Motorcycle trip to North East Vietnam

Motorcycle trip to North East Vietnam

Our motorcycle trip to the North East of Vietnam invites you to discover a region that has managed to conserve its natural and traditional riches: the limestone plateau of Dong Van, recognized by UNESCO as a global geographic park, the lake of Ba Be in the national park of the same name which will offer us the opportunity to discover the naturally enchanting and mystical decor of the karst cliffs surrounded by a primary jungle, ... You will enter a world of wild beauty where modern civilization is not yet very present.

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi

Stop At: Hanoi, Hanoi
This day marks the start of your motorcycle trip to Vietnam! Reception at Hanoi airport and arrival at the hotel. Walk through the gardens of the former governor's palace where the Ho Chi Minh house on stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda are located.

Passage through the ancient imperial citadel of Hanoi. We visit the flag tower, the Doan Mon gate, the relics of the Kinh Thien palace, the North gate and the museum of ethnology. After a short joint briefing, free time and rest at the hotel.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 2: Hanoi, Phuc An

Stop At: Thac Ba Lake, Yen Binh District, Yen Bai 320000 Vietnam
We are leaving Hanoi for the fresh country air towards Vinh Yen.

In the village of Dong Ty of the Dao ethnic group in white pants, we reach the shores of Thac Ba lake on foot through the rice fields to reach the small port. Discovery of one of the largest freshwater reservoirs in northern Vietnam and its peaks of ancient emergent hills forming hundreds of islets giving the appearance of a labyrinth. Possibility of swimming according to the season.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night with the locals.

Day 3: Phuc An, Bac Ha

Stop At: Bac Ha, Bac Ha, Lao Cai Province
By marrying the meanders of the lake on a motorbike, we cross some ethnic villages posed on the banks before joining Luc Yen known for his precious stones and his marble quarries. Continue north along the Chay river in more hilly terrain.

Direction Bac Ha crossing the village Nghia Do, we start a dizzying ascent on the mountainside to the village Ban Lien with its rice terraces to reach Bac Ha and spend the night.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night with the locals.

Day 4: Bac Ha, Ban Phung

Stop At: Bac Ha, Bac Ha, Lao Cai Province
Bac Ha is very well known for its weekly Sunday morning market. We see different ethnic groups Hmong flowers, Dao, Phu La, Tay (making up the local population), agricultural utensils, fabrics, vegetables, spices, buffaloes and pigs. Tasting of a few glasses of alcohol and local dishes.

We leave Bac Ha and its small ethnic villages for Ban Phung along the Chay river and the mountain peaks of the Chinese border to Coc Pai. Continue north on the winding road and the sublime landscapes to reach the village Ban Phung.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night with the locals.

Day 5: Ban Phung, Nam Dam

Stop At: Nậm Đăm, Tp. Hà Giang, Hà Giang, Vietnam
We take mountain curves at the edge of the ravine where the Chay river flows. Meet local people in other villages.

It is through the mountains, the valleys, the winding roads, the rice terraces that we cross the "door of heaven". Arrival in Quan Ba district of Ha Giang region (one of the poorest regions of the country developing for community tourism).
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night with the locals.

Day 6: Nam Dam, Dong Van

Stop At: Dong Van, Dong Van, Ha Giang Province
Today, our motorcycle trip to Vietnam brings us to the former palace of the Hmong king in Dong Van, where he still lived at the beginning of the last century.

On the road, the stops in the many villages crossed make us aware of the daily lives of white, blue Hmong. It is with malice that they agree to have their photo taken.

The village of Lung Tam makes us appreciate the craft activity of hemp weaving by the women of this village. A real delight for us who are used to synthetic materials! The organization of cooperatives, supported by an NGO, not only allows the transmission of a cultural heritage to be propagated over time, but also fully fits into the philosophy of sustainable development. Support for this type of project is unconditional in the face of low-cost "made in China" productions. The stakes are high !
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 7: Dong Van, Bao Lac

Stop At: Bao Lac, Bao Lac, Cao Bang Province
Morning visit to the Sunday market (if possible) in the old district of Dong Van. Women and men come with their horses and goods to sell or barter their produce and stock up on supplies for a week. We see the black Hmong, Han, Giay, Dao and Tay ethnic groups around traditional mountain dishes, enjoying a few glasses of rice or corn alcohol.

Continue towards the road in the desolate mountains with short, stony vegetation from Dong Van to Meo Vac. We contemplate from the Ma Li Peng pass the mountains with sharp contours and steep slopes as well as the stone fields which cover certain slopes followed by a vertiginous descent towards the south until our arrival in Bao Lac to sleep at the hotel.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 8: Bao Lac, Ba Be

Stop At: Ba Be, Ba Be, Bac Kan Province
Departure towards the village of Lolo de Coc Xa (on the fringes of the civilization that surrounds it) for a short walk. We then drive to Ba Be (natural park consisting of a lake surrounded by karst peaks covered with lush vegetation). The Tay, Dao and Mong ethnic groups live by fishing and growing rice around this lake. Arrival at the small village of Pac Ngoi of the Tay ethnic group and discovery of the surroundings on foot before settling in homestay.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night with the locals.

Day 9: Ba Be

Stop At: Ba Be, Ba Be, Bac Kan Province
Discovery of Ba Be Lake aboard a small motor boat. Ba Be is the largest natural lake in North Vietnam and it is surrounded by limestone cliffs and jungle. We are heading towards Puong cave, home to a large colony of bats.

Visit the Tay village of Ban Cam on the banks of the Nang river amidst thousands of butterflies frolicking on the banks. Before taking the boat, stroll to the Dau Dang waterfalls and visit the small An Ma temple on its tiny island. Return to Pac Ngoi village to spend a second night with the Tay family.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night with the locals.

Day 10: Ba Be, Hanoi

Stop At: Ba Be, Ba Be, Bac Kan Province
Detour to Hua Ma cave located 8 km southwest of the park. If possible, stroll through the local market before returning to Hanoi. We enjoy the landscapes one last time by visiting the tea plants (making the reputation of Thaï Nguyen) and a brick oven.

Arrival in the capital in the direction of the hotel with debriefing and free time to prepare for your return. Transfer to Hanoi airport.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.