NORTH-EAST TOUR OF VIETNAM ON MOTORBIKE

North-East Tour On Two Wheels Introduction

Vietnam Motorcycle & Motorbike Tours is proud to present this spectacular 6-day North-East Vietnam motorbike tour. This is a stunning mountain adventure combining beautiful scenery, rich ethnic cultures, quiet rural roads, and authentic local homestays. Depending on the motorcycle and route selected, the tour can suit both less-experienced and experienced riders.

The riding pace is deliberately relaxed, partly because Vietnam has relatively low speed limits, with a maximum of around 60 km/h on many roads. In just six days, you can experience some of the highlights of Northeast Vietnam, including Thac Ba Lake, Ba Be Lake, Ban Gioc Waterfalls, and the legendary Highway 4.

Compared with more famous destinations such as Ha Giang and Northwest Vietnam, the Northeast remains relatively less visited. Road construction, changing routes, and limited coverage in international travel guidebooks and magazines have helped keep parts of the region away from mass tourism. Although the mountains are generally lower than those in the Northwest or Ha Giang, the combination of scenic mountain roads, ethnic villages, limestone landscapes, and cultural experiences makes this one of our favourite 6-day motorcycle tours in Northern Vietnam.

To get an idea of what our Northeast Vietnam motorbike tours are like, please watch the video below.

If you would like to watch more Vietnam motorcycle tour videos, please visit our YouTube channel.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi – Vu Linh. (~180 km, ~6 h)

Today is the first day of our 6-day Northeast Vietnam motorbike tour. Before leaving Hanoi, we have a short safety briefing covering important Vietnam motorcycle riding rules and practical information for riding in local traffic. Our guide will also explain how to communicate with him through simple body-language signals while riding.

We normally leave around 9:30 am, after the busiest morning traffic has eased. We take the Red River (Song Hong) dike road toward Vu Linh. The route is generally easy and mostly paved, making it a comfortable introduction to the journey.

We eventually arrive at Vu Linh, where we are welcomed into the home of our Dao friends. The hospitality here is exceptional. Ngoi Tu is a commune in Vu Linh on the eastern shore of Thac Ba Lake, one of the region’s most scenic areas.

If we arrive early enough and the weather is suitable, we may have time for a short boat trip on Thac Ba Lake or even take a refreshing swim before dinner.

Overnight with a local Dao host family.

Day 2: Vu Linh – Ba Be. (~200 km, ~7 h)

We leave Vu Linh and ride toward Na Khan, passing through Tuyen Quang. Along the way, we may stop for lunch with a Tay family, providing another opportunity to experience local food and hospitality.

Most of today’s route is paved and relatively easy, but the final approximately 10 km becomes much more remote, with rough and bumpy sections that add some adventure to the ride.

From Na Khan, we continue toward Ba Be on another rough mountain road. The slower pace gives us time to enjoy the scenery and surrounding countryside rather than simply covering the distance as quickly as possible.

After arriving in the Ba Be area, we settle into our accommodation and join our local host family for dinner. Staying with local families is an important part of this Northeast Vietnam motorcycle adventure, allowing us to experience rural life beyond the main tourist routes.

Vietnam Motorcycle Motorbike Tours - North-East Tour: Ba Be lake boating. North-East Tour

Day 3: Ba Be – Cao Bang. (~170 km, ~8 h)

We begin the morning with a boat trip on Ba Be Lake, one of the highlights of this Northeast Vietnam motorbike tour. Ba Be is a spectacular freshwater lake surrounded by limestone mountains, forests, and traditional villages, making it a beautiful place to explore by boat.

After the boat trip, we get back on our motorcycles and ride toward Cao Bang Province. The route takes us through increasingly dramatic mountain scenery, with several passes providing excellent viewpoints over the valleys and surrounding landscape.

The roads are generally easy to ride but contain plenty of tight curves and winding mountain sections. We can stop frequently for photographs, drinks, food, or simply to enjoy the scenery.

Although the riding distance is only around 170 km, the combination of mountain roads and regular scenic stops means that today’s journey takes approximately 8 hours.

Overnight in a hotel in Cao Bang.

Day 4: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfalls – Quang Uyen. (~130 km, ~2 h)

After obtaining the necessary permission from the border police, we ride through spectacular mountain scenery toward Ban Gioc Waterfalls, one of the most impressive natural attractions in Vietnam and one of the highlights of our Northeast Vietnam motorcycle tour.

Weather permitting, there may be an opportunity to get close to the falls and even swim in the river below. The scenery around Ban Gioc is spectacular, with limestone cliffs, green valleys, farmland, and the river forming the border between Vietnam and China.

The road toward the border has changed considerably over the years. The opening of an international trading post between Vietnam and China at Po Peo in Trung Khanh has brought more heavy trucks onto the route, and some sections can become rough, narrow, and dusty.

After visiting the waterfall, we ride for approximately another hour toward the beautiful Quang Hoa area, located in a mountain basin and surrounded by spectacular scenery. This is the territory of the Nung An people, and we spend the night at the home of one of our local friends.

Overnight with a local host family.

6-day trip on motorbike in Vietnam riding Highway 4

Day 5: Quang Hoa – Lang Son. (~150 km, ~5 h)

Today we ride from Quang Hoa to Lang Son, continuing through the mountains and rural countryside of Northeast Vietnam.

Lang Son is one of Vietnam’s most important trading centres with China because of its location relatively close to Hanoi and the international border. The city has a long history as a commercial gateway between the two countries.

There may also be an opportunity to explore some of the local markets and shops. Depending on your interests, you can find inexpensive everyday items such as phone chargers, power banks, toys, and other Chinese-made products.

After exploring Lang Son, we check into our hotel and relax after another enjoyable day of Northern Vietnam motorcycle riding.

Overnight in a hotel.

Day 6: Lang Son – Hanoi. End of this North-East tour. (~150 km, ~4 h)

If the weather is good, we start the final day by riding south toward Mau Son, approximately 30 km from Lang Son. At around 1,541 metres above sea level, Mau Son offers cooler temperatures and beautiful mountain scenery.

We can spend some time exploring the area and visiting our Dao friends before riding back down to Lang Son for lunch.

After lunch, we begin our journey back to Hanoi. Along the way, there are several traditional villages, rural roads, and Buddhist pagodas where we can stop and explore if time and road conditions allow.

We expect to arrive in Hanoi at approximately 4:00 pm, before the evening rush hour. This marks the end of our 6-day Northeast Vietnam motorbike tour, a journey combining mountain riding, local culture, scenic lakes, waterfalls, ethnic villages, and quiet backroads.

There are many more Northeast Vietnam motorcycle tours that we can design to suit your riding experience, available time, and personal interests. Trips can range from 4 to 8 days, with the possibility of extending the adventure toward Ha Long Bay or other destinations in Northern Vietnam.

If you would like to explore the Northeast of Vietnam by motorbike, please contact us and let us discuss what we can create together.