The North Vietnam Tour
Windy Roads & Short Switchbacks
Climb mountains, cross rivers, and visit quaint northern highland villages
9 Days + 2 Days for Arrival & Departure
Overview
This ride is a slow crawl through some of the most remote parts of Vietnam. Largely on small roads with very short switchbacks that have only recently been blasted out of the mountainsides.
Dramatic scenery, fascinating border towns, ethnic minority markets, and lush farmland abound. We ride 6-7 hour daily at low speeds with plenty of time to allow for unforeseen circumstances, such as bad weather and landslides, which regularly block the way.
Highlights
- Walk along the skypath of the Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang
- Spectacular ride through the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark
- Boat Ride on the Nho Que river in Meo Vac – the deepest river in Southeast Asia
- Stay at ethnic minority Homestays & immerse yourself in the local culture
- Take in the magnificent mountain views
Summary
- Start and End point: Hanoi
- Mileage: 2,400 kilometers
- Daily Rides: 200 – 250 kilometers
- Difficulty Level: Windy mountain roads, with very short switchbacks
- 6-8 hour daily ride at low speeds
- Accommodation will be a mix of ethnic minority homestay and hotel (choice of all nights in homestay)
- Best months: October (24-10C) – April (18C)
Itinerary Breakdown
Rider Briefing Dinner
On Arrival Day our Tour Leader will meet you at a pre-arranged time for a riders’ briefing and bike handover, then head out to one of the specially picked local restaurants for a traditional Vietnamese dinner to get you started on your North Vietnam adventure.
Accommodation included
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.
Accommodation included
To the China Border Ride
Mu Cang Chai to Hoang Su Phi
260km – 8 hours
Accommodation included
Extreme North Back Roads
Hoang Su Phi to Ha Giang
200km – 8 hours
Accommodation included
Ha Giang Loop
No Check Out Day
300km – 7 hours
Accommodation included
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 go for a private boat ride on the Nho Que River.
Accommodation included
Ride the Best Road in Vietnam
Meo Vac to Cao Bang
250km – 10 hours
Out of Meo Vac there are some fabulous views over a vast and sparsely populated landscape.
Accommodation included
Water Fall to Lake Day
Cao Bang to Ba Be Lake
280km – 8 hours
Accommodation included
Where the French Lost d’ War
Ba Be Lake to Lang Son
280km – 7 hours
Accommodation included
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.
Go on to explore the ancient city of Hanoi or head to the international airport to fly to your next destination.
Accommodation included
Price calculator
Tour price on your Own Bike is USD$ USD 2,175
Suitable bikes are 300cc+
What’s Included
10-Nights Single Room occupancy
Small, experiential and local places
Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be in restaurants with the local cuisine
or we’ll have our own cook out at a scenic viewpoint along the route..
(not including alcohol)
Bilingual Guide & Mechanic
Recent and well maintained motorbikes
Full Luggage & Accessories
Motorbike Accidental & Theft insurance
Motorbike & Equipment Shipping
Group size: 4-6
Pre-ride briefing & advice
24/7 Logistical Support
Boat rides on the Nho Que River
Entrance tickets to the Ban Gioc Falls
Permits to remote areas
Not Included :
Riding Gear, Fuel for your bike, Refundable deposit for motorcycle rental USD 1,500.00, Flights to/from Hanoi, Visa to Vietnam, Personal Travel Insurance
FAQ
You will require at least one large (70L) duffel bag to transport your riding gear. Which you will then wear. You will also need a smaller (40L) pack to transport your personal items. ART will be supplying a 40L North Face dry backpack that will mount on the luggage racks of your bike.(China Eastern allows 2 pieces of checked baggage free of charge)
Dry bags or dry duffels are recommended. Some bikes will be outfitted with Givi hard/waterproof/detachable saddlebags for convenient transport of roughly 15kg of on board cargo capacity. For most persons this is more than enough. ART will offer storage of any excess baggage not deemed necessary for your tour.
We recommend getting a local SIM while travelling in Vietnam; they are affordable, USD $10 per month gets you unlimited data and calls.
There are several carriers to choose from Viettel, Mobiphone and Vinaphone are the most popular. You will need to show your passport in order to purchase a SIM, although there are services at the airport that waive this step. A.R.T recommends Viettel as having the most coverage.
Don’t forget to unlock your phone prior to leaving your home country. Cell phones in general are affordable in Vietnam.
- Google Maps
- Maps.me (Google maps alternative, provides offline maps)
- Currency Converter (XE Converter)
- Google Translate
- Skype – Calls, messaging
- WhatsApp – Calls, messaging
- Messenger
- Rever – Motorcycle Maps, GPS, Navigation Planner
- Geo Tracker – GPS Tracker for distance travel
- Viber – Calls, messaging
We recommend no more than 15kg of gear. Your guides will carry most of the safety equipment, personal items should easily come in under that weight. We will provide storage for extra gear at A.R.T base of operations.
If you’re planning a one-way trip, please contact us in advance, shipping can be arranged.
Each tour has it’s dynamic and flexibility is what we strive for. If unforeseen circumstances arise, we will discuss our options and bring them to the group. Every circumstance is different and has a solution.
Anything is possible.
