Grand North Loop Vietnam Motobike Tour 15 days

After a hearty breakfast we saddle up and make the break for our Grand North Loop Vietnam Motorbike Tour out of the city bustle and the lowlands and plains of the Red River Delta. We will ride pass through clusters of limestone as we head out north-east before leaving the main road and climb up to the Mau Son mountain peak. A winding road leads us to the summit and at over 1,500 metres altitude we will enjoy fantastic views out over China and down towards Ha Long Bay. That is an easy start for our great journey. Overnight in Mau Son.

Today our motorbike tour starts with a drop down from the heights of Mau Son and we strike directly north, skirting the border city of Lang Son, visiting the Dong Dang ‘Friendship Gate’ on the Chinese border, then we join the legendary ‘Highway 4′ where the Viet Minh forces carried out numerous raids over uncountable passes in this remote border region. After the lunch we ride up amazing passes and peaceful villages to get to Ban Gioc Waterfall.

Ban Gioc Waterfall: This picturesque, cascading waterfall is 53 meters high and has an impressive span of 300 meters. The drive there offers unique landscapes, limestone karst formations soar from the verdant rice paddies of the surrounding farms of local ethnic minorities. Overnight in Ban Gioc Waterfall.

We will come back to Quang Uyen by another road, drive along chinese border and see another authentic landscape along the road! Then, we will move south-west from Cao Bang and breach several passes on route in an area hosting huge mountain scenery. The Cao Bac Pass offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. In the afternoon we arrive at Ba Be Lake in the heart of a National Park. Overnight with a host family in a Tay minority stilt house on the shores of the lake.

Ba Be Lake: This pristine mountain lake is situated 240 kilometres north of Hanoi. Surrounded by primary jungle and limestone cliffs, the surrounding areas are inhabited principally by Thai and Hmong peoples.

In order to have time for the amazing boat trip in Ba Be lake, we would start the day later. After breakfast, we start getting our boat trip at around 8.am. Then, we will enjoy the great Vietnam motorbike ride today. Just after 20km from Bao Lac we turn into a narrow and bumpy road with breathtaking view of terrace rice paddies. Especially, we will have to cross few rivers instead of riding on some bamboo bridges. Finishing the memorable riding day with lunch in a peaceful village of the Tay people nearby Ba Be. Overnight in hotel at Bao Lac.

The ride today is mostly on small challenging mountain roads (but incredibly beautiful) on the land of colorful hill-tribes. We will be on some of the most beautiful passes in Vietnam such as the legendary Ma Pi Leng, named as “Heaven Gate” pass. Today is also good chance to learn and experience the unique culture of local tribes. It is so inspiring to see how they survive while they have to manage their lives in the rocky plateau. Later, when we reach the town we will have some extra time to wander the ancient streets lined with H’mong houses of clay bricks and tiles roofs which were built centuries ago.

This motorbike ride from the Dong Van Rocky Plateau to Ha Giang today is another highlight of the trip because of the imposing scenery. In addition, the landscape is also completely different from the days before. We will enjoy riding on small challenging mountain roads with an amazing view and plenty of colorful hill-tribes .We can stop to take picture every meters of the way, beside we can take a visit to some of the local hill tribes such as The Lo Lo or Hmong people to learn more about their unique culture and the truly feel their hospitality. It would be the best time for our motorbike tour in North Vietnam. Dinner and overnight in homestay.

Another special day and we should start the motorcycle tour to Xin Man earlier because the road today is a little bumpy but rewarded with picturesque landscape, so we should not ride fast and have to stop sometimes for many chances of hunting awesome pictures. Then, we keep riding on a narrow and winding road but the terrace fields along the way could be the most beautiful terrace fields in North Vietnam. After that, we’ll try the difficult off-road motorbike ride to Hoang Su Phi where is famous for beautiful terrace rice fields and bumpy rugged roads. This special route promises to give you a lot of excitement and delight. Tonight we stay in local hotel.

Today we head straight towards the North West where the main Hoang Lien Son mountain range dominates the road until Sapa. The road is very smooth with a great view of evergreen valley, rice fields surround lovely villages of the hill tribes. After a short break in Lao Cai to see Chinese border, we will have an incredibly beautiful motorbike ride up to Sapa. This motorbike ride is up, up and up till 1.600 meters above sea level. It offers a great view of valley with terrace fields and it must be one of the best motorbike rides in North Vietnam. Tonight stay in hotel in Sapa.

Sa Pa is lovely little town located at the height of 1600 meters above the sea, surrounded by amazing valley with the villages of minorities. Today, we can either take it easy in Sa Pa town, or take another Sa Pa motorbike tour around Muong Hoa valley - one of the most beautiful valleys in northern Vietnam to meet and talk to friendly local people. The entire region is populated by Hmong, Giay, Tay and Dao people.

Another suggestion is to take the cable car to summit Fan Si Pan – the highest peak of Indochina where you can get breathtaking scenery and then take a good body massage.

Another short motorbike ride but it is still a highlight of the Northern Vietnam motorcycle trip. The motorbike ride is up and up and up O Quy Ho pass to the “Heaven Gate”- the border between Lao Cai and Lai Chau, it is about 2200 meters above sea level. From the top we can have great photo shootings of endless green valley under the blue sky. After that, enjoy the ride to Sin Ho and stay in a local hotel.

After breakfast, we get back on the bikes again and keep the Northwest Vietnam motorcycle tour to Dien Bien. Today with the easy ride, we will be in Dien Bien at around 2.00 PM.
We will spend a half day discovering Dien Bien Phu, take a visit to some historical sites to understand more about the First Indochina War between Vietnam and French as well as about the famous Dien Bien Phu battle – the most important battle which define the end of war. After the tour, stay overnight in hotel in Dien Bien.

The road to Son La crosses a series of mountain passes and living areas of Black Thai people. You will see the daily activities of local people but can be quite interesting to tourists such as children walking to school, men and women working on the field with plenty of buffaloes on the field and the road also. Then we come to the beginning of the very long and steep Pha Din pass- one of the most beautiful passes in North Vietnam where at the top we have vast views of the surrounding mountains, then down the other side on very steep sealed road. Overnight in hotel in Son La.

After breakfast, we ride up to visit Son La prison which was built by French, listen to some epic stories about Viet Minh soldiers while they were captured here. Then, we ride again, as today in our Northern Vietnam Motorbike Tour is quite easy riding, but the view is stunning at Moc Chau. It is truly hard to describe the gorgeous Moc Chau plateau in words, just simply “Wow”. A wonderland that will be imprinted in your mind forever. Tonight, stay in a homestay to feel the hospitality of ethnic people here.

Getting out of the valley by riding up and up to higher lands, we will see more villages of the HMong people. Once we get close to Mai Chau Valley, we’ll make a turn to small quiet road named Hua Tat pass that is an old French-built road with a great view of mountain so you can surely have great motorcycle ride on. We can have some options today for you depend on your ability as we can ride on muddy road, big road or off road. Overnight in homestay in Mai Chau.

Having said farewell to such a friendly Thai family, we return to Hanoi. In order to avoid the busy roads, we will choose other smaller roads. Some off-road options may be put forth. We promise to make you satisfied with our road choice. We may use the French 6-way road that is small and narrow. Going through sugarcane and orange valleys, we will reach Hanoi early to end this short-term motorbike tour safely. Thank you and see you again in your next motorbike tour with us.