North Loop Vietnam on Backseat

Why Backseat of motorbike?

Customized destionations, Flexible routes 

You don't need Vietnam driver licence

Safety, Wide overview, Take photograph anywhere and anytime

Package rate: in USD Per person per day:

Includes: Bikes, Helmets, Raincoat, English speaking guide, Drivers, Gas, Entrance fees, All meals, Mineral water, Hotel - Homestay.

Highlights - Distance:

Hanoi – Mai Chau. 160 km, 5 hours. 

To get out of Hanoi safely, we will have a short briefing to let you know about the rules. In addition, the guide will show you how to understand him by his body language. Finally, we start around 9.30am after the rush hours.

Leaving Hanoi on dyke roads to avoid the heavy traffic and breaking out of the delta plains before we pass through endless limestone karst scenery on the way south through “Perfume Pagoda” country and extensive farming lands comprising a sea of paddy fields split by tree-lined roads. Then striking northwest and over two passes. Finally, dropping down to the mountain valley settlement of Mai Chau. Here we stay overnight with friends of the White Thai minority in a traditional stilt house. In the evening, after feasting, we can enjoy a cultural show of Thai dancing and a range of special local liquors. Overnight in Mai Chau.

Mai Chau – Phu Yen. 140 km, 5 h. 

Head to Moc Chau and turn to the less travelled Road 43 leading to the Da River. After crossing the reservoir of Da river at Van Yen ferry, we ride on a beautiful winding secondary road until Phu Yen where we stay in a guest-house.

Phu Yen – Son La. 160 km, 6 hours. 

Continuing on the almost empty Road 37 we enter mountains heavily populated with Black Thai people, who work on large terraced rice fields. The winding road passes through many Thai villages and fields and provides a great opportunity to watch country life passing by. We continue through rolling hills before rising up to the sugar cane growing areas on the cooler Son La plateau. Overnight in Son La.

Son La – Tuan Giao. 140 km, 5 hours. 

Heading out northwest from Son La, the road crosses a series of mountain passes and areas of busy Black Thai activity. Children walk to school, kids tend buffaloes, women plant rice seedlings and men pull the buffalo. Then we come to the beginning of the very long and steep Pha Din pass where at the top we have vast views of the surrounding mountains, then down the other side on the very steep sealed road. Overnight in Tuan Giao.

Tuan Giao – Than Uyen. 160 km, 6 h.

The road is wild and bumpy. Between Sapa and Hanoi, we will find an important mountainous massif, almost as high as the Fansipan: the Mu Cang Chai. From the top, we have one of the most beautiful views of North Vietnam.

In fact, today is one of the best days with mountain scenery and authentic hill tribes you meet on the road.

Than Uyen – Sapa. 120 km, 5 h. 

Walk/ stroll in the morning. The area of Than Uyen is mainly populated by Flower H’mong and Dzao people. Then direction Sapa. Easy track for 100 km and then asphalted mountainous road for the last 40 km. Today is a beautiful riding day of this Grand North Loop Of Vietnam.

Sapa, trek or relax. 

Depending on the group’s mood, we can either take it easy in Sa Pa town, or make excursions back to the top of the highest pass in Vietnam, or down deep into the amazing Sapa valley. All options are dominated by the crest of the enormous Fansipan mountain range that looms over 2,000 metres above us. The entire region is populated by H’mong, Giay, Tay and Dao people. Stay in Sapa.

Sapa – Bac Ha. 90 km, 4 h. 

The ride from Sapa to Bac Ha takes ~3 hours, down from Sapa to Lao Cai (34 km) and then up to Bac Ha (70 km) with stunning landscape. We check in a hotel and have lunch. In the afternoon, we trek to Lung Phinh village. Overnighting in Bac Ha.

Bac Ha – Xin Man. 50 km, 3 h. 

We ride on minor roads and tracks lost in the mountain. Flower H’Mong savagely imposes their bright colours in this wild vastness. This road allows us to have time to stop and admire the footpaths going through wild bushes. Then we go to the market of Can Cau located at the heart of a mountainous circus, very close to the Chinese border, where the ethnic groups on each side of the border meet every Saturday morning.

Xin Man – Ha Giang. 140 km, 6 h. 

Quiet road with the joys of riding through picturesque landscape along the Lo river. Superb! It is necessary for us to be able to obtain authorizations from the authorities of Ha Giang. The following stages cross the mountainous territories of the frontier ethnic groups. Stay in a hotel in Ha Giang or if you prefer a home stay we can arrange it.

Ha Giang – Dong Van. 180 km, 6h. 

Today is probably the most beautiful day of this 16-day Grand North Loop Of Vietnam by motorbike.

After getting the permit to ride in border areas at Ha Giang’s Immigration Police, we ride on small challenging mountain roads (but incredibly beautiful) on the land of colourful mountain hill-tribes.

Head up the Ma Pi Leng Pass. Here is yet another amazing place, with cloudy mountain ranges and the poetic Nho Que river winding off in the distance. Ride on a rig-zag track until Dong Van, a remote area and meet the hard-working local people here. It is inspiring to see how they survive as they manage to live in the rocks. When we reach town we will have some extra time to wander the ancient streets lined with H’mong homes of clay bricks and tiles roofs built centuries ago. Honestly, this is the best day of this 8 days Ha Giang motorbike tours.

Dong Van – Bao Lac. 80 km, 4 h. 

The road is generally good. However, in summer landslides and tracks make this portion of the ride relatively long in spite of few kilometres. However, the landscape is among the most beautiful of Vietnam, and therefore the slow tempo is only more appreciable.

While riding, you cross the wild regions of the mythical province of Ha Giang. Then you stop for the night at Bao Lac, the ethnic crossroad of North-east Vietnam. Right here, many other ethnic groups on the two sides of the border meet at the market every Sunday.

Bao Lac – Cao Bang. 150 km, 5 h. 

This is a beautiful ride down to Cao Bang province. There are few passes from where you can dominate the area. The road is easy but there are many blind curves. While riding, we can stop very often for photos. Altogether, stop for drinks and food it should be an 8-hour journey. Stay in a hotel.

Cao Bang – Quang Uyen. 140 km, 5 h. 

Ride in 1 hour and a half to reach the beautiful village of Quang Uyen, in the middle of a mountain cirque. This is the territory of Nung An people. Home stay with a host family and the hostess is a great cook.

We make our way through spectacular scenery to Vietnam’s most impressive waterfall, Ban Gioc Waterfalls, 50km from Quang Uyen. Weather permitting we can swim right up to where the 50m high falls hit the river.

Quang Uyen – Lang Son. 180 km, 6 h. 

Ride from Quang Uyen to Lang Son on the famous historical Highway 4. We will have time to discover this city which has become a big trading post between China and Vietnam. You can shop for cheap Chinese products at the nearby Dong Kinh market.

Overnight in hotel.

Lang Son – Hanoi. 150 km, 3 h. 

An easy day back to Hanoi on the new Highway 1B. You can wake up late in the morning as we guess you can be tired after 10 long riding days.

Arrival at Hanoi around 3pm, before rush hours. End this 16 days Grand North Loop Of Vietnam.