Vietnam · Scooty & Bike

9-Day North Vietnam Motorbike Tour with Sapa and Hà Giang

9 Days Round trip from Hanoi Moderate pace
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The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore the peaceful Thai village of Mai Châu
  • 02 See the beautiful plateaus and green tea farms of Mộc Châu
  • 03 Ride scenic mountain roads to the Đà River lake and cross by ferry
  • 04 Capture memorable views at Ô Quy Hồ Pass, one of Northern Vietnam's most beautiful passes
  • 05 Meet and interact with the Dzao people near Thác Bà Lake
  • 06 Stay with a Tay family in peaceful Pác Ngòi village
  • 07 Enjoy a boat ride on beautiful Thác Bà Lake

Embark on an exciting motorbike journey through North Vietnam from Hanoi, riding to Mai Châu, Mộc Châu, Sapa, Hà Giang, Ba Bể, and Thác Bà Lake. Along the way, discover scenic mountain passes such as Ô Quy Hồ, terrace fields, tea plantations, rural villages, and the daily life of local communities. Enjoy ferry and boat rides on the Đà River and Thác Bà Lake, and experience the warm hospitality of the Tay people in Pác Ngòi and the Dzao people in their lakeside village. This tour combines beautiful landscapes, off-road adventure, and meaningful cultural encounters across Northern Vietnam.

Embark on an exciting motorbike journey through North Vietnam from Hanoi, riding to Mai Châu, Mộc Châu, Sapa, Hà Giang, Ba Bể, and Thác Bà Lake.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Not applicable
Cities Hanoi, Sa Pa, Ha Giang, Mai Châu, Ba Bể, Bảo Lạc, Lào Cai
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Ride from Hanoi to Peaceful Mai Châu

  • Meet your tour guide in Hanoi.
  • Although Google Maps may show the shortest route from Hanoi to Mai Châu as only around 130 km, this tour takes a longer and much greater route with an experienced team of motorbike experts.
  • Ride along back countryside roads, away from the touristy tracks, passing through many rural rustic villages with scenic views of mountains and rice paddies. For other Vietnam motorcycle tour organizers, this first day could be a hard day; however, for us, it is one of the highlights of the motorbike tour in North Vietnam.
  • Reach Mai Châu - a peaceful village of the Thai people - at 5:00 pm.
  • Go for a short walk around the lovely village, depending on your wishes.
2
Day 02

Mộc Châu Plateau and the Đà River Back Roads

  • Say goodbye to your host in Mai Châu and head farther north to Mộc Châu - one of the most beautiful plateaus in Northern Vietnam and the region most famous for its green tea farms. Lunch will be served in Mộc Châu.
  • Ride on mountain back roads to the Đà River lake. This stretch could be the highlight of the North Vietnam motorbike tour, as it crosses breathtaking mountain passes and many villages of colourful tribes.
  • Cross the river by ferry, then continue on another great motorbike ride along the riverbank to Phù Yên. It is a short ride of about 30 km, but it may be the best part of the day, reminding you of a motorcycle ride along the coastline.
  • End the day at the hotel in Phù Yên town at about 4:30 pm.
3
Day 03

Through Tú Lệ and Mù Cang Chải

  • Cross Tú Lệ and Mù Cang Chải, two remote lands of Yên Bái province where the Black H'mông, Dzao, and Thai people create wonderful rice terraces on the mountains. This land is not famous with tourists, but for us, it is one of the best parts of a Vietnam motorbike tour. The ride follows some of the most scenic roads and offers many stops for pictures.
  • Finish this long and joyful motorbike day at the guesthouse in Than Uyên town at around 5:00 pm.
4
Day 04

Ô Quy Hồ Pass and the Sapa Valley

  • Ride mostly on smooth roads and enjoy great views of green tea farms on the mountains, with plenty of chances to take amazing photos at Ô Quy Hồ Pass - one of the most beautiful passes in Northern Vietnam. It is a short ride, but it could be one of the most enjoyable motorbike tours in Vietnam.
  • Reach Sapa at lunchtime. In the afternoon, take a short Sapa motorbike tour to the beautiful Mường Hoa Valley, or enjoy a short walk to some hill tribe villages near Sapa town.
  • Return to the hotel in Sapa town at 5:00 pm.
5
Day 05

From Sapa to Hà Giang via Lào Cai

  • Ride on winding mountain roads toward Lào Cai city, enjoying great views of terrace fields and glimpses of the daily life of local people. After stopping at a café in Lào Cai city and visiting the Chinese border, continue the motorbike tour to Hà Giang on flat, winding roads through many rural villages.
  • Reach Hà Giang at about 5:00 pm. Check in to the hotel, have an early dinner, and save your energy for the greater motorcycle tour on the Rock Plateau in the coming days.
6
Day 06

Ride the Đồng Văn Rock Plateau to Mèo Vạc

  • Start the Hà Giang motorbike ride to Mèo Vạc through one of the most remote lands in Vietnam, where local people may not even have enough food, yet they are always ready to greet you with smiles and waving hands as you pass through. Along the way, every meter of the road offers something nice or special to photograph.
  • Enjoy the 170 km motorbike ride across the famous Đồng Văn Rock Plateau.
  • Finish this highlight day in the late afternoon in Mèo Vạc town.
7
Day 07

Downhill Ride to Pác Ngòi Village and Ba Bể

  • Have a simple breakfast in a local restaurant, then continue the motorbike tour in North Vietnam to Ba Bể Lake. Today's ride is mostly downhill. The first half follows a quiet, smooth road along the Nho Quế River to Bảo Lạc, where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, enjoy a great off-road motorbike ride on rugged roads, crossing some streams by bamboo bridges and passing through many villages of the Thai, Dzao, and Tay people.
  • Reach the beautiful village of Pác Ngòi after a short motorbike ride through Ba Bể National Park. Stay in a homestay with a Tay family. Pác Ngòi is a peaceful village of the Tay people, who build their houses on stilts. The village lies near Ba Bể Lake and is surrounded by the national park and small flat rice paddies. Friendly, rich in culture, and close to nature, the village is always a wonderful destination for visitors.
8
Day 08

Ride to Thác Bà Lake and Boat Trip

  • Say goodbye to the Tay family and continue on another short but great North Vietnam motorbike tour toward Thác Bà Lake. Today's ride offers a different mountain view from the previous days. The road is mostly flat, with lovely scenery of rice fields, tea plantations, and beautiful rural villages. For the last 50 km to Thác Bà Lake, you can turn onto a rugged dirt road through rustic villages instead of taking the sealed road with views of green tea fields. It is not a long stretch, but it may be one of the best off-road motorbike rides in North Vietnam.
  • Arrive at the peaceful Dzao village near Thác Bà Lake by 4:00 pm. Leave the bikes with your Dzao hosts, then take a boat tour around beautiful Thác Bà Lake.
9
Day 09

Countryside Ride Back to Hanoi

  • Ride back to Hanoi on countryside back roads, or enjoy a short off-road motorbike ride through rustic villages with nice views of rice fields and tea plantations.
  • Reach Hanoi easily at 4:00 pm and end the great trip safely.
Ô Quy Hồ Pass, Mộc Châu tea plateaus, Đồng Văn Rock Plateau, Thác Bà Lake

Where this trip takes you

Ô Quy Hồ Pass, Mộc Châu tea plateaus, Đồng Văn Rock Plateau, Thác Bà Lake

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Hanoi 7 cities · 9 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Experienced English-speaking tour guides (2 tour guides/mechanics for a group of 5 riders)
  • Quality Honda XR150L or Honda CRF250L or other bikes, with fuel
  • Quality helmets, gloves, knee and elbow pads, rain jackets, and pants
  • All meals on tour (all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with local Vietnamese food, as mentioned)
  • Accommodation on tour (twin-share room in a standard hotel or stay at a homestay, as mentioned in the itinerary)
  • Boat rides on lakes or rivers, as mentioned in the itinerary
  • All entrance fees and permits
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off before and after the tour
  • Video of the trip made with an updated GoPro

What's Not Included

  • Medical insurance
  • Bike damages
  • Personal expenses
  • Drinks and tips
  • Air tickets and visa to Vietnam

What to bring

  • Warm clothes
  • Scarf
  • Hat
  • Cap (because the weather in Sapa is pretty unpredictable. It is usually cold in September, October, November, December, January, February, and March.)
  • Trekking shoes
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun cream
  • Insect repellent
  • Cash (note: the banking system in Sapa sometimes doesn't function well.)
  • Medicine (although there are some chemist's shops in Sapa in case you get sick.)

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Hanoi, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Việt Nam
Tour start
Hanoi, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 9 days finish where they began, in Hanoi.

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Starting from

USD 1,215 /person
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Estimated room rates

Single Room $1,215.00 — $1,415.00
Double Sharing $1,215.00 — $1,415.00

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