Ride Remote North Vietnam

( seven Days )

Ride Remote North Vietnam: 7-Day Motorbike Adventure through Mountains and Minority Villages

“When the road turns to river, and the ferry is a wooden plank, you know you’re travelling right.”

— Unknown

ROAD TRIP DETAILS:

Total Distance: 740km approx. (route may alter based on the weather)
Duration: This Seven day loop is only availble as a self drive experience. For more information about the legality of driving in Vietnam please click here.
Route: a mountainous loop through Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien Phu and Son La Provinces.
Road Conditions: paved back-roads, some extended offroad sections, light traffic, ferry crossings
Travel Style: Cultural immersion and active adventure.
Accomodation: Camping, homestays and lodges.
Scenery: Mountain passes, green tea plantations, rivers, cinamon and rubber plantation, rice terraces, minority villages, remote mountain lakes, coffee plantations.
Maximum: 4 people

Map showing the seven-day Ride Remote North Vietnam motorbike loop through Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien Phu, and Son La provinces.

Explore Vietnam’s Remote Highlands on Two Wheels

A Cultural and Scenic Journey across Rice Terraces, Coffee Plantations, and Mountain Passes

This seven day loop is for experienced riders only. There are two days with a mix of challenging terrain. Off road riding experience is essential and previous riding experience in Vietnam is highly recommended.

Accommodation involves camping (one or two nights) and staying over in local tribal homestays, making this ride ideal for those wanting a uniquely immersive and experiential travel experience with lots of culture.

This epic road trip is one of the most enriching cultural experiences in Vietnam. Our journey meanders through rice terraces, along the shores of great lakes, through coffee plantations, green tea fields as well as rubber and cinnamon woodland. Beginning in Lao Cai, the loop passes through Son La, Dien Bien Phu and Lai Chau provinces and into some of the most remote villages in the northern highlands. We will spend time with the Flower Dao, Lu, Black Thai, Hmong, Red Dao and Lan Tien ethnic minority groups.

This seven day loop is a great way of discovering some of Vietnam's greatest secrets. Weather is always difficult to predict in this region, but spring (March - May) and autumn (September - October) are probably the best months for warmth, light, and colour. The lakes are at their most beautiful between October and March while June to August see the rice terraces at their most beautiful. These months are also typically warmer and wetter.

Our recommended months for this loop would be October, November, January, February and March.

Culture and Landscape:
The four Northern provinces are known for their beautiful natural landscapes, including mountains, forests, and great lakes. The area is also home to diverse ethnic communities, each with its own unique cultural traditions. The district is a popular destination for those interested in exploring the cultural heritage and natural beauty of northern Vietnam.

About this route:
If you’re lucky and the weather is good, then the scenery on the loop is fabulous. The grandeur and scale of the mountains and valleys of the north is unmatched anywhere in Vietnam. The rice terraces are higher, steeper, more dramatic, and less busy than other areas of Vietnam.

Includes:

English Speaking local guide
Motorbike hire
Fuel
Homestay accomodation
Camping equipment
All meals, snacks and refreshments
Entry fees and ferries

Excludes:

Personal Health / Travel Insurance
Motorcycle Insurance

Prices - Ride Remote North Vietnam 7 Day Experience

2 people - $850 per person

3 people - $795 per person

4 people - $735 per person

Community based tourism (CBT) is a form of tourism where local communities are directly involved in developing, managing, and benefiting from tourism activities within their area. It emphasises community ownership, cultural preservation, and sustainable practices, offering visitors authentic experiences and fostering economic opportunities for residents.

“What begins as a ride ends as a memory etched in tea leaves, fire smoke and quiet laughter”

— Unknown

Icons and text promoting values like investing locally, saving energy and water, protecting wildlife, respecting culture, and ethics, with a partial silhouette of a group of people at the end.

Lush green terraced rice fields in a mountainous landscape under a partly cloudy sky with the text 'Terms and Conditions' overlaid.

Please travel with respect. Dress modestly, support local crafts, protect nature, be patient, and stay safe. Connect, learn, and contribute positively during your ETHOS journey. Please refer to our terms for booking conditions for all ETHOS experiences.