12-Day North Vietnam Motorcycle Loop With Halong Bay Cruise

We at Vietnamese Motorbike Tours are excited to present with this 12 day motorcycle loop around northern vietnam that include an overnight stay aboard the Halong Bay Cruise. A unique off-road adventure extravaganza exploring the very best of North Vietnam’s enduro riding.

The route passes through Mai Chau, Mu Cang Chai, Sapa, Ha Giang loop and Thac Ba Lake, with mountain passes, rice terraces, and ethnic minority villages along the way.

• Suitable for: All levels and skills
• Destination: North Vietnam with Halong Bay
• Start & End: Hanoi
• Best time: All year round

12-day motorbike tour from Hanoi to the northwest mountains and Ha Long Bay

Day 1: Hanoi Vu Linh, by Thac Ba Lake | 180 km

Leave Hanoi and follow quiet roads along the Red River where we tackle the first off-road through the Banana forest before taking into the countryside of northern Vietnam. The route leads to Thac Ba Lake and the lakeside village of Vu Linh, where you stay with a Dzao family in a traditional northern Vietnam homestay overlooking the lake.

Day 2 & 3 : Sapa | 120 Km

Ride from northern Vietnam’s mountain region toward Sapa, passing terraced rice fields, misty valleys, and ethnic minority villages along the way. We take off-road through the ridges hilly forest around. The route climbs into the Hoang Lien Son mountains, offering cool mountain air and some of the most scenic roads in Lao Cai Province before arriving in Sapa, where you can relax and explore the hill town. Spend the next day relax and explore the town. Sapa is one of the most visited places in all Vietnam and spending an extra day here worth every second.

Day 4: Bac Ha & Xin Man Off-road trails | 130 Km

Leave Sapa and ride toward Bac Ha, a mountain town in Lao Cai Province known for its ethnic minority markets and local culture. Continue through northern Vietnam’s mountain valleys, passing waterfalls and remote highland landscapes before reaching Xin Man in Ha Giang Province, where traditional village life remains largely unchanged by tourism.

Day 5: Ha Giang | 150 Km

Today ride following the Hoang Su Phi mountains on one of the best motorbike routes in Ha Giang Province. The road winds past terraced rice fields, steep mountain slopes, and panoramic highland views, followed by an off-road section through the Tay Con Linh range. Finish the day in Ha Giang City, the gateway to northern Vietnam’s frontier mountains.

Day 6: Dong Van | 150 km

We ride toward Dong Van Karst Plateau through the scenic landscapes which are among the northern Vietnam’s most spectacular limestone. Stop at Quan Ba Heaven Gate for panoramic views over the Twin Mountains, then continue through traditional Hmong villages and historic mountain settlements before spending the night in Dong Van Old Quarter.

Day 7: Meo Vac – Bao Lac | 120 Km

Ride the Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of the most famous motorbike roads in Ha Giang and whole northern frontier, with dramatic limestone cliffs and views over the Nho Que River gorge. Descend to Meo Vac and continue along northern Vietnam’s mountain roads to Bao Lac in Cao Bang Province, a remote town surrounded by ethnic minority villages and rugged highland scenery.

Day 8: Ba Be National Park | 130 Km

Off-road through remote mountain tracks in northern Vietnam, with stream crossings, forest trails, and rugged backroads leading toward Ba Be National Park. The route reaches the peaceful shores of Ba Be Lake in Bac Kan Province, where you stay in a local tribal homestay.

Day 9: Ban Gioc Border routes | 170 Km

Today we ride through the remote mountains of Cao Bang Province and peaceful northern Vietnam villages on the way to Ban Gioc Waterfall. Located on the Vietnam-China border, and is one of the largest and most impressive waterfalls in Southeast Asia, with limestone cliffs, rice fields, and the Quay Son River creating some of the region’s most dramatic scenery. Arrive and check in to a resort.

Day 10: Bac Son Valley | 155 Km

We continue our adventure south through the rolling hills and fertile valleys of Lang Son Province toward Bac Son Valley. This quieter section of northern Vietnam follows peaceful rural roads with opportunities to stop in local villages and farming communities. Bac Son is known for its rice fields, limestone mountains, and panoramic valley views, making it one of the most scenic countryside areas in northern Vietnam.

Day 11: Descend to Ha Long Bay | 150 Km

Leave the mountains of northern Vietnam and ride toward Ha Long Bay, located in Quang Ninh Province, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its emerald waters and limestone islands. On arrival, board an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise and sail through one of Vietnam’s most iconic coastal landscapes. Lunch and Dinner will be served aboard the cruise.

Day 12: Halong – Private transfer back to Hanoi (B/L)

Wake up in Ha Long Bay and enjoy breakfast surrounded by limestone karsts rising from the Gulf of Tonkin. After the cruise, we will be transferred back to Hanoi by an arranged private transfer (~3 hours ride). Arrive around 4 PM and end of the 11-Day Northern Vietnam Motorbike Tour with Halong Bay.