DAZZLING NORTHERN VIETNAM OFFROAD MOTORBIKE TOUR VIA SAPA, BAC HA, THAC BA – 7 DAYS

Itinerary:

Best Northern Vietnam motorbike tour from Hanoi to Thac Ba lake – Itinerary:

DAY 1: HANOI MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO PHU YEN (SON LA) 

In the morning we start our motorbiking tour by leaving Hanoi on dyke roads to avoid the heavy traffic and breaking out of the delta plains. We head out of Hanoi skirting along Red River to Son Tay and then ride through peaceful countryside to Phu Yen mountain town (a district of Son La Province in the Northwestern region of Vietnam), as a stop-over for a night.

Stay in guest house.

Summary:

Distance: 160 km

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Guest-house

DAY 2:  PHU YEN MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO MU CANG CHAI 

In the morning, we keep motorbiking across Lung Lo pass before head up on Road 32 .

During the First Indochina War, the 15km-long Lung Lo Pass, used by the Vietnamese resistance force to transport weapons, goods and food during the Dien Bien Phu campaign of 1954, was heavily bombed by the French in order to sever the front lines from the rear. Lung Lo Pass, situated in the northern province of Yen Bai, was also recognised as a national heritage by the ministry.

After lunch, we ride through the Mu Cang Chai massif, almost as high as the Fansipan. From the top, it offers one of the most beautiful views of North Vietnam. The ride is challenging but very rewarding.

Overnight in a hotel.

Summary:

Distance: 210 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

DAY 3: MU CANG CHAI MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO SAPA (LAO CAI) VIA THAN UYEN

We motorbike straight toward the main Fansipan Mountain range. There is also the option for a very challenging back route which takes us through several river crossings. The massive mountain range dominates the road until finally we must make a splendid climb up from Binh Lu and up to the top of the highest road pass in Vietnam (Tram Ton Pass).

Crossing into Lao Cai Province at over 2,000m the views looks out over the main range for miles and miles, before we descend to the mountainous Sa Pa valley. Sa Pa is located in Lao Cai Province, north-west Vietnam, and 350 km north-west of Hanoi, close to the border with China. Sapa is famous both for its fine, rugged scenery and for its rich cultural diversity.

French used to consider Sapa as Summer Capital of Northern Vietnam in the early decades of the 20th century. Its naturally gifted beauty keeps attracting more and more people to spend their vacation there since then. Particularly, the place is the foremost choice for honeymoon couples!

Overnight in Hotel.

Summary:

Distance: 110 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel 

DAY 4:  SAPA MOTORBIKE TOUR TO BAC HA

Motorcycle down from Sapa to Lao Cai City and then have a coffee-stop on the bank of Nam Thi river, which is Vietnam – China border. Enjoy your coffee while taking the view to China.

Head to Road 70 before turn to Bac Ha on Road 153.

Long touted as the weekend alternative to Sapa, this small highland town doesn’t have the same dramatic location of its more illustrious neighbour, but it is calmer when Saturday comes. It fills up to choking point on Sunday morning, when visitors flood in to meet the Flower H’mong at the morning market. Compared with Sapa, tourism is still in its infancy here and during the week the town has a deserted feel.

Bac Ha is a good base to explore the surrounding highlands. Around 900m above sea level, it is noticeably warmer than Sapa.

One of Bac Ha’s main industries is the manufacture of alcoholic home brews (rice wine, cassava wine and corn liquor). The corn hooch produced by the Flower H’mong is so potent it can ignite! Bac Ha is the only place in Vietnam where you’ll find this particular moonshine; there’s an entire area devoted to it at the Sunday market.

Overnight in Bac Ha.

Summary:

Distance: 120 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Home-stay

DAY 5: BAC HA MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO LUC YEN (YEN BAI)  SUNDAY MARKET

This morning, visit lively and colorful market in Bac Ha, one of the most interesting ethnic markets in Vietnam and possibly everywhere in South East Asia: “Sunday is market day in Bac Ha, which is the occasion for the various local ethnics to gather in huge crowds to exchange the last news, gossip, shop, and eat a copious lunch. It was visibly a festive.

Head to Road 70 before turn to Luc Yen on Road 152. We through palm forest all the way to Luc Yen and stay in a family in the Tay territory. It’s a great home stay and the hosts are very welcoming.

Summary:

Distance: 170 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Home-stay

DAY 6:LUC YEN MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO VU LINH VILLAGE (THAC BA LAKE, YEN BAI)

Get on the road, take a half-day ride to our Dao friends’ village of Vu Linh, which by the side of Thac Ba lake, the biggest man-made lake in Vietnam. This artificial lake has an area of 23,400 ha and 1,331 islands and hills with diverse ecological environments. The water in the lake is blue and clear, and imprinted with the reflections of the surrounding ancient forest. The thousands of hills and islands feature caves such as the Hum, Cau Cuoi and Bach Xa.

After lunch, we take the boat ride, stop by an island for swimming and discover the particularities of this area: the way villagers paddle their boats, the exotic and odd animals living around, the quiet and peaceful beauty of this huge lake, the lifestyle of the Dao among the thousands of islets.

We will have an unforgettable dinner with the hosts, whose are really big drinkers and they party every day. The welcome is exceptional and we hope you will survive.

Summary:

Distance: 80 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Home-stay

DAY 7:  VU LINH VILLAGE (THAC BA LAKE) MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO HANOI: 

After breakfast we ride southeast on Highway 2 and then branch off to the sleepy town of Phu Tho. We follow the edge of the Red River along the dyke, almost to the point where it merges with the Black River after which they flow together to Hanoi.

By now we are very much in the lowlands of the delta plains and the north’s main agricultural areas. Harvest time here is a sea of activity. Crossing the Black River by bridge, we pass Vu Linh Motorbike tours to hanoi through Son Tay and then return to Hanoi on the highway. We should be back to Hanoi before rush-hour (4 pm) because traffic’s getting busier and busier.

Summary:

Distance: 180 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

End of services!