Vietnam Top Gear "Northwest Loop"

Once you arrive at the airport, our tour guide will greet you and provide transportation to your hotel in downtown Hanoi for check-in. After that, you'll have the rest of the day to relax and explore on your own. You'll spend the night in Hanoi.

Summary of inclusions

Hotel in hanoi

You'll have the opportunity to explore the fascinating sites of the capital city throughout the day, either by motorcycle or car. This will be an exciting way to prepare for tomorrow's adventure! You'll spend the night in Hanoi.

Summary of inclusions

Sightseeing hanoi

Breakfast & dinner

hotel in hanoi

Our journey begins with a departure from Hanoi as we hop on our motorcycles and head towards Mai Chau valley, which is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and is home to the White Thai ethnic minority. To avoid heavy traffic, we'll veer off the main road No6 at Luong Son and take a route towards Bai Chao, where we can take in the stunning scenery of limestone mountains. Along the way, we'll pass by charming villages and vast rice paddies, and we'll take a break for some refreshments before embarking on a 70km stretch of undulating roads that offer amazing views of the valley and mountains. We'll stop for lunch en route before continuing our journey to Mai Chau. Our first stop in Mai Chau will be at Ban Lac village, a serene and peaceful location inhabited by the White Thai ethnic group. Here, we'll enjoy dinner and spend the night in a traditional stilt-house owned by a Thai family.

(Riding distance: 170km)

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

overnight in stlt house in mai chau

Following breakfast at our home-stay, we'll set out on a picturesque journey towards Son La, riding northward. The road is well-maintained, and we'll have the opportunity to stop frequently to visit villages inhabited by minority groups such as the Green H'mong and Black Thai peoples, or simply to take photographs of the breathtaking scenery. We'll have lunch at a local restaurant along the way. The highlight of our ride today could be the Moc Chau Plateau, known for its tea plantations and plum gardens, which produce some of the finest green tea in Vietnam. We'll arrive in Son La in the afternoon and enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel in the city.

(Riding distance: 187km)

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

hotel in son la

As the saying goes, "the further north you go, the faster your heart races". Today's ride promises to be even more exhilarating, with winding roads, longer mountain passes, and even more vibrant and colorful minority groups to encounter along the way. Just like yesterday, we'll take interesting stops to visit villages and snap photos of the stunning scenery. We'll have lunch at a local restaurant along the route. The highlight of today's ride will be the awe-inspiring Pha Din Pass, which is said to be the frontier between heaven and earth, according to local legend. The pass is situated over 1,000m above sea level and offers a thrilling experience as we climb and descend its many bends and deep gorges. We'll arrive in Dien Bien Phu late in the afternoon, and if time permits, we can explore the town on our motorcycles. Dinner and an overnight stay will be in Dien Bien Phu.

(Riding distance: 170km)

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

overnight in dien bien phu

Today, our ride covers a distance of 225km and takes us through stunning gorges along the Nam Na River. We'll have the opportunity to stop and visit Red H'mong and Dzao villages along the way. Lunch will be served in Chan Nua. After lunch, we'll ascend the mountain, taking in the breathtaking scenery on our journey to Sin Ho. We'll visit the Sin Ho market before continuing on to Lai Chau, where we'll have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.

(Riding distance: 225km)

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Hotel in lai chau

Today's ride is undoubtedly the highlight of the entire trip. We'll have the opportunity to climb Vietnam's highest pass, the Tram Ton Pass, and stop for lunch at a local restaurant en route. By noon, we'll arrive in Sapa, which was once a hill station for French colonists over a hundred years ago. Today, it is a paradise for trekking enthusiasts due to its beautiful trekking routes, stunning terraces, colorful minority groups, and the highest mountain in Indochina, Mount Fansipang. We'll enjoy dinner and spend the night in Sapa.

(Riding distance: 180km)

Note: If today is Sunday, the weekend market (Sunday market) in Tam Duong is highly recommended, as it is a colorful and interesting event showcasing many ethnic minorities. If this is the case, the market will be included in the program.

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast & lunch

Hotel in sapa

After breakfast at the hotel, we'll start the day with a downhill jeep ride to Muong Hoa valley. Today, we'll experience the most beautiful trekking route in Vietnam, walking along dirt paths through pine forests, terraces, and H'mong villages. Along the way, we'll stop to visit minority villages and schools, and enjoy a picnic lunch by the river. In the afternoon, we'll walk to the pickup point and take a jeep transfer back to Sapa. From there, we'll have a private transfer to Lao Cai to catch the night train back to Hanoi.

(Trekking time: 4 hours)

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

Overnight on train

Upon arrival in Hanoi at 5am in the morning, you can either take some time to relax and unwind or explore the city on your own.

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast

Hotel in hanoi

You are free to spend your time at leisure or do some last-minute shopping before your flight home. Alternatively, you can choose to continue your adventure with more exciting travel opportunities provided by Travel Authentic Asia.

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast