North Vietnam Motorbike Tour from Hanoi to Lang Son via Ha Giang – 8 days

After enjoying breakfast with a cup of Vietnamese coffee, you move to the gathering point to start our 8-day North Vietnam Motorbike Tour. The first destination on this journey is Vu Linh – a small commune in Yen Bai district, home to Dzao ethnic minorities. To avoid rush hour, we will depart early, around 9 am. Today’s ride is quite long (180 km) and takes about 7 hours to complete. Driving for hours is exhausting, but the greater the effort, the sweeter the reward, right? Our motorbike team will follow highways and single-track roads to Thac Ba Lake, which was created when Thac Ba hydroelectric plant was built on the Chay River in Yen Binh district. The lake offers stunning scenery with over 1,300 islands, mostly covered in forests and clear water.

After taking some time to enjoy the beauty of Thac Ba lake, we will turn into a smaller road to reach Vu Linh commune. Our stopping point is Ngoi Tu cultural village – a peaceful village of Vu Linh commune that attracts domestic and foreign tourists through community tourism. Untouched by the modern world outside, until now, the villagers still retain their traditional crafts, cultural events, cuisine, folk songs, folk games, and house architecture. At night, we can participate in a campfire with the locals and enjoy delicious specialties. Overnight at a local homestay, finish our first riding day.

Summary:

Distance: 180 km

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

Let’s say Goodbye to Vu Linh with a delicious breakfast before jumping on the motorbike and heading to Ha Giang. The majestic scenery and ethnic colors of 22 ethnic minorities make Ha Giang worth a visit. Located in the northernmost part of Vietnam, about 400 km northwest of Hanoi, Ha Giang showcases majestic mountains, limestone walls, charming rivers, and friendly faces. Besides beautiful sceneries, this remote province is also an ideal place to explore the unique culture of Vietnamese ethnic minorities. It is all very relaxing and serene, how Vietnam’s experience should be.

To get to Ha Giang city, we will ride along Thac Ba lake on a rough road, shadowed by the line of trees on two sides and naturally decorated by the spectacular mountains. After that, we join Highway 2 and continue riding until we see many roof-colored houses blending with peaceful nature, meaning that we have arrived in Ha Giang. Today’s ride could be the best part of the whole motorbike ride in Northern Vietnam. Before getting to Tay village, where we will spend the night, our crew stops in Ha Giang city for a while to ask permission for the motorbike tour to Dong Van Plateau and border areas in the next days. Have dinner and enjoy a good sleep to regain energy after a long riding day.

Summary:

Distance: 180 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Today’s destination is Dong Van – one of the most charming spots on our 8-day motorbike tour. About 130 km from Ha Giang town along 4C Road, Dong Van Plateau is so beautiful that it can make all visitors love it at first sight. On the way to Dong Van, we will stop at Quan Ba ​​Heaven Gate to admire the beauty of the majestic nature in Vietnam. Located at 1,500 m above sea level, Heaven Gate is the highest point on the winding road leading from Ha Giang to Quan Ba.

To come up Heaven Gate, you must go through a hard path with one side of the cliff and another side of the abyss. But once you reach the top of the gate, you will be overwhelmed by the breathtaking scenery of Dong Van Plateau from above. A large valley will be in your sight with vast terraced fields, stunning Co Tien Mountain, and peaceful roofs of local people. In the afternoon, we will visit the Vuong Family Residence, which was the home of the king who ruled all Hmong people in Vietnam. We then keep riding to Lung Cu – the country’s northernmost point. Spend some time visiting and taking photos at the top of the Lung Cu flagpole before heading to the hotel in Dong Van. Dinner and overnight here.

Summary:

Distance: 160 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Today’s ride is quite short, only 80 km, but promises a lot of fascinating experiences waiting for us ahead. This trail is ideal for adventurous riders with dangerous and complex terrain, sharply divided by long mountain ranges with big slopes. To get to Meo Vac, we will pass Ma Pi Leng Pass, which is considered the King of the passes of Vietnam. Riding on this pass, you will be amazed by the spectacular scenery of majestic limestone ranges running to the horizon and the poetic Nho Que river winding from a distance. Nothing can describe the layer upon layers, mile upon mile of the mountain, the depths of the abyss, and the beauty of the green river at the foothills. With incredible views, you will feel as if you are standing in the middle of the sky.

Continue to conquer winding roads to Meo Vac. This area is home to different ethnic groups, including the Tay, Kinh, Dzao, H’mong, and more. Untouched by the modern world, they still retain a rustic lifestyle and a long-standing culture. Leaving Meo Vac, our crew follow QL4B, then turn left onto QL34 and go straight until Bao Lac town in the late afternoon. Enjoy dinner, spend a night at a local hotel, and finish a memorable riding day on the journey.

Summary:

Distance: 80 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

From Bao Lac, keep going southeast to reach Cao Bang City. It is a long ride, but the scenery is incredible along the way. Today, our motorbike team will have to go through several winding pass roads, which have attracted many motorcyclists to explore. The mountains looming in the sea of ​​clouds and the fog covering trees on both sides and valleys make the scenery here more poetic. For those who love the majestic beauty of mountain ranges and seek unforgettable riding experiences in North Vietnam, this route is a great choice.

It is not a challenging road, but there are many blind curves that you need to notice while riding on a motorbike. On the way, we can make some stops to take pictures of the beautiful landscape here to save memory for this trip. We will arrive in Cao Bang city in the late afternoon; then, we will have dinner and enjoy a relaxing night at a good hotel to prepare for the next promising rides.

Summary:

Distance: 130 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

The journey on the 6th day will depart from Cao Bang City to Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of Vietnam’s most impressive natural sights. Located on the border between Vietnam and China, Ban Gioc is considered the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia. With a width of 300 meters, it falls from a height of 53 meters through the limestone floors, forming large and small cascades of water, tossing a layer of mist into space. At the waterfall’s foot are the clear surface of the Quay Son river, illuminating mountains and clouds. On the banks are green fields of Tay and Nung people who have been living in Ban Gioc village for a long time.

The best way to see Ban Gioc Waterfall is to jump on a bamboo raft and allow the boatman to take you through the waterfall. The beauty is just unreal! After a long day of discovering Ban Gioc Waterfall, we keep riding to Quang Uyen, a peaceful village of the Nung An people. Enjoy dinner and stay overnight at a local family to learn more about their daily life.

Summary:

Distance: 140 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

Our destination today is Lang Son, a tranquil province in the northeastern Vietnam region that offers stunning natural landscapes and plenty of bustling markets. We follow the famous historical Highway 4 to go to Lang Son. On the way, our crew will pass through Dong Khe town, where the Battle of Route Coloniale 4 during the First Indochina War took place.

In the afternoon, we arrive in Lang Son, where you will enjoy a late lunch before taking the rest of the day to explore this beautiful city. Known as a major trading point between China and Vietnam, there are many large markets in Lang Son, such as Dong Kinh, Ky Lua, etc., where you can find countless unique products at low prices. Overnight at a hotel in Lang Son city, ending a long day of riding with many new and exciting experiences.

Summary:

Distance: 140 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

It is a smooth ride today in which we will follow the new Highway 1B to return to Hanoi. You can wake up late or go shopping at Dong Kinh market in the early morning. Then, we will return to the hotel, pack the luggage, and hit the road back to Hanoi. Hopefully, we are lucky enough to arrive in Hanoi before rush hour to take a rest after the long journey. Tour ends.

Summary:

Distance: 160 km

END OF TOUR