This morning, our guides will pick you up from your hotels, and we will begin our journey by heading to our tour office on the outskirts of Hanoi to avoid the city's heavy traffic. After completing the necessary procedures, we will set off towards Nhat Tan Bridge and then onto National Highway 3, heading towards Bac Giang Province. We prefer smaller, less crowded roads, allowing us to enjoy the refreshing green views along the way, rather than taking National Highway 1 like most tour agencies.

Our route will lead us onto smaller provincial and communal roads. We will spend the morning riding through vast green rice paddies and quaint villages characteristic of rural Northern Vietnam, with opportunities for photos. For many, this will be an entirely new landscape, dominated by the vibrant green of planted forests. We’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant, marking your first meal on the tour. Be sure to inform our guides of any dietary requirements (allergies, vegetarianism, veganism).

After enjoying a cup of coffee, we’ll continue our journey. The road ahead will be more challenging than the morning’s smooth ride, as we navigate jungle mountain paths. If everyone’s biking skills are up to par, we can add an extra 20 km of rugged off-road terrain, taking us deep into local villages to experience the daily life of the ethnic Tay people, known for their unique roof tiles. This will be a highlight of our day, riding up and down hills and valleys with constantly changing scenery. We’ll arrive at our homestay around 4 pm, where we will leave our baggage before riding up to Na Lay Mountain peak.

Summary:

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay
Distance: 190 km (over 6 hours of riding)

Today, we will cover a significant distance, primarily on national and provincial roads. However, these roads are rarely maintained, making them as rough and challenging as any Vietnam off-road motorcycle tour. Our route today holds special historical significance, being crucial to the victory in the fall and winter of 1950 during the Indochina war. The border campaign delivered a staggering blow to the French colonial forces, breaking through the border perimeter and fundamentally collapsing the Reve plan. This victory triggered a chain reaction that led to the eventual liberation of Dong Khe and That Khe, both of which we will visit today.

We’ll ride for 75 km, crossing rustic villages nestled among mountain ranges, until we reach That Khe town for a coffee break. From here, we have two options:

Option 1: Stick to the main road, following National Highway 4A towards Cao Bang.

Option 2: Take a challenging 20 km dirt road section along the That Khe river, passing through some Dzao villages, before circling back to National Highway 4A for lunch. This route is very difficult, especially if it rains, but the sense of triumph and the pristine scenery make it well worth the effort. It would be one of the most interesting north off-road Vietnam experiences.

We will have lunch at a local restaurant in Dong Khe town. After lunch, we’ll continue our journey, reaching our homestay around 4 pm, concluding the second day of our 5-day North Vietnam motorbike tour safe and sound.

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay
Distance: 180 km, mostly forest and mountain paths

The previous day, we marveled at the stunning natural landscapes of northeast Vietnam. Today, we’ll experience a different kind of wonder: Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave, and Ma Phuc Pass. This route will be particularly enjoyable for seasoned bikers.

After a hearty breakfast, we bid farewell to our host family and head straight towards Ban Gioc Waterfall. An hour of riding on some of the best roads through limestone mountains brings us to our first destination: Nguom Ngao Cave. We’ll spend up to 45 minutes exploring this cave before moving on to the highlight of our day: Ban Gioc Waterfall. From as far as 10 km away, we can already spot the Qui Dien River and hear the distant roar of the waterfall.

Upon reaching the fall, we can ride closer to its base, park our bikes, and take a small raft to get nearer to the waterfall. We’ll raft around the fall, towards the Tall Fall, where we can take a refreshing dip in the cool water. After a good swim and some coffee, we’ll head back to Quang Uyen, this time taking a different route: more challenging, smaller roads that stretch for 45 km. We’ll have a lunch break at a local restaurant in Quang Uyen, then get back on our bikes and ride towards Cao Bang City.

This will be the ride of the day! Right after leaving town, we’ll tackle Ma Phuc Pass. Although not very long, the elevation is quite staggering. The name Ma Phuc means ‘defeated horses,’ as horses used to collapse from fatigue at the top of the pass. We’ll arrive at our hotel around 5 pm, unpack, and unwind after a long day filled with adventure and fun!

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Standard Hotel
Distance: 160 km over 5 hours of riding

Today's journey takes us along National Highway 4a towards Lang Son, where we'll veer off onto a small dirt road nestled amidst the forest just 15 km from town. This leg of the trip promises to be memorable, with 30 km of winding tracks cutting through a lush sea of trees. While traversing this rugged terrain and crossing various streams might pose challenges, the ride itself, along with the scenic vistas, is immensely rewarding. Due to the difficulty of this route, it's reserved for experienced riders in small groups, ensuring safety (groups smaller than 5).

We'll pause for lunch at Cho Gia town before continuing our ride for another hour until we reach the shores of Ba Be Lake. Here, we'll park our bikes and embark on a 2-hour tour of the lake. You'll even have the opportunity to take a refreshing swim in this expansive 'pond', so be sure to bring along your towels. By around 5 pm, we'll check into our local homestay in Pac Ngoi, offering a charming view overlooking the serene lake. You're also invited to join our Tay host family in preparing a delicious dinner together!

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Pac Ngoi
Distance: Approximately 150 km

In the morning, we'll continue our journey along secluded mountain roads, where traffic is minimal, marking the final leg before descending back to the lowlands. After enjoying lunch in Thai Nguyen city, we'll have two routes to choose from for our return to Hanoi:

Option 1: We'll proceed along National Highway 3 towards Nhat Tan bridge. This main artery links the Northeastern provinces to Hanoi, but it carries heavier traffic, posing greater risks.

Option 2: We'll opt for the picturesque route, meandering through rustic villages and verdant rice paddies, eventually arriving at Nhat Tan bridge before concluding our tour at the office.

Anticipate reaching Hanoi around 4:30 pm, just ahead of the evening rush hour. With any luck, we'll return to the tour office before becoming ensnared in the inevitable traffic gridlock.

Summary:

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Distance: Covering 240 km amidst congested traffic, spanning over 5 hours of riding.