Explore Northeast Vietnam on a motorcycle, homestay in hilltribe (ethnic) family

WARM NORTHEAST

After reading Vietnam motorcycle,motorbike tours -"Explore the Northwest" and "the Rocky North Center"- you may compare and consider which one is the best, however, from our experience they are both as great and rewarding as each other. The question to ask is: which one best suits you? The Northwest with high mountain ranges and colorful traditional dressed of local hill tribes? These areas of Ha Giang are only for experienced bikers with high "Rock and Roll" skills. The Northeast trip is impressive due to the opportunity to develop friendly relationships with the locals where you will be enjoying meals with them, and the accommodation will be provided by them. One of the specialties of the Northeast is the Chinese cuisine skills in our host kitchen. You don’t only study about their lives; you will also be able to study their cuisine.

Cao Bang is a beautiful landscape with limestone karts which cannot be compared to anywhere in the world. This motorbiking tour is more suitable if your intended stay in Vietnam is short. This "loop" is easier riding and will suit every rider, even a beginner.

Total of riding for this loop: ~900 km, ~25 hrs riding.

Day 1: Hanoi - Tan Trao. 140 km, ~4 hrs riding.

To get out of the crazy traffic of Hanoi we will follow the Mother River (Red River) and discover the most beautiful rivers in the North of Vietnam (Red River and Lo River). Then we will ge take a ferry across Lo River to Son Duong through a picturesque landscape of green palm trees and rice paddies surrounding the mountains and beautiful villages of Tay, Nung, Kinh, and Cao Lan people. We will have time to visit the Tan Trao security zone, The Resistance Capital during the French War. Visit the villages of the former Northernmost Vietnam base and the secret headquarters of Viet Minh government. Dinner will be the local family's specialty, maybe baked pork, bamboo-tube rice, bamboo sprout. We will share the evening together around the fire recalling the heroic Nine-Year Resistance War with the local people.

Two options:
Opt 1: Overnight in a Tay family home.
Opt 2: Overnight in a guesthouse.
Lunch, dinner, permits and entrance fees.

Day 2: Tan Trao - Ba Be. 150 km, ~4 hrs riding.

In the early morning, we ride for 2 km through the forest, visiting Tin Kheo, a resistance base in Thai Nguyen where the Viet Minh and Communist Party held many important meetings in preparation for the battle at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. The journey north continues towards Cho Chu and Cho Don, passing through beautiful green valleys and travelling alongside the river to our next destination: Ba Be lake. We will spend 2-3 hours taking a dug-out canoe for a cruise on the lake and having a refreshing swim in crystal clear water.

Two options:
Opt 1: Overnight in a Tay family home on the Lakeside.
Opt 2: Overnight in a guesthouse in Cho Ra town.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, permits, entrance fees and boat trip.

Day 3: Ba Be - Quang Uyen. 180 km, ~5 hrs riding.

Time to prepare for the quite difficult riding ahead, steep mountains and passes. To reach Cao Bang, we avoid National Highway No 3 but take the Colie Pass road, through dense old-growth forest. The road is rough but the scenery is unbelievably beautiful and magnificent. After lunch at Nguyen Binh town, we continue our journey for about one and a half hours to visit Cao Bang township. The national vestiges are some of this hill town’s major sights. We have a chance to visit these before we head out in the direction of Ma Phuc Pass to enter an area of innumerable vast steep limestone karsts and visit the North and North East’s district which is home to Nung and Tay ethnic people.

Two options:
Opt 1: Overnight in a Nung An family.
Opt 2: Overnight in a guesthouse in Quang Uyen town.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, permits and entrance fees.

Map for Motorcycle, motorbike tour Northeast Vietnam

Map for Motorcycle, motorbike tour Northeast Vietnam

Day 4: Quang Uyen - Ban Gioc - Quang Uyen. 100 km, ~5 hrs riding.

Today we will take the opportunity to explore the spectacular scenery and wonderful world of local ethnic minority people. Along the way we will visit Ban Gioc waterfalls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Vietnam, which form a natural border between Vietnam and China. The echo of the falls can be heard kilometers away. In rainy season, the waterfall makes the scenery even more magnificent. While here we will take a bamboo raft trip and have a picnic lunch. We also have a chance to visit China on the other river bank. Before the sun sets, we ride back to Quang Uyen and visit Phjia Chang village, settled by Nung An ethnic people 300 years ago. This village is famous for the traditional handicraft, such as basketware, weaving and so on. We will have dinner with our friends in the village.

Alternatively, in the afternoon we will return to Quang Uyen town to visit some villages of Tay and Nung An people where they make incense and local rough paper from mulberry trees to burn when praying to their ancestors.

Two options:
Opt 1: Overnight in a Nung An family.
Opt 2: Overnight in a guesthouse in Quang Uyen town.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, frontier permit, entrance fees, and bamboo raft trip.

Day 5: Quang Uyen - Mau Son. 180 km, ~6 hrs riding.

Motorcycle touring Northeast Vietnam

The most impressive landscape of Cao Bang is the riding from Quang Uyen to Dong Khe. The scenery of the road is unequalled with the steep limestone mountain and a green rows of sugar-cane fields. After seeing this scenic site, we continue our journey following the historical National Highway No 4 with the famous battles, such as Dong Khe, That Khe, Coc Xa or Lung Phay Pass…We stop for lunch in That Khe.

The journey north continues along the National Highway 4 and follow the Ky Cung river which flows around the foot of limestone mountains to Lang Son. It’s about 30kms from Lang Son city to Mau Son. The winding narrow mountain path is like a snake tucked between two steep mountains. Then we climb to the top of Mau Son , 1,542 m above the sea level. This area's picturesque scenery turns it into a miniatuare Sapa characterized by beautiful steep mountains. We can enjoy the sunset in Mau Son and observe China at the foot of the mountain.

Standard hotel.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and entrance fees.

Day 6: Mau Son - Ha Noi. 180 km, ~5 hrs riding.

On the way down hill, we will stop for a short walk to visit Dzao Ta Pan, Nung Phan Sinh villages on the hillside, where you can have a good time with family specializing in wine brewery. For hundreds of years, Mau Son wine has been Lang Son’s specialty; it sells well in Hanoi, the South of Vietnam and even China.

Then we will visit some war relics at the centre of Lang Son town or International Friendship border gate to buy a variety of Chinese goods. The return trip begins on National Highway No 1 with a possible visit to Chi Lang vestige surrounded by steep mountains.

COST

Voyage Vietnam organizes only all-inclusive full package motorcycle,motorbike,motorbiking and adventure tours. The only exception is at the request of the travellers when they want to upgrade their accommodation for something more luxurious.

* 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...
- Voyage Vietnam assistance throughout your trip;
- We also love to celebrate our guests' birthday... well any excuse for a celebration on the open road!

* Personal expenses (such as souvenirs), personal insurance, drinks, train or flight tickets, food and accommodation in Hanoi and tips, are not included in our fee.

Contact us now to book this tour or to know about different itineraries.

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