The Harvest Route is 50km of picture-book scenery, which, in the right weather conditions, will fill your cameras memory card within minutescontinue reading, ROUTE MAP: Harvest Route: The Theatre of Rice, Route, Region & Province: Lao CaiLai ChauMuong LayMuong TeMuong NheDien Bien Phu| Lao Cai, Lai Chau & Dien Bien provinces[MAP], Distance & Duration: 300-800km | 2-7 days, Road Conditions & Traffic: mostly paved, remote roads, risk of landslides, very light traffic, Scenery & Landscape: remote borderlands, mountains, rivers, rice terraces, minority villages, Full Guide: The Extreme Northwest Loop: Motorbike Guide, Description: A sprawling, mountainous bulge around the Black River basin, the extreme northwest of Vietnam is probably the most remote region of the entire country, and certainly one of the least-travelled. Every other day of the month the town is rather quiet, but a peaceful rest stop before heading up the mountains. To visit the Ninh Hoa salt fields youll have to be on your motorbike heading out of Nha Trang by 4am. In the crisp dawn light, hundreds of stepped rice paddies, carved into the contours of steep valleys, are illuminated by the autumn sun. Check out my Hanoi travel guide so you dont miss out on what this city has to offer. Although these 9 northern routes cover thousands of kilometres, they represent just a fraction of the many great roads, tracks, routes, and regions that northern Vietnam has to offer the motorbike rider. Dong Ha is a lesser-known city located north of Hue on Vietnams east coast. With a shorter trip, you will probably waste valuable time buying and selling a motorbike. First stop, Can Tho. Motor Bike travelling is Great , personally my favorites , i read your its so interesting , thank you for sharing Blog. Buon Ma Thuot is a small town back in the highlands, similar to Dalat but less touristy. The north offers the most majestic scenery on the grandest scale in Vietnam: the mountains are higher and the passes are loftier than anywhere else in the country. The Vinh Moc Tunnels are similar to the Chu Chi Tunnels in Ho Chi Minh City, yet far more extensive and large enough to walk through. We would greatly appreciate it. Let me show you how to travel Asia better, further, and easier than you can imagine. Can Tho is a few hours ride south of Ho Chi Minh City. this detailed road map of Vietnam by National Geographic, the easiest place to buy a motorbike in Vietnam, one of the best beaches in Southeast Asia, The views from the Hai Van Pass are stunning, accommodation options around the lake in a relaxing countryside setting. The views over the mountain range are incredible. I wouldnt be surprised if you end out riding it back and forth a few times! Ditch the motorbike for a day and cycle or walk the sleepy streets. I. Bac Kan is a rural town in northern Vietnam and home to the picturesque Ba Bae Lake. Although these 9 northern routes cover thousands of kilometres, they represent just a fraction of the many great roads, tracks, routes, and regions that northern Vietnam has to offer the motorbike rider. Your Guide to the Hai Van Pass, Vietnam The Hai Van Pass is a stunning coast route with epic views looking out over the ocean. Click here for an exclusive discount! Be sure to read my full guide to the Ma Pi Leng Pass for all the essential details. Slept in boutique resorts and in hammocks in the jungle. You will find the traditional tall houses which are the village community centers. Over one thousand soldiers died fighting here. Hi Charlie, Ill send you an email now, happy to answer further questions! The food in Hanoi is amazing, and there are a few cool bars to hang out around the old town too. *Please note: All my routes stick to paved roads as much as possible & I make an effort to mark any rough, muddy, off-road, or difficult sections on my maps. You will find out. Buying a motorbike in Vietnam may seem difficult at first. Thanh Hoa, on the other hand, is only recently starting to attract attention, in particular the stunning setting of Pu Luong Nature Reserve. It is called the Ma Pi Leng Pass. It seems like a great trip. Get your free travel guide: 10 TOP SECRET Destinations in Asia, Sapa is one of the most scenic destinations in Vietnam. Ultimately, you will be too rushed. This outranks the worlds second-largest, Paradise Cave, which is also in the same national park. Honda Win (Chinese rip off version) is the most common at just under USD 300. This is a route to be taken slowly theres hardly a kilometre without a hairpin bend and with plenty of time to allow for unforeseen circumstances, such as bad weather and landslides, which regularly block the waycontinue reading, Route Region & Province: Ha GiangTam SonYen MinhDu GiaDong VanMeo VacBao Lac | Ha Giang Province[MAP], Distance & Duration: 350km | 2-5 days, Road Conditions & Traffic: very mountainous paved roads, some rough sections, fairly light traffic, Scenery & Landscape: limestone karsts, deep gorges, remote borderlands, minority villages, rivers, Full Guide: Ha Giang Extreme North Motorbike Loop, Description: Ha Giang is Vietnams northern-most province. The roads lead further, higher, and deeper into the northwest mountains than ever before, threading between peaks pushing 10,000ft, which are the southeastern-most extent of the same geological collision that formed the Himalayascontinue reading, Route, Region & Province: SapaLai ChauSin HoPhong Tho | Lai ChauProvince[MAP], Distance & Duration: 320km | 2-4 days, Road Conditions & Traffic: good mountain highways, paved back-roads, some rough patches, Scenery & Landscape: big mountains, plunging valleys, rivers, rice terraces, light traffic, Full Guide: SapaSin Ho Scenic Motorbike Loop, Description: High up on the slopes of the Hong Lin Sn Mountain Range (known in French colonial times as the Tonkinese Alps), Sin Ho is a small market town reached via spectacular mountain roads. Expect to see women pedaling around the street selling fruit and plenty of coffee stores. We have about 3 weeks, any suggestions? Ho Chi Minh City is the starting or ending point for most travelers in Vietnam. I suggest getting up early to ride in the mornings and pack good wet weather gear. Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam and the finishing point for many in their Vietnam motorbike itinerary. Search from over 150 blogs posts covering Asia, Pacific, and Europe. Hoi An is also famously known for its clothing production. I suggest visiting Buon Ma Thuot as a thoroughfare destination, saving your time for Kon Tum further north. Sounds crazy but it is possible. Learn the pros and cons of each, where to buy a motorbike, and what to look out for in this guide. It also has one of the best beaches in Southeast Asia, a stunning stretch of white sand called Sao Beach. Youll know youve arrived at the right place when you see loads of small street stalls selling beer at 25c per can. If you are riding around Vietnam for less than 2 months I suggest renting. The extreme northwest abuts both China and Laos, thus this route travels through extensive borderlands, which are often very sensitive. Vietnamese motorbikes are slow, the road condition is bad, and there are too many stops. Ride safely, ride responsibly & enjoy Vietnams Great North. Looks like itll be planes, trains, and automobiles for me. The small village of Bao Lac is located at the foothills of Vietnams northern mountain ranges. In the distance, you will actually be looking at the mountains of southern China in Yunnan Province. As you ride along this route you will be completely awestruck with panoramic views that seem to go on and on. The north is not as bad as the south right? However, please keep comments polite and on-topic. I have been fascinated with this trip for a long time and i have one unanswered question. On the way to Cat Thien National Park, youll ride back roads for hours through small villages. Warning: Be careful wandering off the track up this way as there are plenty of unexploded land mines still lying about. Below is a list and a colour-coded map of 9 northern motorbike routes. For more details, see my Disclosure & Disclaimer statements here, Riding a motorbike in/out of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) & Hanoi can be congested & polluted, but some times of the day are better than others, Vietnam has some incredible riding roads: possibly some of the most scenic in the world. One way or another youll end up here. Great Blog. There are a number of budget hotels and homestay accommodation options around the lake in a relaxing countryside setting. It will be my first time in SE Asia. Hi Stacie, I will send you an email to discuss further travel for motorbiking Vietnam! From Hanoi, you still have the option of traveling east to Halong Bay or north to the highlands on the China border. On these weekends the town is a lively place, but it can be difficult to time your trip accordingly. I suggest doing only part of this trip. For each route, Ive written bullet-points for quick-information and a brief description, including a direct link to the full guide, a title image, and an embedded interactive map of the route. These are some of the best countryside views to enjoy in Vietnam. You can quickly get a local feel of this authentic northern Vietnam town. Wake up in the morning to the sound of Gibbons calling, then spend your day searching for the last White Rhino, an enigma of sorts. Cao Bang is both the province and city in northeast Vietnam. I wish I wasnt so road-shy, or Id consider the motorbike route that Josh so nicely presented us. Hi, this looks good. Ive made several motorbiking trips around Vietnam where Ive visited large cities and small ethnic villages. The views from the Hai Van Pass are stunning, even more so when you ride at sunset as I did. Im a long time reader but Ive never been compelled to leave a comment. Youll thank me when you realize you need it. Another great way to get around is a boat cruise down the perfume river. Cat Thein National Park is my preferred first stop north of Ho Chi Minh City. I have US motor bike license and wondering if that works for a 3-4 week bike trip. Loved the way you narrated your experience. Both are looking at buying used 125s whilst there. Limestone Loop | Harvest Route | Extreme Northwest Loop | Sin Ho Loop |Y Ty Loop | Borders & Back-Roads Loop | Extreme North Loop | High Roads Routes | Northeast Loops, Route, Region & Province: HanoiMai ChauPu LuongLao border | Thanh Hoa Province[MAP], Distance & Duration: 700-800km | 3-6 days, Road Conditions & Traffic: mostly good, paved roads & lanes, some rough sections, fairly light traffic, Scenery & Landscape: limestone karsts, bamboo forests, minority villages, rice fields, Full Guide: The Limestone Loop: Motorbike Guide, Description: Spreading southwest of Hanoi, the Limestone Loop is just a few hours ride from the capital, and yet it takes in some of the most picturesque scenery in the country. Linking the towns of Sapa and Ha Giang, this road trip is a slow crawl through some of the remotest parts of Vietnam, mostly on small roads that have only recently been blasted out of the mountainsides. Creating a scenic loop, starting and ending in Sapa via the hilltop hamlet of Y Ty, this relatively short but dramatic road trip is a great escape from the increasingly touristy mountain town of Sapa. Are you planning on motorbiking Vietnam? Quiet roads meander along steep valleys cloaked in bamboo forests, and mountain passes twist skyward towards isolated Lao border crossings. The ancient town of Hoi An is an idyllic spot in central Vietnam. Phu Quoc Island to be specific. A buddy of mine and I are looking to Motorbike in Vietnam for Chinese New Year for Roughly 14 -17 days. Expect to get stuck into a conversation in Vietnamese and be offered some homemade rice spirits! I highly suggest having a read of them too. There are multiple options you can take to explore the caves depending on time and budget. Get ready for the most scenic part of this entire Vietnam motorbike route. This was featured as the cover for Lonely Planets 2012 Vietnam guide. For a short period, Id just rent the motorbike instead of buying. One way drop-offs are also available, perfect for travelers. Hey Tom, Ive only just stumbled across your blog whilst trying to piece together the bare bones of a trip for next March, but it has been incredibly useful so far! They are all too keen to have a chat with you in Vietnamese and are always up for a photo.