Northwest Vietnam Dirtbike Tour 5 Days: Highland Trails & Misty Valleys

We start the day early, meeting at your hotel around 8:00 am for a practical briefing on riding in Vietnam and a quick bike check. By 9:00 am, we roll out, leaving the city behind just as traffic begins to ease.
The ride kicks off with a stretch through Hanoi’s back roads, quickly shifting to quiet countryside lanes lined with rice paddies. As you handle your dirtbike over light off-road sections, you’ll pass small villages where locals are already at work in the fields. The trail offers a balanced mix of gravel paths and scenic views, perfect for warming up your riding skills while enjoying the calm of the Red River Delta.
We stop for a local lunch on the way before continuing toward Mai Chau, riding along stretches of road with limestone mountains rising in the background. The final approach into the valley offers a chance to stand up on the pegs as you ride through winding tracks and feel the breeze of the highlands.
By late afternoon, we arrive at our homestay in a Thai village surrounded by lush rice fields. After checking in, you can cool off with a cold drink by the pool or take a walk around the town to see stilt houses and local weaving crafts.
Dinner will be served family-style, featuring dishes made from fresh, local ingredients. In the evening, join a traditional Thai dance circle, where local rice wine—“happy water”—often makes its rounds, adding warmth and laughter to the end of your first day’s ride.

Summary:
Accommodation: Best Homestay in Area
Distance: 180km
Meal: Lunch, Dinner

We kick off the morning with a local breakfast before gearing up for the day’s ride. Leaving Mai Chau behind, we head toward the highlands of Moc Chau, where the road begins to climb through rolling hills and fresh mountain air.
Our first major stop is at Hua Tat Pass, a quiet stretch of winding road that cuts through misty peaks. Here, it’s worth pulling over, taking off your helmet, and letting the cool breeze wash over you while you look down at valleys dotted with stilt houses and tea farms. The pass is also an opportunity to inspect your bike and take a few solid photos before the terrain changes again.
After a local lunch in Moc Chau, we continue riding along quiet backroads, bypassing the busier routes. The track to Road 43 opens up to a mix of paved roads and gravel stretches, leading us toward the Da River. Reaching the Van Yen ferry, we cross with our bikes, watching the river current below as the hills reflect on the water.
The final stretch into Phu Yen is a highlight, with twisting roads that hug the mountains and occasional dirt patches, perfect for those who want to test their cornering skills on mixed terrain. By late afternoon, we arrive at our guesthouse in Phu Yen, where a warm local meal and cold drinks are waiting to wrap up a satisfying ride.
Spend the evening relaxing, reviewing the day’s ride, and preparing for the next stage of your dirtbike journey through Northern Vietnam.

Summary:
Accommodation: 3 - 4 stars Hotel
Distance: 180km
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a relaxed breakfast, we fuel up and check our bikes before rolling out of Phu Yen. Today’s ride may not be long in distance, but it packs plenty of action for those hungry for off-road challenges.
We kick off with a warm-up on winding roads along the valley, passing small wooden houses and farmlands where local villagers wave as we ride by. Soon, the terrain shifts, and we enter a mix of gravel tracks and rocky climbs, taking us deeper into the hills as we aim for the legendary peaks of Ta Xua.
Lunch is at a local eatery in Bac Yen, a small town where riders can refuel and prep for the highlight of the day. From here, we head toward the “dinosaur backbone” of Ta Xua, a narrow ridgeline trail only a meter wide in parts, with sharp drops on either side. This section will test your balance and nerve, demanding steady throttle and clear focus, especially if the mist rolls in.
At over 2,600 meters above sea level, Ta Xua rewards your effort with panoramic views of cloud seas and rugged mountain spines stretching across the horizon. It’s the kind of place that makes you switch off the engine, sit down for a while, and just take it all in.
We wrap up the day by descending to our homestay in Ta Xua, where a hot meal and a cold drink will be waiting. You’ll have time to swap stories with your crew, review the GoPro footage, or simply relax as the clouds drift by your window in this mountain retreat.

Summary:
Accommodation: Ecolodge
Distance: 180km
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

If you can rise before dawn, you’ll catch the legendary cloud ocean drifting below Ta Xua’s ridges, a moment that every rider remembers long after the trip ends.
After a warm breakfast, we kick-start our dirt bikes and take on the infamous “dinosaur backbone,” a rugged spine trail where misty valleys lie on either side, challenging both balance and focus. This early ride gives you the raw feeling of the mountain waking up under your wheels.
Leaving Ta Xua behind, we drop altitude, tackling twisting off-road sections and rocky paths through isolated Hmong and Dzao villages along the Hoang Lien Son range’s tail end. Expect slippery red clay, occasional stream crossings, and tight, forested switchbacks that keep your adrenaline sharp.
Lunch is a well-earned break in Ba Khe, where we refuel with hearty local dishes. In the afternoon, we cruise smoother roads that snake through tea hills and patchwork plantations until we catch the first glimpses of Thac Ba Lake’s emerald waters.
If the weather allows, we’ll take a short boat ride on Thac Ba, diving from the deck or just floating in silence among scattered limestone islands, letting the lake wash off the day’s dust.
We end the day rolling into a cozy Dzao homestay near the lake’s edge. Dinner is a celebration: steaming local dishes, grilled fish, and “Happy Water” shared with your crew and local hosts under the stars. This is the perfect way to wind down before your final riding day back to Hanoi.

Summary:
Accommodation: Best Homestay in Area
Distance: 180km
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Wake up to the cool morning breeze by Thac Ba Lake, accompanied by a simple yet satisfying breakfast of fresh pancakes, bananas, and local honey, prepared by your Dzao hosts.
Before heading back, we squeeze in one last dirtbike adventure, cruising along narrow village lanes, red dirt tracks, and tea plantations that overlook the shimmering lake. It’s a chance to soak up the quiet countryside and let the final dirt tracks cap off your off-road journey.
After a relaxed morning ride, we make our way toward Viet Tri, stopping for a flavorful local lunch to recharge for the last stretch.
The ride back to Hanoi takes us along peaceful countryside roads and the Red River Dyke, avoiding heavy traffic whenever possible. By mid-afternoon, we roll into Hanoi before rush hour, ending your epic Northern Vietnam dirtbike tour safely and on a high note.
With dust on your boots and memories of misty mountains and winding trails, this final ride completes a journey that will stay with you long after the engine stops.

Summary:
Distance: 180km
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch