NORTH-EAST VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR
North-East Vietnam Ride
In just 6 days and 5 nights, this North-East Vietnam motorbike tour takes you deep into one of the most spectacular and authentic regions of the country. Ride along winding mountain roads, enjoy breathtaking landscapes, and meet friendly local people in remote villages far away from the main tourist routes. For generations, Vietnamese people have considered the North-East a warm and welcoming mountainous region, and travelling by motorbike is one of the best ways to experience it.
Throughout the journey, you will discover dramatic limestone mountains, peaceful valleys, forested roads, and traditional villages inhabited by different ethnic minority groups in Northern Vietnam. The combination of challenging roads, spectacular scenery, and authentic local culture makes this Northern Vietnam motorcycle tour a memorable adventure and one that deserves a place on your Vietnam travel bucket list.
Watch the video below to get an idea of what one of our North-East Vietnam motorbike tours is like. For more videos from our guided Vietnam motorcycle tours, please visit our YouTube channel.
Day 1: Hanoi – Na Khan. (~180 km, ~8 h)
Today is the first day of our 6-day Northeast Vietnam motorbike tour. Before leaving Hanoi, we have a short safety briefing covering the basic Vietnam motorbike riding rules, road conditions, and communication with your guide. Your guide will also explain how to understand his signals and body language while riding, which is especially useful when travelling together through heavy traffic and remote mountain roads.
We leave Hanoi at around 9:30 am, after the morning rush hour, and head north toward Na Khan via Thai Nguyen. Most of today’s route is on paved roads, allowing us to settle into the bikes and enjoy the changing scenery as we leave the capital behind.
The final 10 km is a completely different experience. The road becomes rough, bumpy, and remote, giving you your first taste of the adventure that awaits in the mountains. Eventually, we reach Na Khan, a peaceful Tay ethnic village surrounded by primitive forest and far removed from the busy cities of Vietnam.
Mr. Lo, the village chief, will welcome us to his home. Staying with a local family allows us to experience authentic village life in Northeast Vietnam, enjoy a traditional meal, and learn more about the culture and daily life of the Tay people.
Day 2: Na Khan – Ba Be. (~50 km, ~2 h)
Today is a short but enjoyable ride from Na Khan to Ba Be, following a rough and bumpy mountain road through the peaceful countryside. Although the distance is only around 50 km, the scenery and road conditions make this a fun introduction to the more remote sections of our Northeast Vietnam motorbike tour.
After arriving in Ba Be, we have lunch at our captain’s house. We used to call him Mr. Dang, or Zi Dang, a much-loved local character who sadly passed away in 2009. His son has continued the family business and warmly welcomes our riders.
In the afternoon, we slow down and explore Ba Be National Park by boat. We cruise gently across Ba Be Lake and along the surrounding river, enjoying the peaceful scenery, limestone mountains, forests, and traditional villages. If our visit coincides with market day, we also have time to explore the local market and see how people from the surrounding ethnic communities trade their everyday goods.
We can also stop at a nearby waterfall for a refreshing swim before continuing toward Dau Dang Waterfall. Here, we meet Ong Pirate, the local chief, and enjoy dinner in this beautiful and remote part of Ba Be National Park. Afterward, we can walk down toward the waterfall to visit a small local village and school. During the summer, only a few pupils may be attending, giving us a glimpse into everyday rural life.
Tonight, we stay in a traditional Vietnamese stilt house, surrounded by the peaceful mountains and forests of Ba Be.
Day 3: Ba Be – Quang Hoa. (~170 km, ~8 h)
After breakfast, we cross Ba Be Lake by boat and return to our captain’s house before beginning a beautiful ride toward Cao Bang Province. From here, the landscape gradually becomes more dramatic, with winding mountain roads, limestone peaks, deep valleys, and peaceful villages.
Along the route, we cross several mountain passes where we can stop and enjoy panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. The road itself is generally easy to ride, although there are plenty of bends and curves, making this a particularly enjoyable section for anyone who loves motorbike riding in Northern Vietnam.
There is no need to rush today. We make plenty of stops for photographs, drinks, snacks, and opportunities to meet local people. With all the stops included, the journey takes approximately eight hours.
Toward the end of the day, we continue for another hour to reach Quang Hoa, a beautiful mountain town located in a natural cirque surrounded by limestone mountains. This area is home to the Nung An ethnic minority, one of the many fascinating communities found throughout Northeast Vietnam.
We spend the night at our friend’s home in Quang Hoa, giving us another opportunity to experience authentic local hospitality and traditional village life away from the main tourist routes.
Day 4: Quang Hoa – Ban Gioc – Quang Hoa. (~100 km, ~2 h)
After obtaining the necessary permission from the border police, we set off toward Ban Gioc Waterfalls, riding through some of the most spectacular scenery in Northeast Vietnam. The route follows winding roads through dramatic limestone mountains, green valleys, rice fields, and remote villages close to the Vietnam-China border.
Our destination is Ban Gioc Waterfall, widely regarded as one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Vietnam. The impressive cascade drops approximately 50 meters into the river below, creating a dramatic natural landscape that is especially beautiful when viewed from the surrounding mountains.
Weather permitting, we can get close to the falls and enjoy a refreshing swim in the river. The experience is particularly memorable after a morning of riding through the mountains.
The waterfall is generally at its most impressive during the rainy season, when increased water flow creates a much larger and more powerful cascade. In general, June to October is an excellent period to see Ban Gioc at its fullest, although weather and water levels can vary from year to year.
After exploring the waterfall and surrounding area, we ride back to Quang Hoa for another night, completing a spectacular loop through one of the most beautiful regions of Northern Vietnam.
Day 5: Quang Hoa – Lang Son. (~180 km, ~6 h)
Today we leave Quang Hoa and continue our Northeast Vietnam motorbike tour toward Lang Son, passing through the historic towns of That Khe and Dong Khe. The first section of the route can be quite challenging, especially after heavy rain when parts of the road become muddy, slippery, and difficult to navigate.
However, the effort is well rewarded. The route takes us through spectacular Northeast Vietnam mountain scenery, with dramatic limestone peaks, green valleys, forested hills, and remote villages along the way. This is exactly the type of riding that makes travelling through Northern Vietnam by motorbike so memorable.
After approximately six hours on the road, we arrive in Lang Son, an important trading city close to the Chinese border. The city is particularly well known for its busy markets and inexpensive Chinese-made goods. Many of our clients find it difficult to resist browsing the local shops and markets, where you can find everything from toys and household items to electronics and other products.
Overnight in Lang Son.
Day 6: Lang Son – Hanoi. (~160 km, ~5 h) End of North-East Vietnam.
After breakfast, we begin the final ride of our 6-day Northeast Vietnam motorcycle tour, following the relatively easy and direct Highway 1B back toward Hanoi. Compared with the mountain roads of the previous days, today’s route is much more straightforward and gives us a relaxing final day on the bikes.
There is no need to rush. If you are interested in local history and culture, we can make stops at some of the traditional villages, pagodas, and temples found throughout Lang Son and Bac Ninh provinces. These quieter cultural sites provide a pleasant contrast to the dramatic mountain landscapes we have experienced during the trip.
Alternatively, riders who prefer a more adventurous final day can leave Highway 1B and explore some of the smaller countryside roads running parallel to the main route. These roads offer a more peaceful way to experience rural Northern Vietnam, passing through villages, farmland, and local communities.
We expect to finish our Northeast Vietnam motorbike tour in Hanoi at around 4:00 pm, before the evening rush hour begins. This gives everyone enough time to return the bikes, relax, and enjoy the rest of the afternoon in Hanoi.
More Guided Motorbike Tour Itineraries
Contact us at [email protected] for more information, detailed itineraries, or advice about our Northeast Vietnam motorbike tours.
