Motorcycle trip in Vietnam via the Ha Giang loop in 12 days: 1,360 km on a Royal Enfield Himalayan or Scram 411 cc.

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Day 1: Hanoi - Vu Linh: 170 km

  

  After preparing the bike, it's the start of our motorcycle journey in Vietnam! Leaving the capital Hanoi and its outskirts will allow you to get familiar with your new mount. Next, we take a less-traveled road, passing through towns, countryside, and rice fields. We head towards Thac Ba Lake, passing through small villages and hills covered with tea plants to arrive at the village of Vu Linh. We visit Thac Ba Lake by motorboat and we will be able to swim. This lake is one of the largest artificial lakes in northern Vietnam, built in 1970 to supply the hydroelectric dam. After a friendly dinner with a tasting of rice alcohol, we spend the night in a traditional stilt house of the White Pants Dao ethnic group.

• day 2

  Day 2: Vu Linh - Bac Ha: 190 km

  

  We follow the lake to catch sight of some ethnic villages with their stilt houses set on the banks. We cross hills of eucalyptus (and acacia) and small villages to reach Yen The, known for its precious stones and marble quarries. We visit wood peeling and marble carving workshops. In the middle of terraced rice fields and latanier palms, we arrive in Bac Ha to stay with a Tay family.

• day 3

  Day 3: Bac Ha - Hoang Su Phi: 120 km

  

  Today, we are visiting one of the Bac Ha markets. This market is an event in this small town. It can be considered an ethnic gathering: Hmong Flower, Black Dao, Phu La, Tay, Nung, Giay all mingle here! A market colored by these very distinctive tunics, but also a market so "fragrant" with those unique scents that so well characterize Asia! The market creates a social bond between all these minorities, around a bowl of soup or a glass of rice alcohol! Here we will find fabrics, local crafts, tobacco, utensils, and animals of all kinds! After lunch on site, we head to Hoang Su Phi, crossing Xin Man. We take this "track" which is both a shortcut and a unique opportunity to admire the mountain range that forms the natural Sino-Vietnamese border. After a road that winds along the mountainsides following the Chay River, our lodge welcomes us in the heart of nature.

• day 4

  Day 4: Hoang Su Phi - Nam Dam: 140 km

  

  By small, little-traveled and winding roads, we join the national road 2 at the Lo river, which we follow upstream to Ha Giang, where towns with their traffic and agricultural crops are more numerous. After Ha Giang, through the mountains and valleys, we cross the "gate of heaven" and reach, by a path, the village of Nam Dam to spend the night with the long-tunic Dao ethnic group.

• day 5

  Day 5: Nam Dam - Dong Van: 110 km

  

  In the morning, we start the day by visiting the Blue Hmong of Lung Tam, where the craft activity of hemp weaving by the women of this village is truly enchanting. Then, we continue on a winding road leading to the Dong Van geological plateau (listed by UNESCO in 2010) to admire magnificent landscapes and visit the former castle of the Hmong king. Visit of the former palace of the Hmong king, where he still lived at the beginning of the last century. Then, heading towards Dong Van: the road leading into this larger and livelier town is unique! The surrounding mountains are majestic! Visit of the town, the old Chinese houses, and the local craft shops. Arrival in Dong Van, check-in at the hotel.

• day 6

  Day 6: Dong Van - Ha Quang: 186 km

  

  After the early morning wake-up, we hit the road again towards the peaks. The Ma Pi Leng pass is reached through exceptional karst mountain scenery; it offers us a breathtaking and dizzying view over the valley. The descent is approached with caution, but what a spectacle! We then cross Meo Vac before arriving further on at Bao Lac. Lunch in Bao Lac, then we continue towards Ha Quang along a road that remains rugged, with jagged mountains. The road is wild, we pass several passes and valleys towards the Chinese border. We cross the Thong Nong region with its fabulous landscapes before arriving at Pac Bo. The Pac Bo site, located in the mountains right on the border with China, is the place where Ho Chi Minh took refuge for a few months to prepare the revolution. He lived here, as a hermit, in a cave that can be visited. During this pleasant walk, we can easily imagine Uncle Ho, by the stream, sitting on a rock, devising multiple strategies that would determine the future of Vietnam. History tells us that he named the mountain Karl Marx and the river Lenin… Arrival at the end of the day at Me Farmstay to spend the night. The rest of the day is devoted to exploring the surroundings on foot. Dinner and overnight at Me Farmstay.

• day 7

  Day 7: Ha Quang - Ban Gioc: 100 km

  

  Today, we still follow the Chinese border. We cross several passes and valleys, then we travel through the Tra Linh region with its fabulous landscapes before arriving at Trung Khanh, where we have lunch. We then continue towards the Ban Gioc waterfalls, which are one of the most impressive natural sites in northern Vietnam and are revealed to us in a dazzling setting. Everything comes together to enjoy a magical moment in an enchanting place. Upon arrival at the village of Khuoi Nhi, we enjoy the last visit to the Nguom Ngao caves, which are unique in that they cross the mountain from one side to the other. Their numerous limestone formations, diverse in shape, rank them among the most beautiful in the country. Check-in at a homestay for dinner and overnight stay.

• day 8

  Day 8: Ban Gioc - Bac Son: 180 km

  

  After the early morning wake-up, departure for the territory of Lang Son. We cross several small passes to reach the Bac Son region, the stop for the day where we spend the night. We pass through That Khe and Dong Khe. These regions are well known in memory of the deadly battles that took place in 1950 between, on one side, the Viet Minh troops and, on the other, the French colonial army. We enter the Lang Son countryside. The landscapes of the region are renowned for their karst mountains and rice fields… We finally reach the lush Bac Son valley and settle in with our friend from the Tay ethnic group to spend the night.

• day 9

  Day 9: Bac Son - Hanoi: 155 km

  

  For this last day of our motorbike trip in Northern Vietnam, after breakfast, we take a walk through the lush nature, discovering the daily activities of the locals. Return to our hosts where we check our luggage before heading back to Hanoi. Free evening and overnight at the hotel.

• day 10

  Day 10: Hanoi - Ninh Binh by car: 100 km

  

  Our guide and driver welcome you at the hotel and transfer you to Ninh Binh. After 2 hours on the road, we arrive in the territory of the ancient capital of Vietnam, Hoa Lu (between 968-1009). We discover this region by visiting the temples of the Dinh and Le kings. We have lunch in a local restaurant with delicious specialties. In the afternoon, by boat, we cross dizzying karst peaks that surround rice fields! From the unique way the boatwomen steer their boats, to the magical landscapes of this romantic place, we are forever marked by this very special atmosphere of tranquility! The bike ride through the rice fields to the Bich Dong pagoda on Ngu Nhac mountain allows us to overlook the surroundings and enjoy this enchanting site! Free evening and overnight at the hotel.

• day 11

  Day 11: Ninh Binh - Lan Ha Bay by car: 170 km

  

  We leave the hotel by car around 7:30 am, heading to Hai Phong, reached after 2h30 of driving, to take the ferry that drops us off at Cai Vieng port, before taking the road to Ben Beo, where we board our junk. Boarding around 12 pm for a cruise taking place in Lan Ha Bay, an extension of Ha Long Bay but less touristy. The itinerary crosses a floating fishing village in the bay, before reaching the more picturesque areas of the bay and their hundreds of islets. We can then go kayaking through the lagoons and caves forming narrow tunnels, then continue sailing further north to Bai Trai Dao beach (Three Peaches). Free time to swim and relax. Return on board to enjoy the sunset over the bay or learn to cook with the chef. In the evening, you can try your luck at squid fishing. It is in a peaceful place in Lan Ha Bay that the anchor is dropped to spend a night under the stars.

• day 12

  Day 12: Lan Ha Bay - Hanoi

  For lovers of starry skies or romantic nights, sleep may have been shortened! No matter, a sunrise over the bay is well worth this small sacrifice! The cruise continues among this multitude of islets to the small village of Viet Hai, where a bike ride is offered. Return to the boat for lunch. Disembark at Ben Beo, heading to Hanoi. End of our tour in Vietnam!