Vietnam Motorcycle tour: 10 thrilling road trips to add to your bucket list.
You regularly hear about the road trips in traveler’s stories, in movies and even in the songs you like. A road trip is essentially a journey that takes place on the roads, with the focus being on the journey itself rather than the destination. For thrill-seekers, a motorcycle is the perfect vehicle for a road trip. While it may not be the easiest vehicle to use due to limited storage space and weather conditions affecting driving, it certainly provides the most exhilarating experience. Riding a motorcycle allows you to feel the wind in your hair and experience the scenery up close and personal, making it an ideal mode of transportation for adventure seekers.
Located in the Southeast of Asia, Vietnam is a beautiful country with diverse terrain and temperate climate. That’s why a road trip is the best choice to discover new parts of Vietnam. Join with Frontier Travel Vietnam as we explore 10 thrilling road trips that you have to add to your bucket list.
1. Ha Giang Loop to Dong Van.
Located in the far North of Vietnam, Ha Giang is a place where the road winds through jaw-dropping gorges and breathtaking mountain passes. The Ha Giang loop is a dream come true for adventure enthusiasts aspiring for thrilling roads. Ha Giang city to Yen Minh: Riding from Ha Giang city on the QL4C, you will witness the landscapes quickly transform into a limestone mountain range covered with luxuriant jungle. Soon, you will arrive in Dong Van Karst Plateau - the UNESCO Global Geopark. The most noteworthy feature of this section is the Heaven Gate Pass, which offers a thrilling combination of breathtaking views and challenging, narrow twists and turns. Ma Pi Leng Mountain: Ma Pi Leng Pass is one of the world’s most spectacular mountain roads. Along the way to the top of the pass, your eyes will catch the majestic natural scenery of the rolling mountains and forest of the far North, terraced fields, charming little houses that are peacefully scattered around, as well as encounters with H'mong women carrying their babies on their backs. Especially, looking from the top, the pass is like a silky strip of silk curling around the mountains.
2.Cao Bang to Ban Gioc waterfall.
As a traveler, the road trip from Cao Bang to Ban Gioc waterfall should not be missed in your Vietnam motorbike adventure tours. This journey will blow your mind of enchanting landscapes and good opportunities for photography. Riding from Cao Bang, you will meet and interact with the ethnic minority (Nung people) in the village of Phuoc Son which is well-known for its traditional blacksmith. They make farming tools - an integral part of the lifestyle. The highlight of this road trip is Ban Gioc waterfall - the widest waterfall in Vietnam. After conquering the winding roads, you will be gratified by the picturesque sceneries around and fresh air here. The waterfall occurs on the Quay Son River, a beautiful crystal - blue body of water flowing from China through a pastoral landscape of rice fields and bamboo groves surrounded by limestone pinnacles. Getting a boat to get as close as possible to the main fall will help you have an unforgettable experience.
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3.O Quy Ho Pass.
Considered as one of four most breathtaking peaks of Northwestern Vietnam, this is a perfect road trip from Sapa for adventure enthusiasts. Disembarking from Sapa, you will be tested your riding skill by the most winding and rugged pass in the Northwest mountainous forest with the sleeve-shaped bends full of adventure. Arriving at the top of O Quy Hoi pass, you will see an overview of the immense endlessness of the sky and lofty rice terraces and twisting paths at the foot of the mountains. Halfway up the mountains, you will witness the floating rivers of white clouds drifting freely. All make you like being on top of the world. The best time to take this road trip is summer and winter. In summer, the weather is quite remarkable and pleasant with a little fog that is very suitable for riding. In winter, it has a bit of sunshine at midday and especially, taking the motorcycle adventure at this time you will be impressed with the scenery of the sunset dying red covering the entire Northwest region. We assure you that this moment will not let you down.
4. Son La to Dien Bien Phu From Son La.
you will be tested your riding skill with Phadin pass where at the top you will take in the stunning landscapes and exhilarating twists and turns. On your journey, make a pit stop at Thuan Chau market, a bustling hub where the Black Thai community congregates to trade a wide variety of farm produce and intricately woven brocade fabrics.After conquering the thrilling passes, you will arrive in Dien Bien province which is well-known for the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu - one of the symbols of the struggle for the independence and freedom of Vietnamese people. Taking Vietnam motorcycle adventures with this road trip, you not only harvest the thrilling experience but also have opportunities to discover the history of Vietnam in the war against France.
5. Khau Pha Pass.
Situated between Van Chau and Mu Cang Chai districts, the Khau Pha Pass is one of the longest and most challenging mountain passes in northern Vietnam due to its rugged terrain. With the elevation of 1200 meters above sea level, the temperature in this pass is quite low and the pass is covered with clouds all year round. That is the reason why the Khau Pha pass’s name in Thai means the horn, as the mountain passes as the clouds rise over the sea. Taking Vietnam motorcycle tours in this pass, you can’t resist taking in all the stunning views of endless extending mountains, pristine forests and rice terraced fields cultivated by the ethnic minority groups. These challenging winding passes make this road trip a true adventurer’s paradise.
6. Khe Sanh to Phong Nha.
The road trip from Khe Sanh to Phong Nha is the best for taking pictures and the spectacular ride along winding mountain roads. Riding 240 km from Khe Sanh to Phong Nha along the west Ho Chi Minh Road inside Vietnam’s largest national park - Phong Nha, Ke Bang. This road is very twisty and the only road that runs through the park is a dense tropical jungle filled with the sounds of cicadas. The highlight of this route is Khe Sanh Combat Base and Ta Con airport which had many fighting as it was the vital point of American soldiers. Visiting these destinations, you will have opportunities to discover the glorious history of Vietnam. During the route, you are also warmly greeted by the ethnic minorities known for their friendly and welcoming hospitality. You can have some short breaks anywhen you want and interact with them and they enthusiastically share with you the stories about their lives and the wars of the past. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this is one of the most exhilarating road trips that you must take on a Vietnam motorcycle tour.
7. Da Lat to Nam Cat Tien
Embarking on a motorbike tour from Da Lat to Nam Cat Tien National Park is the ultimate way to experience the diverse landscapes of Vietnam, as you journey from the highlands to the flat areas and witness the changing nature along the way. For those who love the excitement of a thrilling ride, a Vietnam motorcycle tour on this route is an excellent choice. Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to explore the South's largest man-made hydroelectric dam as well as the jungle, which is often referred to as Saigon's lungs due to its important role in regulating the city's climate. The crowning jewel of this route is the gushing waterfalls blessed by Mother nature. Those spectacular cascading waterfalls perform the most magnificent and beautiful songs of the water flow that you can’t resist indulging in. When riding on this road trip, you can stop by the coffee plantation to discover the plants of one of the most popular drinks in the world. We assure that you will have an unforgettable experience with Vietnam motorcycle tour from Dalat to Nam Cat Tien
8. Quy Nhon to Nha Trang.
Considered as the best coastal riding in Vietnam, the road trip from Nha Trang to Quy Nhon will open you up to explore the best coastal motorcycle routes and highlight along the way. The scenery between Nha Trang and Quy Nhon is so magnificent that, despite the drive being less than 150 km, it can take you the whole day to arrive in Quy Nhon. Heading north from Nha Trang, it’s not long before you are racing alongside endless rice fields whose lush green contrasts with the crystal-blue skies. Further north the road meets the ocean, meandering between the mountain and turquoise bays. During the trip, you can pause to take in the charming view on this segment, soaking up the peace and calm of the ocean. This area has two distinctive kinds of climate, dry season and rainy season. Summer is from March to the end of September while the rainy season lasts from October to the end of February. Therefore, the best time to take a Vietnam motorcycle tour on this road is from January to March due to the freshness of the sky and the little chance of storms. Especially, at this time, you may feel comfortable contemplating stunning seascapes without overcrowding.
9. Hai Van Pass.
Located on the North - South nation highway, Hai Van pass is an impressive landscape. This attraction resembles a massive dragon that stretches out along Highway 1, marking the border between Thua Thien Hue province and Danang city. Hai Van means “Sea clouds” because the peak of the mountain is covered by the clouds while its foot is close to the sea. Taking Vietnam motorcycle tours through Hai Van Pass, you will experience two feelings: amazement at passing through the clouds and thrill when conquering the dangerous bends of the roads. With many sudden curves and blind corners, Hai Van Pass is known as an imperious but beautiful girl challenging riders’ skill. The best time to take a Vietnam motorcycle tour on this road trip is during dry, sunny months. It takes place between April and July. At this time, the weather is very nice for anyone with the passion of adventure.
10. Mekong Delta loop.
This road trip begins from Saigon, riding in loops across the western edge along the Cambodia border. With most of the topography being flat like a sheet of rice paper, the Mekong Delta loop is blessed with some high ground. Taking a Vietnam motorcycle tour on this road trip, you have rare sights of hills and mountains that you never see by other types of traveling. Hitting your motorcycle off the beaten track - following the main country laneways of the Mekong Delta, you will traverse via verdant hills and lush rice paddies dotted with ancient and mysterious monasteries. Beside the magnificent landscapes, riding on this road trip, you will extend your knowledge about the history of Vietnam by visiting Cu Chi tunnels and Xeo Quyt Battlefields. Taking this road trip by riding, you not only have a lot of time to relax, enjoy the scenery but also get chances to interact with indigenous people to discover their cultures and daily lives. The best time of the year to take this road trip is from October to February when the weather is mostly pleasant with the best vision, crystal-clear sky, light shine and diverse plants.
In conclusion, Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country famous for its diverse cultures, spectacular sceneries and stunning roads that make Vietnam an amazing destination for motorbike adventure tours. With 10 thrilling road trips mentioned above, we assure that you will have unforgettable adventures in Vietnam.
