Top Gear Northern Vietnam Off-road Motorcycle Tour – 12 Days

This Hanoi motorbike tour to Mai Chau valley starts at around 8:30 AM. Ride motorbike to the north west of Hanoi. After one hour riding, we will be in mountain area and the motorcycle tour to Mai Chau becomes very enjoyable. The ride is almost on the small countryside roads along the Da river through rice fields and farming villages, after lunch in Hoa Binh we will ride through plenty of limestone mountain between the rustic village of the Muong and the Thai people.

Especially after lunch in Hoa Binh we will have great ride along the Da river lake, the winding road along the rider offer a stunning view of lime stone mountain and the green water lake. The ride will remind you motorcycle tours on coastlines in central or southern Vietnam. This route is the new discovery of Vietnam Motorbike Tour Expert Co, Ltd so it makes the trip different.

Arrive Mai Chau valley at around 5 PM. Overnight – Homestay in Village

After breakfast at around 8:00 am, we leave the peaceful valley of Mai Chau and begin one of the most scenic riding days of this Northern Vietnam motorcycle adventure. The morning starts gently as we cruise through quiet Thai villages, rice fields and narrow countryside roads before gradually climbing into the higher mountains of Northwest Vietnam.

Leaving Mai Chau behind, the landscape quickly changes from broad green valleys to twisting mountain roads, limestone slopes and remote villages inhabited by Thai and Hmong communities. Depending on the weather and road conditions, we will mix smooth mountain tarmac with smaller backroads and sections of broken or unpaved road, giving the day a good balance between relaxed touring and adventurous riding.

We continue toward the Moc Chau Plateau, one of the most beautiful highland areas in Northern Vietnam. The cool climate, tea plantations, plum orchards and rolling hills make this section particularly enjoyable on a motorcycle. Instead of staying on the busy main highway, we take quieter secondary roads wherever possible, enjoying sweeping bends and impressive views across the surrounding mountains.

After lunch, the riding becomes increasingly remote as we head toward Bac Yen and then climb higher into the mountains of Ta Xua. This final section is one of the highlights of the day, with narrow winding roads following dramatic ridgelines, steep valleys and isolated Hmong settlements.

Ta Xua is well known among Vietnamese adventure riders for its spectacular mountain scenery and the famous “Dinosaur Spine” ridge. Sitting at elevations of more than 1,500 metres, the area is often surrounded by drifting clouds, creating the feeling of riding above a vast white ocean.

We aim to arrive in Ta Xua in the late afternoon, just in time to relax and enjoy the peaceful mountain atmosphere.

Wake up in the cool mountain air of Ta Xua, where, on a clear morning, the surrounding ridges may rise above a spectacular sea of clouds. After breakfast, we start another adventurous day through some of the least-travelled mountain country in Northwest Vietnam.

The ride begins with a descent from Ta Xua along narrow mountain roads carved into steep hillsides. The scenery is magnificent, with deep valleys, terraced fields, small Hmong villages and mountain peaks stretching far into the distance. Traffic is extremely light, allowing us to enjoy the curves and changing landscapes at a comfortable pace.

Rather than following major highways, today’s route focuses on remote backroads and mountainous countryside, where the riding experience is much more authentic. Road conditions can change quickly in this region: some sections are smooth and flowing, while others may feature broken tarmac, gravel, rocky tracks or muddy patches during the rainy season.

This combination makes the ride especially rewarding for experienced adventure riders.

As we travel deeper into the mountains, we pass through remote communities where local life has changed little over the years. Wooden houses cling to the slopes, buffalo graze beside the road and farmers work on terraced fields far away from the busy cities of Vietnam.

After a local lunch along the route, we continue toward Ngoc Chien, a beautiful mountain valley hidden among high peaks in Muong La District. The final section offers more twisting roads, forested hillsides and impressive views before we descend into this peaceful valley.

Ngoc Chien is particularly famous for its traditional Thai ethnic villages, wooden stilt houses and natural hot springs. After a long day in the saddle, there is hardly a better way to finish the ride than soaking in the warm mineral water surrounded by quiet mountain scenery.

Arrive in Ngoc Chien in the late afternoon and enjoy a relaxing evening in this remote highland community.

Overnight in Ngoc Chien.

After breakfast in peaceful Ngoc Chien, we say goodbye to the Thai village and begin another big mountain-riding day toward Muong Lay.

This is a particularly rewarding section of our Northern Vietnam offroad motorcycle tour because the route passes through some of the wildest and least-developed landscapes of the Northwest. The road twists continuously through mountains, river valleys and remote villages, with very little traffic for much of the journey.

Leaving Ngoc Chien, we climb out of the valley on narrow mountain roads surrounded by forest, terraced farmland and high peaks. Depending on seasonal conditions, there can be stretches of rough tarmac, gravel, broken roads and occasional offroad sections. These unpredictable surfaces are exactly what make this route such an enjoyable ADV motorcycle ride.

We continue through the mountainous countryside around Muong La, where the landscape is dominated by steep valleys and the vast waterways connected with the Da River hydroelectric system. The ride offers plenty of opportunities to stop for photographs and meet local Thai, Hmong and other ethnic minority communities along the way.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we continue northward on increasingly remote mountain roads. Long sweeping curves alternate with tighter bends and steep climbs, while magnificent views open across river valleys and distant mountain ranges.

This part of the journey feels far removed from mainstream Vietnam tourism. Villages are scattered widely across the hills, and for long stretches we may encounter little more than local farmers, grazing buffalo and the occasional motorcycle.

In the afternoon, we descend toward Muong Lay, a small riverside town surrounded by mountains at the meeting point of the Da River and several mountain waterways. The final approach offers beautiful views of the broad river, bridges and steep green mountains rising immediately behind the town.

We arrive in Muong Lay at around 4:30–5:00 pm, check in and enjoy a well-earned rest after another memorable day of riding across Northwest Vietnam.

Overnight in Muong Lay.

It’s a short motorbike tour to Lai Chau but it could be the best motorbike trip in North Vietnam including on and offroad ride with amazing view of mountains, river and rice fields. We start the ride with a great riding along the Da river lake. It cant speak highly enough the beauty of this ride it’s likely the motorbike tour on coastline in Central Vietnam but you can see more beautiful view of mountains here.

After the ride along the river bank, we’ll hit the winding pass up and up to Sin Ho town where we have lunch. The town locates at the level of around 1500 meters above the sea so it’s usually foggy and cloudy and it’s a good destination for motorbike touring in Vietnam. After lunch we hit the road down all the way to Lai Chau.

This short motorbike ride promises to be one of the best off-road motorbike tours Vietnam. We will finish the enjoyable Northern Vietnam motorbike tour to Lai Chau at 4: 00 pm, check in at the local hotel and enjoy a short walk around the market in town. Overnight at hotel

The motorbike tour to Sapa starts at 8:00 am. The first 50 km is on the sealed and smooth road with a great view of mountain and crosses through many rustic villages of the colorful hill tribes. The other half of the route to Sapa is crossing the O Qui Ho pass – one of the most beautiful and longest passes in North Vietnam. The view of the mountain here makes the Vietnam motorbike tour to Sapa becomes one of the most enjoyable motorcycle tours in North Vietnam.

We’ll be in Sapa at noon time, lunch is served in a fancy restaurant with all great local food. Checking in the hotel after that and in the afternoon we can have short walk to the village of the H’mong people or take a short motorbike tour around Sapa to some rustic villages where the other tourists do trekking to. Overnight at hotel

We’ll start the day at about 9:00 am when the sun clear out most of the fog. Continue the 12 Northern Vietnam motorbike tour with the slow ride out of the Sapa town. Instead of riding on the big road down to Lao Cai, we’ll take a turn right after the Sapa town to ride on the rugged winding road through villages of the Red Dzao, H’Mong…we will have chance to see the Chinese border when we get to Lao Cai city.

After a hot coffee at the border, we have easy Vietnam motorcycle tour to Bac Ha on the winding, smooth road, crossing some beautiful mountain passes and finish the day in a peaceful village of Bac Ha. We will do home stay with the Tay people. Overnight at local family (Homestay)

It’s a big day of this motorcycle tour in North Vietnam. the ride is quite long and offers most off-road and back road motorbike ride through many villages of the hill tribes. In addition, if we do this tour in the rice season we will have great pictures of the rice terrace fields. It’s quite hard ride for the novice but could be one of the best Vietnam motorcycle tour.

We will be in Ha Giang at 5:00 pm. You can choose to stay in town at the hotel or stay in a quiet village of the Tay people nearby Ha Giang. Overnight at hotel

It’s another great ride! After many years riding motorbike to Ha Giang, this ride today still makes us feel excited. The road is mostly quiet (along the Chinese border), the scenery is imposing and the local tribe is unique, that makes the Ha Giang motorbike tour to Dong Van is one of the best motorbike tours in Vietnam. We can have beautiful pictures at every meters of the road.

We anyway have to end the day in Dong Van town at around 5 pm. Stay in a guesthouse in town. Overnight at hotel

Keep enjoying the Northern Vietnam motorbike tour to Bao Lac. The ride in the morning is still on the Global Rock plateau of Dong Van – Ha Giang so you still have great pictures of the stunning view; especially, we’ll cross the Ma Pi Leng – one of the most beautiful passes in Northern Vietnam that surely makes you stop for picturing even though your camera is being full of beautiful things.

The motorbike ride in the afternoon offers a different view of mountain when we’re going down and down along the Nho Que river. We will be at the hotel in Bao Lac around 5:00 pm Overnight at hotel

Unlike the days before, the motorbike tour to Ba Be lake today is a difference. With the experienced team of Hanoi Motorcycle Tour, you will have great off-road motorbike tour or interesting ride on back countryside roads to Ba Be National park. This short Vietnam motorbike tour Ba Be will finish at the lunch time in the village nearby the lake.

After lunch, we will have enjoyable boat tour around Ba Be lake for about 1,5 hour. We’ll stay overnight in the village of the Tay people who live nearby the Ba Be national park. Overnight at local family (Homestay)

It’s a big riding day to finish the great motorbike tour in North Vietnam. The experienced team of Vietnam Motorbike Tour Expert will do the best to keep you away from the big and busy road as long as possible. The last 50 km could be busy ride while we get closer to the city center. We will be back to the hotel and say good bye to our team before rush hours just in order to end your great motorbike trip easily and safely.

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