Cracking Vietnam Motorbike Tour to Ngoc Chien, Muong Lay, Lai Chau – 9 Days

DAY 1: HANOI MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO PHU YEN (SON LA)

Our motorbike tour will be started by leaving Hanoi on dyke roads to avoid the heavy traffic and breaking out of the delta plains. We head out of Hanoi skirting along Red River to Son Tay and then ride through peaceful countryside to Phu Yen, which is a rural district of Sơn La province in the Northwest region of Vietnam known as a small mountain town located on the altitude of more than 1000m high above the sea level. This beautiful town surrounded by weaving streams, high mountain ranges, panoramic rice valleys is a home to many different hill tribes like H’mong, Thai, Muong & Dzao …
Upon arrival, we’ll take a short ride around the valley to explore some rustic beauties of villages around and view the sunset far beyond the top of mountains.
Stay in guest house

Summary:
Distance: 160 km
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guest-house

DAY 2: PHU YEN (SON LA) MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO NGOC CHIEN – MUONG LA (SON LA)

In the morning, we motorcycle across Lung Lo pass before head up on Road 32. During the First Indochina War, the 15km-long Lung Lo Pass, used by the Vietnamese resistance force to transport weapons, goods and food during the Dien Bien Phu campaign of 1954, was heavily bombed by the French in order to sever the front lines from the rear.

Lung Lo Pass, situated in the northern province of Yen Bai, was also recognized as a national heritage by the ministry. After lunch, we’ll keep following the breathtaking road No32 to ride through the Mu Cang Chai massif to get to Ngoc Chien belonging to Muong La district of Son La Province. Before turning into Ngoc Chien, we’ll get through another magnificent Khau Pha pass which is known as one of 4 greatest passes in the north of Vietnam by its length & sharp curves which are always challenges for riders. This area is almost as high as the Fansipan. From the top, it offers one of the most beautiful views of North Vietnam. The ride is challenging but very rewarding. Overnight in Homestay or Guesthouse

Summary:
Distance: 190 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay or Guesthouse

DAY 3: NGOC CHIEN – MUONG LA (SON LA) MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO DIEN BIEN PHU

In this morning, we’ll wake up a bit earlier to leave as soon as possible because here is a big day for riders somehow. We’ll keep following the roads No279 & No6 to go through some other war relics in Son La city relating to the French colonialists cum a plenty of beautiful landscapes with Da River, streams, rice terraces, high mountains, peaceful villages of hill tribes …Of course, weaving roads and curvy passes are always available as well as challenges for all riders.
En route, we’ll stop by villages, schools & nice spots to shoot photos as well as learn more about the daily life of the locals to sympathize more with the poverty & challenges that the people are facing with day by day

Summary:
Distance: 230 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay or Guesthouse

DAY 4: DIEN BIEN PHU MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO MUONG LAY

In this morning, before leaving to Muong Lay of Lai Chau, we’ll spend a few time to weave around this historical city on our iron horses to explore some remarkable war relics with the museum, A1 Hill, Muong Thanh valley, Bunker of Colonel de Castries, Victory Monument …
Điện Biên Phủ is a city in the northwestern region of Vietnam. It is the capital of Điện Biên Province. The city is best known for the decisive Battle of Điện Biên Phủ, which occurred during the First Indochina War of independence against France. The region is a center of ethnic Thai culture. In prior history, the city was formerly called Muang Thaeng.
After having lunch, we’ll keep rolling on the road QL12 to get to Muong Lay known as a district of Dien Bien province located right at the intersection of Da River, Nam Lay River & Nam Lay river where is the part of Son La Hydro Power Plant.
Muong Lay is also a home to many different hill tribes of H’mong, Tay, Thai, Dzao, Muong living peacefully together.

Summary:
Distance: 130 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay or Guesthouse

DAY 5: MUONG LAY OFFROAD MOTORBIKE TOUR VIA SIN HO TO LAI CHAU (B/L/D)

It’s a short motorbike tour to Lai Chau but it could be the best motorbike trip in North Vietnam including on and offroad ride with amazing view of mountains, river and rice fields. We start the ride with a great riding along the Da river lake. It cant speak highly enough the beauty of this ride it’s likely the motorbike tour on coastline in Central Vietnam but you can see more beautiful view of mountains here.

After the ride along the river bank, we’ll hit the winding pass up and up to Sin Ho town where we have lunch. The town locates at the level of around 1500 meters above the sea so it’s usually foggy and cloudy and it’s a good destination for motorbike touring in Vietnam. After lunch we hit the road down all the way to Lai Chau.

This short motorbike ride promises to be one of the best off-road motorbike tours Vietnam. We will finish the enjoyable Northern Vietnam motorbike tour to Lai Chau at 4: 00 pm, check in at the local hotel and enjoy a short walk around the market in town. Overnight at hotel

Summary:
Distance: 130 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay or Guesthouse

DAY 6 : LAI CHAU OFFROAD MOTORBIKE TOUR TO SAPA (B/L/D)

The motorbike tour to Sapa starts at 8:00 am. The first 50 km is on the sealed and smooth road with a great view of mountain and crosses through many rustic villages of the colorful hill tribes. The other half of the route to Sapa is crossing the O Qui Ho pass – one of the most beautiful and longest passes in North Vietnam. The view of the mountain here makes the Vietnam motorbike tour to Sapa becomes one of the most enjoyable motorcycle tours in North Vietnam.

We’ll be in Sapa at noon time, lunch is served in a fancy restaurant with all great local food. Checking in the hotel after that and in the afternoon we can have short walk to the village of the H’mong people or take a short motorbike tour around Sapa to some rustic villages where the other tourists do trekking to. Overnight at hotel

Summary:
Distance: 130 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay or Guesthouse

DAY 7: SAPA OFFROAD MOTORBIKE TOUR TO VILLAGES (B/L/D)

In this morning, the trip would be started from your hotel then followed the road 4D to ride upto Thac Bac waterfall known as 1 of the most stunning landscapes in Sapa where you can shoot lots of beautiful photos as well as view the magnificent beauty of Fansipan mountain on crystal days. Later on, we’ll ride down weaving tracks via amazing villages such as Xin Chai, San Sa Ho

where you can experience the authentic local cultures of H’mong and Dzay people as well as splendid nature of high mountains, deep valleys and green terraces of rices and many other attractive things en route that you can embrace. Completing this short-cut, you’ll meet Cat Cat village where you can make a new turn to Lao Chai & Ta Van Villages located at Muong Hoa valley where the Day minorities and Black Hong minorities live as well as are known as very famous and popular travel destinations in Sapa and you must come to see.

En route, there would be so many challenges of steep passes, curvy roads, buffalo trails … waiting for you to dare your bravery and also open up so many other beauties of rice terraces, high mountains, waterfalls, peaceful villages of hill tribes

The short journey will commence with a drive southwards Muong Hoa valley. You will then start your descending walk into the valley, which is the largest paddy terrace in Sapa area. The guide can provide you interesting information about rice and rice growing.

Summary:
Distance: 130 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay or Hotel

DAY 8: SAPA MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO THAC BA RESERVOIR – VU LINH VILLAGE (YEN BAI)

Take our motorbikes down from Sapa to Lao Cai City and then have a coffee-stop on the bank of Nam Thi river, which is Vietnam – China border. Enjoy your coffee while taking the view to China.
Head to Road 70 before turning via Luc Yen on Road 152 with palm forests and lots of high mountains, deep valleys to Vu Linh village of Dzao ethnic minority located on the side of Thac Ba reservoir which is the biggest man-made lake in Vietnam. This artificial lake has an area of 23,400 ha and 1,331 islands and hills with diverse ecological environments.

The water in the lake is blue and clear, and imprinted with the reflections of the surrounding ancient forest. The thousands of hills and islands feature caves such as the Hum, Cau Cuoi and Bach Xa. After lunch, we take the boat ride, stop by an island for swimming and discover the particularities of this area: the way villagers paddle their boats, the exotic and odd animals living around, the quiet and peaceful beauty of this huge lake, the lifestyle of the Dao among the thousands of islets.

We will have an unforgettable dinner with the hosts, whose are really big drinkers and they party every day. The welcome is exceptional and we hope you will survive.

Summary:
Distance: 220 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home-stay

DAY 9: VU LINH VILLAGE (THAC BA LAKE) MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO HANOI

After breakfast we ride southeast on Highway 2 and then branch off to the sleepy town of Phu Tho. We follow the edge of the Red River along the dyke, almost to the point where it merges with the Black River after which they flow together to Hanoi.

By now we are very much in the lowlands of the delta plains and the north’s main agricultural areas. Harvest time here is a sea of activity. Crossing the Black River by bridge, we pass through Son Tay and then return to Hanoi on the highway. We should be back to Hanoi before rush-hour (4 pm) because traffic’s getting busier and busier.

Summary:
Distance: 180 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

* Inclusions:
+ Motorbike(s) (Honda or Yamaha)
+ Helmet(s)
+ Driving gears
+ Gasoline on tour
+ English speaking guide
+ Mechanic (only for group from 6 passengers)
+ Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary (based on twin or/and triple shared)
+ Homestay permission
+ Meals as indicated in the itinerary
+ Entrance fees & Sightseeing fees
+ Fruits & Coffee on tour
+ Government’s taxes

* Exclusion:
+ Travel insurance
+ Visa
+ Air-ticket
+ Tips
+ Personal expenses