North-West Vietnam Motorbike Tour 4 Days

In the morning we start our motorbiking tour by leaving Hanoi on dyke roads to avoid the heavy traffic and breaking out of the delta plains and we take a drive westward to Mai Chau.

Mai Châu is a mountainous region located in Hòa Bình Province, approximately 135 km from Hanoi and 65 km from Hòa Bình town. This idyllic valley is embraced by emerald mountains and clouds, making it an retreat centre in North Vietnam.

There is an estimated 48,570 inhabitants including 7 Ethnic Minority groups. ‘White Thai’, ‘H’Mong’, ’Zao’, ’Muong’, ’Tay’, ’Hoa’, and ‘Viet’. Mai Chau consists mainly of the ‘White Thai’ people. The Ban Lac People have Thai ancestors that settled in the North-Western area of Vietnam. The two tribes, White Thai and Black Thai, settled in the same area and make up the largest ethnic population of the region.

The Mai Châu area is well known for its stilt houses. The type of stilt houses, or pile dwellings, they construct are called Thai stilt houses and are made of bamboo and timber. These houses are elevated 10–12 feet off the ground in order to avoid water damage and shelter animals from the elements.

Summary:
Distance: 160 km

Accommodation: Home-stay

Say goodbye to beautiful and peaceful Mai Chau Village, we head to Road 6 and turn to ride along Black River to Phu Yen Town (in Son La Province) The Black River originated in Yunnan province of China. From China, the river’s course passes through the Vietnamese provinces of Lai Châu (where it forms part of the border with Điện Biên Province), Sơn La and Hòa Bình. The Black River is the most important tributary of the Red River, which it joins in Tam Nông District near Việt Trì inPhú Thọ Province.

We can visit two large hydroelectric plants on the Black River. The Hòa Bình Dam was completed in 1994. The Sơn La Dam was completed in 2012 and became the largest hydroelectric producer in Southeast Asia. Construction of the Lai Châu Dam in the Mường Tè District of Lai Châu Province was started on January 5, 2011. The total installed power capacity of these three dams is 5520 megawatts

Summary:
Distance: 150 km

Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast, we keep motorbiking toward Thac Ba Lake. Thac Ba Lake located in the Yen Bai province, it is one of the three largest artificial lakes in Vietnam. Created since the commissioning of the hydropower plan in 1971, it covers an approximate area of 20,000 square meters for a length of 80 km.

Thac Ba lake has more than 1300 islands and numerous caves hence it get the name: Halong on mountain. A cruise on Thac Ba lake give visitors a chance to immerse in pure nature of fresh air and magnificent landscape.

Around the lake you will encounter some ethnic minorities such as Tay, Nung, Thai, Muong, Lan Cao, Kho Mu, Phu La, Giay etc…

Summary:
Distance: 180 km

Accommodation: Home-stay

After breakfast we ride southeast on Highway 2 and then branch off to the sleepy town of Phu Tho. We follow the edge of the Red River along the dyke, almost to the point where it merges with the Black River after which they flow together to Hanoi.

By now we are very much in the lowlands of the delta plains and the north’s main agricultural areas. Harvest time here is a sea of activity. Crossing the Black River by bridge, we pass through Son Tay and then return to Hanoi on the highway. We should be back to Hanoi before rush-hour (4 pm) because traffic’s getting busier and busier.

Summary:
Distance: 190 km

Accommodation: N/A