VIETNAM / Hills and Tribes
At a Glance ...
| Best Travel Time | Available year-round upon request. Best between October and March. |
| Tour Start/End | Hanoi / Hanoi |
| Travel Duration | 12 travel days, 10 riding days, rest days in Halong Bay and Hanoi |
| Distance | 1,400 km |
| Daily Stages | 90 to 150 km |
| Road Condition | This tour is mainly a road tour, mostly on narrow asphalt roads with occasional off-road sections. |
| Motorcycles | Honda XR and Honda CRF 250cc (additional cost) |
| Riding Ability | The Honda Enduros are pleasant to ride, and the traffic is (outside of Hanoi) manageable. |
| Group Size | min. 4 and max. 10 riders. Pillion on the motorcycle upon request. Always space in the support vehicle. |
| Accommodation | We stay in the best available hotels in the region; they are simple but clean. By default, it's double rooms in hotels and on the Halong Bay boat. With host families, sleeping conditions vary from mattresses on wooden floors to separate bungalows. Clean toilets and hot showers are guaranteed. We stay six times with host families, offering authentic food and insights into local communities. They are often located in Vietnam's most remote areas, and mosquito nets are always provided. |
| Included in the Price | All meals, water, admissions, gasoline, support vehicle, local motorcycle guide |
| Highlights | The karst mountains of the North, mountain tribes, Hanoi, Halong Bay |
| Important | VISA for Vietnam can be applied for online. |
Hilltribes and Hillrides
| Day 1 | Arrival in Hanoi: Upon our arrival in Vietnam, we will be taken to our hotel in Hanoi. Later, we take an introductory walk through the old town and to the peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake. Overnight stay in a hotel in Hanoi. |
| Day 2 | Hanoi - Pu Luong: We start our tour outside of Hanoi's center to avoid city traffic. Soon, we drive through picturesque landscapes to the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, enjoying mountain panoramas overlooking Thai villages. In the afternoon, we relax in an eco-lodge amidst rice terraces, enjoy the pool, and a traditional dinner. |
| Day 3 | Pu Luong - Moc Chau: An ideal day for a motorcycle tour through the unique Moc Chau plateau with its diverse landscapes and ethnic communities. Our route takes us through picturesque roads and constantly changing scenes. In the afternoon, we reach Moc Chau and check into our hotel. |
| Day 4 | Moc Chau - Nghia Lo: An exciting motorcycle day awaits us. We cross the Da River by ferry and explore side roads through local villages to the Ta Xua National Park and the terraces of Tram Tau and Nghia Lo. The Nghia Lo valley, the center of the Thai community, offers a must-see market. |
| Day 5 | Nghia Lo - Luc Yen: Our shorter ride today takes us through the picturesque Yen Bai province. Heading northeast, we pass fruit plantations and villages, cross the Red River, and enjoy the hospitality of the locals, perhaps over a glass of rice wine. |
| Day 6 | Luc Yen - Ha Giang: Instead of the direct route, we drive through Northern Vietnam's rugged landscapes, over the Heaven's Gate to the Hoang Su Phi Pass, and on to Ha Giang. The route, lined with breathtaking landscapes and villages, takes us into remote regions. In the evening, we relax in a lodge amidst rice terraces. |
| Day 7 | Ha Giang - Meo Vac: Our next adventure takes us to the mountains and the rocky plateau of Dong Van, Vietnam's "moon landscape." As a UNESCO Geopark, Dong Van offers impressive karst formations, rock gardens, and traditional mountain tribe communities. We immerse ourselves in this landscape and stay overnight in a H'mong house with an authentic dinner. |
| Day 8 | Meo Vac - Tra Linh: Our journey today takes us to the northeast of Vietnam, through rugged mountains, valleys, and rice terraces, where we experience the authentic culture of the mountain tribes. Along the Nho Que River, we take a bamboo raft to Cao Bang, known for its breathtaking limestone peaks and picturesque villages. We follow a less-traveled route near the Chinese border and stay overnight in a green valley. |
| Day 9 | Tra Linh - Ban Gioc Waterfalls - Chi Vien: Today, we explore the Cao Bang Global Geopark and the impressive Ban Gioc Waterfalls on the border with China. After a break and boat tour there, we continue through Cao Bang's landscape. We spend the night on the Quay Son River, where water sports are possible. |
| Day 10 | Chi Vien - Ba Be: We leave the mountains and head for the Ba Be National Park. Its green lake, dense forests, and picturesque villages impress us. Before arriving, we enjoy a short ride with a view of the lake. |
| Day 11 | Ba Be - Ha Noi: Our route today mainly takes us through the landscape, starting in Ba Be and through the Tan Trao and Son Duong districts. As we approach the city of Hanoi, be prepared for heavier traffic. |
| Day 12 | Flight home or optional extension: At the end of our journey, you have the choice to fly home with memories that last a lifetime or continue the adventure with an optional extension in the fascinating Halong Bay. |
