“Get ready for the ride of your life”
10 Day Northern Vietnam Guided Motorcycle Tour to Mai Chau, Son La, and Sapa
Mai Chau, Hoa Binh, Northwest Region, Vietnam
Guided Motorcycle Tour in Vietnam
This amazing Vietnam motorcycle tour for experienced off-road riders will bring you to must-see destinations of the Northern Vietnam such as peaceful Mai Chau, stunning Mu Cang Chai terraced fields, romantic Sapa Town, colorful Bac Ha market, breathtaking mountain passes, and many more. You will be free from worry as the highly experienced tour guide is always there to assist you in riding. Come and join this unforgettable and incredible tour!
Key information
- Terrain: mix of tarmac, gravels, curves, steep passes, muddy, rocky, and off-road
- Bike: rental bike
- Mileage: 1170 kilometers / 727 miles
- Daily rides: 80 - 180 kilometers / 50 - 112 miles
- Riding gear: included: helmets, gloves, bright reflecting jackets. You can also bring your own gear that fits you best
- Meals: 9 breakfasts, 10 lunches, and 10 dinners
Highlights
- Starts and ends in Hanoi
- Discover the area of Lục Yen
- Experience Sa Pa trekking tour
- Amazing cultural show in Mai Chau
- Ride through endless limestone karst scenery
- Swimming in hot springs with locals
- 9 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
9 riding days in English
The organizer also speaks: French
Accommodation
You will be accommodated in homestays and standard hotels.
Program
Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau (150 kilometers / 93 miles)
Leaving Hanoi and breaking out of the delta plains, you will pass through endless limestone karst scenery as you travel south through Perfume Pagoda country and extensive farming lands comprising a sea of paddy fields split by tree-lined roads. After a picnic lunch near Chi Ne, you will visit the hot springs in Kim Boi before striking northwest and over two passes and finally dropping down to the mountain valley settlement of Mai Chau. Here, you will stay overnight with friends of the White Thai minority at a traditional stilt house. In the evening, after feasting, you can enjoy a cultural show of Thai dancing and a range of special local liquors. Overnight will be in Mai Chau. You will ride for about five hours on your first day.
Day 2: Mai Chau - Mộc Châu (120 kilometers / 75 miles)
It’s not necessary to wake up early this day, but why don’t you spend some time discovering local life in the morning by foot? After breakfast, you will head out on the highway before forking off the main road onto an old French colonial road that has become abandoned. This old road used to serve the northwest in the days of little-motorized transport but became disused from 1994 when Hoa Binh Dam was opened and the Black River (Song Da) valley was subsequently flooded, eradicating the road to Hanoi.
You will pass steadily upwards through areas inhabited by Thai people, followed by the Dao and H'Mong ethnicities at higher altitudes. The road surface is by no means smooth but the winding route offers magnificent views out over six ranges of mountains. In the mid-afternoon, you will rejoin the main highway and travel on a good winding sealed road to Mộc Châu, which is famous for the dairy products, tea, a massive cave, and a waterfall. Overnight will be in Mộc Châu. The second day will be a rather short one with only four hours a drive.
Day 3: Mộc Châu - Son La (150 kilometers / 93 miles)
A hard day is waiting for you ahead. You’ll travel around Mộc Châu Highland to wallow in its beautiful nature. Getting out the main road, you will turn off the path, which will make you extremely excited with gravel stone, mud, sheer cliffs, deep abyss, and spring buffalos wallow in mires along the path. You will ride through Ta So, Ta Phinh, Muong Lum, and reach Son La City. This day will be the time for you to do exercise and show your riding skill with 100% off-road. In the evening, you will relax in Son La City after this tiring day. You will ride for about five hours.
Day 4: Son La - Ngoc Chien, Muong La (Son La) (80 kilometers / 50 miles)
On the fourth day, you will travel on snake roads to Muong La where Son La hydropower plant, the biggest hydropower of Vietnam is located. After lunchtime, do not forget to take some minutes around this hydropower plant before continuing up toward Ngoc Chien. Sam Sit mountain pass is waiting for you with mud, dust, rock, and a deep ditch. In hill tribe Thai language, Sam Sit means 30 mountainous slopes. Thus, you should keep your spirits up to pass over this trip. Go sinking with local people in hot spring just for relaxation as finishing time. You will ride for only three hours on your fourth day.
Day 5: Muong La - Than Uyên (110 kilometers / 68 miles)
The route from Ngoc Chien to Nam Khat is fearful with the small road around the mouth of the valley, where no track of car or a four-wheel vehicle is printed. That’s why it is very dangerous for any rider. It takes two hours from Ngoc Chien to halfway up to the peak of Khau Co mountain pass and more than one hour to Mu Cang Chai Town. Don’t be surprised when you hit the view of Mu Cang Chai terraced fields which is recognized as a national heritage in 2007 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The 40 kilometers from Mu Cang Chai to Than Uyên is easy to pass before nightfall. Overnight will be at a hotel. You will ride for about four hours.
Day 6: Than Uyên - Sapa (120 kilometers / 75 miles)
The area of Than Uyên is mainly populated by Flower Hmong and Dzao people. Then, ride in the direction to Sapa. Ride on the easy track for 100 kilometers (62 miles) and asphalted mountainous road for the last 40 kilometers (25 miles). Stay in Sapa and you will find out the reason why Sapa is one of the most popular places for tourists in Vietnam. Like the previous day, you will also ride for about four hours.
Day 7: Sapa trekking tour
Depending on the group's mood, you can either take it easy in Sapa Town or make excursions back to the top of the highest pass in Vietnam or down deep into the amazing Sapa Valley. All options are dominated by the crest of the enormous Fansipan mountain range that looms over 2,000 meters above you. The entire region is populated by Hmong, Giay, Tay, and Dao people. Staying will be in Sapa.
Day 8: Sapa - Lục Yên in Yen Bai (180 kilometers / 112 miles)
Ride down from Sapa and then through palm forest all the way to Lục Yên and stay with a Dao family who lives in the Tay territory. It's a great homestay, very typical of Vietnam hill tribes and the hosts are very hospitable. It will be a rather long day of riding with six hours on the road.
Day 9: Lục Yên - Vu Linh (80 kilometers / 50 miles)
Explore the Lục Yên area and visit your friends' families before riding to your Dao friends' village of Vu Linh. The hosts are ‘drinkers of Vietnam’ and they like to party. The welcome is exceptional and it is hoped that you will not be too tired. You will ride for about three hours.
Day 10: Vu Linh - Hanoi (180 kilometers / 112 miles)
After breakfast, you will cruise southeast on Highway 2 and then branch off to the sleepy town of Phu Tho. You will follow the edge of the Red River along the dyke, almost to the point where it merges with the Black River after which they flow together to Hanoi. By now, you are very much in the lowlands of the delta plains and the north’s main agricultural areas. Harvest time here is a sea of activity. Crossing the Black River by a bridge, you will pass through Son Tay and then return to Hanoi on the highway. On your last day, you will ride for about six hours.
Skill level(s) required for this tour: intermediate, advanced
Intermediate
- Can ride for 3-4 hours
- Average riding experience
- Little assistance required
- Comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- Average experience with unsurfaced roads
- Steep ascents and descents
Advanced
- Can ride for 5-6 hours
- Extensive riding experience
- Assistance on demand (if required)
- Experienced with riding a variety of motorcycles
- Comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions
Included excursions
- A cultural show of Thai dancing
- Sapa trekking tour
Location
This tour will include a journey from Hanoi to Mai Chau, Mộc Châu, Son La, Than Uyên, Sapa, Lục Yên, and Vu Linh in Vietnam.
Food
Indochina Motorbike Tours will serve meals as indicated in the itinerary, as well as fruits and coffee on the tour.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Coffee
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- 9 nights accommodation
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Fruits and coffee on the tour
- Driving gear
- English or French-speaking guide
- Entrance and sightseeing fees
- Gasoline on tour
- Helmet
- Homestay permission
- Mechanic (only for groups of 6 passengers and more)
- Motorbike rental (Honda or Yamaha)
What's not included
- Air-ticket
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Travel insurance
- Visa
How to get there
Recommended Airports
HAN
Noi Bai International Airport
100 km
Transfer not provided
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookMotorcycleTours.com. All major credit cards supported.
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