazing city, pay for a ride around the city before ending a day at a beautiful hotel.

Summary

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

Our Northeast Vietnam tour from Hanoi to Lang Son finally comes to an end, but we surely enjoy it the best. The newly-upgraded Highway 1B offers a shorter road and less time to ride back to Hanoi from Lang Son. Today, you can spend more time sleeping later than usual. Full and satisfied sleep will better regain your health after long days riding through mountainous areas. Enjoy your late breakfast with traditional Vietnamese coffee. Then, you can walk around for minutes to take some quick shots before embarking on the way back to the crowded Hanoi city. Your trip will, once again, give a deep impression on your mind with breathtaking views on the road. The best choice is to come back to your starting point before rush hour.

One certain thing is that your 8-day trip to discover the Northeast region of Vietnam is fulfilling with so much joy, surprises, and captivating experiences like light off-road and dirt riding moments. Enjoy the best with your fellow drivers!

Summary

• Distance:  160 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch