Sapa North-West Motorbike Tour to Dien Bien Phu – Son La – Mai Chau
Destinations: Sapa, Heavens Gate - Binh Lu - Tam Duong, Phong Tho, Paso, Sin Ho, Lai Chau, Dien Bien Phu, Son La, Phu Yen, Mai Chau, Hoa Binh, Hanoi
Price: Contact
Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Highlights:
On this Sapa North-West motorbike tour, we’ll visit some of the most scenic areas in Northern Vietnam, ride our motorbikes through stunning mountainous landscapes and learn about local life and culture at the hilltribe’s villages along the road sides. Riding our motorbikes over the highest pass in Vietnam to “Heavens Gate.” Enjoy a magnificent view of the Sapa valley and ride down to Tam Duong to stay overnight. Ride through the market town of Phong Tho and enjoy the view of acres of lush riverside banana plantations on your way to the town of Paso. Go through the picturesque Na river valley past colorful villages with lots of ethnic minorities until you reach Lai Chau in the early afternoon. Take a stroll through the town, go trekking in the mountains or take an afternoon swim.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Sapa Motorbike Tours to Heavens Gate – Binh Lu – Tam Duong (Meals: L, D)
Day 2: Tam Duong Motorcycle Tours to Phong Tho & Paso (Meals: B, L, D)
Day 3: Paso Motorbike Tours to Sin Ho – Lai Chau (Meals: B, L, D)
Day 4: Lai Chau Motorbike Tours to Dien Bien Phu (Meals: B, L, D)
Day 5: Dien Bien Phu motorcycle tour to Son La (Meals: B, L, D)
Day 6: Son La City Motorcycle Tours to Phu Yen (Meals: B, L, D)
Day 7: Phu Yen (Son La) Motorcycle Tours to Mai Chau (Meals: B, L, D)
Day 8: Mai Chau (Hoa Binh) Motorcycle Tours to Hanoi (Meals: B, L/-)
Day 1: Sapa Motorcycle Tour to Dien Bien Phu, Son La & Mai Chau: Sapa Motorbike Tours to Heavens Gate – Binh Lu – Tam Duong (Meals: L, D)
In this morning, after having breakfast at hotel in Sapa, we’ll start riding
our motorbikes from Sapa up to Vietnam’s highest Tram Ton pass to “Heaven’s Gate” at the height of more than 1600m above the sea level.North-West Motorcycle ToursHeaven’s gate offers a panoramic view of the Muong Hoa valley and Mont Fanxipan. Take a short break to enjoy the picturesque view of the Sapa valley before riding downhill all the way to Tam Duong where you will stay overnight.Summary:
Distance: 120 km
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: hotel
Day 2: Sapa Motorcycle Tour to Dien Bien Phu, Son La & Mai Chau: Tam Duong Motorcycle Tours to Phong Tho & Paso (Meals: B, L, D)
Having a breakfast at hotel then checking up your motorbikes to do some dirt-bike tours today. If day 2 falls on Thursday or Sunday, we’ll ride to visit the colorful Tam Duong market and see the ethnic costumes of White Hmong, Flower Hmong, Nhang, and Pu Na. Later on, we’ll keep jumping on our motorbikes to ride to pass between Tam Duong and Phong Tho and then on the bikes downhill towards the market town of Phong Tho and acres of lush riverside banana plantations until reaching the town of Paso.
Overnight at PasoSummary:
Distance: 150 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 3: Sapa Motorcycle Tour to Dien Bien Phu, Son La & Mai Chau: Paso Motorbike Tours to Sin Ho – Lai Chau (Meals: B, L, D)
After having breakfast at guesthouse, we’ll keep riding our motorbikes on pumpy zigzag roads through the picturesque Na river valley past small villages of red and white Hmong, Kho Mu and White Thai ethnic minorities. Take a short ride through the small town to experience the peaceful daily life here then if possible, you can soak up yourself in the river, or just relax with a cup of coffee of beer to enjoy a sunset over the top of mountains
Overnight at hotel in Lai Chau.
Summary:
Distance: 200 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 4: Sapa Motorcycle Tour to Dien Bien Phu, Son La & Mai Chau: Lai Chau Motorbike Tours to Dien Bien Phu (Meals: B, L, D)
In this morning, we’ll go on rididng our motorbikes from Lai Chau downhill to Muong Lay village. Then ride the sealed road from Muong Lay to Dien Bien Phu passing along more ethnic villages. Reaching Dien Bien Phu in the afternoon.
The rest of time, we’ll ride our motorbikes to visit some important historical relics in relation to the war between Vietnam and France dated before 1954.
Lai Chau Motorbike Tour To Dien Bien
Overnight at hotel in Dien Bien PhuSummary:
Distance: 200 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 5: Sapa Motorcycle Tour to Dien Bien Phu, Son La & Mai Chau: Dien Bien Phu motorcycle tour to Son La (Meals: B, L, D)
After having breakfast at hotel, we be riding our motorbikes downward to Tuan Giao via the very long and steep Pha Din pass where at the top we have vast views of the surrounding mountains, then down the other side on very steep sealed road. We’ll have a lunch in Tuan Giao.
From Tuan Giao to Son Le, the road passes isolated communities of Hmong and Thai people, whose small villages settle on the banks of dark green rivers and on the steep slopes of the mountains. Along the road, we’ll have chances to see children walking to school, kids tending buffaloes, women planting rice seedlings and men pulling the buffalo cart. Afterwards, we’ll arrive Son La that is a province in the Northwest region of Vietnam. It borders Laos to the south.
Vietnam motorcycle tour to Son La
The population includes Black and White Tai and at present, Sơn La Dam is known as the largest hydroelectric power station in Southeast Asia
Overnight at hotel in Son LaSummary:
Distance: 200 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 6: Sapa Motorcycle Tour to Dien Bien Phu, Son La & Mai Chau: Son La City Motorcycle Tours to Phu Yen (Meals: B, L, D)
In this morning, after having breakfast at hotel, we’ll start our motorbike tour by visits to The Old French Prison & Museum. It was once the site of a French penal colony where anti-colonial revolutionaries were incarcerated. It was destroyed by the infamous “off-loading” of unused ammunition by US warplanes that were returning to their bases after bombing raids, but it has been partially restored.
Rebuilt turrets and watch towers stand guard over the remains of cells, inner walls and a famous lone surviving peach tree. The tree, which blooms with traditional “Tet flowers”, was planted in the compound by To Hieu, a former inmate from the 1940s.
To Hieu has subsequently been immortalised. with various landmarks now named after him.
After having lunch, we’ll continue our motorbike tour on the almost empty Road 37 we enter mountains heavily populated with Black Thai people, who work on large terraced rice fields. The winding road passes through many Thai villages and fields and provides a great opportunity to watch country life passing by.
We continue through rolling hills before rising up to the sugar cane growing areas. Finally, we’ll reach to Phu Yen peaceful town located on a flat valley & surrounded by high moutain ranges
Overnight in Phu Yen TownSummary:
Distance: 160 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 7: Sapa Motorcycle Tour to Dien Bien Phu, Son La & Mai Chau: Phu Yen (Son La) Motorcycle Tours to Mai Chau (Meals: B, L, D)
After having breakfast at hotel, we’ll say goodbye to the friendly people here to keep on riding our motorbikes on the less travelled Road 43 leading to the Da River, crossing the reservoir of Da river at Van Yen ferry, then ride on a beautiful winding secondary road to Moc Chau where we have lunch. This highland town produces some of Vietnam’s best tea and is a good place to stock up.
The surrounding area is also home to several ethnic minorities, including Green H’mong, Dzao, Thai and Muong. Moc Chau boasts a pioneering dairy industry that started in the late 1970s with Australian (and, later, UN) assistance. The dairy provides Hanoi with such delectable iuxur us as fresh milk, sweetened condensed milk and little tooth-rotting bars called “Banh sua”.
Motorcycle Tour to MaiChauAfter lunch, we’ll continue our motorbike trip to Mai Chau where is one of the closest places to Hanoi where you can experience a ‘real’ Montagnard village. In the morning we take a short walk around village to discover local life. Life in the countryside starts early so by sunrise there is a wealth of activity. The Thai women are masterful weavers who ensure that there is plenty of traditional-styleclothing to buy in the village centre. You will see women weaving on looms under or inside their houses in the village We can buy some handmade traditional-style clothing, knife or cross-bow.
After dinner we join performance, where you can dance and share a range of special liquors (rice wine) with the locals. Overnight in a house-on-stilts of the Thai people.
Summary:
Distance: 140 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guest-house
Day 8: Sapa Motorcycle Tour to Dien Bien Phu, Son La & Mai Chau: Mai Chau (Hoa Binh) Motorcycle Tours to Hanoi (Meals: B, L/-)
In this morning, we’ll take an easy walking tour or motorbike tour to hang around
peaceful & beautiful villages located around the valley to experience the daily life of the locals – the White Thai Hilltribe working on the farms.
After having an early lunch, we’ll start riding our motorbikes back to Hanoi. Along the way, we cross Thung Khe, one of the most beautiful mountain passes in North Vietnam and from here, we can take photos of Mai Chau valley and then We will ride on Highway 6 passing extensive farming lands comprising a sea of paddy fields split by tree-lined roads punctuated by limestone karst scenery to Hoa Binh town and here we will have a coffee break before riding back to Hanoi on dyke roads to avoid the heavy traffic.
At around 16:00, we’ll get to Hanoi and end the tripSummary:
Distance: 160 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Accommodation:
Note: We provide support truck (120$ per day) for emergency and for your safe riding in Vietnam – Most of other tour operators do not offer that. Contact us if you think it’s necessary.
Inclusions :
+ Motorbike(s) (Honda or Yamaha)
+ Helmet(s)
+ Driving gears
+ Gasoline on tour
+ English or French speaking guide
+ Mechanic (only for group from 6 passengers)
+ Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary (based on twin or/and triple shared)
The best time to visit Vietnam is spring (February to April) and autumn (August to October). The temperatures are more moderate and rainfall is lighter. In spring, March and April have the lowest rainfall across all destinations and temperatures are pleasant, though still cool in the far north.
You must have a valid Vietnamese driver’s license to drive in Vietnam . including for motorcycle 50cc or more . International Driver’s Permits issued in Australia are not recognized in Vietnam.
Long term UK residents of Vietnam can qualify for a Vietnamese driving licence when they are in possession of a diplomatic ID, temporary residence card or residence card validity for 3 months or more and also a valid UK driving licence or UK issued International Driver's Permit
It is strongly recommended that Canadians consider carefully whether they should drive motor vehicles or motorcycles in Vietnam as unfamiliarity with local driving conditions may result in serious injury, or a heavy compensation payment(s) or imprisonment as a result of any accident
it’s always dangerous if you ignore our advices but quite safe if you respect to our local rules. Actually there simply are no rules. Stick to the basics… ride on the right side of the road, keep your eyes on the road and be alert. People often say “when you’re in ROME, just do like Romans do”. Riding a motorbike in Vietnam is different from driving in Europe or North America, so even if you stick to the rules, 99% chance the locals next to you won't. So be alert and stay safe! Wear a helmet. ... Honk at least 1000 times a minute, you cannot go riding around Vietnam without honking
You can just obtain our Vietnamese driving license once you’re long-term officials working & living in Vietnam under the business visa within 6 months or more. But if you are just regular travelers having short-term tourist visa, this seems to be impossible.
We’re not used to renting out bikes only but organizing private guided tours, however, in some typical circumstances, we can rent out manual dirt bikes at the cost of US$ 18/bike/day, US$ 28/bike/day and US$ 50/bike/day for the bikes of 125cc, 150cc & 250cc respectively.
Of course, you can do this but must show up your appropriate legal documents (Vietnamese driving licenses or IDP, validated Visa in Vietnam & copy of your passport).
Yes, you can totally buy & possess a motorbike legally as many other Vietnamese people as long as you act in the laws correctly. Foreigners living in Vietnam can have their national driving license translated to Vietnamese and will be granted a Vietnamese license without passing any exam. ... The cost to obtain the A1 license should not be more than USD 50 with an agent. In case you want to ride a “real” bike, a genuine A2 is required..
