17-Day Vietnam Motorbike Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi – Ba Be National Park (240km)

Depart from your hotel at 8:00 AM, transferring to the starting point to begin the ride at 9:00 AM. The morning route avoids busy city roads, leading to Cho Chu town in Thai Nguyen province, where we stop for lunch. Afterward, enjoy a scenic ride with minimal traffic, offering peaceful views of lush mountains and nature. By 4:00 PM, we arrive at Pac Ngoi, a picturesque Tay ethnic village by Ba Be Lake. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay with a Tay family.

Wake up to the sounds of nature and village life. After breakfast with the Tay family, take a two-hour boat cruise on Ba Be Lake, Vietnam’s largest natural lake. After lunch in Pac Ngoi, embark on a smooth and easy ride to Cao Bang, covering 150km on well-paved roads. Arrive in Cao Bang by late afternoon and stay overnight in a local hotel.

After breakfast, follow scenic backroads toward the Chinese border, passing through breathtaking mountain landscapes and rice fields. Visit Ban Gioc Waterfall, Vietnam’s largest and most stunning waterfall, around noon. Spend time exploring, taking photos, or swimming. After lunch, continue riding along scenic roads to Quang Uyen, where we arrive at 5:00 PM. Relax and stay overnight with a Tay family near the town.

The day’s ride is primarily on paved roads with occasional easy off-road sections, passing through villages of Tay, Dzao, and H’Mong ethnic groups. Arrive in Meo Vac by 5:00 PM and check in at the hotel for an overnight stay.

Experience the highlight of the tour by traveling through some of northern Vietnam’s most remote and scenic areas. Visit Pi Leng Pass, one of Vietnam’s most spectacular mountain passes, the Dong Van rock plateau, Vuong Palace, and Quan Ba’s “Heaven Gate.” Enjoy breathtaking views along every stretch of road before arriving in Ha Giang in the late afternoon.

Depart Ha Giang at 8:30 AM, riding through small villages and quiet backroads. Stop for lunch in Luc Yen town before continuing toward Thac Ba Lake, Vietnam’s largest man-made lake. Upon arrival, take a one-and-a-half-hour boat cruise. Spend the night in a traditional stilt house with a Dzao family.

Enjoy a scenic ride along Thac Ba Lake, passing mountains, rice fields, and green waters. After lunch in Pho Rang town, visit the Vietnam-China border before taking a stunning 40km climb up to Sapa, situated at 1,600m above sea level. Capture breathtaking views of terraced rice fields before arriving in Sapa by 5:00 PM.

Spend a relaxing day in Sapa. Options include a short walk around town, a cable car ride to Fansipan (Vietnam’s highest peak), or a short ride through the beautiful Muong Hoa Valley to visit H’Mong, Zay, and Tay villages. Overnight in a Sapa hotel.

Leave Sapa and enjoy a spectacular ride down to Than Uyen. Cross the famous O Qui Ho Pass, one of Vietnam’s longest and most breathtaking mountain passes. After the pass, cruise through green tea fields and some off-road sections before arriving in Than Uyen by 4:00 PM.

Begin the ride at 8:30 AM, traversing mountain roads with stunning terraced rice fields and passing through ethnic minority villages. This section is a quintessential northern Vietnam experience, with winding backroads and frequent photo stops. Arrive in Phu Yen around 5:00 PM.

This short but scenic ride follows the Da River Lake, reminiscent of a coastal road journey. Pass through the Moc Chau Plateau, known for its tea plantations and cool climate. After lunch, descend into the beautiful Mai Chau Valley, arriving around 4:30 PM. Spend the evening exploring Thai ethnic villages.

Start heading south along the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail. Ride through remote Thai villages and rice fields before following a picturesque route along the Ma River. After lunch in Cam Thuy, continue along the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail to Tan Ky, arriving by 5:00 PM. Tan Ky was a key starting point for the trail during the war, making it a historically significant stop.

Continue riding along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, passing green tea farms and hill tribe villages. The afternoon section offers stunning views of limestone mountains reminiscent of Halong Bay. Arrive in Phong Nha around 4:30 PM. If time allows, take a short boat trip to explore its famous caves.

Follow the hidden western section of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a route unknown to the US Army during the war. This stretch passes through the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and offers some of the most untouched and breathtaking scenery of the trip. After exiting the national park, visit the former US Marine Base in Khe Sanh, including its tunnels, airbase, and war museum. Arrive in Khe Sanh around 5:00 PM.

Leave the Ho Chi Minh Trail and take Route 9 eastward, visiting historic war sites, including Hien Luong Bridge (symbolizing Vietnam’s former north-south division), the 17th parallel museum, and the Vinh Moc tunnels. After lunch, continue to Hue, arriving around 5:00 PM.

Spend a relaxing day in Hue, exploring the ancient city at your own pace. Options include a motorcycle tour to royal tombs along the Perfume River, a guided city tour, or leisure time at the beach. Lunch is at a renowned local food street, with the evening free for personal exploration. Overnight in Hue.