Day 1: Hanoi – Vu Linh (180 km ~7 h). L, D

Easy drive to on the sealed road to Thac Ba Lake and follow the little road to Vu Linh. Vu Linh is a Dzao village by the side of the lake, very friendly people and the welcome is exceptional.

Day 2: Vu Linh – Ha Giang (180 km ~ 6 h). B, L, D

After breakfast, ride along the Thac Ba lake on a small road lined by palm trees and scenic mountain views to join the main road heading up to Ha Giang where we stop for the night and apply for a permit..

Day 3: Ha Giang – Dong Van (180 km - 6h). Ha Giang
After getting the permit to ride in border areas at Ha Giang’s Immigration Police, we ride on small challenging mountain roads (but incredibly beautiful) on the land of colorful mountain hill-tribes.

Head up the Ma Pi Leng Pass. Here is yet another amazing place, with cloudy mountain ranges and the poetic Nho Que river winding off in the distance. Ride on a zig-zag track until Dong Van, a remote area and meet the hard-working local people here. It is inspiring to see how they survive as they manage live in the rocks. When we reach town we will have some extra time to wonder the ancient streets lined with H’mong homes of clay bricks and tiles roofs built centuries ago.

Day 4: Dong Van – Bao Lac (80 km - 4 h). B, L, D

The road is still under construction and tracks what make the ride relatively long in spite of few kilometres. The landscape is among the most beautiful of Vietnam, and the slow tempo is only more appreciable.

We cross the wild regions of the mythical province of Ha Giang. Stop for the night at Bao Lac, the ethnic crossroad of Northeast Vietnam. Many other ethnic groups on the two sides of the border meet at the market every Sunday.

Day 5: Bao Lac – Cao Bang (150 km - 5 h). B, L, D

Beautiful ride down to Cao Bang province. Few passes from where you can dominate the area. The road is easy but there are many blind curves. We can stop very often for photos. All together, stop for drinks and food it should be an 8-hour journey. Stay in a hotel.

Day 6: Cao Bang – Quang Uyen (140 km  - 5 min). B, L, D

Ride in 1 hour and half to reach the beautiful village of Quang Uyen, in the middle of a mountain cirque. This is the territory of Nung An people. Home stay in a host family and the hostess is a great cook.

We make our way through spectacular scenery to Vietnam’s most impressive waterfall, Ban Gioc Waterfalls, 50km from Quang Uyen. Weather permitting we can swim right up to where the 50m high falls hit the river.

Day 7: Quang Uyen – Lang Son (180 km - 6 h). B, L, D

Ride from Quang Uyen to Lang Son on the famous historical Highway 4. We will have time to discover this city which has become a big trading post between China and Vietnam. You can shop for cheap Chinese products at the nearby Dong Kinh market.

Overnight in hotel.

Day 8: Lang Son – Hanoi (150 km - 3 h). B, L

Easy day back to Hanoi on the new Highway 1B. You can wake up late in the morning as we guess you can be tired after 7 long riding days. Arrival at Hanoi around 3pm.

Guided motorbike tours to Ha Giang
Ha Giang is located at the highest latitude in North Vietnam, 300 km away from Hanoi, it is surrounded by Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai..
Itinerary Motorbike Tours Ha Giang Dong Van Geopark Meo Vac Bao Lac Ba Be Lake Ha Noi

click to see big picture


Ha Giang, 300 km away from Hanoi, located at the highest latitude in Vietnam. It is surrounded by Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai. It shares a border with China in the north. Many ethnic minorities, including the Dao, H’mong, Tay, and Nung, live in Ha Giang province Vietnam.

The climate is divided in two distinct seasons (rainy and dry), although it tends to vary depending on altitude.Ha Giang is the ideal location to organize activities such as hiking and camping. Famous sites include Quang Ngan Waterfall and Than Thuy-Thien Bao National Frontier Pass.

Dong Van Highland is situated 1,025 m above sea level and is inhabited by the Tay and H’Mong ethnic groups. The temperature is approximately 1oC in winter and reaches 24oC on the hottest days. The plateau provides famous products such as Hau plums, peaches, and persimmons without seeds. Dong Van apples are as big as pears. In Dong Van, numerous valuable plants used for their medicinal value are found, including ginseng, anise, and cinnamon.

Dong Van has a lot to offer: mountains, forests, hidden grottoes and caves, multicoloured orchid forests, plum and peach trees, persimmon orchards, and more.

Visiting Dong Van, one can see Pho Bang, also called Pho Bang Street, which was built a long time ago and features multi-storey houses made of clay bricks and tile roofs.Visiting Dong Van on Sundays, one can shop in a very original mountain market where all kinds of goods and multicoloured clothes can be purchased.

Khau Vai love market, this happens once a year, often falls in May, where the colorful people gather for their old loves and new ones, and is the place where the tribes sell their local products like food, vegetable, local textiles...

Day 1, Ha Noi – Yen Bai (200km)

After breakfast, we take a taxi to get to the starting point at the outskirt of Hanoi, from here you take the bikes and start your first day ride to Yen Bai,

Leaving Hanoi and breaking out of the delta plains, we pass through endless limestone karst scenery as we travel south through “Thay Pagoda”, country and extensive farming lands comprising a sea of paddy fields split by tree-lined roads. Arrive in Yen Bai in late afternoon, overnight at hotel Song Hong, 2 stars standard. Dinner in town.

Day 2. Yen Bai – Nghia Lo – Tu Le – Mu Cang Chai (200km)

We head up today into a forested and high mountain region populated by H’mong people, We will hike up a very high moutain pass before descending into a mountainous tea-growing region. Soon after we follow a long valley floor covered in a sea of rice surrounded by Hmong and Thai’s villages all the way to Mu Cang Chai. Overnight in Suoi Mo Hotel, a standard Hotel, Dinner in town.

Day 3. Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen – Sa Pa (150km)

Today we head straight towards the main Fansipan Mountain range. The massive mountain range dominates the road until finally we must make a splendid climb up from Binh Lu and up to the top of the highest road pass in Vietnam (Tram Ton Pass). Crossing into Lao Cai Province at over 2000m the views looks out over the main range for miles and miles, before we descend to the mountainous Sa Pa valley. Sleep in Hoang Long Hotel, a standard hotel.

Day 4. Sa Pa – Bac Ha – Pho Rang (150km)

We start from Sapa and ride to Lao Cai, a short stop to visit the Chiness border. Lunch on route then continue to Pho Rang, Sleep in Guest House, dinner in town.

Day 5. Pho Rang – Ha Giang (150km)

Beautiful ride today by taking a small road, during your ride, you will have chances to visit many roadside ethnic villages and markets. Lunch in Viet Quang. Continue to Ha Giang for overnight. Huy Hoan Hotel, 2 stars standard, good dinner in town.

Day 6. Ha Giang – Dong Van (150km)

Today ride must be highlights of the trip, as we will visit one of the most remote land in Vietnam where are special with many ethnic groups with their unique cultures and imposing mountains – the “Heaven Gate” in Quan Ba, Rock Plateau and the Vuong palace in Dong Van. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 7. Dong Van – Meo Vac (120km including side trips)

After breakfast, We leave to Meo Vac. The scenic route climbs over a pass, and then we descend down to Meo Vac valley, a beautiful valley situated very close to Chinese border. We take time to climb over the Ma Pi Leng Pass where we can enjoy beautiful mountain ranges and the the Nho Que river - Just an amazing place to be - the heaven on earth while passing on the Happy road, Night at Hoa Cuong Hotel, 2 stars standard. Dinner in town.

Day 8. Meo Vac – Cao Bang (200km )

Continue your trip to CaoBang with many stop over on the way: visit village and meet Tay and Dzao people, taking photos, rural market.
Arrive at CaoBang. Free time.Overnight at Thanh Loan Hotel, 3 stars standard, dinner in town.

Day 9. Cao Bang – Ba Be Lake (150km ) (Boat trip on Ba Be Lake)

Today we continue to Babe lake & national park where the landscape is amazing and the homestay is another unique experience. Upon your arrival, you are free at leisure to do the boat trip or walk to explore the village of the Tay people. Overnight in homestay of a Tay family.

Day 10. Ba Be – Thai Nguyen – Hanoi (250km)

Staying off the main road for as long as possible we head back towards the Red River Delta, passing through areas inhabited by Hmong, Dao, Tay and Nung minority peoples. A mixture of both challenging track and glorious sealed road all the way back to Hanoi. Tour ends.

Day 1: Hanoi – Vu Linh ~180 km (B, D)

You will be picked up by Asia Pacific Travel guide at your hotel in Hanoi, then start the trip to Thac Ba Lake which has an area of 23,400 ha and 1,331 islands and hills with diverse ecological environments. The water in the lake is blue and clear, and imprinted with the reflections of the surrounding ancient forest.
On arrival to Vu Linh ethnic village of Dao minority by the side of the lake, it is your time to do leisure walk to explore this beautiful village and people life.
Overnight in homestay.

Day 2: Vu Linh – Bac Ha ~ 180 km (B)

Beautiful ride today along Thac Ba lake, during your way, you will have chances to visit many roadside ethnic villages and markets. Continue to Bac Ha for overnight in a guesthouse.

Day 3: Bac Ha – Ha Giang ~ 200 km (B)
This morning, visit lively and colorfull market in Bac Ha, is open only on Sunday morning before we continue our trip to Ha Giang via Xin Ma and Hoang Su Phi. The road is very beautiful with many curves. Overnight in Ha Giang.

Day 4: Ha Giang – Dong Van ~ 145 km (B)

Today ride must be highlights of the trip as we will visit one of the most remote land in Vietnam where are special with many ethnic groups with their unique cultures and imposing mountains – the “Heaven Gate” in Quan Ba, Rock Plateau and the Vuong palace in Dong Van. Tonight, we stay in a hotel.

Day 5: Dong Van – Bao Lac ~ 100 km (B)
After the breakfast, let spend your time to visit Dong Van old street and if it falls on Sunday, you will have great opportunity to visit the weekly maket of Dong Van where gathers many ethnic groups and their local products. The market is like a festival for the local to enjoy the time with friends, talking, drinking…Continue to Bao Lac via Meo Vac and the highlight will be the conquering the Ma Pi Leng pass. Upon arrival, check in and stay in a guesthouse in Bao Lac.

Day 6: Bao Lac – Ba Be National Park ~ 150 km (B, D)

Today we continue to Babe lake & national park where the landscape is amazing and the homestay is another unique experience. Upon your arrival, you are free at leisure to do the boat trip (own expense) or walk to explore the village of the Tay people. Overnight in homestay of a Tay family.

Day 7: Ba Be Lake – Hanoi ~ 230 km (B)
This morning, ride back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi around late afternoon. Tour finished, no accommodation included.