Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi to Ta Xua
You'll leave Hanoi on a motorbike heading north along the Red River, riding past rice paddies and limestone formations on dyke roads and Highway 32. After stopping in Thanh Son for lunch, the route takes you through tea hills toward Phu Yen town. Then comes the main event: a steep mountain trek up to Ta Xua (you can choose between 8km or 18km depending on fitness level). The distinctive three peaks here look like a dinosaur's backbone, which is how it got its nickname. You'll spend the night in a traditional H'Mong stilt house, giving you a real sense of local life at elevation.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant in Thanh Son), Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorbike ride from Hanoi via dyke-road along Red River to Trung Ha Bridge
- Riding through National Highway 32 past farming lands and limestone karst scenery
- Riding through tea hills to Phu Yen town
- Vertical mountain trek with motorbike (8-18km) to Ta Xua clearing
- Optional dirt-track experiences to remote villages around Ta Xua (time permitting)
Landmarks Trung Ha Bridge Ta Xua Peak - Day 2
Ta Xua to Ngoc Chien
Breakfast wraps up by 8am and you're riding by 9am through cloud-covered terrain at 1500-2000 meters elevation. The roads wind through rice terraces built by Thai farmers, and you'll stop for photos during the first 30km before reaching Nghia Lo for lunch. From there, head to Tu Le village known throughout Vietnam for its sticky rice production. Later in the afternoon, you'll climb Khau Pha pass, one of the country's four highest passes, where the valley views make the ride worth it. By evening you're at Ngoc Chien homestay, and there's a natural hot spring here to soak in and recover from the day's exertion.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at homestay at 8:00am), Lunch (Lunch in Nghia Lo), Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorbike ride through scenic mountain landscape with cloud formations
- Riding through rice terraces to Nghia Lo via Tram Tau
- Optional stops to see green rice fields and local Thai people working
- Ride through Tu Le village (sticky rice production area)
- Crossing Khau Pha pass with stop for valley views
- Access to natural hot mineral spring at Ngoc Chien homestay
Landmarks Khau Pha Pass Tu Le Valley Nghia Lo Town - Day 3
Ngoc Chien to Tuan Giao
Start riding at 8am through small villages bordering a river valley. You'll pause at a hydropower dam for photos and grab coffee in It Ong town after covering about 40km. Then comes something unusual: the route goes straight through a cave to reach a remote village surrounded by rice fields and mountains. Afternoon riding takes you over Pha Din pass, a historic location whose name means 'heaven and earth.' This pass was significant during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. You'll finish in Tuan Giao, a quiet small town where you'll stay in a hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorbike ride through small villages alongside river
- Stop at hydropower dam for photos
- Coffee break in It Ong town
- Ride through cave to small village
- Riding through rice fields and mountains
- Crossing Pha Din pass with historic Battle of Dien Bien Phu significance
Landmarks Pha Din Pass It Ong Town - Day 4
Tuan Giao to Muong Lay
You'll head out around 9am through isolated villages home to Thai and H'Mong people, passing water buffalo and rice fields. After 40km there's a scenic viewpoint overlooking Muong Ang valley. Once in Dien Bien Phu city, you have the option to visit A1 Hill (also called Eliane 2), where the final battle charge took place on May 7, 1954. Continuing on remote roads toward Muong Lay involves a challenging afternoon ride on dirt tracks through green fields and steep terrain that feels like goat tracks. You'll overnight in Muong Lay, a peaceful town on the Da River where multiple hill tribes live.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorbike ride through isolated villages of Thai and H'Mong people
- Scenic viewpoint stop overlooking Muong Ang valley
- Optional visit to A1 Hill (Eliane 2) in Dien Bien Phu city
- Riding on remote roads to Muong Lay
- Challenging afternoon detour on dirt tracks through panoramic fields and goat tracks
Landmarks A1 Hill (Eliane 2) Dien Bien Phu City Muong Ang Valley - Day 5
Muong Lay to Sapa
The morning ride follows the Da River, one of Vietnam's longest rivers with five major hydropower dams, for about 70km before you leave it behind in Phong Tho. After a light lunch, you continue through mountains and forest terrain heading toward O Quy Ho pass, which is another famous mountain crossing with great views. As afternoon turns to evening, mist starts rolling down from the ranges and temperatures drop noticeably. You'll arrive in Sapa at 1600 meters elevation. This larger highland town has cooler weather and six different ethnic tribes. There's a hotel for the night with options for entertainment if you want it.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorbike ride alongside Da River for 70km to Phong Tho
- Riding through mountains and forests
- Crossing O Quy Ho pass with spectacular views
- Arrival in Sapa highland town
Optional Activities
- Evening entertainment in Sapa bars and pubs
Landmarks Da River O Quy Ho Pass Phong Tho 
- Day 6
Sapa to Bac Ha
You have two route options today and depart around 10-11am. Both head toward Lao Cai City and pass a checkpoint near the Chinese border (about 30km from Sapa) where you can see across into China and stop for coffee. The shorter route runs 100km and heads via Road 70 to Road 153 toward Bac Ha. The longer 180km option takes Road 43d through Lao Cai and Muong Khuong province with its rice fields and limestone peaks, then follows winding Road 153 past villages and plum farms. Both have challenging offroad and dirt track sections available. You'll end at a Bac Ha hotel. This town sits at 900 meters, so it's warmer than Sapa with a more relaxed atmosphere and growing tourism infrastructure.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorbike ride from Sapa toward Lao Cai City
- Stop at Vietnamese-Chinese border checkpoint with coffee break
- Optional cable car trip to Fansipan mountain (highest mountain of Indochina) - short route option
- Riding through rice fields surrounded by limestone mountains - long route option
- Challenging offroad and dirt tracks (both route options)
Optional Activities
- Relaxation time in Sapa (short route option)
- Cable car trip to Fansipan mountain
Landmarks Fansipan Mountain Vietnamese-Chinese Border Lao Cai City Muong Khuong Province - Day 7
Bac Ha to Vu Linh
You'll ride at 8am after breakfast. If it's Sunday, Bac Ha's market shouldn't be missed. It's the region's largest and most colorful market where villagers from surrounding hill tribes buy and sell goods. You'll see Flower H'Mong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, and Nung people trading hand-embroidered skirts, animals, and local items. After the market, take Road 70 toward Vu Linh village near Thac Ba Lake, following backroads alongside Chay River and stopping for lunch in Yen The (known for ruby gemstone work). At the homestay, grab a cold beer then take a boat across Thac Ba Lake to an island for swimming and seeing how Dao people live among thousands of islets. Dinner with your hosts will wrap up the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Yen The), Dinner (Unforgettable dinner with homestay hosts)
Included Activities
- Motorbike ride at 8am after breakfast
- Optional visit to Bac Ha periodical market on Sunday
- Riding on backroad alongside Chay River
- Ride through Yen The (gemstone/ruby industry town)
- Boat ride on Thac Ba Lake
- Island stop for swimming on Thac Ba Lake
- Dinner with homestay hosts
Landmarks Bac Ha Market Thac Ba Lake Yen The Town Chay River - Day 8
Vu Linh to Hanoi
After breakfast, head southeast on Highway 2 toward Phu Tho, then follow the Red River dyke almost to where it meets the Black River before they combine and flow into Hanoi. You're now in the lowlands where the delta's agricultural landscape dominates. Harvest season means there's activity everywhere in the fields. You'll cross the Da River by bridge, pass through Son Tay, and take the highway back into Hanoi. This route wraps up your 8-day motorbike journey through northern Vietnam's mountains and valleys.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Motorbike ride southeast on Highway 2
- Ride along Red River dyke edge toward Phu Tho
- Crossing Da River by bridge
- Passage through Son Tay
- Return to Hanoi on highway
Landmarks Phu Tho Town Red River Black River Son Tay
