10 Day Motorbike Holiday Across North Vietnam

Departing Hanoi at 9:00 a.m., the route heads southwest, trading city highways for quiet rural backroads within the first hour. The ride opens up into lush green countryside, small villages, and warm encounters with locals along the way.

By afternoon. we arrive in the beautiful Mai Chau Valley for an overnight stay in a traditional Thai family homestay.

After breakfast, the ride continues toward Phu Yen through scenic stops and ethnic minority villages along the way. A highlight is the vast Moc Chau Plateau, renowned for its sweeping tea plantations, before the afternoon route follows the stunning Da River through dramatic highland scenery.

We arrive in the quiet town of Phu Yen around 5:00 p.m. and check into our hotel.

Today’s route ranks among the most exciting motorcycle roads in northern Vietnam. The ride from Phu Yen to Than Uyen passes through the world-famous Mu Cang Chai terraced rice fields, with frequent stops for photos and genuine encounters with friendly locals along the way.

We arrive in Than Uyen around 5:00 p.m. and check into our hotel.

A shorter but spectacular riding day crosses the legendary O Quy Ho Pass, one of the longest and most scenic mountain passes in northern Vietnam at around 2,000 meters above sea level. The route delivers sweeping views of towering mountain peaks, vast tea plantations, and the iconic Fansipan summit at 3,142m, the highest point in Vietnam.

We arrive in Sapa in the afternoon with time to explore the town on foot or simply relax before dinner.

After breakfast, the ride crosses to the other side of the Hoang Lien Mountain Range, following smooth roads along the Chinese border through rustic villages and stunning terraced rice fields. The scenery rivals anything seen so far, with dramatic mountain backdrops at every turn.

We arrive in the charming highland town of Bac Ha around 4:00 p.m. and check into our hotel.

Today’s ride brings a fresh perspective with more off-road riding options and dramatically different mountain scenery compared to previous days. The highlight is the ride through Hoang Su Phi, offering some of the most breathtaking terraced rice field views in all of northern Vietnam, particularly stunning during harvest season.

We arrive in Ha Giang City around 5:00 p.m. and check into our hotel.

The ride into the heart of Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, a UNESCO-recognized geological wonder, is the standout stage of the entire tour. Ha Giang’s dramatic limestone landscape, vibrant ethnic communities, and ever-changing seasonal beauty make this one of the most celebrated motorcycle routes in Vietnam.

By 5:00 p.m. we arrive in Dong Van, a historic ancient town nestled among towering karst peaks. Beyond a place to rest, Dong Van offers a genuine immersion into the atmosphere, heritage, and local culture of the plateau.

The morning begins with a leisurely walk through Dong Van Old Quarter, a coffee stop, or an optional hike to the historic French fortress on the hill above town. We set off around 10:00 a.m. through the wild karst plateau toward the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass, delivering breathtaking views of sheer rocky mountains and deep river gorges.

The afternoon ride transitions into lush green mountain scenery before arriving in Bao Lac around 4:30 p.m.

After breakfast with our Tay hosts, the ride continues to Thac Ba Lake, Vietnam’s largest man-made lake. Today’s roads are smoother and more relaxed, passing through rice fields and vast green tea plantations for a welcome change of pace.
Interesting stops at Tan Trao and Dinh Hoa offer a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Indochina and Vietnam War eras.

On arrival at Thac Ba, a scenic boat trip through the lake’s countless small islands closes out the day beautifully. We stay overnight at a traditional Dao family homestay.

Enjoy the breakfast and take a ride back to the capital city, arrive and end the 11 days motorbike holiday around the amazing North Vietnam.