Northern Vietnam, with its pristine and majestic beauty and diverse culture, has always been a dream destination for those who love freedom and exploration. Instead of traveling by car or train, exploring Northern Vietnam by motorbike is becoming a popular trend among backpackers. Only a motorbike can take you through winding mountain passes, let you touch the clouds, and immerse yourself in the magnificent nature of the highlands. Are you ready for an exciting and memorable motorbike trip to Northern Vietnam? Let “Du lịch khắp thế gian” guide you through the must-visit destinations and provide you with useful tips for your journey!
Why are motorbike tours in Northern Vietnam so popular?
It’s no coincidence that motorbike tours in Northern Vietnam have captured the hearts of so many travel enthusiasts. This form of travel offers unique and different experiences that other means of transport can hardly match:
- Freedom and Flexibility: Motorbikes give you complete control over your itinerary, time, and destinations. You can stop anywhere to admire the scenery, take photos, enjoy local specialties, or simply breathe in the fresh mountain air.
- Complete Exploration of Beauty: Northern Vietnam boasts breathtaking mountain passes, villages nestled amidst mountains, and magnificent terraced fields. Motorbikes bring you closer to these beauties, allowing you to experience the grandeur of nature and the simplicity of local life in the most authentic way.
- Diverse Cultural Experiences: Each region in Northern Vietnam carries its own unique cultural identity. Traveling by motorbike provides opportunities to get closer to local people, explore customs, traditional festivals, and savor the distinctive cuisine of each area.
- Sense of Conquest and Adventure: Overcoming treacherous passes and conquering winding roads is an exciting challenge for those who love speed and exploration. The feeling of self-conquest when overcoming difficulties and reaching new lands will be unforgettable memories of your journey.
What to prepare for a motorbike tour in Northern Vietnam?
To have a safe and fulfilling motorbike tour in Northern Vietnam, thorough preparation is crucial. Here’s a list of essential items and notes you should consider:
- Motorbike: Choose a motorbike suitable for mountainous terrain, prioritizing manual or semi-automatic bikes with strong engines, high ground clearance, and good grip tires. Before the trip, thoroughly check the bike, perform maintenance, and replace necessary parts to ensure stable operation on all roads.
- Personal Identification and Driver’s License: Don’t forget to bring all personal identification documents such as your ID card or citizen ID, a valid motorbike driver’s license, and vehicle registration papers.
- Clothing and Protective Gear: The weather in Northern Vietnam can be unpredictable, especially in winter. Prepare warm clothes, raincoats, gloves, scarves, a standard helmet, and specialized hiking boots to stay warm and protect yourself from weather and terrain impacts.
- Personal and Medical Supplies: Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, personal hygiene items, common medications, medical bandages, and other necessary items.
- Maps and Navigation Apps: Although there are many smart map and navigation apps nowadays, preparing a paper map is still very useful, especially in areas with weak phone signals or no internet. Install offline map apps in advance and learn how to use them.
- Cash and Cards: It’s advisable to bring both cash and bank cards for convenient payments. However, in many remote areas, using cards may be difficult, so cash is still the best backup option.
Top 10+ must-visit destinations in Northern Vietnam by motorbike
Northern Vietnam boasts countless attractive destinations, each with its own beauty and charm. Here are suggestions for 10+ must-visit destinations in Northern Vietnam by motorbike that you shouldn’t miss:
Mai Chau (Hoa Binh)
Located about 170km from Hanoi, Mai Chau is a beautiful valley nestled among the rolling mountains of Hoa Binh province. It is famous for its peaceful villages, lush green rice paddies, and traditional stilt houses of the White Thai ethnic people. In Mai Chau, you can rent bicycles or motorbikes to explore Lac village, Pom Coong village, Van village, immerse yourself in the rich cultural space, and enjoy local specialties such as “com lam” (bamboo-tube rice), hill chicken, and “thit lon man” (local wild boar).
Ha Giang
Ha Giang, the northernmost land of Vietnam, is a dream destination for every backpacker. With legendary passes like Ma Pi Leng, Xin Cai, Sam Pun, Ha Giang conquers visitors’ hearts with its majestic, pristine, and challenging beauty. In Ha Giang, you cannot miss Lung Cu flagpole, the northernmost point of the country, the ancient town of Dong Van, the ancient Vuong family mansion, Co Tien twin mountains, and the colorful highland markets.
Ha Giang, a stunning destination for motorbike tours in Northern Vietnam
Exploring the majestic beauty of Ha Giang on motorbike touring routes.
Cao Bang
Cao Bang captivates visitors with the poetic beauty of mountains and forests, majestic waterfalls, and heroic historical sites. Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Vietnam, the magnificent Nguom Ngao cave, the blue Thang Hen Lake, and Pac Bo relic site, where President Ho Chi Minh once lived and worked, are must-visit destinations in Cao Bang. Motorbike tours in Cao Bang will help you easily move between attractions and fully explore the beauty of this land.
Lao Cai (Sa Pa)
When mentioning Lao Cai, people immediately think of Sa Pa, the misty city and magnificent terraced fields. Sa Pa is not only famous for its cool climate and beautiful natural scenery but also a convergence of unique cultures of many ethnic minorities. In Sa Pa, you can conquer Fansipan peak, admire the romantic Muong Hoa valley, explore Cat Cat village, Ta Phin village, O Quy Ho pass, and hunt clouds on Bach Moc Luong Tu peak.
Rice terraces in Sapa during harvest season, a captivating beauty for motorbike travelers
Sapa’s golden rice terraces in harvest season, a captivating beauty for every motorbike traveler.
Lang Son
Lang Son is not only an important borderland but also an attractive destination with scenic spots and historical sites. In Lang Son, you can visit Tam Thanh cave, Nhi Thanh cave, Tam Giao pagoda, Mac Dynasty citadel, To Thi mountain, and the bustling Dong Kinh market. Lang Son is also famous for many local specialties such as hot steamed rice rolls, “pho chua” (sour pho), roasted duck, and typical mountain fruits.
Moc Chau (Son La)
Moc Chau is a vast plateau in Son La province, famous for its cool climate, lush green tea hills, and vibrant flower seasons. In Moc Chau, you can visit the heart-shaped tea hill, Dai Yem waterfall, Ban Ang pine forest, Doi cave, and experience the peaceful life of the Thai and Hmong ethnic people. Moc Chau is an ideal destination for those seeking tranquility and immersion in beautiful nature.
Picturesque natural scenery in Moc Chau, an ideal destination for motorbike travel
Picturesque natural scenery in Moc Chau, an ideal destination for motorbike travel.
Quang Ninh (Ha Long Bay)
Quang Ninh not only has Ha Long Bay, a world natural heritage site, but also boasts many beautiful beaches, pristine islands, and historical and cultural relics. Traveling to Quang Ninh by motorbike, you can explore the bustling Ha Long city, Bai Chay beach, Tuan Chau island, Bai Tu Long Bay, Co To island, and enjoy fresh seafood. Although motorbikes cannot directly go down to Ha Long Bay, you can park your bike and rent boats to visit the bay.
Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc)
Tam Dao is a small, charming town located on Tam Dao mountain, Vinh Phuc province. With a cool climate year-round, Tam Dao is known as “Da Lat of the North”. In Tam Dao, you can visit Tam Dao ancient church, Silver Waterfall, Heaven Gate, central square, and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful natural scenery. Tam Dao is an ideal destination for short motorbike trips from Hanoi.
Mist-covered Tam Dao, a favorite destination for young people near Hanoi
Mist-covered Tam Dao, a favorite destination for young people near Hanoi.
Hai Phong
Hai Phong, a bustling port city, is not only famous for Do Son beach and Cat Ba island but also attracts visitors with diverse and rich street food. In Hai Phong, you can visit Do Son beach, Cat Ba island, Lan Ha Bay, Tuyet Tinh Coc (Love Valley), enjoy “banh da cua” (crab noodle soup), “nem cua be” (crab spring rolls), snails, and fresh seafood. Hai Phong is an ideal destination to combine beach tourism and culinary exploration by motorbike.
Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is known as “Ha Long Bay on land” with rolling limestone mountains, winding rivers, and lush green rice paddies. In Ninh Binh, you can visit Trang An, Tam Coc – Bich Dong, Bai Dinh pagoda, Hoa Lu ancient capital, Hang Mua cave, and explore the magnificent natural beauty of this land. Motorbike tours in Ninh Binh make it easy to move between attractions and fully enjoy the beauty of Vietnam’s “Tuyet Tinh Coc” (Love Valley).
Picturesque landscape of mountains and water in Trang An, Ninh Binh
Picturesque landscape of mountains and water in Trang An, Ninh Binh.
Hanoi
The capital city of Hanoi is not only the cultural, economic, and political center of the country but also an attractive tourist destination with historical and cultural relics and unique street food. In Hanoi, you can visit Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Old Quarter with 36 streets, and enjoy Hanoi pho, bun cha, “com” (young sticky rice), and many other delicious dishes. Hanoi can be the starting or ending point for your motorbike tour in Northern Vietnam.
Safe & Memorable Northern Vietnam Motorbike Tour Experiences
To make your motorbike tour in Northern Vietnam fulfilling and memorable, keep these useful tips in mind:
- Choose the right time: The best time to travel to Northern Vietnam by motorbike is in autumn (September – November) and spring (February – April). At this time, the weather is dry and cool, the natural scenery is beautiful, and there are many unique traditional festivals.
- Plan in detail: Clearly define your itinerary, destinations, travel time, accommodation, and sightseeing activities. Book hotels and homestays in advance to avoid room shortages, especially during peak tourist season.
- Pay attention to traffic safety: Always obey traffic laws, drive at the right speed, keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, and do not drive when tired or intoxicated. Check your motorbike regularly during the journey and fill up with gas before entering deserted roads.
- Learn about local culture: Respect the customs, culture, and lifestyle of local people. Learn a few basic communication phrases in ethnic languages to easily communicate and create goodwill with locals.
- Enjoy unique cuisine: Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy local specialties of each region. Ask locals about good restaurants and must-try dishes to have a complete culinary experience.
- Prepare good health: Ensure good health before the trip, get enough sleep, and eat nutritious food. Bring motion sickness medicine, stomachache medicine, and other necessary medications.
Conclusion
Motorbike tours in Northern Vietnam are a wonderful experience, giving you the opportunity to explore the majestic beauty of nature, cultural diversity, and challenging touring routes. With thorough preparation and an adventurous spirit, you will surely have a memorable and fulfilling trip in this beautiful land. Pack your backpack and start your journey to conquer Northern Vietnam by motorbike now!