MOTORBIKE TOUR ON ROOF ROADS OF CENTRAL NORTH VIETNAM

Vietnam Motorcycle & Motorbike Tours recommends this excellent 5-day Roof Roads motorbike tour to experienced riders looking for a challenging and scenic adventure in Northern Vietnam. Join us for a breathtaking motorcycle journey across the Hoang Lien mountain range, riding through some of the highest and most spectacular landscapes in Vietnam and passing through Sapa, one of the country’s must-see destinations.

Sapa itself is no longer a quiet mountain town, but it remains a convenient and interesting place to spend the night while exploring the surrounding mountains. Beyond Sapa, the route takes us onto quieter roads, remote mountain tracks, ethnic minority villages, and spectacular high-altitude passes.

To get an idea of what our Central North Vietnam motorcycle tours, also known as Roof Roads motorbike tours, are like, please watch the video below.

 

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ROOF ROADS 5 DAYS ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi – Nghia Lo. (~180 km, ~7 h)

We leave Hanoi on an easy ride along the river road toward Trung Ha Bridge, before continuing through the low hills to Thu Cuc. The route passes through peaceful rural countryside, with beautiful rice fields, farmland, and traditional villages along the way.

As we continue west, we reach Khe Pass, one of the first significant mountain passes leading toward the main mountain range where Fansipan, the highest peak in Vietnam and Indochina, is located.

From Ba Khe onward, we enjoy a pleasant and relatively quiet ride toward Nghia Lo. Around half of today’s journey is on mountain roads, and the scenery becomes increasingly impressive as we move deeper into the mountains.

Overnight in a hotel.

Day 2: Nghia Lo – Than Uyen. (~140 km, ~6 h)

Today we leave the easier roads behind and ride some wild, bumpy, and remote mountain roads. The route through Tu Le is generally very quiet, making it ideal for riders who want to experience a more authentic side of Northern Vietnam.

We continue through the spectacular Mu Cang Chai massif, an impressive high mountain region with elevations approaching those of the Fansipan area. From the higher sections of the route, we can enjoy some of the most beautiful mountain views in Northern Vietnam, with steep valleys, rice terraces, and rugged peaks stretching into the distance.

After reaching Than Uyen, there is time to explore some of the surrounding villages and meet local people before settling in for the evening.

Overnight in a hotel.

Vietnam Motorcycle Motorbike Tours - Roof Roads: Sapa and Tram Ton pass on Roof Roads

Day 3: Than Uyen – Sapa. (~140 km, ~5 h)

The area around Than Uyen is mainly inhabited by Flower H’mong and Dao people. The town itself is relatively small, but its location makes it a convenient stop between Nghia Lo and Sapa.

Today we ride toward Sapa on high mountain roads, with increasingly spectacular views as we climb higher. Tram Ton Pass, the highest mountain pass in Vietnam, provides an especially impressive viewpoint over the Hoang Lien range and the surrounding valleys.

We can spend the night in Sapa, or, if the weather is good and you feel like continuing, we can ride farther toward Ta Van or Ban Ho Village. These villages are home to the Giay people and offer a more peaceful alternative to staying in Sapa town.

The extension includes approximately 40 km of dirt road, providing some of the most enjoyable and scenic riding of the trip. The combination of mountain scenery, village roads, and unpaved tracks makes this a memorable section of the Roof Roads motorbike adventure.

Day 4: Sapa – Luc Yen. (~180 km, ~6 h)

We leave Sapa and ride down toward Lao Cai, where we join Highway 70 before continuing in the direction of Thac Ba Lake. The main section of today’s route is relatively easy and mostly asphalted, allowing us to make good progress through the mountains and countryside.

As we approach Luc Yen, we leave the main road and take a smaller secondary route into Dao and Tay territory. This quieter road takes us deeper into rural Northern Vietnam, where traditional villages, farmland, and forested hills replace the busier highways.

Tonight we stay with a local host family. Our host is a Tay man living in the heart of a Dao village, providing an interesting opportunity to experience local life and culture away from the main tourist routes.

The road is lined with palm trees, and the tropical landscape can remind many riders of rural Cambodia. It is a peaceful and scenic end to another excellent day on the motorcycle.

Day 5: Luc Yen – Vu Linh – Hanoi. (~180 km, ~6 h) End of the Roof Roads.

We begin the final day by riding a small rural road through palm trees alongside Thac Ba Lake, continuing toward Vu Linh via Yen The. This is a beautiful and relatively quiet area, with small villages and forested hills surrounding the lake.

From there, we take the bumpy road toward Son Duong, riding along the foothills of the Tam Dao mountain range. The final section combines paved roads with easier tracks, providing a relaxed finish to our 5-day Roof Roads motorcycle tour.

We eventually return to Hanoi, marking the end of this spectacular journey through the mountains and rural backroads of Northern Vietnam.

There are many more Roof Roads motorbike tours that we can design to suit your riding experience, available time, and personal interests. Trips can range from 4 to 7 days, with several possible extensions and route variations.

If you would like to explore the Roof Roads of Northern Vietnam by motorcycle, please contact us and let us discuss what we can create together.

5-day trip on motorbike in Vietnam on the Hoang Lien range

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