Day 1: From Hanoi to Phu Yen (100 miles / 160 kilometers)
In the morning, you will start your motorbiking tour by leaving Hanoi on dike roads to avoid the heavy traffic and breaking out of the delta plains. You will head out of Hanoi skirting along Red River to Son Tay and then, ride through the peaceful countryside to Phu Yen mountain town (a district of Son La Province in the Northwestern region of Vietnam), as a stop-over for a night. You will stay in a guesthouse.
Day 2: Phu Yen to Than Uyen (131 miles / 210 kilometers)
In the morning, you will keep motorbiking across Lung Lo pass before head up on Road 32. During the First Indochina War, the 15 kilometers-long Lung Lo Pass, used by the Vietnamese resistance force to transport weapons, goods, and food during the Dien Bien Phu campaign of 1954, was heavily bombed by the French in order to sever the front lines from the rear.
Lung Lo Pass, situated in the northern province of Yen Bai, was also recognized as a national heritage by the ministry. After lunch, you will ride through the Mu Cang Chai massif, almost as high as the Fansipan. From the top, it offers one of the most beautiful views of North Vietnam. The ride is challenging but very rewarding. You'll stay overnight in a hotel.
Day 3: Than Uyen to Sa Pa (Lao Cai) (69 miles / 110 kilometers)
You will ride straight toward the main Fansipan Mountain Range. There is also the option for a very challenging back route which will take you through several river crossings. The massive mountain range dominates the road until finally, you must make a splendid climb up from Binh Lu and up to the top of the highest road pass in Vietnam (Tram Ton Pass).
Crossing into Lao Cai Province at over 2,000 meters where the views look out over the main range for miles and miles, before you descend to the mountainous Sa Pa valley. You'll stay overnight in a hotel.
Day 4: Sa Pa to Luc Yen (Yen Bai) (106 miles / 170 kilometers)
Take your motorbikes down from Sa Pa to Lao Cai City and then have a coffee stop on the bank of Nanxi River, which is Vietnam - China border. Enjoy your coffee while taking the view of China. Head to Road 70 before the turn to Luc Yen on Road 152. You will through palm forest all the way to Luc Yen and stay in a family in the Tay territory. It's a great home stay and the hosts are very welcoming.
Day 5: Luc Yen to Vu Linh Village (Thac Ba lake, Yen Bai) (50 miles / 80 kilometers)
Get on the road, take a half-day ride to the Dao friends' village of Vu Linh, which by the side of Thac Ba Lake, the biggest man-made lake in Vietnam. This artificial lake has an area of 23,400 hectares and 1,331 islands and hills with diverse ecological environments. The water in the lake is blue and clear and imprinted with the reflections of the surrounding ancient forest.
The thousands of hills and islands feature caves such as the Hum, Cau Cuoi, and Bach Xa. After lunch, you will take the boat ride, stop by an island for swimming, and discover the particularities of this area: the way villagers paddle their boats, the exotic and odd animals living around, the quiet and peaceful beauty of this huge lake, and the lifestyle of the Dao among the thousands of islets. You will have an unforgettable dinner with the hosts whose are really big drinkers and they party every day. The welcome is exceptional and hopefully, you will survive.
Day 6: Vu Linh Village (Thac Ba lake) to Hanoi (112 miles / 180 kilometers)
After breakfast, you will ride 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 dike, 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. You should be back to Hanoi before rush-hour (16:00) because traffic's getting busier and busier.
Beginner
- Can ride for 2-3 hours
- Minimal riding experience
- Assistance required
- Comfortable with curves and leans
- Basic experience with unsurfaced roads
- Short distance ascents and descents
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
