North Vietnam Motorbike Tour from Hanoi to Lang Son – 11 days

We start the 11-day-long journey at BM Travel Adventure’s office. After a briefing by our director, we hit the road. We will escape the busy Hanoi streets by driving about 4 kilometers along the bank of the Red River. This gives us an opportunity to observe the hustle-bustle of life in fishing villages lining the river, a stark contrast to life in the city just meters away. Once out of the city, we continue for about 60 kilometers through quaint and peaceful scenery before reaching Trung Ha Bridge. We stop before crossing Phu Tho province for lunch.

After lunch, we will resume driving, eventually passing Xuan Son National Park. The park was established in 1986 as a nature reserve before being converted to a national park in 2002, housing over 1,662 species in an area of 150.48 km2. From then on, we continue traveling on a mix of backroads and crossing two passes before arriving in Nghia Lo township of Yen Bai province.

Summary:

Distance: 250 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

The stretch for day 2 is relatively easy and simple, with no detours. The road is also mostly quiet, with views of small villages and terraced rice fields. On the way, we will pass by Mu Cang Chai, a poor yet possessing rustic beauty district in Yen Bai province. We finish the day early by arriving in Than Uyen town in Lai Chau province. At Than Uyen, you can visit Khau Co Hill Monument, where Muong Lay and Muong Khoa revolutionaries bravely fought French colonialists in 1886, or Na Khoang village, a guerilla base during the French war. There are also Che Bo Cave, a cave complex nearly 7.5 kilometers long, and Ta Gia Scenic Complex, whose beauty is likened to that of painting with magnificent caves, majestic limestone mountains, and the Nam Mu River twisting its way through the landscape. After you’re done sightseeing, we will return to our hotel in Than Uyen town.

Summary:

Distance: 180 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

We depart after breakfast. On the way to Lao Cai province, we will pass by Hoang Lien National Park. Established as a nature reserve in 1996, Hoang Lien was changed into a national park in 2002. Housing over 2,000 species in an area of 298.45 km2, Hoang Lien National Park has been considered to have one of the most diverse ecosystems and has been certified as an ASEAN Heritage Park.

A short while later, we will arrive at the town of Sapa. Being one of the most popular tourist spots in Vietnam, there is no shortage of sightseeing locales for you to visit. First, there is the Stone Church in the center of town. Built in 1895 entirely of stones in the Roman Gothic style of architecture, the church is now the only fully-intact vestige of French occupation in Sapa. You can also visit Muong Hoa Valley with its 196 unique ancient carvings and the majestic 200-meter tall Silver Waterfall. Overnight in Dien Bien Phu town – Hotel

Summary:

Distance: 140 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

To get to Bac Ha town, you will need to drive for a little over 100 kilometers: 45 kilometers from Sapa to Lao Cai city and 70 kilometers from Lao Cai city to Bac Ha town. Along the way, you will, again, get to see the familiar sight of the Northwest region of layers upon layers of rice fields stretching as far as the eye can see. On your arrival in Bac Ha, if you’re lucky to come on a Sunday, you will get to experience the Bac Ha Fair. Bac Ha Fair is one of the few Northwest fairs to keep the traditional trade customs of the Hmong and Red Yao people.

Furthermore, you can visit Hoang A Tuong Manor, built for the Hmong King Hoang Yen Chao in the old style of European castles. Bac Ha Temple, Tien Coc Ly Cave, Pho village, and Mount Co Tien also make for interesting sightseeing locations.

Summary:

Distance: 100 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

We depart after breakfast at the Bac Ha market. We then follow the trajectory of Bac Ha – Xin Man – Hoang Su Phi to get to Ha Giang city. Xin Man is the most remote district to the west of Ha Giang province that bears an innocent and natural beauty untouched by rampant tourism. And if we are lucky to go during harvest season, you will get to see endless stretches of golden terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi district through the rainbow hues of sowing season are also as captivating. Before getting into the city, however, we can take a little detour for more sightseeing if you so choose. In Minh Tan commune, Vi Xuyen district, there is the Bac Sum slope with curves akin to that of a snake when looked at from above, twisting its way peacefully through green limestone mountains. Nine kilometers from Ha Giang city center, there is the ancient Sung Khanh Pagoda that has stood there since 1356, carrying a stone-carved poem over 600 years old by a general from the Tran dynasty.

Summary:

Distance: 200 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

On day 6, we will head out to explore none other than the famous Dong Van Geopark and explore more of Ha Giang on the way. Our first stop after nearly 50 kilometers is Quan Ba district, where you will be able to gaze upon the iconic twin mountains. After Quan Ba, we continue to the Yen Minh district to have lunch.

After lunch, we resume driving, going through Pho Bang, an old peaceful town with rarely any visitors yet still strikingly beautiful with its quaint little houses hiding in between rows of flowers and terraced fields. Pass Pho Bang is Lung Cam village in Sung La commune, where you can visit the set of the movie “Pao’s Story” and fields of purplish buckwheat flowers. And finally, we reach Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark.

As the only UNESCO-certified International Geopark in Vietnam, Dong Van sprawls an impressive 2,356 km2 over four districts: Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, and Meo Vac. The Geopark houses 250,000 people from 17 different ethnic minorities, as well as fossil specimens dating up to 400 – 600 million years old.

Summary:

Distance: 180 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

We have a late breakfast at the market across from our homestay and set off towards Ma Pi Leng Pass. As one of the four great passes of the North, Ma Pi Leng has a length of 20 kilometers and a peak height of up to 1,600 meters. The Pass has posed a challenge for many drivers due to its rough terrain and a steep drop to the abyss on one side, though the views of Nho Que River from atop Ma Pi Leng alone are worth all the troubles. In order to open Ma Pi Leng for traffic, the workers had to risk their lives hanging on the cliff’s edge to chip away at the rocks by using simple, basic hand tools; some had sadly lost their lives to the cause to ensure happiness for many.

After getting down from Ma Pi Leng, we continue following Highway 4B, driving Pass Ly Bon Bridge, then turning left into Highway 34. We then go straight ahead and reach Bao Lac town in Cao Bang province by late afternoon.

Summary:

Distance: 80 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast, we leave Bao Lac town and head towards Ban Gioc Waterfall in Trung Khanh district. Along the roads of Cao Bang are green cornfields broken apart by the occasional mountain or hill peacefully and idyllically. Ban Gioc Waterfall, with its water fed by the Quay Son River, is situated on the border between Vietnam and China. Broken up into two main falls, one in China and one in Vietnam, the falls’ total width chalks up to 208 meters, standing at number one in Southeast Asia. Ban Gioc’s beauty makes it a ‘must’ for any travelers conquering Northern Vietnam.

Before visiting Ban Gioc, we will have a quick stop at Nguom Ngao Cave, only 5 kilometers away. With a length of up to 2,144 meters and three main mouths – Nguom Ngao, Nguom Lom, and Ban Thuon – the limestone cave possesses thousands of unique stalactites and stalagmites, with a notable set in the shape of upside-down lotuses. We finish the day by driving southwest to Cao Bang city to rest.

Summary:

Distance: 150 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

On day 9, we will have a relatively easy day, only driving from Cao Bang city to Quang Uyen town. Although, along the way, we will have a stop at one of the unique villages in Cao Bang, the stone village of Phia Chang in Phuc Sen commune, Quang Uyen district.

As though coming straight out of our imagination of the Stone Age, Phia Chang greets us with thousands of small rocks lining the path. According to the Nung An elders, Phia Chang was established by three families Hoang, Nong, and Luong. Fleeing from upheavals in the north, the three families barely had any rest until they stopped at a cave in Phia Chang. Sheltered, they finally had a good night’s rest and decided to settle down upon witnessing the beauty of the land at sunrise. From then on, the rocks and stones that once sheltered them become an intrinsic part of their lives. Houses, fences, furniture, and even final resting places, Phia Chang is truly deserving of its title as “the stone village” of Cao Bang.

Summary:

Distance: 140 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

Saying our farewell to Quang Uyen, we embark on Lang Son city via Highway 4A. At Lang Son city, we will then choose Tien Pagoda for our first visit. Sometimes called Song Tien (two fairies) Pagoda, Tien Pagoda is situated inside Dai Tuong (giant elephant) Mountain and is strongly associated with the well said to have been created by a mountain fairy. Inside is where the stone-carved poem detailing eight beautiful sights of Lang Son by Ngo Thi Si is kept.

Aside from Tien Pagoda, you can also visit the picturesque Tam Thanh Grotto and Mount To Thi, or the historic Chi Lang Pass, where many a battle was fought, or eroded remnants of the fortress from the Mac dynasty. Ky Cung Temple, with its harmonious beauty, stands as one of the most sacred places of worship in Lang Son.

Summary:

Distance: 140 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

The journey back to Hanoi is easy and stress-free. So, you can freely enjoy a slow morning, sipping on a cup of coffee and watching the hustle-bustle of Lang Son city. As we’re at the end of our journey, you can shop for souvenirs at the numerous markets in the city, such as Dong Kinh market, Tan Thanh market, or Ky Lua night market. You can also visit some more of Lang Son’s tourist spots like the Phai Ve Flagpole at the center of the city or Huu Nghi Border Checkpoint 17 kilometers to the north.

After that, we say our farewell and begin our trip back via Highway 1A early enough to avoid the nightmare that is Hanoi’s traffic during rush hour. We arrive at the BM Travel office at around 3 PM and officially wrap up our 11-day North Vietnam loop on motorbikes.

Summary:

Distance: 150 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

End Tour