Off-Road Motorbike Tours in Vietnam

Vietnam off-road motorcycle Tour Destinations and Route

The off-roads runs around northern Vietnam out of Hanoi to Ba Be Lake National Park, then north along the Chinese border to Ban Gioc waterfall and through Khuoi Khon village. From there the route heads west into Ha Giang province, crossing the Ma Pi Leng Pass to Dong Van before pushing through Hoang Su Phi, Xin Man, and Thong Nguyen. The second half crosses the Hoang Lien Son Mountains to Sapa, then southwest to Mu Cang Chai, Tram Tau, Moc Chau, and through Mai Chau valley before returning to Hanoi. Colorful hill-tribe markets, highland rice terraces, river crossings, and roads that see almost no outside traffic are part of every day on this circuit.

• Check out northern Vietnam motorcycle tours
• See Northwest Vietnam motorbike tours
• Here are Northeast Vietnam motorbike trips
• Ha Giang motorbike tours

Hanoi • Ba Be Lake • Khuoi Khon hamlet • Ban Gioc • Dong Van • Ha Giang • Hoang Su Phi • Thong Nguyen • Xin Man • Sapa • Mu Cang Chai • Tram Tau • Moc Chau • Mai Chau • Hanoi

Why my Off-Road Tours are Different?

Every off-road tour Hamid runs is private. The route adapts to your riding level and the daily conditions. If a track is unrideable after overnight rain, the day changes. If a section is well within your capability, the tracks opens up accordingly.

The tracks runs 60 to 70 percent off-road and 30 to 40 percent paved, with 5 to 8 riding hours each day. Trails include hard-packed tracks right next to the gorges, loose mountain roads, rocky single track, narrow border trails, and river crossings. The paved sections between cities give riders time to recover before the next off-road ride.

A full support crew rides with every tour: a lead guide who knows every section of this loop across all seasons, and a sweep mechanic as well (for group tours).

Skill Level and Riding Requirements

This tour is designed for experienced riders only. You should be comfortable on a manual motorcycle, 250 and 300 cc, on technical dirt before riding. Specifically, riders should be able to handle loose gravel and dirt climbs, steep down-hills, loaded bike handling on narrow single track, and basic river crossings without requiring individual instruction on each section.

Riders who are confident on tarmac but new to off-road terrain are not suited to this types of rides, instead they can request a custom trip. I can also offer shorter regional off-road tours in Ba Be and Cao Bang that are better suited to intermediate riders. Contact me to discuss which route fits your current level.

The Bikes

Off-road touring on the north is done on bikes that are most suitable for it. Road bikes and scooters are not offered on these tours. I dont have such a tours at all, sorry everyone.

Honda CRF250L is the primary beginner and intermediate off-road bike on the circuit. At 146 kilograms with 230mm of ground clearance and a low seat height, it suits a wide range of rider builds. The CRF250L handles all beginner and intermediate sections comfortably and is the easiest bike in the fleet to recover after a drop. Mechanical simplicity keeps roadside repairs fast when needed.

Honda CRF300L steps up with a larger engine at 152 kilograms. Ground clearance and seat height are comparable to the 250. The additional power makes a real difference on sustained steep climbs at altitude and on longer laterite sections. The CRF300L is the recommended choice for this circuit given the elevation, sustained dirt sections, and loaded touring weight across 12 days.

What to Expect on a Multi-Day Off-Road Tour

Off-road days are shorter in distance than road trips. Covering 80 to 120 km of technical dirt track takes as long as 200 kilometres of mountain roads. As a guide and rider, i build the daily schedule around the terrain, not the distance. Morning sections cover the most technical riding when energy and concentration are highest. Afternoon sections are generally lower gradient and less demanding.

The tour overnights in resorts and hotels in the larger towns and in village homestays on the more remote areas. Homestay accommodation is a room in a family home with meals prepared by the host family using veggies and rice from the farm. 

My tours runs for maximum of 5 riders per group on off-road tours. I am no a big fan of 20 riders per trip, this requires so much hassle and i dont recommend it at all. Private tours for 1 to 3 riders are available and give the guide more flexibility to tailor the technical sections to the group’s specific capability.

When to Ride

October through April is the suitable time for an off-road ride around the northern Vietnam. October and November are the best months. The summer is a time for riany season, it rains 203 hours a day, this is best suited for dirt trail riding.

Tour Pricing

Pricing is based on group size and bike type. All tours are private and small group rides are welcome. Solo riders, couples, and small groups of up to 5 riders are all welcome. Send your preferred dates, group size, and bike preference and Hamid will send a full quote within 24 hours.

What Is Included

Included: lead guide throughout, sweep rider with full parts kit, Honda CRF250L or CRF300L rental for the full tour duration, fuel on all riding days, accommodation throughout including village homestays, breakfast daily, picnic lunches on full off-road days, and all national park and nature reserve entry fees.

Not included: international flights, Vietnam visa, personal travel insurance with motorcycle and off-road activity coverage, dinners, and personal expenses. Travel insurance that specifically covers off-road motorcycle riding in Vietnam is mandatory. Standard travel policies frequently exclude off-road activity — confirm this with your insurer before departure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fit do I need to be for this tour?

Riding fit rather than gym fit. 5 to 8 hours on a loaded off-road bike across technical terrain is physically demanding on the arms, core, and legs. Riders who ride regularly and have done multi-day tours before adapt quickly. The rest day in Sapa is built into the itinerary specifically to manage accumulated fatigue across the first half of the circuit.

What is the accommodation like on the route?

Town sections use guesthouses ranging from basic to comfortable depending on what each location offers. The remote sections use village homestays: a room in a family home with meals prepared by the host family. If you have a strong preference for hotel accommodation throughout, contact Hamid before booking to discuss what is available on each section.

What is the best time of year for this tour?

October through April is the reliable window. October and November are the strongest months for track conditions and highland scenery. December through February is cold at altitude but dry and firm underwheel. March and April offer warming temperatures and good visibility. May through September is wet season and is only recommended for advanced riders who specifically request it.

Can I do this tour as a solo rider?

Yes. Solo riders are welcome on all private tours. The guide-to-rider ratio is better for solo and two-rider groups and Hamid can tailor the technical sections more precisely to a single rider’s capability. Contact us with your dates and we will plan around you.

Is this tour suitable if I have never ridden in Vietnam before?

Hamid runs a full pre-tour briefing before day one covering road rules, local riding norms, and what to expect on each terrain type. Experienced riders adapt within the first day. The circuit itself is not recommended as a first Vietnam ride for riders without strong off-road experience from elsewhere.

Can I ride my own bike on this tour?

In most cases, yes. Contact us with your bike’s make, model, and specification and Hamid will confirm whether it is suited to the planned terrain. A sweep rider still follows, but your own bike is welcome on tours where it is appropriate for the circuit.