Rider Briefing Dinner

On Arrival Day our Tour Leader will meet you at the hotel for a riders’ briefing and bike handover, then head out to one of the specially picked local restaurants for local craft beers and a feast to get your Vietnam adventure started!!

Hotel: Mercure Hanoi La Gare

Out of Hanoi Ride

Hanoi to Mu Chang Chai

360km – 8 hours

A route that finds the absolute quickest way out of the city and as soon as possible onto winding secondary roads into the mountains where the traffic is calm and the rice terraces and waterfalls abound.

To the China Border Ride

Mu Cang Chai to Hoang Su Phi

260km – 8 hours

To the north is a wall of mountains, the other side of which is China – we head to Hoang Su Phi.

This isolated town sits in a valley, its streets incredibly windy and steep. After a dramatic day of riding, Hoang Su Phi appears out of the mist. As we reach our homestay, you are awarded with a magnificent view of terraced rice fields, and its easy to see the attraction of the area.

Extreme North Back Roads

Hoang Su Phi to Ha Giang

200km – 8 hours

Today is a very mountainous, very scenic ride as we head to the famous area in north Vietnam, Ha Giang – arguably the most visually arresting region in Vietnam.

With panoramic views of limestone pillars, plunging valleys and cascading rice terraces – you’re in for a treat.

Bear in mind, this area is very prone to landslides after heavy rains, if the weather has been bad, we may be forced to wait while the road is cleared. Either way, progress is quite slow, partly because the road is very narrow, and partly because the scenery is so eye-catching we’ll be making frequent stops.

Ha Giang Loop

No Check Out Day

300km – 7 hours

Today we get an extra day in Ha Giang to rest, check our bikes, put our gear in for laundry.

A little later in the day, we go out for a loop ride of the area. It’s only a few kilometres before forested limestone mountains tower over you and irresistibly-blue rivers run alongside the road.

Steps & Passes – River Gorge Ride

Ha Giang to Meo Vac

280km – 7 hours

Starting out riding through the famous Ha Giang loop via the limestone landscapes of the Dong Van Karst Plateau, then head southeast through the Ma Pi Leng Pass, take in the view at the Khe Lia Panorama, and the best part of today’s ride – our secret path down to the banks of the Nho Que River, used only by the locals and not for anyone with a fear of heights!!

Today is an action packed day and needless to say one of our favourite days during the Northern ride. 

Ride the Best Road in Vietnam

Meo Vac to Cao Bang

250km – 9 hours

Out of Meo Vac there are some fabulous views over a vast and sparsely populated landscape. This meandering road soars over a limestone plateau before descending sharply through Khau Vai village and towards Cao Bang.

Water Fall to Lake Day

Cao Bang to Ba Be Lake

280km – 8 hours

We start the morning with a stroll up to the top of a northern temple, which rewards with views of the Ban Gioc Falls.

We bear east onto an unnamed road leading over some spectacular mountains and through dense jungle all the way to the crossroads near Ba Be Lake.

Where the French Lost d’ War

Ba Be Lake to Lang Son

280km – 7 hours

For our last night we like to end it in style and pamper ourselves after a week in the rugged North in the Lovely city of Langson at the 5 star Sheraton Hotel.

Back to Hanoi

Lang Son to Hanoi

130km – 2 hours

The tour ends in the capital city of Hanoi, with plenty of cultural, historical and architectural attractions for the curious traveler. We drop our bikes off at the train station and walk 100m over to the hotel to drop off our gear. We taxi into town for a late lunch before saying our goodbyes.

Go on to explore the ancient city of Hanoi or for those who want to continue riding , check out our Ho Chi Minh Trail itinerary taking you from North to South Vietnam !!

Hotel: Mercure Hanoi La Gare