GOLDEN SEASON IN THE NORTHWEST
YÊN BÁI – LÀO CAI – HÀ GIANG
5 days
With this motorbike tour chasing golden rice in Mù Cang Chải, Y Tý, and Hoàng Su Phì, you’ll embrace the golden rice season under the North’s autumn sky or the water-filled terraces of the highlands.
HEAVEN OF AUTUMN is a special tour themed around the golden hues of northern autumn: white clouds, golden sun, and terraced fields awash in yellow across hillsides and highland villages. This program brings us to the North’s most beautiful terraces: Yên Bái (Mù Cang Chải), Lào Cai (Y Tý), Hà Giang (Bản Phùng – Hoàng Su Phì, Xà Phìn…) where the rice gleams gold at dawn and dusk, captivating every heart with the beauty of northern autumn.
DETAILED ITINERARY
- HANOI – MÙ CANG CHẢI, 280km
5:00 AM: Gather at MotoTours Asia garage to gear up!
5:30 AM: Depart
8:00 AM: Stop for breakfast and hear safety briefing from the lead guide.
Ride QL32 through Mường Lò—one of the four largest rice bowls in the Northwest—then stop for lunch featuring Tú Lệ specialties.
In the afternoon, pass through Lìm Thái and Lìm Mông to conquer Khau Phạ Pass, then explore and photograph the famous La Pán Tẩn terraces at sunset.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: homestay
- MÙ CANG CHẢI – Y TÝ, 200km
At dawn, wake up early to chase golden morning light on Mù Cang Chải’s terraces.
8:30 AM: Breakfast in Mù Cang Chải town center.
Farewell Mù Cang Chải. Continue on QL32 along the Hoàng Liên Sơn foothills—villages, paddy fields—and stop at Tân Uyên tea hills before conquering Trạm Tôn (Ô Quy Hồ) Pass.
Detour from QL4 onto Tả Giàng Phình road to discover stunning terraces and the Lô Lô village, then enter Y Tý’s terrace kingdom.
At sunset, explore Y Tý’s terraces bathed in golden light.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: homestay
- Y TÝ IN GOLD
Early morning, hunt clouds at Y Tý’s top viewpoints, then return for breakfast and ride to borderland villages and terraces of various minority groups.
In the afternoon, head to Tả Cồ Thàng to visit a traditional Hà Nhì village, then descend along the Red River to Lùng Pô at marker 92—where the river enters Vietnam—before passing A Lù’s legendary terraces and returning to homestay.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: homestay
- Y TÝ – SUỐI THẦU – BẢN PHÙNG, 200km
Today is long and the best views await in the afternoon, so rise early, chase clouds, and depart promptly!
Ride to Lào Cai, then through Bắc Hà to Suối Thầu plateau for photos. In the afternoon, explore Hà Giang’s wild frontier before reaching Bản Phùng to photograph terraces at sunset.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: Chí Tài Homestay
- BẢN PHÙNG – XÀ PHÌN – HÀ GIANG, 180km
At dawn, chase clouds over Bản Phùng and enjoy sunrise, then breakfast. Ride along West Côn Lĩnh’s ridges to Xà Phìn—Dao village with superb terraces—then explore more northeast slope terraces before returning to Tha village for bathing, rest, and farewell party.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
End of program.
Return shuttle to Hanoi departs at 20:00–21:00.
TOUR PRICE: (VND per person)
| SELF-RIDE OR PILLION ON OUR BIKE | PRICE | |
| BIKE TYPE | Honda 125 | 9,999,000 |
| Honda XR/CRF 150 | 12,854,000 | |
| Honda CRF 250–300 | 15,499,000 | |
| Honda CB 500 X | 17,999,000 | |
| BMW F800 GS | 27,999,000 | |
| TWO RIDERS ON ONE BIKE | ||
| BIKE TYPE | Honda 125 | 8,888,000 |
| Honda XR/CRF 150 | 9,999,000 | |
| Honda CRF 250–300 | 11,499,000 | |
| Honda CB 500 X | 12,999,000 | |
| BMW F800 GS | 17,999,000 | |
| RIDE YOUR OWN BIKE | ||
| ENGINE CAPACITY | Up to 125cc | 8,649,000 |
| 126–150cc | 8,843,000 | |
| 151–300cc | 9,002,000 | |
| 301–500cc | 9,134,000 | |
| Above 500cc | 9,620,000 | |
- WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Motorbike rental from Hanoi per itinerary
- Truck transport of bikes 120 km out of/returning to Hanoi
- Private car transport for passengers 120 km out of/returning to Hanoi
- Fuel for all rides
- Professional tour guide with 15–30 years of moto tour experience, expert in routes, destinations, cultures, and safety
- Mechanic riding along with spare parts and tools to keep bikes in top condition
- Professional protective gear (helmets, BMW armor). Limited supply—late bookings use separate protectors.
- All meals per itinerary plus farewell dinner on final night
- Homestay accommodations (2 per room; mixed genders triple share)
- Bottled water daily
- Local rice wine at dinners (no alcohol at breakfasts/lunches)
- Travel insurance
- WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:
- Entrance fees at photo stops (pay on site)
- Other beverages
- Repairs due to rider error (parts cost per Hanoi garage rates)
- Tips for guide and mechanic
- Unlisted extras and force majeure costs
- TOUR PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS
- Drivers must hold valid license for chosen bike
- Protective gear mandatory throughout tour
- No high heels or skirts for riders or pillions
- Environmental care: carry and collect litter at stops
- No single-use plastics—bring reusable bottles
- Respect local cultures and customs
- Follow guide’s instructions at all times