Sapa and the Ha Giang Loop
Hanoi — Mai Chau — Phu Yen — Mu Cang Chai — Sapa — Bac Ha — Quan Ba — Dong Van — Ba Be Lake — Hanoi
Explore Vietnam’s highest mountains, hill tribe villages, ride along the Chinese border and witness the spectacular scenery of Ha Giang.
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Tour Overview
Pickup and return to airport in Hanoi
12-day motorcycle tour (including arrival and departure days)
1540 km (total distance)
Royal Enfield Himalayan 400
Pillion riders welcome
Tour Details
Itinerary
Arrival Day
We will pick you up from the airport and transfer to your hotel. The day is free to explore the city. Your tour guide will meet you in the afternoon for a full tour briefing, and perhaps a drink or two!
We take you out for dinner for your first taste of traditional Vietnamese food.
Day 1: Hanoi — Mai Chau
Although the traffic in Hanoi gets really busy, we’ll start at the edge of the city and quickly leave the traffic behind and enter the countryside towns to the south. After a couple of hours of small towns and farmland, we’ll be able to see the mountains ahead.
As we enter the area of the White Thai tribe we’ll stop for some hill tribe style lunch in a traditional wooden-framed building. As the road twists through the jungle-covered mountain, we’ll continue further into the mountains.
We’ll stop at the top of White Rock Mountain for a stunning view across the Mai Chau Valley, set amongst small villages of wooden stilt houses and traditional farming families. There, we can watch the sunset over the rice paddies and mountains.
Day 2: Mai Chau — Phu Yen
Leaving Mai Chau, we’ll get a great view over the vast Hoa Binh lake. Then it’s off to a hidden waterfall for a photo followed by the high mountain roads of Moc Chau around the hundreds of tight bends and steep cliffs. We’ll stop for White Thai style food for lunch at a local restaurant before heading down a beautiful valley to reach the banks of the giant Da river lake, which we’ll cross by ferry.
The road twists and turns its way along the banks of the lake past small fishing and farming villages. Expect to see the local people using small horses to carry their goods to market.
Finally, we’ll pass back into rice farming areas as we make our way to our hotel at Phu Yen.
Day 3: Phu Yen — Mu Cang Chai
We begin with a trip over Lung Lo mountain pass, where the Viet Minh made their way west to defeat the French in 1954. As we head north the mountains get steeper and we’ll have the opportunity to get views over the countryside. From here, we can climb up to a sleepy hill tribe village at the top of a mountain to get great views.
Next, we’ll have lunch at a hill tribe restaurant in Nghia Lo. As we continue north, the hills become steeper and the terraced rice paddies get steeper. This area is some of the best scenery in Vietnam.
We’ll arrive at our traditional hill tribe accommodation in a wooden stilt house surrounded by rice paddies and mountains, where local food & cold beer will complete the day.
Day 4: Mu Cang Chai — Sapa
The mountains get bigger and the road gets windier as we carry on north. We’ll finally come to the incredible O Quy Ho pass, the biggest climb of our tour. We’ll stop at the top, at 2035 meters and enjoy some fresh tea and dried buffalo meat with the local hill tribe folk who live up there. As we come down the other side of the mountain, we’ll stop for photos at the impressive 100 meter Silver Waterfall.
Continuing on, you’ll get views over the amazing Cat Cat valley and Vietnam’s highest mountain, Fan Si Pan. Finally, we’ll arrive in Sapa to have lunch and then the afternoon is free to explore the town.
Optional: ride the world’s longest cable car ride to the top of Fan Si Pan mountain (3140 meters), the highest point in Vietnam.
Day 5: Sapa Adventure Day
Today is a free day to explore the town and visit the local markets. Today you’ll have the option to visit the world’s longest cable car ride to the top of Fan Si Pan mountain at 3140 meters, the highest point in Vietnam.
Day 6: Sapa — Bac Ha
To start the day, a steep winding road leads us off down the mountain to the busy border town of Lao Cai where we can stop at the busy Chinese border gate. Following the border, the road twists and winds along the high peaks and steep valleys. You can see stepped rice paddies everywhere and tiny wooden houses halfway up the slopes.
We’ll wind along the side of the giant Chay river dam and then head towards Bac Ha town, which is famous for its hill tribe markets. Here the many different tribes of the area can be found bartering and swapping their goods.
Day 7: Bac Ha — Quan Ba
The palace of king Hoang A Tuong is well preserved on the outskirts of Bac Ha. He ruled the hill tribes of the area with French permission as he controlled the trade routes out of the mountains—notably the opium trade. Following that you’ll see more mountains, countryside, hill tribe villages, and more.
Heading into the giant Karst formation mountains of Ha Giang province, we’ll reach the top of Bac Ha mountain pass. You’ll see small roads and limestone Karst formation mountains as we head towards the beautiful Quan Ba mountains. Also known as ‘Heaven’s Gate’ this area is famous for secret grottos and caves as well as colourful plum and peach trees.
As you look over the valley you’ll be greeted by the two amusingly shaped hills famously known as the ‘stone breasts.’ Our rooms are in a traditional Red Dao village where you’ll be looked after by a local Dao family.
Day 8: Quan Ba — Dong Van
To the north, the road is like a rollercoaster winding over the Karst formation mountains up towards China. Along the way, we’ll visit the old palace of the Hmong emperor. Surrounded by steep cliffs, the Hmong were unassailable to both French and Chinese.
We’ll follow all the way to the Lunc Cu tower, marking the northernmost point In Vietnam. Climbing the tower gives you views across the border into China. Next to our hotel is the old French fort set on top of a high cliff. The stairs are steep and many, but it’s worth it for the panoramic views of the area.
Day 9: Dong Van — Ba Be Lake
We’ll leave on the Ma Pi Leng mountain pass, climbing over 1500 meters, surely one of the best roads in Vietnam. We’ll make many stops to look out over the steep cliffs and high valleys.
Heading south will take us on small roads through steep-cliffed mountains. Carrying on, we’ll head into Ba Be national park and make our way to the wooden stilt house we will stay in. We may have time to jump on a boat to explore the lake. Waterfalls, caves, jungle and mountains make this a truly beautiful place.
Day 10: Ba Be lake — Hanoi
Leaving the lake, we have hills and countryside for the first half of the day. In the afternoon you’ll gradually see the towns get bigger and the roads more crowded, but we’ll take the easiest route back to the city.
When we reach the city centre we finish the tour with a nice cold beer!
Departure Day
Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel with your group. Transfer to the airport is included.
Gear Provided
HELMET
High-quality full-face and open-face helmets
GLOVES
Durable riding gloves for grip and protection
RIDING JACKETS
Protective motorcycle jackets with armor
RAIN GEAR
Waterproof gear for wet weather
LUGGAGE SOLUTIONS
20 litre dry bags and bungee cables
MULTIPLE SIZES*
*Subject to availability
Pricing
Tour Price
Pillion Price
Private Accommodation Supplement
Private Tour (solo rider)
All prices given are in $USD (United States Dollars)
Inclusions
- As-new condition motorcycle
- Experienced, English-speaking tour guide
- All fuel, oil, spare parts, tools as required
- All meals while on tour
- Snacks
- Water & soft drinks while on tour
- First aid kit
- Accommodation fees while on tour
- Entry fees, tolls and other ‘on the road’ fees
- Waterproof jacket & pants
- Tour mechanic
- Pick up & return to hotel (or airport)
What You'll Ride
Royal Enfield Himalayan 400
Engine
Engine Type
Displacement
Bore X Stroke
Ignition
Fuel System
Compression Ratio
Transmission
Starter
Gearbox
Wheels, Suspension and Brakes
Front Suspension
Rear Suspension
Front Brakes
Rear Brakes
Front Tyres
Rear Tyres
Dimensions
Wheelbase
Seat Height
Ground Clearance
Kerb Weight
Fuel Capacity
Dimensions
Gallery
FAQ
When is the best time of year?
Is prior off-road or adventure riding experience required?
What sort of accommodation will we have?
How much luggage can we bring?
What equipment do you provide?
Are there any ‘hidden costs’?
Great company, from start to finish. Tony our tour guide was excellent, accommodation, food and tour was amazing. Highly recommended them for your next adventure.
Guiden Viet was very good at it and a very happy biker.
The upgrades like the crash guards and the reinforced luggage racks they add to their Himalayans (impressive bikes) are welcome additions.
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