Northern Vietnam Motorcycle Tour 11 Days: Ways To Heaven

Intro

Northern Vietnam attracts tourists worldwide with the majestic, peaceful, and pristine beauty of nature, along with the friendliness and warmth of people. 

For this reason, the need for a Northern Vietnam motorcycle tour has been more demanding than ever among foreign tourists. If you are going to take a motorbiking tour in Vietnam, our below itinerary may be a noteworthy piece of information for you.

Northern Vietnam by motorbike

Detailed Itinerary Of The Northern Vietnam Motorcycle Tour

#1 Day 1 Of The Northern Vietnam Motorcycle Tour: Hanoi To Mai Chau

After having a delectable traditional Hanoi breakfast, we departed for Mai Chau from Hanoi. During the route to the picturesque valley of Mai Chau, the windy atmosphere on the hilly road delighted us so much. Mai Chau impressed us with its majestic and primitive mountains. Luckily, we visited Mai Chau in Autumn, so we could witness the colorful and endless terrace fields.

The ethnic people welcomed us with great hospitality and beautiful smiles. We stopped and took some photos with them before heading to our destination. Our 170km motorbiking route finished in the late afternoon, and our team relaxed in a local homestay before continuing our tour the next morning. 

#2 Day 2 Of The Motorcycle Tour In North Vietnam: Mai Chau - Phu Yen

We started day 2 of the motorbiking tour in North Vietnam with a route to Phu Yen. The tranquil ethnic villages and the natural landscape helped us escape our busy daily lives. We indulged ourselves in the peaceful and pristine atmosphere of the remote area. 

Our day 2 was to conquer the Moc Chau plateau after handling the steep roads. Then, we passed the Da River to reach Phu Yen city. It was an unforgettable moment to witness the sunset in a remote area of Northern Vietnam. We felt like the only human being left on the Earth, just nature and us.

#3 Day 3 Of The Motorcycle Riding Tour In Northern Vietnam: Phu Yen - Mu Cang Chai - Than Uyen

On the third day of the motorcycle tour, we finished a 210 km motorbike ride from Phu Yen to Than Uyen. Our effort to nail the distant route paid off with the spectacular view of the rice paddy fields in Mu Cang Chai. 

The numerous yellow paddy fields combined to create an incredible picture of the limitless yellow color. Although Mu Cang Chai is a less concerned area in Vietnam, we were greeted and treated by the lovely and hospitable local people. Today is the highlight of Vietnam motorbike tour.

#4 Day 4 Of The Motorcycling Tour In Northern Vietnam: Than Uyen to Sapa

Sapa is a well-known tourist attraction not only for Vietnamese citizens but also for foreigners. As a result, we couldn’t miss this location on our motorbiking tour in North Vietnam. Sapa is a town in Lao Cai province that stands more than 2000 meters from the sea level. We enjoyed the windy and airy vibe during our hilly ride to Sapa. 

Initially, we found the curves challenging to cope with. Yet, we were excited to complete one of the longest passes in Vietnam, O Quy Ho, so our team continued the motorbike trip. In the end, a panoramic view of Fansipan mountain from O Quy Ho’s peak unfolded in front of our eyes; all our efforts were worth it. Today could be one of the most scenic motorbike tours in Vietnam.

#5 Day 5 Of The Biking Tour In Northern Vietnam: Sapa - Bac Ha

The fifth day of the motorbiking tour in Northern Vietnam took us 160 km to complete. We rode our motorbikes along muddy and uneven roads while contemplating primitive nature. The condition of the 160 km route was mostly the same, so we found it a bit difficult to go through the rough terrains at first. 

However, our crew still made it to the destination and took the time to pet the adorable Bac Ha dog, one of the national dog breeds in Vietnam. We regretted not visiting the Bac Ha market because it was off when we arrived in Bac Ha.

#6 Day 6 Of The Northern Vietnam Motorcycling Tour: Bac Ha - Ha Giang

Ha Giang is the furthest point in Northern Vietnam, so we couldn’t ignore this spot when visiting Vietnam. We still remember the curvy, hilly roads on the way to Ha Giang even when we returned to our hometowns. The 190 km ride to Ha Giang rewarded us with a panoramic view of the Hoang Su Phi pass. 

The organized terraced rice fields looked so unreal that we couldn’t believe we had a chance to witness them in real life. Contemplating the view of Ha Giang from the pass washed away all of our fatigue after a hundred-kilometer biking route.

#7 Day 7 Of The Motorbiking Tour In Northern Vietnam: Ha Giang - Dong Van

Dong Van consists of various majestic and primitive plateau rocks, so this town considerably contributes to the natural beauty of Ha Giang province. Besides the picturesque view of Dong Van, we were impressed with the liveliness of the ethnic people there. 

Dong Van will be a noteworthy spot for you if you love taking travel photos. The local people were willing to become our photo friends, and they even taught us how to pose with the charming spots in this charming town. Today is one of the most challenging motorbike touring in Vietnam.

#8 Day 8 Of The Motorcycle Tour In Northern Vietnam: Dong Van - Bao Lac

We got up early on the eighth day of the motorbiking tour and enjoyed a gentle walk to explore the center of Dong Van. In Dong Van, the government and people still did well in preserving the structure from the French colonial era. After a coffee break, we began to conquer the 160 km motorcycle route from Dong Van to Bao Lac.

On the way to Ma Pi Leng, we passed many terraced paddy fields and rocky plateaus. Since Ma Pi Leng is one of the longest passes in Vietnam, it was relatively rocky to complete the route there. Dong Van Global Geopark was a memorable spot on the eighth day. We rode our motorbikes across the jungles and witnessed the precious ecosystem of Vietnam.

#9 Day 9 Of The Northern Vietnam Motorbiking Tour: Bao Lac - Ba Be

We rode our motorbikes along the Gam River and indulged ourselves in the windy atmosphere on the riverbank. Then, our motorbike tour stopped by some rustic villages and chatted with the ethnic people. Although we fancied sharing stories with them, we must keep moving to finish the 150 km route on time. 

The steep roads hindered us a lot and somewhat dampened our enthusiasm, but we forgot the fatigue easily, thanks to the peaceful villages and poetic streams. After reaching Ba Be lake, the largest lake in Vietnam, we took part in an exciting boat trip. All the tiredness of a distant motorbike trip was shaken off when we let ourselves freely follow the fresh and crystal water.

#10 Day 10 Of The Motorbike Riding Tour In Vietnam: Ba Be - Thac Ba Lake

We left Ba Be Lake to visit another famous Vietnam lake, Thac Ba Lake. Vietnam has three largest reservoirs, and Thac Ba Lake is one of them. Besides the natural beauty spots, we also had a chance to visit ATK Dinh Hoa, a remarkable historical site of Vietnam during the war against invaders. 

Next, there was a boat trip on Thac Ba Lake to explore the magnificent scenes of nature along the riverbank. We finished the ride on the tenth day with a cozy dinner with an ethnic Dao family.

#11 The Last Day Of The Northern Vietnam Motorcycle Tour: Thac Ba Lake - Hanoi

After a farewell party where we gathered around the fire, drank, talked, and laughed, we had a tight night's sleep at the Dao house. Since this was the last day, we didn't set any alarm clocks and woke up quite late. 

After a hearty breakfast with the host family, we traveled back to Hanoi from Thac Ba Lake. We must ride fast to avoid being stuck in the rush hour in Hanoi, so we didn’t spend time sightseeing on the way back.

Bottom Lines

Taking a Northern Vietnam motorcycle tour is a must-do for traveling lovers globally. Vietnam will steal your love and impression with its incredibly beautiful nature and lovely people. What to hesitate but not to start off the motorbike and discover the poetic route in Vietnam?

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