NORTH-EAST RIDE ON DIRT BIKES OF VIETNAM

(North-East Ride 6 days, 5 nights)

The North-East Vietnam motorbike ride is a fantastic 6-day, 5-night adventure for riders who want to experience the region in less than a week. This dirt bike tour in Vietnam combines spectacular mountain scenery, winding backroads, remote villages, and authentic local life. Starting from the lowlands of the Red River Delta, we gradually ride into the rugged mountains of northern Vietnam, following a mixture of scenic roads, mountain passes, and lesser-known routes.

One of the highlights of this North-East Vietnam motorcycle tour is Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of Vietnam’s most impressive natural attractions. The ride also follows parts of the historic Highway 4, a legendary route through the mountainous North-East that offers dramatic landscapes and a fascinating connection with Vietnam’s history. With challenging riding, beautiful scenery, and encounters with local communities, this trip is an excellent choice for riders looking for an authentic off-road adventure in Vietnam.

Below is a video from one of our recent North-East dirt bike rides in Vietnam, giving you a taste of the landscapes, trails, and riding experience you can expect. If you would like to see more of our Vietnam motorbike tours, dirt bike adventures, and off-road riding videos, please check our YouTube channel.

NORTH-EAST RIDE DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi – Bac Kan. (~180km, ~8h)

Today is the first day of our 6-day North-East Vietnam dirt bike adventure. Before leaving Hanoi, we will have a short riding briefing covering local traffic rules, road conditions, and basic safety advice. Your guide will also show you how to communicate through simple body language and riding signals, which is especially useful when riding together on busy roads. We leave Hanoi at around 9:30 am, after the morning rush hour has eased.

The ride from Hanoi to Bac Kan is around 180 km. Although the route is relatively easy and mostly sealed road, the first section out of Hanoi can be one of the most challenging parts of the day because of the heavy traffic. Northern Vietnam’s roads can look chaotic at first, but with a professional guide leading the way and everyone following the group riding rules, the journey becomes much easier and safer.

As we leave the crowded Red River Delta behind, the traffic gradually becomes lighter, and the scenery begins to change. We continue north toward the mountains, passing through rural areas and countryside landscapes before reaching Bac Kan. This small provincial town is our overnight stop, where we check into a local hotel and relax after the first day’s ride.

Day 2: Bac Kan – Ba Be. (~50km, ~2h)

Today is a much shorter and more relaxed ride. We leave Bac Kan and ride approximately 50 km toward Ba Be National Park, following an easy road through beautiful countryside and increasingly mountainous landscapes. After arriving in the Ba Be area, we have lunch at our local host’s house, giving us a chance to experience traditional Vietnamese hospitality and local food.

In the afternoon, we explore the area by boat on Ba Be Lake and the river, surrounded by forested mountains and peaceful scenery. If our visit coincides with market day, we can also stop at a local village market to see everyday life in the region. Along the way, we visit a waterfall where there is time for a refreshing swim in the natural pool.

After the waterfall, we can continue to a nearby village and visit a small local school, which has only a few pupils during the summer months. The day ends at Pac Ngoi village, where we spend the night in a traditional stilt house and enjoy an authentic rural experience in the heart of Ba Be.

Ba Be motorbike ride with Motorbike Vietnam Adventure Tours, North-East Ride

Day 3: Ba Be – Quang Uyen. (~170km, ~8h)

Today we ride deeper into Cao Bang Province, with a beautiful journey from Ba Be to Quang Uyen. The route takes us through spectacular mountain scenery, with several scenic passes where we can stop and enjoy panoramic views over the valleys and surrounding mountains. The road is generally easy, but there are plenty of bends and curves, making it an enjoyable day on the dirt bikes.

Along the way, we have plenty of opportunities to stop for photographs, drinks, and local food. Some viewpoints offer impressive views over the mountains and sections of the historic Highway 4, one of the most scenic routes in North-East Vietnam. With regular stops to enjoy the landscape, take photos, and experience local life, the ride will take approximately 8 hours.

After reaching the main area of Quang Uyen, we ride for approximately one more hour to reach a beautiful rural village surrounded by mountains. This is the traditional territory of the Nung An people, where we can experience a quieter and more authentic side of northern Vietnam. Tonight, we stay at our friend’s local house, enjoying genuine hospitality and a peaceful evening in the mountains.

Day 4: Quang Uyen (options). (~100km, ~2h) or (~30km, ~1h)

Today offers two different adventure options around Quang Uyen, depending on weather, local conditions, and what the group would like to experience. Both options provide an opportunity to explore areas away from the main tourist routes and discover the wild landscapes of Cao Bang.

Option 1

With permission from the border police, we ride through spectacular mountain scenery toward Ban Gioc Waterfalls, one of the most impressive waterfalls in Vietnam. The route itself is part of the adventure, with dramatic limestone mountains, green valleys, and quiet rural roads along the way.

Weather and local conditions permitting, there is an opportunity to swim near the waterfall, where the powerful water drops from around 50 metres into the river below. Ban Gioc is located in a sensitive border area shared by Vietnam and China, making this a unique part of the North-East Vietnam experience. Despite the area’s importance, the local border police officers are generally very friendly, and their permission allows us to enjoy this remarkable landscape responsibly.

Option 2

For riders looking for something more off-the-beaten-track, we can explore Na Tau, a little-known area close to Quang Uyen. This remote region is filled with beautiful rivers, natural pools, waterfalls, and wild mountain scenery, making it an excellent place to explore by motorbike and raft.

Na Tau is only around 15 km from Quang Uyen, but it feels far removed from the usual tourist routes. Our local host can act as a guide, showing us hidden spots and helping us discover the area’s rivers and waterfalls. It is a relaxed but adventurous day combining motorbiking, rafting, swimming, and exploring rural North-East Vietnam.

Day 5: Quang Uyen – Mau Son. (~180km, ~6h)

Today we leave Quang Uyen and ride toward Lang Son along the historic Highway 4, one of the most fascinating and scenic roads in North-East Vietnam. The route passes through spectacular mountain landscapes, winding roads, and remote countryside, making this another memorable day on our North-East Vietnam dirt bike adventure.

After reaching Lang Son, we continue riding toward the Chinese border and the mountain resort of Mau Son. Located about 30 km from Lang Son and rising to approximately 1,541 metres above sea level, Mau Son offers a completely different atmosphere from the lowlands. Temperatures can be noticeably cooler here, especially in the evening, making it a pleasant place to relax after a long day of riding.

We spend the night in the guest house at Mau Son Resort. Accommodation here is relatively basic because Mau Son is still mainly visited by local travellers rather than international tourists. The area was originally developed as a French hill station, and many of the old colonial villas have fallen into disrepair over the years. Restoration work has taken place, but nobody knows exactly when Mau Son will return to its former glory. Today, however, the combination of mountain scenery, cool weather, history, and quiet surroundings makes it a fascinating stop on this Vietnam motorcycle tour.

Ban Gioc waterfalls motorbike ride with Motorbike Vietnam Adventure Tours, North-East Ride

Day 6: Mau Son – Hanoi. (~180km, ~4h) End of North-East Ride.

After breakfast, we take some time to explore Mau Son in the morning and enjoy the fresh mountain air before beginning our final ride. We then descend from the mountains toward Lang Son, where we stop for lunch and take a final break before the journey back to Hanoi.

From Lang Son to Hanoi, the road is asphalted all the way, making the final section of the trip relatively easy. The ride takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on traffic and stops along the way. After several days of mountain roads, remote villages, waterfalls, and scenic passes, we arrive back in Hanoi before the evening rush hour.

This marks the end of our 6-day North-East Vietnam motorbike adventure, a compact but rewarding trip combining dirt bike riding, mountain roads, authentic villages, Ban Gioc Waterfalls, historic Highway 4, and the spectacular landscapes of northern Vietnam.

Contact us for more details, availability, and other options for this Northeast Vietnam dirt bike tour.