Everything y'all demand to know almost riding a motorbike around Northern Vietnam.
You’ve seen the Top Gear episode too rode a bike across the famous Hai Van pass. You learnt to ride a scooter on the islands of Southern Thailand too you’ve traversed the epic Mae Hong Son Loop.
After backpacking through Laos, the Thakhek Loop was i of the highlights of your travels. And who could forget that incredible adventure riding your inexpensive motorbike all the means from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi?
You cry upward y'all get got seen it all. Explored the best that Southeast Asia has to offering on ii wheels. Time to hang upward the helmet, exceed the keys onto the adjacent intrepid traveller too motion on to greener pastures.
But what if I told y'all the best was yet to come?
The Northern Vietnam Motorcycle Adventure
The fascinating too captivating share due north of Vietnam’s uppercase city, Hanoi, tends to escape most traveller’s itineraries – Sapa existence the exception.
Whether it is due to fourth dimension constraints or lack of awareness, this is genuinely a shame, for the provinces along the Chinese border contains some of the region’s most various too captivating scenery.
Mountains rising dramatically from the pastures similar gargantuan bee hives. Rice terraces stagger downwards valleys, mimicking the steps of mythical giants. Southeast Asia’s deepest canyon scars the landscape.
Ethnic minority villages that soundless remain untouched from tourist evolution are readily accessible, if y'all tin give the axe honour the way.
Here’s our consummate guide to help y'all Travel To Vietnam.
The North is to a greater extent than than simply a beautiful sector of the province – it is its ain powerful force, beckoning those adventurers who hence sorely want to acquire off the banana pancake trail too experience a globe dissimilar whatsoever other.
By leaps too bounds the best means to explore Northern Vietnam is past times motorcycle. Nature’s heavenliness tin give the axe hardly live appreciated when confined past times the windows of a bus, unable to interruption at whatsoever 2nd y'all want to get got inward the awe-inspiring topography.
Lesh too I rode our motorbikes for to a greater extent than than 10 months too 15’000km all around Southeast Asia.
After talking to friends of ours who had done the Northern Vietnam journey, our excitement levels were soaring every bit nosotros left the bustling uppercase urban amount of Hanoi too made our means towards the lesser-explored areas located nigh the Chinese border.
Armed amongst a newspaper map, a tentative itinerary from our friend Chris at Flamingo Travels too a salubrious appetite for adventure, nosotros laid forth amongst eyes broad on the opened upward road.
Kilometre afterwards kilometre passed us past times every bit nosotros rode through topography that dropped our jaws to the handlebars. The terraced fields inward the Lai Chau too Lao Cai provinces were postcard perfect.
The smiles worn past times many of the Hmong people volition forever live etched inward our minds too inward our hearts. If I unopen my eyes I tin give the axe soundless vividly painting the bends inward the route too the mount passes nosotros climbed.
I am at i time transported to the spot of my Honda Win, leaning into i to a greater extent than banked curvature on the border of a tumbling cliff.
It is the famous Ha Giang province which proved to live the most memorable purpose of the adventure. The UNESCO Dong Van Karst Geopark – 2350 km² of imposing limestone mountains – is reminiscent of scenes from the Hollywood movie, Avatar.
Words cannot accurately limited the grandeur to live establish simply past times Ha Giang; an expanse that soundless requires special permits to go through legally. Lunar landscapes too abundant karst scenery are dissimilar anything to live seen elsewhere inward Southeast Asia.
If no other argue draws y'all into this undeservedly-neglected territory, this UNESCO Geopark site – solely the 2nd i inward Southeast Asia – should live plenty to brand y'all alter your plans too seek refuge inward the North.
The Route
The route nosotros took tin give the axe live altered, shortened or lengthened depending on how much fourth dimension y'all get got to explore. We spent ii weeks riding 1500km around Northern Vietnam too could get got easily extended this past times some other calendar week or two.
If fourth dimension is on your side, ho-hum downwards too shorten the distances y'all ride betwixt towns. Take little dorsum roads to ethnic minority villages. Make the most of regular pitstops too hang out inward a identify longer afterwards eating your bowl of pho. Savour every moment.
Leaving Hanoi nosotros took an alternate means to Sapa, staying the black inward the towns of Nghia Lo too Than Uyen every bit nosotros rode past times some of the most spectacular rice terraces y'all volition ever get got the run a peril to see.
A must-do alternative, if y'all get got non already been, is to start out your trip heading to Mai Chau. This buc0l1c oasis offers a perfect relaxing environment, amongst simply plenty activities to ensure y'all never acquire bored. From at that spot y'all tin give the axe ride to the historic town of Dien Bien Phu earlier cutting across to Sapa.
It is all every bit good slow to autumn inward beloved amongst the gorgeous mount resort town of Sapa, where y'all tin give the axe climb the tallest peak inward mainland South East Asia, Fansipan, or trek to see loma tribe villages.
Extend your rest every bit long every bit y'all want earlier breaking upward your ride towards Ha Giang, amongst a stopover at the famous markets inward Bac Ha too a black inward Coc Pai.
More rice terraces to delight the visual senses, every bit good every bit some sensational mount passes along the means volition ho-hum your stride downwards every bit y'all constantly halt to relish inward the glorious views.
The provincial uppercase of Ha Giang is an interesting finish too has the experience of a truthful authentic town yet to live exposed to volume tourism. It is hither where y'all volition demand to buy a “Permit To Enter The Border Area”.
This allows y'all to ride deeper into the Ha Giang province, too it is a legal requirement to possess i if y'all want to avoid whatsoever problem amongst the police. Many guesthouses too hotels won’t permit y'all rest if y'all don’t get got i either.
Now hither comes the purpose that volition acquire out y'all breathless too inward constant awe – The Dong Van Karst Geopark. Containing 2356km² of limestone formations, 17 ethnic minority groups too Southeast Asia’s deepest canyon, Ma Pi Leng, this department is the most surreal riding anywhere inward Vietnam.
Passing through Meo Vac is similar entering a concrete hamlet from the Soviet-era, but it is non without its charms. From Meo Vac brand your means to the riverside town of Bao Lac.
The jagged peaks fade away too merge into steep forested hills too rolling farmland. Enjoy the dark-green pastures too meandering waters all the means to the industrious urban amount of Cao Bang.
Cao Bang serves every bit a stepping stone to the 2nd largest waterfall inward Southeast Asia – Ban Gioc Falls. These thundering cascades straddle the border of Vietnam too PRC too tourists tin give the axe see the misty torrent from either country.
After hence many days of constant riding bliss, a brief time out at the lush Ba Be Lake inward the Ba Be National Park is the perfect terminate to the Northern Vietnam motorbike adventure.
Spend a few nights relaxing inward a traditional homestay too trek deep into the national park, where y'all tin give the axe come across families from a lay out of ethnic minority villages.
The concluding stretch to Hanoi requires intense concentration due to the overwhelming amount of kamikaze traffic on the roads. But afterwards arriving inward the bustling cultural uppercase the feel of satisfaction volition live immense.
The far North of Vietnam, along the border share amongst China, is the best riding y'all tin give the axe create anywhere inward Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand too Laos.
No other share inward Southeast Asia is comparable to its stark beauty. The Northern Vietnam motorbike adventure volition live i journeying that tin give the axe never live forgotten.
Our Path
This is the route too itinerary that nosotros took on our Northern Vietnam motorbike adventure. If nosotros were to create it i time to a greater extent than nosotros would pass an extra 24-hour interval or ii doing the Ha Giang Loop, too actually get got the fourth dimension to explore all the cool sights inward the Dong Van Karst Geopark.
Hanoi – Nghia Lo – 220km
Route: Road 32
Road Conditions: Heavy traffic inward Hanoi. Roads were decent. Paved entire way, a few sections amongst potholes.
Scenery: Flatlands out of Hanoi. Small farming villages. Large pastures. Mountain passes too terraced rice fields.
Nghia Lo – Than Uyen – 140km
Route: Road 32
Road Conditions: Little traffic. Good conditions on the roads. Paved.
Scenery: More spectacular rice terraces too steep mountains.
Than Uyen – Sapa – 100km
Route: Road 32, Road 4D
Road Conditions: Very good. Paved highways the entire way.
Scenery: Incredible rice terraces until Road 4D. After that some of the most amazing mount views to live establish inward Vietnam.
Sapa – Xin Man (Coc Pai) – 160km
Route: Road 4D, followed province route parallel to primary highway, Road 153, caput towards Road 178 (Note – We don’t recommend next this province road. Conditions were bad. Instead endeavour Road lxx onto Road 14, too hence plough off onto Road 153)
Road Conditions: Road industrial plant leaving Sapa. The province route adjacent to the primary highway was terrible. Very muddied too bumpy, generally dirt too gravel. When it was paved at that spot were large potholes everywhere. Rough structure along Road 153. Climbed a couplet of real intense mount passes earlier nosotros got into Coc Pai. By far the worst roads nosotros tackled inward the North, but soundless non every bit bad every bit the Ho Chi Minh Highway from Pleiku to Buon Ma Thuot.
Scenery:
Once nosotros got onto Road 153 the scenery was beautiful. Weather was quite foggy but when it lifted nosotros were real impressed amongst the views. Was tough to pay much attending to the landscapes amongst the province of the roads existence every bit bad every bit they were.
Xin Man (Coc Pai) – Ha Giang – 150km
Route: Road 178, Highway 2
Road Conditions: Much amend than the previous day. Leaving Coc Pai the roads had a few potholes, but were goose egg every bit good worrisome.
Scenery: Great mount passes, picturesque valleys. Lush forests.
Ha Giang – Dong Van – 190km
Route: Road 4C (Make certain y'all get got this one!) Take a detour towards Lung Cu – the northernmost indicate of Vietnam.
Road Conditions: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 niggling bumpy leaving Ha Giang. Road was narrow, lots of heavy trucks on the sparse switchbacks heading upward the firstly mount out of Ha Giang. Quite dangerous. Became much nicer over that initial mount pass.
Scenery: In a give-and-take – Breathtaking.
Dong Van – Bao Lac – 100km
Route: Road 4c, Road 4B
Road Conditions: Very good.
Scenery: The 22km stretch from Dong Van to Meo Vac was possible THE best route inward Vietnam. Move over Hai Van Pass, those Top Gear boys get got no thought what they missed out on. After that was soundless beautiful.
Bao Lac – Cao Bang – 140km
Route: Road 34
Road Conditions: Very good. Sections exterior of Bao Lac were a niggling average, but goose egg to live worried about.
Scenery:
Less appealing than the views from the lastly few days, but soundless gorgeous.
Cao Bang – Ban Gioc (Return) – 200km
Route: Highway 3, Road 207, Road 206, follow the loop to Road 207
Road Conditions: Unfortunately due to heavy fog too pelting nosotros did non brand the journeying to Ban Gioc Falls. We were utterly disappointed inward this, but get got heard expert things almost the route conditions.
Scenery:
Supposedly amazing.
Cao Bang – Ba Be National Park – 160km
Route: Highway 3, Road 34, Road 212, Road 279
Road Conditions: Highway 3, Road 34 were real good. Road 212 was decent, real steep mount passes too winding switchbacks.
Scenery:
Road 34 was real charming, nosotros could non consider far on Road 212 due to fog, but tin give the axe solely imagine how beautiful it must get got been upward there.
Ba Be National Park – Hanoi – 220km
Route: Road 254, Road 268, Highway 3
Road Conditions: Decent route conditions, paved the entire way. Traffic on Highway three getting into Hanoi was murderous.
Scenery:
Beautiful leaving Ba Be Lake, goose egg spectacular entering Hanoi.
Tips For Riding Motorbikes In Northern Vietnam
Riding our motorbikes inward Northern Vietnam was easily the best affair nosotros get got done inward Southeast Asia. Luckily it wasn’t every bit good hard to create every bit well. Here are some of our best tips for riding a motorbike inward Northern Vietnam.
- Accommodation
There are hotels, guesthouses too homestays simply almost everywhere inward Northern Vietnam. You create non demand to deportment a tent or hammock unless y'all actually desire to acquire off the beaten path. Prices vary from almost $3 for a real basic room amongst a bed inward a “nha nghi” (guesthouse) correct upward to $50 for a luxury hotel room inward Sapa or Cao Bang. On average nosotros spent almost $10-15 a black for real overnice rooms amongst someone bathroom, hot H2O too wifi.
- Weather
The atmospheric condition inward Northern Vietnam tin give the axe live real cold, especially around Dec too January. Expect cool temperatures (it tin give the axe snowfall inward the mountains around Sapa), moisture mist too dense fog. We rode inward Dec too got lucky amongst the visibility most of the time, although it was quite cold. Pack layers of clothes, a appear upward mask too some thick gloves. In July too August at that spot tin give the axe live heavy rain. The monsoon flavor is from Nov to March too the hot, moisture flavor from Apr to October. Although regardless of the weather, y'all should soundless ride your motorbike around Northern Vietnam.
- Bike Maintenance
If y'all are riding a Honda Win or Honda Wave y'all volition get got no occupation finding mechanics anywhere inward the North. Honda Wins are the primary type of bikes that locals ride too parts are readily available. We recommend getting an stone oil alter every 500km, tightening too greasing your chain every morn too e'er banking concern agree your brakes. This is something y'all should create anyway, all the same amongst the roads existence extra mountainous inward Northern Vietnam y'all desire to brand certain your bike is running inward top condition.
- Signs And Directions
Having a working GPS or decent map is highly recommended. Road numbers alter randomly too locals aren’t e'er the best when it comes to giving directions, unless y'all speak Vietnamese. There are real few signs that straight y'all to towns of interest.
- Ride Safely
Again, this should live something y'all create anyway, but continue inward hear that at that spot are minimal well-equipped hospitals inward Northern Vietnam. If y'all get got a crash too are injured it tin give the axe get got a long fourth dimension to acquire to Hanoi for treatment. Keep that inward hear adjacent fourth dimension y'all acquire to opened upward the throttle on a blind corner.
- Resources
Chris from Flamingo Travels inward Hanoi was a peachy help to us when it came to planning our Northern Vietnam motorbike adventure. He gave us tonnes of tips too advice fifty-fifty though nosotros already had our ain bikes, too without quest for anything inward return. We definitely recommend stopping past times to utter to him earlier y'all caput upward to create the Ha Giang Loop, ride to Sapa or anywhere else inward Northern Vietnam.
Address: 66 Dao Duy Tu Str., Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Phone: +84 (0) four 3926 0938
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