Itinerary Overview
Northern Vietnam has emerged as an irresistible draw for riders from near and far, and its allure is rooted in the breathtaking natural spectacles it unveils. The region is best known for the iconic Ha Giang Loop at the northernmost point, a must-ride highlight for anyone exploring Vietnam motorcycle tours in the North. A stop in Sapa is an essential highlight of any motorbike trip through Northwest Vietnam, and it’s easy to see why. Nestled beneath Fansipan, the tallest mountain in Indochina, Sapa is home to one of Vietnam’s longest mountain passes—O Quy Ho Pass.
This 7-day Northern Vietnam Motorcycle Tour offers riders from around the world the opportunity to discover this untamed region. You’ll tackle a variety of roads—ranging from flat and smooth to rugged gravel and bumpy paths, including dirt tracks and dense jungle routes. Any road could quickly turn into a dirt road when it rains. The spectacular view of the cloudy mountains is a memory from a motorcycle trip.
Guided by The IA, this experience goes beyond the ride itself — delivering deep local insight, carefully crafted routes, and the confidence to explore Vietnam’s wild northern frontier at its very best.
Tour Highlights
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Touch every corner of North Vietnam
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Boat trip on Ba Be Lake - don’t forget your swimsuit
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Admiring Mother Nature in the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia - Ban Gioc Waterfall
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Experience the thrill of winding through majestic mountain passes
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Discover Sa Pa – the paradise of terraced fields and ethnic culture
Overview
Details
Prices
FAQs
Summary
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Culture: Touching Ethnic Culture in North Vietnam
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Average Daily Ride Hours: 4 - 6 hours
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Total Distance KM: 1030 Km
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Level: Intermediate
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Day 1: Hanoi - Babe
We depart for Ba Be around 7:30 A.m., passing through the mountainous province of Thai Nguyen. We'll skillfully navigate away from the hustle and bustle of city traffic until we arrive at Cho Chu town, where we'll savor a delicious lunch. After lunch, we will surely have an enjoyable motorcycle ride to Ba Be because the roads have less traffic and offer many grand mountain views. There are superb landscapes with terraced rice fields and bamboo paddle wheels on both sides of the river.
Upon arrival, we board our private boat for a cruise on Ba Be Lake, the largest natural lake in Vietnam. We can swim in crystal clear waters before dinner and overnight in Pac Ngoi Village, where we'll immerse ourselves in the unique culture of the Tay ethnic minority.
Summary:
Accommodation: 3-4 stars hotel or best homestay in area
Distance: 240km
Meal: Lunch, Dinner -
Day 2: Ba Be - Ban Gioc
Wake up to the stunning views of karst formations all around you, covered with patches of wild vegetation and rich wildlife. Enjoy the remaining moments of your journey before departing to Ban Gioc via Nguyen Binh, where you will be surprised by the infinite lush green color of bamboo forests and the mountains gently meeting the rice terraces' valleys. Stop for filming or taking photos whenever possible. The motorbike ride to the waterfall offers a great mountain view. The road is not so steep, but it is quiet and different from the roads we rode on before.
After lunch in Cao Bang, the road takes you to your accommodation next to the waterfall, where you can rest before enjoying a traditional dinner. If time permits, we board a boat trip to admire the grandeur pass in a closer way. As one of Southeast Asia's largest natural waterfalls, the sheer majesty of Ban Gioc Waterfall leaves anybody in awe when they first lay eyes on it.
Summary:
Accommodation: 3-4 stars hotel or best homestay in area
Distance: 180km
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -
Day 3: Ban Gioc - Bao Lac
In the morning, we board a boat trip to admire the grandeur pass in a closer way. As one of Southeast Asia's largest natural waterfalls, the sheer majesty of Ban Gioc Waterfall leaves anybody in awe when they first lay eyes on it. The roar of the falls and the mist that rises from the crashing waters evoke a sense of bewilderment that is both exciting and humbling. Leaving that backdrop behind, we embark on an exhilarating off-road motorbike tour, crossing some streams and promising a day filled with adventure.
To reach today’s destination, we must conquer Me Pia Pass. Its unique shape winds like a long snake, and its steep gradient has shaped it into curves resembling a ribbon fluttering in the wind, forming 14 twists and turns. Despite its length of only 2.5 kilometers, a trip through it is enough to make the soul soar and a surefire bet for adrenalin junkies feeling adventurous. The pass takes you to your accommodation in Bao Lac, where you can rest before enjoying a traditional dinner.
Summary:
Accommodation: 3-4 stars hotel or best homestay in area
Distance: 50km
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -
Day 4: Bao Lac - Dong Van (The Ha Giang Loop)
The road to today's destination is another spotlight, making this Northern Vietnam motorcycle trip more memorable. Especially, we have to cross a few rivers instead of riding on some bamboo bridges. Take the unpredictable condition road DT217 to reach Khau Vai, then cross a bamboo raft ferry over the Nho Que River and continue on the other side down to Meo Vac.
After lunch, we will start our excursion again. We then head up the Ma Pi Leng Pass. Sitting approximately 1500 meters above sea level with the poetic Nho Que River winding off in the distance, it's not exaggerated to say Ma Pi Leng is the King of Passes. Although the pass is relatively short at about 20 kilometers, it punches far above its weight. Keep going until we get to Dong Van in the afternoon. Walk to Pho Bang Street, which was created long ago and features multi-story clay brick houses with tile roofs. Free to wander around the Town. Overnight in Dong Van.
Summary:
Accommodation: 3-4 stars hotel or best homestay in area
Distance: 180km
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -
Day 5: Dong Van - Ha Giang (The Ha Giang Loop)
Today's journey will take you to many attractions, so make sure your camera is fully charged and your handlebar is steady. The Dong Van Rock plateau is reminiscent of an open-air geological museum, preserving the imprints of the Earth's crust's evolution over millions of years.
After breakfast, backtrack slightly to the fork in the road and head north to Lung Cu, a sacred symbol of Vietnamese sovereignty and national pride. At a height of 34.85 meters, the Lung Cu flagpole represents the northernmost point of the Motherland, where the red and yellow star flag waves proudly in the wind.
The road then sequentially leads us to the Palace of the Hmong King, Tham Ma Pass, and Quan Ba Heaven Gate… As you ride through, you will see ladies in colorful costumes carrying bundles of sticks in baskets and children playing (or working) in the streets; they sometimes appear from the road before vanishing into clouds or hills.
As you drive further west, the views become more stunning. Along the road, there will be several spots constantly catch your eye and overwhelm your mind. Arrive in Ha Giang and indulge in a cold beer beside a pool.
Summary:
Accommodation: 3-4 stars hotel or best homestay in area
Distance: 150km
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -
Day 6: Ha Giang - Bac Ha
Starting right after breakfast, we’ll try the challenging off-road motorbike ride to Xin Man and Hoang Su Phi, famous for their beautiful terrace rice fields and bumpy, rugged roads. Xin Man is right on the border between Vietnam and China. Riding a motorbike is fantastic, with glorious scenery on both sides of the way. It is among the most untouched areas of the Ha Giang Province of Vietnam.
Following the Chinese border for much of the way to head the famous market town of Bac Ha. Our northwest Vietnam motorbike tours will move on the easy roads for roughly the first 100 km and then approach the rugged ones for the last 40km. If you go on Sunday, you can see a superb example of a traditional minority market in Vietnam’s wild northern mountains.
Dinner and overnight accommodations will be provided at a small family hotel.
Summary:
Accommodation: 3-4 stars hotel or best homestay in area
Distance: 130km
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -
Day 7: Bac Ha - Sapa
Today, we head straight towards the northwestern mountain, where the main Fanxipan Mountain range dominates the road until Sapa. After a great short motorbike tour from Bac Ha, we’ll take a break at the border gate to China near Lao Cai to have hot coffee and view China from Vietnam.
On the other half, we ride on the O Quy Ho pass to cross the Hoang Lien mountain range—the highest in Vietnam, including Fanxipan peak, which is 3142 meters above sea level. You will indeed have pictures of the most beautiful valley in northern Vietnam. We will arrive in Sa Pa around sunset. Toasting the finish of a 4-day motorbike tour with cold beers and saying goodbye to the Indochina Adventure team. We hope to reunite further on the road in the next coming trip.
Summary:
Accommodation: 3-4 stars hotel or best homestay in area
Distance: 100km
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Price
| WR | KLX 250 | CRF 250 | CRF 300L | |
| 1 Rider | Please check the group tour | |||
| 2 Riders | USD180/Day | USD200/Day | USD210/Day | USD220/Day |
| 3 Riders | USD170/Day | USD190/Day | USD200/Day | USD210/Day |
| 4 Riders | USD160/Day | USD180/Day | USD190/Day | USD200/Day |
| 5+ Riders | Contact Us | Contact Us | Contact Us | Contact Us |
Inclusions
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Motorcycle - Gasoline
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1 English Speaking Guide – Lead the routes
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Good Accommodation: 3 Stars Hotel – Twins or Homestay (1 bed – 1 person)
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All Meals On Tour
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Luxury Bus Pickup and Drop off
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Water during a day
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Ferry Fee
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Hotel before Tour
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Welcome Dinner
Excludes
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Personal insurance - Travel insurance (this at your own risk)
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Third Party Insurance
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Motorbike Damage
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4G SIM Card - You can buy Viettel 4G sim at airport around 10$
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Air ticket
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Soft Drink, Beers, Alcoholic drinks
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Personal expenses & Other expenses not described in the itinerary
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Visa
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All sightseeing tickets and travel permits on frontier
Note
- 1 Mechanic (Sweeper) – Complimentary for groups of 5 bikes or more.
- Support Truck for Luggage – Included for groups of 12 motorcycles or more, or available at $100/day.
For one-way tours, an additional $200 applies for the truck to return to the departure point. - Cameraman – $130/day, including professional photos, drone/FPV footage, and 2 edited video clips after the tour.
- Single Supplement (Single Occupancy) – Price will be advised depending on the specific tour booked.
- Halong Bay Cruise – Additional $100 per person.
- Bike Transfer Back to Departure Point – $80 per bike.
Group Tour
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Tour Highlights
Tour Highlights - Touch every corner of North Vietnam
- Boat trip on Ba Be Lake - don’t forget your swimsuit
- Admiring Mother Nature in the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia - Ban Gioc Waterfall
- Experience the thrill of winding through majestic mountain passes
- Discover Sa Pa – the paradise of terraced fields and ethnic culture
Contact info
