Northwest Vietnam Motorbike Tour via Northern Loop Trail – 6 days

We are all excited about this six-day motorbike tour exploring northwest Vietnam. Our first destination is Phu Yen, which is more than 1000m above sea level. Majestic mountains, lush green forests, and small valleys nestled between mountains and hills, Phu Yen is like a giant art painting and a marvelous masterpiece of creation.

It takes 4 hours to drive from Hanoi to Phu Yen, which is 190 km away, and we choose the Noi Bai-Lao Cai highway route. Driving off the beaten path, we arrive at Phu Yen after four hours, our first destination in our six-day northwest Vietnam motorcycle tour. Over the hills, we catch the sight of rice and corn fields which are well blended and look like an oil painting with radiant colors. The poetic beauty of this area is typical of the northwest area of Vietnam. Setting our foot in this land, taking a deep breath, we find peace within us.

Summary:

Distance: 190 km

Accommodation: Hotel in Phu Yen

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Waking up to the lovely view from our homestay, we can immediately feel the cool temperature and pleasant breeze filled with mist. Tourists should wake up early to enjoy the foggy atmosphere of the mountainous area. After having a hearty breakfast in Phu Yen, we prepare our bags and stuff for our journey on Day 2. Mountain ranges, hills after hills, and vast rice terraced fields are our first impressions of Yen Bai’s Mu Cang Chai district.

We spent 4 hours on our 180km route and took 4 hours. Though it’s quite far and the road is not always easy to handle, the journey is very interesting as the scenery constantly changes along the way. Tourists will see typical Thai stilt houses, golden rice terraced fields in Muong Lo, stunning flower valleys, winding roads, and steep hills of their own eyes. After lunch, we travel to the mist-capped Qua Khau Pha Pass. We can vividly feel the elevation change on the way to the top of the pass.

Rice terraced fields appear magnificently below hundreds of great mountain ranges and forests of northwest Vietnam. Getting to the top of the mountain range and looking over the rice fields, we understand why this is a treasure and heritage of this land. In the ripe rice season, the fields look like a “golden sea” that spans Mu Cang Chai’s mountain ranges. After spending a day with lots of thrilling drives, memorable experiences, and majestic landscapes, we return to the hotel, enjoy dinner, which features all specialties of the province and play some fun games.

Summary:

Distance: 180km

Accommodation: Hotel in Mu Cang Chai

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early morning may be the most tranquil and peaceful moment in our motorbike trip as this is when we can enjoy the pure air and wet mist and watch dawn break. On day 3, we head to Sapa. The route from Mu Cang Chai to Sapa is about 140km and takes more than 3 hours, thanks to Noi Bai-Lao Cai highway. Instead of spending 6 to 7 hours on a bus or train to get to Sapa, tourists now need to drive for only 3 hours.

Talking about Sapa, there are many things to do and places to visit here. It has ancient villages, stunning rice terraced fields, and hospitable Mong people. To get a local taste, tourists can try local homemade wine, join local ethnic people in their dance show, and learn about the musical instruments used by local artisans.

Summary:

Distance: 140km

Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The cold temperature seems to facilitate our sleep in Sa Pa. The chill is well intertwined with warm rays of sunshine when the sun rises. After breakfast, we head to Luc Yen, which is 175km from Sapa and takes 4.5 hours. This is a remote district of Yen Bai province with some interesting spots to visit. Tourists shouldn’t miss the busy gem market in the district’s center, where locals sell gemstone products of various types: ruby and sapphire, from the cheap to the exquisite piece.

A trip to Cam Duong cave, listed among the top 10 caves of Vietnam, is also a must-visit while tourists are in Yen Bai province. Untouched by human activities with many colorful sparkling stalactites of all shapes, different sizes, and beautiful shapes, Cam Duong cave is a fascinating place to see whether you are a cave aficionado or just drawn by the allures of mysterious caves.

Summary:

Distance: 175 km

Accommodation: Hotel in Luc Yen

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In our northwest Vietnam motorbike tour via the northern loop trail, we experience the rugged, wild, and peaceful rural villages like Vu Linh. This is a small village lying near hydropower Thac Ba lake. Tourists can enjoy the peace in the rural areas of Vietnam by taking a stroll around the village to see local women in their delicate traditional costumes and visit the typical stilt houses or take a boat on the lake, visiting the herbal gardens or Phuc An waterfall. Make sure you spend a whole day in Vu Linh and the surrounding neighborhood to fully experience this land and culture.

Summary:

Distance: 70km

Accommodation: Hotel in Vu Linh village

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we leisurely take some time to enjoy a cup of coffee here before getting back to Hanoi. Our camera and phone are all full of beautiful images and the experience of this journey. We return to Hanoi, but the memories of this northwestern Vietnam motorbike trip still linger in our minds. The image of terraced rice fields and rural villages, the welcoming hospitality of local ethnic people, the taste of local specialties, and the fun dance performance have become part of our memories when thinking about northwest Vietnam.

Summary:

Distance: 160 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

End of Tours