This famous tour takes us deep into the Tonkinese Alps, where we will see no less than 14 different ethnic hill tribes, as well as ascending the highest road in Vietnam (and nine others!). The route takes us through deep riceterraced valleys, past the Dien Bien Phu battleground and finally to the Sa Pa hill station with its trekking options and friendly Dao and H'mong peoples. Use your bargaining skills at weekly hill tribe markets, enjoy the hospitality of the Black Thai people and test your skills on a demanding but forgiving 1,000-kilometre plus road.
- Ride length: 1,100 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau. ~170 km, ~5 h.
Once out of the Red River Delta, which brims with traditional farming activity, we pass through limestone monoliths and into foothills populated by Muong people. We head straight at the main range before breaching a high and beautiful forested pass, which descends into the hidden valley of Mai Chau where we spend the night with friends in a traditional Thai stilt house in a Thai village.
Day 2: Mai Chau - Phu Yen. ~150 km, ~6 h.
We go from Mai Chau to Moc Chau and then to the Da River. After crossing the reservoir of Da river, we ride on secondary road until Phu Yen where we stay in a guesthouse. This ride is on the forgotten old Highway 6 and there is almost no tourist in this area.
Day 3: Phu Yen - Son La. ~140 km, ~5 h.
On good road looking high over distant mountains we head up into a forested region populated by H'mong people before descending into a mountainous tea-growing region. Soon after we follow a long valley floor covered in a sea of rice surrounded by Black Thai villages all the way to Son La with its bargain-filled market. Sleep in a hotel or home stay.
Day 4: Son La - Lai Chau. ~200 km, ~10 h.
15 passes. Very nice road and stunning landscape. Probably the most beautiful journey of the whole trip even the road is in poor condition. Sleep in Lan Anh Hotel.
Day 5: Lai Chau - Tam Duong. ~120 km, ~6 h.
The most demanding and remote section of the drive takes us upstream along the left side of a Black River tributary through forest on a bumpy dirt road past isolated pockets of Tay, Thai, H'mong and Man peoples before breaching a pass to enter the Tam Duong plain, which is covered in shark's teeth like limestone karst.
We would visit a Mang village near Sin Ho, the guide will buy some food to give to the head of the village, and he later distributes our donations to the villagers. We stay O/N at Phuong Thanh Hotel.
Day 6: Tam Duong - Sapa. ~90 km, ~4 h.
Tam Duong market in the morning. There are colourful Montargnard groups living in Tam Duong: Black H'mong and Dzao. ~10 am: beautiful ride at slow pace on bumpy road to Sapa. We will have a big breakfast because there is nothing to eat on the way, just us with the wildness. We stay O/N in Cat Cat Hotel.
Day 7: Sapa - Lao Cai, ~40 km, ~1.5 h.
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. 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 H'mong, Giay, Tay and Dao people. In the afternoon we head back down to Lao Cai, where we catch the overnight train back to Hanoi, arriving in Hanoi at 6 am the next morning. Overnight on the train. Arrive Hanoi at 5.30 am next morning.
COST
* Including:
- Motorbike Minsk, all fuel;
- Tour guide / Translator;
- Motorbiking protective pants, jacket, gloves, helmet, rain gear, and other safety equipments;
- Sleeping bags, mosquito nets, sheets, pillows and accommodations;
- Third party motorbike insurance;
- All food;
- All entrance fees, permits, tickets, boat trips, ferries, bamboo rafts, etc...
- Offroad Vietnam assistance throughout your trip;
- We also love to celebrate our guests' birthday... well any excuse for a celebration on the open road.
* Personal expense (such as souvenirs), personal insurance, drinks, train or flight tickets, food and accommodation in Hanoi and tips are not included in our fee.
Related links:
- photo gallery
- customer comments
- reference
- late availability
- vietnam information
Contact us.
Back
- Ride length: 1,100 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau. ~170 km, ~5 h.
Once out of the Red River Delta, which brims with traditional farming activity, we pass through limestone monoliths and into foothills populated by Muong people. We head straight at the main range before breaching a high and beautiful forested pass, which descends into the hidden valley of Mai Chau where we spend the night with friends in a traditional Thai stilt house in a Thai village.
Day 2: Mai Chau - Phu Yen. ~150 km, ~6 h.
We go from Mai Chau to Moc Chau and then to the Da River. After crossing the reservoir of Da river, we ride on secondary road until Phu Yen where we stay in a guesthouse. This ride is on the forgotten old Highway 6 and there is almost no tourist in this area.
Day 3: Phu Yen - Son La. ~140 km, ~5 h.
On good road looking high over distant mountains we head up into a forested region populated by H'mong people before descending into a mountainous tea-growing region. Soon after we follow a long valley floor covered in a sea of rice surrounded by Black Thai villages all the way to Son La with its bargain-filled market. Sleep in a hotel or home stay.
Day 4: Son La - Lai Chau. ~200 km, ~10 h.
15 passes. Very nice road and stunning landscape. Probably the most beautiful journey of the whole trip even the road is in poor condition. Sleep in Lan Anh Hotel.
Day 5: Lai Chau - Tam Duong. ~120 km, ~6 h.
The most demanding and remote section of the drive takes us upstream along the left side of a Black River tributary through forest on a bumpy dirt road past isolated pockets of Tay, Thai, H'mong and Man peoples before breaching a pass to enter the Tam Duong plain, which is covered in shark's teeth like limestone karst.
We would visit a Mang village near Sin Ho, the guide will buy some food to give to the head of the village, and he later distributes our donations to the villagers. We stay O/N at Phuong Thanh Hotel.
Day 6: Tam Duong - Sapa. ~90 km, ~4 h.
Tam Duong market in the morning. There are colourful Montargnard groups living in Tam Duong: Black H'mong and Dzao. ~10 am: beautiful ride at slow pace on bumpy road to Sapa. We will have a big breakfast because there is nothing to eat on the way, just us with the wildness. We stay O/N in Cat Cat Hotel.
Day 7: Sapa - Lao Cai, ~40 km, ~1.5 h.
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. 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 H'mong, Giay, Tay and Dao people. In the afternoon we head back down to Lao Cai, where we catch the overnight train back to Hanoi, arriving in Hanoi at 6 am the next morning. Overnight on the train. Arrive Hanoi at 5.30 am next morning.
COST
* Including:
- Motorbike Minsk, all fuel;
- Tour guide / Translator;
- Motorbiking protective pants, jacket, gloves, helmet, rain gear, and other safety equipments;
- Sleeping bags, mosquito nets, sheets, pillows and accommodations;
- Third party motorbike insurance;
- All food;
- All entrance fees, permits, tickets, boat trips, ferries, bamboo rafts, etc...
- Offroad Vietnam assistance throughout your trip;
- We also love to celebrate our guests' birthday... well any excuse for a celebration on the open road.
* Personal expense (such as souvenirs), personal insurance, drinks, train or flight tickets, food and accommodation in Hanoi and tips are not included in our fee.
Related links:
- photo gallery
- customer comments
- reference
- late availability
- vietnam information
Contact us.
Back