ELEPHANTINE HANOI TO LUANG PRABANG MOTORBIKE TOUR – 12 DAYS

This short Vietnam motorbike tour to northwest starts with a beautiful ride to Mai Chau from outskirts of Hanoi at around 8 AM, we will ride away from the busy traffic by taking some narrow and small country roads. After lunch, we will have enjoyable motorcycle ride on forgotten French road No 6.

That’s a small and winding road along the Black River. It offers the view like Ha long bay. After Northwest Vietnam Motorbike Tour – 4 Days crossing Thung Khe pass – one of the most beautiful mountain passes in North Vietnam we will hit the road down to the mountain valley settlement of Mai Chau. ( Home to the white Thai people who live in houses on stilts).

Dinner and overnight in Mai Chau

The motorcycle ride to Phu Yen is quite easy, It offers a lot of stops for pictures of amazing mountain view. We can start the day with an easy walk around the village or be lazy with a waking up café. After saying goodbye to the Thai people we ride up to the direction of Moc Chau. Lunch is after the beautiful Hua Tat pass and then after lunch, turn to the less traveled Road 43 that leads to the Da River. After crossing the reservoir of Da river at Van Yen ferry, we ride on a beautiful winding road until Phu Yen where we stay overnight.

Dinner and stay in Phu Yen.

Summary:

Distance: 160 km

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Guest-house

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 recognized 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

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

We ride down the most imposing pass in Vietnam named O Quy Ho. The massive mountain range dominates the road until finally, we must make a splendid ride. There is also the option for a very challenging back route which takes us through several river crossings. We reach Muong Lay and stay overnight.

We ride to the border between Laos and Vietnam.

After passing through immigration (visa formalities done by yourself), your journey by motorbike continues along the river down to Muang Mai and Muang Khua. You discover the stunning mountainous landscapes in northern Laos.

Arrival and check-in local guesthouse

Breakfast at a guesthouse. Hit the road to Muang La. Several stops in villages allow you to meet these people. Arrival and visit Ban Ano village. The local guide will give you explanations of the culture and traditions of the Akha minority and also see some handicraft production like Akha textile weaving style

Then continue to Oudomxay. Located north of Laos and border with China, this province has beautiful mountainous terrain, mostly forested. It hosts no less than 23 ethnic minorities who all have their own language, culture, and way of life. Khmus and Lu are among the most important minorities in the region.

Arrival and check in a local guesthouse. (simple comfort)

After breakfast, you leave Oudomxay to go to Nong Khiaw. Visit on the way some local villages. Upon arrival, you visit the Nong Khiew Bridge, a local school (if it’s the weekday) and the Pathok Cave.

Then, heading to Muang Ngoy. During this journey, you can discover wild landscapes and, near your destination, large cliffs, and more mountainous reliefs. You arrive in Muong Ngoy in the late afternoon and settle in the local guesthouse (simple comfort).

After breakfast, visit local villages surrounding Muang Ngoy before heading to Vieng Thong. Stop on the way to enjoy views from some Highview points.

Arrival and check in a local guesthouse. (simple comfort)

After breakfast, heading to Muang Kham via Hintang. Arrival in Muang Kham, and visit  Tham Piu Cave. This cave stands as a solemn monument to hundreds of innocent villager killed in a 1968 us missile attack. Today, the statue of a man, straining to hold his anger as the carries a lifeless child, call for an “annual Day of Remembrance”.

First, go to the visitor centre and contemplate the display of photographs and history behind the bombings. You’ll read about the single shell that his the core of Piu Cave and claimed the lives of a reported 374 locals seeking shelter inside. Then, climb the upper staircase, which passes a golden Buddha, grave markers, and bomb craters, until your reach Tham Piu, a sad hillside hole with the rubble floor. Inside, locals light incense to play tribute to the dead.  Back outside and visit a Hot spring before back to Muang Kham town to check in a local guesthouse. (simple comfort)

After breakfast, we make our way over the mountains to Xieng Khouang, the province which is best-known for having been heavily bombed during Indochina War. But of course, it is also famous for its historic Plain of Jars. We can make some stops at villages to observe the rural life of local people, including ethnic minorities such as the Hmong people.

Arrival in Phonsavanh, the capital of Xieng Khouang province, visit UXO office before continuing to Plains of Jars. The Plain of Jars is a huge archaeological complex littered with mysterious 2000 years old stone jars sized from 70cm up to 3 or 4 meters. Their true origin remains a mystery. It seems that they were carved into boulders. Several researches lead by the French archaeologist Madeleine Colani in the 30’s suggested that they could be old graves, but to this day they remain an enigma. Your trip will enable you to visit the 3 sites and also discover some local villages where you can observe local village life.

Site 1, close to the town is settled at Thong Hai Hin and is the biggest site.

Site 2 is at Hai Hin on Phou Salator, “Phou” in Lao means “Mountain”.

End your tour at site 3 in Hai Hin Lat Khai. Site 3 is the most impressive with over 150 jars. Close to this site, you will visit Ban Xiengdi where there is a small monastery with Buddha images. On the way back, you will pass areas that were important battlefields during the American secret war. You can still see bomb craters from that time today.

In the afternoon, enjoy a half-day trip to Muang Khoun. Muang Khoun one place in the old provincial capital that was not been destroyed by the American bombings during the secret war. Muang Khoun is home to unique sitting giant Buddha as well of some old pagodas that lies in ruins. Then return to Xieng Khouang and check into your hotel.

After breakfast, we have time today to explore the site and some nearby villages, populated by the Hmong hill tribe and Tai Dam people; they are very poor but possess a vibrant local culture and an interesting history. We leave Xieng Khouang for our scenic drive to Luang Prabang. Arrival and check into your hotel (Your own arrangement).

End of Trip!