14 DAYS BIG NORTH LOOP MOTORCYCLE TOUR OF VIETNAM
The 14 Days Big North Loop Motorbike Tour offers 14 full days of riding and 13 nights of accommodation, taking you through some of the most spectacular and remote areas of Northern Vietnam. This long-distance motorcycle adventure is designed for riders who want to experience more than the usual tourist destinations.
During this 14-day Northern Vietnam motorbike tour, you will discover dramatic mountain scenery, winding roads, remote villages, traditional hill tribe communities, fascinating local culture, and a side of Vietnam that many travelers never see. The route takes you well beyond the main tourist trails, giving you the opportunity to experience the REAL VIETNAM off the beaten track.
From high mountain passes and quiet countryside roads to traditional villages and remote valleys, every day offers a different riding experience. The Big North Loop is ideal for adventure riders who have enough time to explore Northern Vietnam at a relaxed pace while enjoying the journey as much as the destinations.
Below is a video clip featuring selected sections of our 14 Days Big North Loop motorcycle tour. It gives you a glimpse of the roads, landscapes, local communities, and riding experiences you can expect along the route.
For more Vietnam motorbike tour videos, riding adventures, and Northern Vietnam travel inspiration, please visit our YouTube channel.
14 DAYS BIG NORTH LOOP ITINERARY
Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau. (~170 km, ~5 hrs)
Our 14 Days Big North Loop Motorbike Tour begins with an easy departure from Hanoi at around 9:00 AM, after the morning rush hour. We leave the busy capital behind and head west along National Highway 6 toward Mai Chau, a beautiful and peaceful valley inhabited mainly by the White Thai ethnic people.
The journey to Mai Chau is already an adventure, with spectacular limestone mountains, winding roads, green valleys, and colorful hill-tribe villages appearing along the way. During the ride, we also have opportunities to learn about the traditional lifestyles and agricultural culture of communities living around the Red River Valley and downstream areas of the Da River.
Mai Chau is well known for its traditional culture, stilt houses, rice fields, and friendly local people. Here, travelers can experience the distinctive customs and colorful traditions of the White Thai community, including traditional music and folk performances.
After lunch, we have the afternoon to explore the surrounding area. One highlight is riding up to the top of Thung Nhuoi Pass, where we can stop and enjoy spectacular panoramic views over Mai Chau Valley. The weather in the mountains can sometimes be cloudy or misty, but the atmosphere itself is part of the experience.
After enjoying the viewpoint, we descend into the valley and continue exploring the villages and countryside around Mai Chau. The peaceful roads and traditional villages provide a gentle introduction to the more remote landscapes we will encounter during the Big North Loop motorcycle tour.
In the evening, we enjoy a local dinner and overnight stay in a beautiful village beside the river. After dinner, there is an opportunity to sit around a traditional fire and watch a Thai cultural music and dance performance.
Wearing their traditional costumes, Thai women may invite visitors to participate in the famous Xoe dance. Accompanied by lively traditional music, hosts and guests join hands and dance together. When everyone needs a break, it is time to sample ruou can, a traditional sticky-rice spirit shared from a communal jar.
Dancing around the fire in a traditional village, surrounded by local people and mountain scenery, is the kind of experience that can become one of the most memorable moments of a Northern Vietnam motorbike tour.
Day 2: Mai Chau – Thung Man. (~100 km, ~4 hrs)
Today is probably the most relaxing riding day of the Big North Loop motorcycle tour, although the roads gradually become more adventurous as we travel farther into the mountains of Northern Vietnam.
We continue our journey along the old National Highway 6, following sections of the historic route that have seen relatively little development and maintenance over the years. The road becomes narrower, rougher, and more challenging, winding across numerous mountain ridges and hilltops.
Because of the difficult terrain and limited traffic, transportation along this route is relatively sparse. On a lucky day, we may even encounter a horse-drawn cart or buffalo-drawn carriage moving slowly along the road. Otherwise, the route can feel wonderfully quiet and remote, offering a completely different experience from the busy roads around Hanoi.
Along the way, we have excellent opportunities to meet people from several ethnic minority communities, including the Red Dao, Dao Tien, Muong, and Thai. Many families live a simple rural lifestyle based on growing rice, vegetables, and fruit in the highlands. Traditionally, some local men have also relied on hunting and the resources of the surrounding forests.
Around midday, we stop for lunch near the top of a mountain pass. From this elevated position, there are impressive views across the open Moc Chau plateau and the Da River, providing an excellent opportunity to rest and take photographs.
The afternoon becomes more challenging after leaving the newer Highway 6 behind. We turn onto a rough, winding, and bumpy mountain road that takes us deeper into remote territory. The riding can be demanding, but the reward is the opportunity to discover the colorful culture of the H’mong hill-tribe communities and enjoy spectacular mountainous scenery far away from the main tourist routes.
Day 3: Thung Man – Phu Yen. (~130 km, ~4 hrs)
After breakfast, we say farewell to our hosts and continue our Northern Vietnam motorbike adventure with a visit to Thung Mai. Located at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters above sea level, this remote H’mong village is hidden deep in the mountains and surrounded by rugged terrain.
The H’mong people have lived in this isolated area for generations. According to local history, some H’mong families moved here after being forced to leave their original settlements during the French colonial period. The village’s remote location helped protect its traditional way of life and allowed its unique customs and culture to survive.
Reaching Thung Mai takes approximately one and a half hours of mountain riding. As we climb higher, the roads become increasingly remote and the surrounding landscape more dramatic. When we finally arrive, we discover a small and fascinating village of around 20 traditional stone houses surrounding a tiny, almost fairy-tale-like pond at the top of the mountain.
Thung Mai feels remarkably isolated from the modern world. There are few signs of modern life, very little traffic, and no noisy karaoke or busy tourist activity. The local H’mong families continue to preserve many of their traditional customs, architecture, and mountain lifestyle, making this a fascinating stop for travelers interested in authentic Northern Vietnam.
After lunch, the afternoon is dedicated to exploring the beautiful Moc Chau grasslands. The highland plateau is famous for its wide-open scenery, rolling green landscapes, tea plantations, forests, and fruit-growing areas. Clouds and mist frequently move across the mountains, creating a cool and atmospheric environment that is very different from the lowlands.
Moc Chau is also known for its dairy farming. We can take a walk to visit local dairy farms and learn more about the production of milk and other dairy products. The region’s dairy industry is one of its specialties, with locally produced dairy products distributed throughout Vietnam and exported to international markets.
After exploring Moc Chau, we descend toward the Da River and take a specialized boat across the water. Once on the other side, we continue riding along the river toward Phu Yen Valley, one of the attractive areas inhabited by the Thai ethnic people in Northwest Vietnam.
Day 4: Phu Yen – Tuan Giao. (~210 km, ~6 hrs)
Our Northern Vietnam motorcycle tour continues north toward Son La, following Highway 113 through some of the region’s most spectacular mountain landscapes. The route passes through green valleys, terraced rice fields, agricultural land, and remote mountain communities.
As we climb toward the Bac Yen mountain area, the scenery becomes increasingly dramatic. We continue through Chen Pass and across extensive areas of maize and cassava cultivation before reaching the high plateau around Son La.
After lunch in Son La town, we visit the historic former French prison and provincial museum. This provides an opportunity to learn more about the region’s history and Vietnam’s struggle during the French colonial period.
There is still plenty of riding ahead, as the afternoon takes us across a series of spectacular mountain passes, including Son La Pass, Chieng Pac Pass, and Pha Din Pass. The roads climb and descend through remote mountain scenery, with dramatic views opening up around almost every bend.
One of the day’s highlights is Pha Din Pass, whose name is traditionally associated with the meeting or boundary between Heaven and Earth. The pass forms a natural boundary between Son La and Dien Bien provinces and is closely associated with the historic Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, one of the decisive events in Vietnam’s struggle for independence.
After enjoying the mountain scenery and viewpoints around Pha Din Pass, we continue toward Tuan Giao. Arriving later in the day allows us to relax and enjoy the sunset over the Northwest Vietnamese mountains, bringing another spectacular riding day to an end.
Day 5: Tuan Giao – Sin Ho. (~150 km, ~5 hrs)
Today, our Northern Vietnam motorbike adventure continues farther into the mountains as we complete the remaining 98 km of the historic Highway 6. This is one of the most spectacular sections of the entire Big North Loop motorcycle tour. The road can be rough and demanding, but the incredible scenery makes every kilometer worthwhile.
The route crosses a series of around seven high mountain passes, winding through steep mountains above and around the Da River, which follows the valleys at the foot of the passes. The combination of rugged mountains, winding roads, deep valleys, and the river below creates scenery that is difficult to find anywhere else on the Northwest Vietnam route.
However, the landscape is not the only attraction. One of the great pleasures of motorbiking in Northern Vietnam is meeting local people along the way. Friendly smiles, waves from children, and encounters with villagers working in the fields can turn a difficult stretch of road into a memorable experience.
Along the route, we have opportunities to visit several ethnic minority communities, including the Black Thai, Kho Mu, Lu, Black H’mong, Green H’mong, and White H’mong. Northern Vietnam is home to many different ethnic groups, each with its own traditions, clothing, language, architecture, and lifestyle.
We take time to explore their villages and learn about their traditional mountain lifestyles and colorful cultures. These encounters offer a much deeper experience of Northern Vietnam than simply riding from one tourist destination to another.
After lunch in Lai Chau, we continue the adventure on the water with a boat trip along the Nam Na River. The river winds through dramatic mountain scenery, passing high cliffs, steep rocky formations, small villages, and green rice fields covering the hillsides.
The boat is relatively small, but the experienced local boatman knows the river well and carefully navigates the challenging sections. The combination of river adventure, remote villages, towering cliffs, and mountain scenery makes this an unusual and exciting part of the journey.
After the boat trip, we get back on our motorcycles and continue toward Sin Ho, one of the most remote destinations on our Northern Vietnam motorcycle route.
Day 6: Sin Ho – Tam Duong – Sapa. (~110 km, ~4-5 hrs)
At an altitude of around 1,700 meters, reaching Sin Ho is not an easy journey. The difficult terrain and remote location have helped preserve many aspects of the area’s traditional lifestyle. Even today, local communities maintain customs and ways of living that have changed much more slowly than those in Vietnam’s cities and lowland areas.
Because of its remote location, Sin Ho remains relatively untouched by mass tourism. Only a limited number of travelers and motorcycle tour operators venture this far into the mountains, making it an excellent destination for riders looking to experience a quieter and more authentic side of Northern Vietnam.
Sin Ho is also famous for its colorful mountain market, where different ethnic communities come together to trade, socialize, and display their traditional clothing. Depending on the day and season, we may encounter Green H’mong, Black H’mong, White H’mong, Dzao Dau Bang, and Lu people.
The colorful traditional costumes, local products, livestock, food, and lively conversations create a fascinating atmosphere. For motorcycle travelers, visiting a local market is an excellent way to experience the real culture of Vietnam’s northern highlands rather than simply passing through.
We then continue toward Tam Duong and Sapa, riding through spectacular mountain scenery. One of the highlights is Tram Ton Pass, the highest mountain pass in Vietnam. We stop at the top for a picnic lunch and take time to enjoy the spectacular views across the surrounding mountains.
In the afternoon, we arrive in Sapa, a famous mountain town that is often surrounded by clouds and mist. After settling in, we can enjoy a cup of local artichoke herbal tea, a popular specialty of the region, before taking a walk around town.
Sapa was established as a hill station during the early 20th century under the French colonial administration. Its cool climate made it a popular retreat from the heat of the lowlands, and the town eventually became one of the best-known mountain destinations in Vietnam.
Today, Sapa is much more developed and attracts travelers from around the world, but the surrounding mountains, terraced rice fields, ethnic villages, and dramatic scenery remain the main attractions. For riders on the Big North Loop motorbike tour, Sapa provides a fascinating contrast between a popular tourist destination and the remote mountain communities we have visited along the way.
Day 7: Sapa – Bac Ha – Xin Man. (~140 km, ~4 hrs)
We leave Sapa in the morning and descend toward Lao Cai, where we visit the famous Lao Cai border gate with China. This important border crossing sits beside the Red River and provides an interesting glimpse into the commercial and cultural connection between Vietnam and China.
From Lao Cai, we continue along Route 70 toward Bac Ngam, stopping for a short break and some photographs. The road offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, valleys, and river below. From here, we turn toward the mountains and begin climbing through increasingly remote countryside on our way to Bac Ha.
Bac Ha is one of the most interesting destinations in the Northwest of Vietnam, particularly for travelers interested in ethnic minority culture. After arriving, we stop for lunch before taking a short hike through nearby H’mong villages. Walking through the villages gives us a chance to see traditional houses, farmland, and everyday rural life away from the main tourist areas.
In the afternoon, the riding becomes considerably more adventurous. We leave the main roads and follow a small, rough mountain trail toward Xin Man. This is one of the most challenging sections of our Big North Loop motorbike tour, with rocky surfaces, steep sections, mud, and difficult terrain depending on the weather.
When conditions are wet, the trail can become extremely muddy and slippery, creating a genuine off-road motorcycle adventure in Northern Vietnam. The riding can be comparable to some of the rougher sections around Pu Luong, Muong Lay, and That Khe.
This is not simply a transfer between two destinations. It is a day for experienced adventure riders who enjoy remote trails, challenging terrain, ethnic villages, and riding far away from the tourist route. The effort is rewarded by spectacular mountain scenery and the feeling of reaching places that few travelers visit.
Day 8: Xin Man – Ha Giang. (~130 km, ~4 hrs)
Today we continue our Northern Vietnam motorcycle adventure from Xin Man toward Ha Giang, riding approximately 130 km through remote mountain country. Around 100 km of today’s route follows spectacular mountain roads passing through numerous villages and valleys.
Along the way, we encounter communities belonging to several ethnic minority groups, including the Tay, Nung, Dao, H’mong, and Giay. The journey provides plenty of opportunities to stop, take photographs, visit villages, and talk with local people. These spontaneous encounters are an important part of the experience, allowing us to learn more about traditional lifestyles and cultures in the northern highlands.
The morning section is particularly challenging, with rough mountain roads, steep climbs, rocky surfaces, and remote trails. Riders should be prepared for changing road conditions and take their time rather than trying to maintain a high average speed.
In the afternoon, the route becomes easier and more enjoyable as we gradually make our way toward Ha Giang Province. The scenery continues to change as the mountains open into wider valleys, with rice fields, villages, and dramatic limestone formations appearing along the route.
For adventure riders, this combination of challenging morning riding, remote ethnic villages, spectacular mountain scenery, and easier afternoon roads makes Day 8 a rewarding part of the 14 Days Big North Loop motorcycle tour.
Day 9: Ha Giang – Meo Vac. (~175 km, ~4 hrs)
Today is one of the best riding days of the 14 Days Big North Loop motorcycle tour. We leave Ha Giang and begin climbing into the spectacular Dong Van Karst Plateau, one of the most dramatic mountain regions in Northern Vietnam.
The morning takes us through a series of famous mountain viewpoints and Heaven’s Gates, including Quan Ba, Yen Minh, and Dong Van. These spectacular viewpoints are often described as Heaven’s Gates because the road climbs so high into the mountains that it can feel as though you are riding toward the sky.
This is one of the best sections of the Ha Giang motorbike route for enjoying enormous limestone mountains, sheer rock walls, deep valleys, and winding mountain roads. The landscape is almost otherworldly, with rocks of every shape and size surrounding the road. The combination of dramatic scenery and challenging mountain riding creates a genuine sense of adventure.
After lunch in Yen Minh, we continue along the scenic mountain route toward Pho Bang, also known as Bang Street. This historic town has existed for centuries and is known for its traditional houses built from clay bricks, with distinctive tiled roofs and architecture influenced by the local Chinese-Vietnamese communities.
We take time to visit some local friends from the Hoa ethnic community, learning about their traditional lifestyle and the history of this remote border region.
The journey then continues to the famous Vuong Family Palace, also known as the H’mong King’s Palace. The complex belonged to Vuong Chi Sinh, a powerful H’mong leader during the French colonial period. The palace is particularly interesting to visitors interested in history and architecture because its design combines European and traditional Chinese architectural influences.
After exploring the palace, we continue deeper into the Dong Van Karst Plateau and climb toward the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass. At the top, we can stop to admire one of the most spectacular viewpoints in Northern Vietnam, looking down toward the dramatic Nho Que River far below.
If the weather and timing are right, we can enjoy the sunset over the Nho Que River and surrounding limestone mountains, creating an unforgettable end to one of the highlights of the Big North Loop motorbike adventure.
Day 10: Meo Vac – Nguyen Binh. (~140 km, ~5 hrs)
Today we leave the famous Ha Giang mountain roads behind and continue toward the remote border areas of Cao Bang Province. Along the way, we gain a deeper understanding of how local communities have adapted to one of the most difficult environments in Northern Vietnam.
The landscape around this region is dominated by steep limestone mountains and rocky karst formations, leaving very little flat or fertile land for agriculture. For generations, local communities have learned how to cultivate crops in extremely challenging conditions. Corn (maize) has traditionally been one of the most important crops because it can grow in the thin, rocky soil where other crops struggle.
Despite the harsh environment, the people living in these remote mountain communities are known for their friendliness, simplicity, and strong sense of community. Meeting local people and seeing how they have adapted to the landscape is an important part of the Northern Vietnam motorcycle experience.
We continue following the river until reaching Route 4C, not far from the Chinese border. From here, we cross the Gam River on a traditional bamboo raft before entering Cao Bang Province. The route then takes us toward Bao Lac, passing villages inhabited by ethnic communities such as the Lo Lo, Bo Y, Dao, and Giay.
These villages provide excellent opportunities to see traditional houses, clothing, farming methods, and everyday life in the northern mountains. Rather than simply passing through, we take time to appreciate the cultures and landscapes along the way.
The road eventually improves as we continue along Route 4, with beautiful mountain views around Pac Lung. From there, we ride toward the Nguyen Binh Valley, where green maize and rice fields create a striking contrast with the surrounding limestone mountains.
Day 11: Nguyen Binh – Quang Uyen. (~80 km, ~3 hrs)
We start the morning by climbing through the spectacular mountain roads toward Cao Bang, with winding passes and beautiful views appearing along the way. Compared with the previous days, today’s riding distance is shorter, giving us more time to explore the local area.
After arriving in Cao Bang town, we stop for lunch and then take a short walk around the town. The area has an interesting history connected to the French colonial period and important events that took place in Northern Vietnam during the 1940s.
Cao Bang Province played an important role in the history of Vietnam’s independence movement. Exploring the town and surrounding area gives us a chance to learn more about this fascinating period while taking a break from the motorcycle.
Later, we continue toward Quang Uyen, where we stay with a local family. This homestay provides a more personal opportunity to experience rural Vietnamese life and spend time talking with older generations about the history of the region.
We can share stories about Uncle Ho (Ho Chi Minh) and his connections with the northern mountains, learning about the simple lifestyle and historical experiences remembered by local families. Staying with local people rather than in a conventional hotel is another way to experience the real Northern Vietnam.
Day 12: Quang Uyen – Ban Gioc – Ha Lang – Quang Uyen. (~150 km, ~4 hrs)
Today is another spectacular day of motorbike riding along the Vietnam-China border. We leave Quang Uyen and ride through an extraordinary landscape dominated by enormous limestone karsts, steep cliffs, deep valleys, and remote mountain villages.
Along the route, we pass through numerous villages inhabited mainly by the Nung and Tay ethnic communities. Many families in this border region have historical and cultural connections with communities across the Chinese border. As a result, people on both sides share similarities in language, traditions, architecture, and culture.
Our main destination today is Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Vietnam and one of the highlights of the entire Big North Loop motorcycle tour. Located directly on the Vietnam-China border, the waterfall forms a natural frontier between the two countries.
The sound of the falling water can sometimes be heard from a considerable distance before the waterfall itself comes into view. During the rainy season, increased water flow makes Ban Gioc Waterfall particularly powerful and impressive.
We take a traditional bamboo raft ride to enjoy a closer view of the waterfall and surrounding landscape, followed by a picnic lunch in this spectacular border setting.
After lunch, we continue riding beside the beautiful Quay Son River. On the opposite side of the river is China, making this one of the most unusual and scenic motorcycle rides in Northern Vietnam.
From the waterfall, we head south toward Ha Lang, following quieter roads through the mountains and villages. Eventually, we turn back toward Quang Uyen, arriving around sunset after another unforgettable day exploring the remote landscapes of Cao Bang Province.
Day 13: Quang Uyen – Mau Son. (~180 km, ~6 hrs)
Today, we continue our 14 Days Big North Loop motorbike tour through the spectacular mountains of Northeast Vietnam. The route takes us through remote countryside, dramatic limestone landscapes, and friendly villages where local people often smile, wave, and greet passing riders. These simple encounters are some of the most enjoyable moments of motorbiking in Northern Vietnam.
Near the junction of the Bac Vong and Bang Giang Rivers, we can see the Thuy Khau border gate, whose name can be translated as “river mouth border gate.” It is known in Chinese as Shuikou Jie and is part of the historic border area between Vietnam and China.
We cross the Bang Giang River and continue toward the other side of the Dong Khe Valley. This region has considerable historical importance because it was the scene of fighting between the Viet Minh and French forces during the First Indochina War. The surrounding mountains and valleys still contain numerous historical sites and former battlefields.
We then follow the historic Route 4 (RC4) toward That Khe, stopping at several locations connected with the region’s wartime history before continuing toward Lang Son.
Along the way, we visit the Huu Nghi Friendship Border Gate, Vietnam’s important international border crossing with China, before continuing to Dong Dang town. Dong Dang is well known for its border trade, and Chinese-made goods are widely available throughout the town and surrounding markets.
From Lang Son, we turn toward Mau Son, located approximately 30 km away. The road becomes narrower and increasingly winding as it climbs between two steep mountains. The route resembles a snake winding its way upward toward the summit.
At approximately 1,542 meters above sea level, Mau Son is one of the highest mountain areas in Lang Son Province. Its dramatic mountain scenery, cooler climate, winding roads, and misty atmosphere have earned it comparisons with Sapa.
In the late afternoon, we have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular Mau Son mountain scenery at sunset. From the higher viewpoints, we can also look toward the mountains near the Vietnam-China border, making this a memorable final mountain destination on our Big North Loop motorcycle adventure.
Day 14: Mau Son – Hanoi. (~180 km, ~5 hrs) End of 14 Days Big North Loop.
Today is the final riding day of our 14 Days Big North Loop motorcycle tour in Northern Vietnam. After breakfast, we begin our descent from Mau Son, following winding mountain roads toward Lang Son.
On the way downhill, we stop for a short walk through villages inhabited by the Dzao Ta Pan and Nung Phan Sinh communities. These hillside villages offer another opportunity to meet local people and experience traditional mountain life.
Mau Son is also famous for its traditional Mau Son rice wine, a specialty of Lang Son Province that has been produced locally for generations. We can visit a family involved in traditional wine production and learn more about how the local spirit is made. Mau Son wine is well known in Northern Vietnam and is sold in Hanoi and other parts of the country, as well as across the border in China.
After leaving the mountains, we continue toward Lang Son town, where we can visit several historical and wartime relics. Alternatively, we can make another stop at the Huu Nghi Friendship Border Gate and Dong Dang area for those interested in the region’s border trade and Chinese products.
We then begin the final section of the journey back to Hanoi, following National Highway 1 south. Depending on the schedule and road conditions, we may stop at the historic Chi Lang Pass and battlefield area, surrounded by steep mountains and famous for its strategic importance throughout Vietnamese history.
From Chi Lang, we continue toward Hanoi, gradually leaving the mountains behind. After 14 days of riding, remote mountain roads, ethnic villages, spectacular passes, border landscapes, historic battlefields, and countless unforgettable encounters, we arrive back in Hanoi at approximately 3:00 PM.
We aim to finish the 14 Days Big North Loop before the afternoon rush hour, bringing this incredible Northern Vietnam motorcycle adventure to a close.
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