Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi to Mai Chau
Start early from Hanoi on dyke roads heading west to skip the traffic. You'll ride through farming lands and limestone karst formations as the landscape opens up. After lunch somewhere in Hoa Binh Province, the route takes you over Thung Khe mountain pass with nice views before dropping into Mai Chau Valley. By evening you'll join a local performance with traditional rice wine and dancing, then settle into a Thai stilt house for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcycle ride from Hanoi to Mai Chau via dyke roads
- Pass through farming lands and limestone karst scenery
- Cross Thung Khe mountain pass
- Local performance with dance and rice wine
- Overnight in Thai stilt house
Landmarks Thung Khe Pass Mai Chau Valley - Day 2
Mai Chau to Bac Yen
Get up early for a sunrise walk through the village to see how locals go about their day. You'll watch Thai women working on looms and can pick up handmade items at the village centre before breakfast. Around 10am you head out toward Moc Chau, a highland tea-growing area where you'll stop for lunch. From there, the less-traveled Road 43 takes you toward the Da River. You'll cross the Da River reservoir by ferry, then ride winding roads through nice terrain to Bac Yen for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning walk around Mai Chau village
- Observe Thai women weaving on looms
- Browse handmade traditional clothing and crafts
- Motorcycle ride to Moc Chau
- Motorcycle ride via Road 43 to Da River
- Ferry crossing at Van Yen
- Ride to Bac Yen
Optional Activities
- Purchase handmade traditional-style clothing
- Purchase knives or cross-bows
Landmarks Moc Chau Da River Reservoir - Day 3
Bac Yen to Mu Cang Chai
After breakfast, the day gets serious with uphill riding on zigzag and spiral roads through wild flowers up to Ta Xua peak at 2,600m elevation. The ridge ride itself is narrow with cloud views below, and it's quite something. You'll continue across Lung Lo Pass, which has history from the 1954 Dien Bien Phu campaign, then climb through the Mu Cang Chai massif where views of North Vietnam open up considerably. It's a tough but worthwhile day on the bike, and you'll stay at a hotel to recover.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcycle ride to Ta Xua peak (2,600m)
- Ride narrow ridge with cloud views
- Cross Lung Lo Pass
- Motorcycle ride through Mu Cang Chai massif
- Views of North Vietnam from mountain heights
Landmarks Ta Xua Peak Lung Lo Pass Mu Cang Chai Massif 
- Day 4
Mu Cang Chai to Y Ty
This morning you head toward the Fansipan Mountain range through Than Uyen town in Lai Chau. There are harder route options if you want river crossings. The main climb goes to Tram Ton Pass, Vietnam's highest road pass. After that, you descend to Y Ty, a remote commune at 2,700m nestled against Nhi Cu San mountain where clouds hang so thick the sun rarely breaks through. The Ha Nhi ethnic minority have carved out terraced fields here, and the mushroom-shaped earthen houses are quite distinctive. You'll stay at a homestay and get a real feel for the place.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcycle ride to Fansipan Mountain range
- Climb to Tram Ton Pass (highest road pass in Vietnam)
- Explore Y Ty terraced fields
- Observe Ha Nhi ethnic minority architecture
- Experience Y Ty homestay
Optional Activities
- Take challenging back route with river crossings
Landmarks Tram Ton Pass Y Ty Nhi Cu San Mountain - Day 5
Y Ty to Sapa
Riding continues from Y Ty toward Sapa by way of Lung Po and Muong Hum, crossing into Lao Cai Province at over 2,000m with broad views stretching out. Then you descend into the mountainous Sa Pa valley. Sapa itself sits 350km northwest of Hanoi near the Chinese border and attracts people for its rough scenery and cultural mix. The French once used it as a summer capital, and it's still popular with nature enthusiasts and couples on honeymoons.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcycle ride from Y Ty to Sapa
- Ride through Lung Po and Muong Hum
- Cross into Lao Cai Province at 2,000m+ elevation
- Descend to Sapa valley
Landmarks Sapa Valley - Day 6
Sapa to Vu Linh Village
From Sapa you head down to Lao Cai City for a coffee break on the Nam Thi river banks right at the Vietnam China border. After that, Road 70 takes you to Road 152 via Luc Yen, riding through palm forests and high mountains to reach Vu Linh village beside Thac Ba reservoir, Vietnam's largest man made lake. A boat ride lets you explore islands, swim, and see how Dao ethnic minority people live spread across thousands of islets. Dinner with local hosts afterward is something really special.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Unforgettable dinner with local hosts)
Included Activities
- Motorcycle ride from Sapa to Lao Cai City
- Coffee stop at Nam Thi river border viewpoint
- Motorcycle ride via Road 70 and Road 152 to Vu Linh
- Boat ride on Thac Ba reservoir
- Island stop and swimming
- Experience Dao ethnic minority lifestyle
- Dinner with local hosts
Landmarks Thac Ba Reservoir Nam Thi River Hum Cave Bach Xa Cave - Day 7
Vu Linh Village to Hanoi
After breakfast you head southeast on Highway 2 to Phu Tho, a quiet town. From there, you follow the Red River dyke to where it meets the Black River, and both flow together toward Hanoi. The route takes you through delta plains and the main agricultural areas of North Vietnam. After crossing the Black River by bridge and passing through Son Tay, you get back to Hanoi on the highway and arrive before rush hour hits, around 4pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Motorcycle ride southeast on Highway 2 to Phu Tho
- Ride along Red River dyke
- Pass through Son Tay
- Return to Hanoi
Landmarks Red River Black River
