BMW Motorcycle Tour Vietnam - Tribes and Trails
During the period of Vietnamese feudalism, the Northwest was a faraway mountainous and secret area. Stories of the people from these remote areas were more like fairy tales characterized by mystical lands populated by nomadic tribes having such a special relationship with the environment. These people were considered savages by the rest of the nation and the more developed populations in the area. These "savages", living in a large area from the Northwest of Vietnam to Northern Laos, Southern Myanmar, Southern China, and Northern Thailand depended entirely on the local wildlife for their subsistent living with little trade with groups outside the area. It was only when the French colonized Vietnam and ventured into this mystical area that the inhabitant's secrets and wildfires were revealed to the outside world for the first time.
Once you have had the opportunity to visit the Northwest, you have the opportunity to see a variety of ethnic diversifications which exist nowhere else in the world. The Northwest is the home to heroic historical figures; known through historical stories honoring their triumphs in the battle against nature and its beasts from deep in the forest. The Northwest is also the home of unique ethnic mountain tribes. This is the perfect opportunity to discover the intimate culture of various minority groups, such as the Thai, Muong, Dao, Lu, Khang, H'mong, Xa Phang, Ha Nhi, La Hu, Kho Mu...It is also a unique chance for you to learn about the history of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.
| Start/Finish | Hanoi/Hanoi, Vietnam |
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| Nearest Airport | Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi, Vietnam |
| Duration | 14 days |
| Route | Mostly doesn't exit on Google maps |
| Accommodetions | Luxury |
| Rest Day | 1 day arrival prepare for the trip + 2 days Lan Ha Bay by luxury private traditional junk |
| Riding Day | 11 days |
| Highlights | - BMW Motorcycle tour Vietnam with R1200 GS, F800 GS, F650 GS and R1200 GS sidecars - Single trails riding - Remote villages - Experience many different mountain hill tribes in the North of Vietnam - No tourist - River crossing - Boat trip, bamboo rafts - Explore Lan Ha Bay with private luxury traditional junk |
| Minium Number of Participants | 5 |
1. Hanoi arrival
2. Hanoi - Co Lung village, 200km (125miles)
3. Co Lung - Hang Kia, 180km (112miles)
4. Hang Kia - Song Ma, 210km (130miles)
5. Song Ma - Muong Phang, 180km (112miles)
6. Muong Phang - Na Hi, 150km (93miles)
7. Na Hi - Muong Te, 180km (112miles)
8. Muong Te - Tua Chua, 170km (107miles)
9. Tua Chua - Nam So, 160km (100miles)
10. Nam So - Muong Chai, 180km (112miles)
11. Muong Chai - Muong Thai, 200km (125miles)
12. Muong Thai - Hanoi, 180km (112miles)
13. Ha Noi - Lan Ha Bay (bus, overnight on boat)
14. Lan Ha Bay - Noi Bai airport for departure (bus)
| Day 1. Hanoi arrival | Our car and tour guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to Hoa Binh Hotel – the first French Colonial Hotel in Indochina – after checking in to the hotel, it’s your time to enjoy Hanoi on your own. - Welcome dinner party - Hoa Binh Hotel *** |
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| Day 2. Hanoi - Co Lung, 200km (120km transfer by car) |
8:30 AM, the bus will pick you up at the hotel and transfer for about 120km to a beautiful village of Muong ethnic in the northwest area of Cuc Phuong National Park. The village is located near the Buoi River where all the bikes were transferred in the early morning. We will have lunch with the family and then prepare for our adventure. We will quickly head up to the mountains riding in a very remote area to a village of Thai ethnic in the headquarter of Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa Province. - B, L, D - Thai ethnic family |
| Day 3. Co Lung - Hang Kia, 180km (112miles) |
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| Day 4. Hang Kia - Song Ma, 210km (130miles) |
It’s a long day drive today with many offroad options but we will mainly follow the remote area bordering Laos. Today there will be many ethnic villages and beautiful flowers but rock and dirt roads will make an awesome day.
- Song Ma Hotel |
| Day 5. Song Ma - Muong Phang, 180km (112miles) |
In the morning we will ride on a small, paved road to discover the Sop Cop district then follow small dirt, offroad through mountains with many mountain hill tribe villages. In the afternoon offroad day most of the time, offroad with a lot of fun, another very remote day. When arrive to the family, enjoy a traditional herb tube bath, after dinner, the villagers will come to our family to perform their traditional dances. - B, L, D - Thai ethnic homestay |
| Day 6. Muong Phang - Dien Bien - Ha Hi, 150km (93 miles) |
In the morning, visit the historical sites of Dien Bien such as the Headquarters of Viet Minh, De Castries bunk during the Dien Bien Phu Victory 1954. After lunch in the city, we ride to Na Hi, a very remote village where we may ride to explore the area with many mountain hill tribes.
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| Day 7. Na Hi - Muong Te, 180km (112miles) |
Today, we will ride through the forest with dirt roads across the mountains, there will be a very small single trail between Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces. In the late afternoon, the road following the Black River is one of the best parts for riding a motorcycle in Vietnam.
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| Day 8. Muong Te - Tua Chua, 170km (106miles) |
Following the Black River ride to the beautiful small town of Muong Lay for lunch. After lunch, we head up the Xa Tong Passes then follow the single trail on top of the mountain then go down to Pa Ham where we will take a boat trip to the other side of the river to continue riding on the single trail to Ta Phin. This is paradise on earth.
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| Day 9. Tua Chua - Nam So, 160km (100miles) |
In the afternoon, we take a boat trip to the other side of the river and follow the mountains to Nam So for the night.
- Local homestay
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| Day 10. Nam So - Muong Chai, 180km (112miles) |
Keep following the small back road and offroad through mountains the Black River with amazing scenery. The day ends up with a boat trip to a village of Thai ethnic at the beautiful location of the Black River. - B, L, D - Thai ethnic homestay
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| Day 11. Muong Chai - Ta Xua - Muong Thai, 200km (125miles) |
Another great offroad through a remote area, great fun offroad riding along the Black River then heading up the mountain to Ta Xua. In the afternoon we will ride down the mountain to Phu Yen on offroad for the night at a beautiful retreat. - Ban Mai Retreat - B, L, D |
| Day 12. Muong Thai - Hanoi, 180km (112miles) |
- B, Farewell dinner hosted by the clients to thank the team - Hoa Binh Hotel *** |
| Day 13. Hanoi - Lan Ha Bay by bus |
8:00 AM our bus will pick you up at the hotel to transfer to Ha Long Bay city but from here our traditional cruise will quickly avoid the busy boat traffic of Ha Long Bay to cruise to Lan Ha Bay. In the afternoon kayak during the sunset - B, L, D - Overnight on the private traditional boat |
| Day 14. Hanoi departure |
12:30 the cruise drops us off to the mainland and our bus will transfer you to Noi Bai international airport for departure.
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We are in a mysterious land with spectacular scenery of the mountains and Black River, after visiting a village with many old tea trees (400-500 years old) we will ride down to the river for lunch.
Following the Black River ride through the offroad and forest to Phu Tho province then backroad to Ho Binh City for lunch. Our bus and trucks are waiting there to transfer back to Hanoi to avoid the traffic.
After breakfast, we keep exploring the spectacular scenery of Lan Ha Bay, and lunch on the way return to Ha Long Bay.- Tour deposit:
- To confirm your booking, we ask for a deposit of 50% of the tour price into our bank account.
- Tour Payment:
- 4 weeks before the tour starts.
- cancellation: If you deposit for the tour but must cancel.
- 4 weeks before the tour starts: we will return 100% of your deposit amount.
- 4 weeks to 2 weeks before the tour starts: 50% of the deposit will be refunded.
- Less than 2 weeks before the tour starts: no refund.
- During the tour if some out leave the group: no refund.
Our prices depend on the number of clients in the group, the price in this table are based on 5-6 people/group. If you are from a group of more than 6 people, please contact us for better prices.
If you don't know how to drive. Never mind, contact us for pillion/passenger prices.
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| Tour price per person | sharing room, riding 2 up |
sharing room, riding solo |
single room, riding solo |
| BMW R1200 GS Sidecar | $ 12826 | $ 9488 | $ 9863 |
| BMW R1200 GS | $ 11801 | $ 8463 | $ 8838 |
| BMW F800 GS | $ 10754 | $ 7416 | $ 7791 |
| Honda CRF 250 L | $ 7999 | $ 4691 | $ 4999 |
| Honda CRF 150 | $ 7513 | $ 4176 | $ 4550 |
| Honda 110-125cc | $ 6999 | $ 3665 | $ 3999 |
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
- All meals during the trip.
- All accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary or similar (depending on the time tour confirmed): no private room available at the homestay.
- 2 days 1-night luxury private traditional junk cruise trip in Lan Ha Bay with 1 overnight on the boat (there is no single room on the boat)
- Experience tour guide leader (English – French – Vietnamese) riding his own bike.
- Single entry visa on arrival for Vietnam (if needed).
- Motorcycle rental as mentioned in the price details.
- All fuel needed for the ride.
- Transfer all the bikes out of Hanoi for 120km (for the first day) and 100km (for the last day) to avoid traffic in Hanoi.
- Private bus to transfer the group out of the city for 120km (for the first day) and 100km (for the last day riding) to avoid traffic in Hanoi.
- Return airport transfers (from Noi Bai international airport to the hotel in Hanoi and back after the trip).
- An experienced BMW mechanic riding his own bike with tools and spare parts.
- Support truck for luggage, cooking, and picnic equipment during the motorbike trip.
- 2 hours boat trip on the Black River.
- All sightseeing tickets during the motorbike tour.
- Traditional dance performed by Thai ethnic when staying in Muong Phang Homestay
- All admission fees, and permit for any restricted area during the trip.
- Traditional dance organized by local villagers when staying in a Thai village.
- An experienced chef coming along on the truck to take care of the meals during the trip, making our own picnic lunches sometimes), and preparing all breakfast at homestay.
- A Coffee machine comes along with fresh Arabica coffee to serve you all daytime.
- All breakfast with fresh fruit juices, coffee…
- Fresh water – bottled provided in our support truck for unlimited.
- Rice-wine for dinners
- Any damage to the bike during the trip
- WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICES?
- Almost everything is included in the tour price, you just need to pay one and enjoy the trip without digging into your pocket during the trip.
- International airfares, personal insurance for motorcycle accidents in Vietnam, personal expenses, and tips for the guiding team are not included in the price.
What did they say?
Great experience, best trip ever done in my life