5 Days Central North (North-Centre) Vietnam Motorcycle Touring

CENTRAL NORTH VIETNAM (MIDDLE ROADS) MOTORBIKE TOUR
(5 days, 4 nights. Destination details could be found at the end of this page.)

Offroad Vietnam invites YOU to explore one of the best mountain roads in Vietnam in five days. Starting from Hanoi, leave the busy towns and drop down into a valley in Mai Chau, up on a plateau and finally descending in the peaceful Red River delta. Out of the big cities, the roads are quiet but there is hidden danger from fast trucks and cars as well as animals. Ride slow and you will be safe. Take a rest whenever you want and wherever you need. All in all, a great motorcycle vacation in such a short time. Just let us know your ideas and we will tailor make a trip that you likely remember it for long.

Booking code: OV03

Riding routes map we provide in Northern Vietnam

Related links:

- route map
- photo gallery
- customer comments
- reference
- late availability
- vietnam information

If you don't see the video clip below, click here (Special thanks to Matt Hampton from Australia).

Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau, ~160 km, ~5 hours, (L, D)

Leaving Hanoi and breaking out of the delta plains we pass through endless limestone karst scenery as we travel south through �Perfume Pagoda� country and extensive farming lands comprising a sea of paddy fields split by tree-lined roads. After a picnic lunch near Chi Ne, we visit the hot springs at Kim Boi, before striking northwest and over two passes, finally dropping down to the mountain valley settlement of Mai Chau. Here we stay overnight with friends of the White Thai minority in a traditional stilt house. In the evening, after feasting, we can enjoy a cultural show of Thai dancing and a range of special local liquors. Overnight in Mai Chau.

Day 2: Mai Chau - Moc Chau, ~140 km, ~5 hours, (B, L, D)

In the morning we can explore the village and the surrounding area by foot. Life in the countryside starts early so by sunrise there is a wealth of activity. After breakfast we head out on the highway before forking off the main road onto an old French colonial road which has become abandoned. This old road used to serve the northwest in the days of little motorised transport but became disused from 1994 when Hoa Binh Dam was opened and the Black River (Song Da) valley was subsequently flooded, eradicating the road to Hanoi. We pass steadily upwards through areas inhabited by Thai peoples, followed by the Dao and H'Mong ethnicities at higher altitudes. The road surface is by no means smooth but the winding route offers magnificent views out over 6 ranges of mountains. In mid-afternoon we rejoin the main highway and travel on good winding sealed road to Moc Chau - famous for dairy products, tea, a massive cave, and a waterfall. Overnight in Moc Chau.

North Centre, Central North Vietnam ride with Offroad Vietnam

North Centre, Central North Vietnam ride with Offroad Vietnam

Day 3: Moc Chau - Phu Yen, ~140 km, ~5 hours, (B, L, D)

On the third day we backtrack on the main a few kilometres before embarking on a new road which drops down the side of a huge valley, steadily falling all the way back down to the Black River Reservoir. The 50 kilometres route has plenty of challenging surface and is prone to landslides. Much of the area is inhabited by Kinh and both Black and White Thai ethnicities. Depending on time we can complete another side road which rises up the opposite side of the valley, offering impressive views over the area on a clear day. Just before the reservoir we breach a final steep ascent and pass by communes of Dao people, before the descent to the banks of the reservoir and a ferry crossing. Once across we follow the banks of the reservoir past village all relocated before the flooding of the valley. On easy dirt road we approach the delta settlement of Phu Yen, set in the middle of a vast valley floor of paddy fields. Overnight in Phu Yen.

Day 4: Phu Yen - Vu Linh, ~150 km, ~5 hours, (B, L, D)

We have two options : one takes us around the very end of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, enjoying good riding on winding sealed mountain roads; the other crosses over the very end of the range and takes us through untarnished rain forest on challenging, rocky road. (The Hoang Lien Son mountain range is the main range of northwest Vietnam and also includes the highest peak - Fansipan). From Ba Khe we continue on sealed road through renowned tea growing areas, where the hillsides are literally covered in plantations, all the way to the city of Yen Bai which sits on the Red River. From here it�s a short ride to the edge of Thac Ba Lake, also formed by the construction of hydroelectricity dam in the 1970s. We load the bikes and take a boat for an hour's journey across the clear waters to the Dao village of Vu Linh where we stay for the night, enjoying Dao hospitality. Overnight in homestay.

Day 5: Vu Linh - Hanoi, ~180 km, ~6 hours, (B, L)

After breakfast we cruise southeast on Highway 2 and then branch off to the sleepy town of Phu Tho. We follow the edge of the Red River along the dyke, almost to the point where it merges with the Black River after which they flow together to Hanoi. By now we are very much in the lowlands of the delta plains and the north�s main agricultural areas. Harvest time here is a sea of activity. Crossing the Black River by bridge, we pass through Son Tay and then return to Hanoi on the highway.

B: Breakfast.
L: Lunch.
D: Dinner.

DESTINATION DETAILS

Mai Chau: A Thai village in Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province. 160km from Hanoi but we usually ride on a more quiet road and it is 200km. In early 1990's Lac village is the first to open homestay overnighting business. It became so popular that all surrounding villages stepped into this business, making Mai Chau the largest homestaying complex in North Vietnam. Luckily, friendly people and great food make the night here very entertaining and enjoyable. You will stay in a stilt house, or pile dwelling which is made of bamboo and timber. A house is normally elevated 10-12 feet off the ground in order to avoid water damage and provide shelter for animals.

Moc Chau: A small town in Moc Chau plateau which is famous for the cool weather and dairy products. It's a nice stop on Highway 6.

Phu Yen: A small town, ~170km Northwest of Hanoi, in the heart of the third largest rice field in North Vietnam. The road to Phu Yen from Moc Chau is quite scenic and quiet. It is one of the less travelled places in North Vietnam, therefore the accommodation is quite basic.

Vu Linh: A commune of mainly Dao people in Yen Binh district, Yen Bai province, 180km North of Hanoi. The village is on the lower end of Thac Ba lake. The homestay we use is not far from the lake where we could have a boat ride and swim in the clear water. In late 1990's Ngoi Tu village started to welcome the first foreigners and now it's a popular place for home stays. However, Ngoi Tu faces a garbage disposal problem and this is evident in the diminishing quality of water courses and a gradual influx of tourists puts strain on the local environment.

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More motorbike tours provided by Offroad Vietnam:

Ha Giang & North-East Vietnam scenic motorcycle tours (8-11 days)
(Hanoi - Nghia Lo - Than Uyen - Sapa - Bac Ha - Ha Giang - Dong Van - Bao Lac - Cao Bang - Quang Uyen - Lang Son - Hanoi)

Northwest Vietnam motorcycle tour (10 days)
(Hanoi - Mai Chau - Phu Yen - Son La - Tuan Giao - Lai Chau or Sin Ho - Sapa - Bac Ha or Luc Yen - Vu Linh - Hanoi)

Northeast Vietnam motorcycle tour (7 days)
(Hanoi - Vu Linh - Na Khan - Ba Be - Cao Bang - Quang Uyen - Lang Son or Mau Son - Hanoi)

Big North Vietnam motorbike tour (16 days)
(Hanoi - Mai Chau - Phu Yen - Son La - Tuan Giao - Than Uyen - Sapa - Bac Ha - Xin Man - Ha Giang - Dong Van - Bao Lac - Cao Bang - Quang Uyen - Lang Son Lang Son - Hanoi)

Ho Chi Minh Trail/Road motorbike tours (9-16 days)
(Hanoi - Phu Yen - Mai Chau - Tan Ky - Phong Nha - Dong Hoi - Khe Sanh - Hue - Hoi An - Kon Tum - Buon Ma Thuot - Nha Trang - Da Lat - Cat Tien - Saigon)

One day around Hanoi motorbike tour (1 day)
(Tho Ha, Bat Trang, Dong Ho, Van Phuc, But Thap, Dau, Thay, Tay Phuong, Perfume Pagoda, Hoa Lu and Tam Coc, Hoa Binh, Ba Vi, Duong Lam and Dong Mo)

Women only scooter tour (?? days)

Custom motorbike tour (?? days)