Destination:Hanoi
– Mai Chau – Phu Yen – Son La – Than Uyen – Sapa – Bac Ha – Ha Giang –
Dong Van – Meo Vac – Bao Lac – Ba Be – Na Khan – Hanoi
Duration: 13 days / 12 nights
Day 1 - VIETNAM NORTH-WEST MOTORBIKE TOURS: Hanoi motorcycle tour to Mai Chau (Hoa Binh)
Start
our motorbike tour by leaving Hanoi on dyke roads to avoid the heavy
traffic around 9 am, we ride our motorbikes west to Mai Chau, an area of
beautiful landscape and home to the Thai ethnic minority.
We will
motorcycle on Highway 6 passing extensive farming lands comprising a sea
of paddy fields split by tree-lined roads punctuated by limestone karst
scenery.
After a light lunch in Hoa Binh Province, we cross Thung
Khe, one of the most beautiful mountain passes in North Vietnam then
descent to the mountain valley settlement of Mai Chau. After dinner we
join performance, where you can dance and share a range of special
liquors (rice wine) with the locals.
Overnight in a house-on-stilts of the Thai people.
Summary:
Distance: 160 km
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home-stay
Day 2 - VIETNAM NORTH-WEST MOTORBIKE TOURS: Mai Chau motorcycle tour to Phu Yen (Son La)
Mai
Chau is one of the closest places to Hanoi where you can experience a
'real' Montagnard village. In the morning we take a short walk around
village to discover local life. Life in the
countryside starts early so by sunrise there is a wealth of activity.
The Thai women are masterful weavers who ensure that there is plenty of
traditional-style clothing to buy in the village centre. You will see
women weaving on looms under or inside their houses in the village We
can buy some handmade traditional-style clothing, knife or cross-bow.
After
breakfast in home-stay, we say goodbye to villagers and leave Mai Chau
around 10 am. We ride from Mai Chau to the direction of Moc Chau, where
we have lunch. This highland town produces some of Vietnam's best tea
and is a good place to stock up. The surrounding area is also home to
several ethnic minorities, including Green H'mong, Dzao, Thai and Muong.
Moc Chau boasts a pioneering dairy industry that started in the late
1970s with Australian (and, later, UN) assistance. The dairy provides
Hanoi with such delectable iuxur us as fresh milk, sweetened condensed
milk and little tooth-rotting bars called “Banh sua”.
After lunch, we
turn to the less travelled Road 43 leading to the Da River, crossing
the reservoir of Da river at Van Yen ferry, then ride on a beautiful
winding secondary road until Phu Yen where we stay in a basic
guest-house.
Summary:
Distance: 140 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guest-house
Day 3 - VIETNAM NORTH-WEST MOTORBIKE TOURS: Phu Yen motorcycle tour to Son La City
Continuing
our motorbike tour on the almost empty Road 37 we enter mountains
heavily populated with Black Thai people, who work on large terraced
rice fields. The winding road passes through many Thai villages and
fields and provides a great opportunity to watch country life passing
by. We continue through rolling hills before rising up to the sugar cane
growing areas on the cooler Son La plateau.
Late lunch in Son La
City, the capital of Son La Province, before we visit The Old French
Prison & Museum. It was once the site of a French penal colony where
anticolonial revolutionaries were incarcerated. It was destroyed by the
infamous “off-loading” of unused ammunition by US warplanes that were
returning to their bases after bombing raids, but it has been partially
restored. Rebuilt turrets and watch towers stand guard over the remains
of cells, inner walls and a famous lone surviving peach tree. The tree,
which blooms with traditional “Tet flowers”, was planted in the compound
by To Hieu, a former inmate from the 1940s. To Hieu has subsequently
been immortalised. with various landmarks now named after him.
Overnight in Son La City.
Summary:
Distance: 160 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 4 - VIETNAM NORTH-WEST MOTORBIKE TOURS: Son La motorcycle tour to Than Uyen (Lai Chau)
Heading
out northwest from Son La, the road crosses a series of mountain passes
and areas of busy Black Thai activity. Children walk to school, kids
tend buffaloes, women plant rice seedlings and men pull the buffalo.
Then we come to the beginning of the very long and steep Pha Din pass
where at the top we have vast views of the surrounding mountains, then
down the other side on very steep sealed road.
Lunch in Tuan Giao.
Turn
to the almost empty winding Road 279 leading to Pa Uon bridge. The
first span of the Pa Uon bridge spanning the Da river got connected on
Highway 279 in Chieng On commune, Quynh Nhai district, Son La province.
The bridge invested by the Ministry of Transport lies within the
food-avoiding highways and provincial roads project after the Son La
Hydro-electric Power project had been deployed, contributing to forming
the nearest road between Son La and Lai Chau provinces. The construction
of the bridge started on May 28, 2007. It opened to traffic on April 30
and put into use in July 2010.
Continuing on the empty winding road until we get Than Uyen Town, Lai Chau Province.
Overnight in Than Uyen.
Summary:
Distance: 180 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 5 - VIETNAM NORTH-WEST MOTORBIKE TOURS: Than Uyen motorcycle tour to Sapa (Lao Cai)
We
motorcycle straight toward the main Fansipan Mountain range. There is
also the option for a very challenging back route which takes us through
several river crossings. 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 2,000m the views looks out over the main
range for miles and miles, before we descend to the mountainous Sa Pa
valley. Sa Pa is located in Lao Cai Province, north-west Vietnam, and
350 km north-west of Hanoi, close to the border with China. Sapa is
famous both for its fine, rugged scenery and for its rich cultural
diversity. French used to consider Sapa as Summer Capital of Northern
Vietnam in the early decades of the 20th century. Its naturally gifted
beauty keeps attracting more and more people to spend their vacation
there since then. Particularly, the place is the foremost choice for
honeymoon couples!
Overnight in Hotel.
Summary:
Distance: 110 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 6 - VIETNAM NORTH-WEST MOTORBIKE TOURS: Sapa trek or relax
Depending
on the group's mood, we can either take it easy in Sa Pa town, or make
excursions back to the top of the highest pass in Vietnam, or down deep
into the amazing Sapa valley to do home-stay in peacefull village.
All
options are dominated by the crest of the enormous Fansipan mountain
range that looms over 2,000 metres above us. The entire region is
populated by Hmong, Giay, Tay and Red Dao people.
Stay in Sapa or home-stay in village.
Summary:
Distance: 40 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel or Home-stay
Day 7 - VIETNAM NORTH-WEST MOTORBIKE TOURS: Sapa motorcycle tour to Bac Ha (Lao Cai)
Motorcycle
down from Sapa to Lao Cai City and then have a coffee-stop on the bank
of Nam Thi river, which is Vietnam - China border. Enjoy your coffee
while taking the view to China.
Head to Road 70 before turn to Bac Ha on Road 153.
Long
touted as the weekend alternative to Sapa, this small highland town
doesn't have the same dramatic location of its more il-lustrious
neighbour, but it is calmer when Saturday comes. It fills up to choking
point on Sunday morning, when visitors flood in to meet the Flower
H'mong at the
morning market. Compared with Sapa, tourism is still in its infancy here and during the week the town has a deserted feel.
Bac Ha is a good base to explore the surrounding highlands. Around 900m above sea level, it is noticeably warmer than Sapa.
One
of Bac Ha's main industries is she manufacture of alcoholic home brews
(rice wine, cassava wine and corn liquor). The corn hooch produced by
the Flower H'mong is so potent it can ignite! Bac Ha is the only place
in Vietnam where you'll find this particular moonshine; there's an
entire area devoted to it at the Sunday market.
Overnight in Bac Ha.
Summary:
Distance: 120 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home-stay
Day 8 - VIETNAM NORTH-WEST MOTORBIKE TOURS: Bac Ha motorcycle tour to Ha Giang City
After
breakfast, we take a motor ride on the track to Xin Man and Hoang Su
Phi on many small; back roads with scenic mountain views.
Xin Man is
right on the border between Vietnam and China. It is, as of this
writing, well hidden and completely surrounded by wild mountains and
forests.
There's a single road from Xin Man to Hoang Su Phi.
Hoang
Su Phi is among the most untouched area of Ha Giang Province of
Vietnam. The area was separated from the mainstream society until very
recently. Passing Hoang Su Phi, we will be charmed by the pristine
beauty of the wild mountains and the authentic culture of the local
ethnic groups which include: the Nung, the Flower H'mong, the Tay and the Ha Nhi People...
After lunch, join the main road heading up to Ha Giang City, where we stop for the night and apply for a permit.
Summary:
Distance: 200 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 9 - VIETNAM NORTH-WEST MOTORBIKE TOURS: Ha Giang motorcycle tour to Dong Van (Ha Giang)
After
getting the permit for motorbike tour 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.
Motorcycle
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.
It is really difficult to find the exact words to describe
Ma Pi Leng Pass, located between Dong Van and Meo Vac, near the
northernmost tip of Vietnam, as a painting of astonishing beauty and
magnificence that captures the eyes of all viewers and nature lovers.
Ride on a zig-zag track until reaching Vuong Family's Residence, 14 kms before Dong Van.
Vuong
Family was considered the King of the Hmong People in Dong Van, Ha
Giang. Their residence was built in the scenic valley of Sa Phin with
Chinese architecture. The whole house was built out of wood and rock
only. The rocks for the buildings were imported from China. Vuong Family
Residence is a masterpiece of man work in the valley of heavenly beauty
of Sa Phin.
This is a remote area and we can 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 Dong Van 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.
Summary:
Distance: 160 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 10 - VIETNAM NORTH-WEST MOTORBIKE TOURS: Dong Van motorcycle tour to Bao Lac (Cao Bang)
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
motorcycle across the wild regions of the mythical province of Ha
Giang, Meo Vac is included. It shares the border with Dong Van District
of Ha Giang Province and Bao Lam District of Cao Bang Province. Meo Vac
has most of the terrain in the Rock Plateau of Dong Van and above 1000m
above sea level.
Meo Vac has a harsh climate in the winter which is
from November to April with dry and freezing cold weather. It is
inhabited by different ethnic minorities including the H'mong, the King,
Tay, Dzao...Most ethnic groups have maintained their culture untouched
from the outside world.
In the afternoon, we 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.
Summary:
Distance: 80 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 11 - VIETNAM NORTH-WEST MOTORBIKE TOURS: Bao Lac motorcycle tour to Ba Be National Park (Bac Kan)
Beautiful
motor ride down to Bac Kan Province. Few passes from where you can
dominate the area. The road is easy but there are many blind curves
before we turn to Ba Be lake (inside Ba Be National Park).
Ba Be
National Park is an abundant bioreserve area containing the world’s only
fresh-water karst lake and several rare species of fauna and flora. Ba
Be lake in VietnamThe biodiverse 10,048ha park – home to 1,268 species
of flora and fauna, a series of caves and a gigantic fresh water lake –
was established in 1992 by the Vietnamese Government to preserve forest
ecosystems in the northeast.
Ba Be is home to over 3,000 people from
the ethnic minorities of Tay, Nung, Dao and Mong, who live in 13
villages within the park. The Tay people have inhabited Ba Be area for
centuries and make up 58 per cent of the population within the park’s
boundaries.
Motorcycle into Bac Ngoi village, which is located inside
Ba Be National Park. Our home-stay in Tay's family is right by the side
of Ba Be lake with wonderful and peaceful view.
Summary:
Distance: 140 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home-stay
Day 12 - VIETNAM NORTH-WEST MOTORBIKE TOURS: Boat ride on Ba Be lake and motorcycle tour to Na Khan (Bac Kan)
Half-day
boat-ride on the lake to the other side, where we can explore Dau Dang
waterfall on Nang river. As one of the 27 ASEAN heritage gardens, Ba Be
has the potential to attract nature lovers with its 450ha natural fresh
water lake, and 553 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and
fish.
According to a survey from the Viet Nam Institute of
Geo-sciences and Mineral Resources, over 11,000 years ago, an earthquake
caused a collapse of the subterranean Nang River, creating a natural
dam which led to the formation of Ba Be Lake.
Lunch in a village near
by Dau Dang waterfall before back to home-stay. Get on our bikes and
take a half-day ride on countryside to Na Khan. This Nung's village is
in middle of nowhere.
We have last experience on the trip to share the meals and house with locals.
Summary:
Distance: 80 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home-stay
Day 13 - VIETNAM NORTH-WEST MOTORBIKE TOURS: Na Khan motorcycle tour to Hanoi
Easy motor ride in the morning, passing peaceful villages and rice fields before reaching very
busy road in the afternoon. Traffic is getting worst and worst on Road
3, the way back to Hanoi, so we should be back before rush hour.
Finish our trip around 4 pm
Summary:
Distance: 160 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
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Trang
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Email: dinhtrang@vietlongtravel.com
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along Red river.
some handmade traditional-style clothing, knife or cross-bow.
life passing by. We continue through rolling hills before rising up to
the sugar cane growing areas on the cooler Son La plateau.
town has a deserted feel.