5 DAYS NORTHEAST VIETNAM BY MOTORBIKE

Introduction to 5 Days Northeast Vietnam

Vietnam Offroad Motorbike Tours created this 5 Days Northeast Vietnam motorbike tour to showcase the best of this spectacular region in a compact and enjoyable motorcycle adventure. Over five days, you will ride through peaceful Vietnamese countryside, remote villages, winding mountain roads, and high mountain passes, experiencing landscapes that are very different from the busy streets of Hanoi.

This Northeast Vietnam motorcycle tour is designed at a reasonable pace and is suitable for riders with different levels of riding experience. Whether you are an experienced motorcyclist or have less experience riding in Vietnam, the route combines enjoyable roads with plenty of time to stop, take photographs, meet local people, and appreciate the scenery. The variety of road surfaces and landscapes makes every day of the journey different.

The 5 Days Northeast Vietnam loop is an excellent choice if you want more time than our shorter tours but do not have a full week available. It offers a great balance of motorcycle riding, mountain scenery, ethnic minority culture, rural villages, and authentic local experiences, making it an ideal way to explore Northeast Vietnam by motorbike.

Other Northeast Vietnam Motorbike Routes

Below is a video clip featuring some sections of this 5-day Northeast Vietnam motorcycle tour. It gives you a glimpse of the mountain roads, countryside, and riding experiences included in the journey. If you would like to watch more videos from our Vietnam motorbike tours, please visit our YouTube channel.

5 Days Northeast Vietnam Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi – Na Khan. (~180 km, ~6 h)

We leave Hanoi early in the morning and ride north toward Na Khan, covering approximately 180 km. Although this is a relatively long riding day, the route is generally easy, making it a comfortable start to our 5-day Northeast Vietnam motorbike tour. The road is paved all the way to Bac Kan, allowing us to make good progress through the countryside.

From Bac Kan, the road becomes more adventurous as we turn toward Na Khan. The final section follows a wild and slightly bumpy mountain road, taking us deeper into the remote forests of Northeast Vietnam. Na Khan is a traditional Tay ethnic village, tucked away in a peaceful forested area and far from the busy tourist routes.

Although a new road has recently been built near the village, Na Khan still offers an authentic rural atmosphere and a great opportunity to experience local life in Northeast Vietnam. On arrival, we are welcomed by Mr. Lo, the village chief, at his home. We spend the evening enjoying genuine Tay hospitality and the peaceful surroundings of this remote mountain community.

Day 2: Na Khan – Ba Be. (~50 km, ~2 h)

Today is a short riding day, giving us plenty of time to explore the spectacular Ba Be Lake and surrounding countryside. We leave Na Khan and follow a scenic but bumpy mountain road toward Ba Be, covering approximately 50 km through forests, hills, and traditional rural villages.

After arriving in Ba Be, we have lunch at our Tay host family’s house before setting out to explore the area. One of the highlights of the day is a beautiful boat cruise on Ba Be Lake and the surrounding river, where we can enjoy peaceful water, limestone mountains, forested hills, and small villages along the shoreline.

If the timing is right, we can also visit a local market and see how people from the surrounding mountain communities trade and socialize. We may stop at a waterfall for a refreshing swim and explore a nearby village. There is also an opportunity to visit a small local school, which may have only a few pupils during the summer months.

In the evening, we stay in a traditional Tay ethnic stilt house, enjoying a local dinner and the warm hospitality of our host family. The combination of motorbike riding, boating, waterfalls, ethnic villages, and homestay experiences makes Ba Be one of the highlights of this Northeast Vietnam motorcycle adventure.

Day 3: Ba Be – Cao Bang. (~170 km, ~8h)

Today we leave Ba Be and ride north toward Cao Bang Province, following a spectacular mountain route through some of the most scenic landscapes in Northeast Vietnam. The road climbs through several mountain passes, with elevated viewpoints offering impressive panoramas over the surrounding valleys, forests, and distant peaks.

The road surface is generally easy to ride, but there are many winding and blind curves, so riders should remain attentive and take the bends at a comfortable speed. The route is particularly enjoyable for motorcyclists who appreciate twisty mountain roads and scenic riding.

We will have plenty of opportunities to stop along the way for photographs, drinks, and local food. Although the riding distance is only around 170 km, the frequent stops and winding roads mean that the complete journey takes approximately eight hours.

As we approach Cao Bang, the scenery continues to change as we move through remote mountain communities and forested valleys. We eventually arrive in Cao Bang City, check into our hotel, and enjoy a well-earned evening after a full day of mountain riding.

Day 4: Cao Bang – Lang Son (~180 km, ~5 h)

Today we continue south from Cao Bang to Lang Son along the famous and historically significant Highway 4. The route passes through the rugged mountains of Northeast Vietnam, providing another enjoyable day of scenic motorcycle riding, winding roads, and rural landscapes.

As we approach Lang Son, the mountains gradually give way to a busier urban environment. Lang Son has long been an important trading centre because of its strategic location close to the Vietnam-China border. The city remains a major commercial hub, with a lively atmosphere influenced by cross-border trade.

After arriving in Lang Son, we have time to explore the city and visit the Dong Kinh Market, a popular place to browse a wide range of goods and inexpensive Chinese products. It is an interesting contrast to the remote mountain villages and quiet roads we have experienced during the previous days.

After exploring Lang Son and doing some shopping, we return to our hotel for the night and prepare for the final riding day of our 5-day Northeast Vietnam motorbike tour.

Day 5: Lang Son – Hanoi. (~150 km, ~3 h) End of 5 Days Northeast Vietnam.

Today is an easy final riding day as we leave Lang Son and head back to Hanoi, covering approximately 150 km. After four days of riding through the mountains and countryside of Northeast Vietnam, this shorter final stage gives you time to sleep a little later and enjoy a relaxed morning before getting back on the motorcycle.

The most direct route follows the newer Highway 1B, providing a straightforward ride toward Hanoi. However, if you prefer to avoid the main highway, we can also take smaller back roads and quieter countryside routes where practical. This alternative provides a more scenic and relaxed way to finish the journey, with opportunities to see more of rural northern Vietnam.

We expect to arrive in Hanoi at around 3 pm, comfortably ahead of the city’s evening rush hour. After five days of mountain roads, ethnic minority villages, Ba Be Lake, Cao Bang, Lang Son, local homestays, and scenic countryside riding, we officially finish our 5-day Northeast Vietnam motorcycle tour.

Contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions, suggestions, or recommendations regarding this 5-day Northeast Vietnam motorbike tour.

More Vietnam Motorcycle Tour Itineraries

2 Comments

Billy Ballard October 23, 2017 at 1:34 pm - Reply

HI, I would love to do this ride in February 2018. Is this a good time to organise this trip.
- Anh Wu October 23, 2017 at 2:47 pm - Reply
  
  Hello Billy, February is cool and can be misty at times in the morning. However, in 2018 we will be closed form February 14th to 20th during Vietnamese New Year. What dates are you looking at?