VIETNAM of the pristine north by motorcycle and pickup truck... Hanoi-Mai Chau-Sapa-Ha Giang-Meo Vac-Ba Be

We take off around 9:00 a.m., heading from Hanoi along local roads to Mai Chau - one of the most beautiful valleys in northern Vietnam, until recently completely off the tourist trails.

The first day of our trip will not be difficult. It's more of a warm-up for those who need to get a bit accustomed to Vietnam's bumpy and uneven roads. We will enjoy the beauty of the emerald mountains and green rice fields on both sides of the road. We will stop every now and then for brief moments to take in more of the nature around us, take a peek into the past by visiting centuries-old villages of ethnic tribes. After lunch and a few breaks, we will arrive in Mai Chau around 5 p.m. This town is famous for its traditional Thai stilt houses. We will satisfy your curiosity and allow you to have an interesting experience with hospitality from one of the Thai families....

Immediately after eating a local breakfast, we set off for our next destination, Moc Chau, and from there to Phu Yen. Moc Chau is widely regarded as a tropical paradise in North Vietnam. A drive along winding roads with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and diverse topography, through rustic villages of ethnic groups will be the real WOW! of the day. Upon arrival in Moc Chau, we can stop at an extremely picturesque place surrounded by beautiful tea plantations and fruit orchards. There we will have lunch. After lunch we continue our journey, crossing the Da River by ferry and heading to Phu Yen. 

After a good breakfast we will set off on the road to Sa Pa. Today quite a distance... Depending on road and weather conditions, we will choose one of the driving options - by highway for a distance of about 280 km and 5 hours of driving, or by local roads for a distance of just over 300 km and almost a full day of driving in beautiful views....

Choosing the more difficult road, we will drive through the O Quy Ho Pass, one of the four most famous passes in North Vietnam. The experience of driving this road is priceless - below us and all around us the view of the vast valley at the foot of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range!

Sapa is a small town in Lao Cai province, near the Chinese border. Sapa is well known for its beautiful, rugged scenery and cultural diversity. Getting to Sapa takes us through incredibly spectacular rice terraces, ancient forests and rushing streams. On site, symbols of the cultural identity of the locals, the ethnic minorities of the north - colorful highland markets such as Bac Ha, Can Cau and Nhung Khau Nhin.

Along with Hoi An, it was Sa Pa (Sapa) that was named by Rough Guides in 2018 as one of the ten greatest places to visit in Southeast Asia.

This city is a combination of peaceful living and fascinating natural sights. Winding roads through - stretching around green mountains and hills - passes, stunning views of blooming orchids, peach gardens and golden terraces in season... Even the most fussy tourists are captivated by the beauty of Sa Pa.

This is one of the most interesting days of the 10-day motorcycle tour of North Vietnam from Hanoi to Ba Be.

After arriving in Sapa and having lunch, you can take a walk or motorcycle ride to the rustic villages of local tribes, try local food, learn about the culture or buy souvenirs for your friends. 

Day at leisure, partially organized in Sapa. Late breakfast, local walks. Around noon we can take a motorcycle ride to rustic villages of local tribes, try local food, learn about the culture or buy souvenirs for friends. If we didn't ride through the O Quy Ho Pass yesterday, that may be one option for spending time today. You can also take a cable car up near the highest peak in Vietnam and all of Indochina - Phan Xi Păng (3143 meters above sea level) and enjoy a panoramic view of the Sapa area. The place is certainly worth a day. 

Today will be a tough day, as much as 240 km of driving with short breaks. In the morning we will drive to Lao Cai town and visit the Chinese border region, where Vietnamese and Chinese often gather at the local market to exchange goods. We'll enjoy a hot cup of coffee here before continuing on to Viet Quang. On the way to Viet Quang we will pass through several traditional villages and local markets. We will have lunch in Viet Quang before the final stretch of the road to Ha Giang city.

Ha Giang, the highest province in northern Vietnam, is a must-see destination in the northern part of the country. If weather and conditions permit we will arrive in the late afternoon. We will have dinner and spend the night in Ha Giang itself. Here we will start the so-called Ha Giang loop - the northernmost road through the country's amazing ethnic areas, set among picturesque hills, valleys and villages. 

An amazing day and the northernmost part of the Ha Giang loop - we drive to Dong Van, where numerous ethnic minorities live. We will drive through the Sung La Valley, which is considered the most beautiful place in Dong Van. The stony plateau of Dong Van has long been one of the most famous tourist destinations in Ha Giang province. The established geopark on the Dong Van Karst plateau is one of the most famous attractions with a UNESCO listing. Amazing scenery (especially during the flower blooming seasons - November and September), people, culture and cuisine.

We will spend the night in Meo Van, crossing just before the beautiful Ma Pi Leng Pass on the way.

Everything in Ha Giang province delights. enjoying undisturbed beauty, unspoiled by civilization originality, attracting like a magnet more and more wanderers, while avoiding mass tourism. Here there are no luxury hotels, here time is spent in the company of local communities, enjoying their hospitality.  

Bidding farewell to Meo Vac and the Ha Giang loop, we set off for Ba Be Lake, Ba be National Park. The route towards Ba Be along the Gam River will also impress - spectacular scenery with deep valleys and numerous villages passing by, with hospitable and welcoming locals. We stop in Bao Lac for lunch, from here we continue 30 km on a pretty good road, and then head to a bumpy trail cutting through the jungle, which you will find to be the best part of today's ride. We will reach Ba Be Lake after driving along a beautiful path leading to the village of the Tay people. Here we will have dinner with many local specialties and stay overnight with one of the Tay families.

Ba Bể National Park is one of Vietnam's most precious treasures and one of the largest national parks in the country. Established in 1992, it covers an area of 23,400 hectares, encompassing Ba Bể Lake and the hilly areas around it.

Ba Bể National Park is also a paradise for nature lovers. The park's main attraction is Ba Bể Lake, which is one of the largest lakes in mountainous areas in Southeast Asia. The lake is also an important source of drinking water for the local community. The park is home to many exotic plant and animal species, such as sloths and gibbons. In addition to the scenic landscapes and lake, there are also beautiful waterfalls and caves. 

The best way to enjoy the park's scenery is to take a boat trip on Ba Bể Lake, which we will arrange in the afternoon today. It is possible that we will visit Pac Ngoi village, where you can learn about the traditional life of local people.

After the boat trip, we will head to the town of Bac Kan and stay there for the night.

On the last day of the motorcycle tour, we return to Hanoi on rather challenging, pothole roads where more caution is needed. We are scheduled to arrive in Hanoi around 4:00 pm and will end the motorcycle tour of North Vietnam from Hanoi to Ba Be via Sapa and Ha Giang. We will take off the motorcycles and stay on site in Hanoi, taking some time to explore the former capital and its surroundings.

After breakfast (or perhaps much before), depending on the time of the flight back home, our driver will take the departing passengers to the airport in Hanoi, where our adventure together and for the extended OPTION will end.