Northern Vietnam is full fantastic driving routes as well as amazing scenery and fascinating hill tribe culture. When touring here make sure to get to one or more of these roads. Doing so will mean you are best placed to experience the REAL Vietnam
Route: Huoi Toong to Nam Len
Distance: 30km
Province: Dien Bien
Scenery: Small rocky karst outcrops, huge mountains, small valleys, ethnic villages
Road Conditions: reasonable tarmac with some potholes, high granite plateau scenery, some cool switchback sections, light traffic
Best time of year: Spring Feb to Apr
When to avoid: Summer rains May/ Aug
Best bike for this: CB500x or XR150
Where to stay: Nowhere
You may be taking this road if you are heading to Tua Chua
Tua Chua and it is a great one to get off the highway. First, you wind your way up a steep hillside through small ethnic villages to then come out on a higher plateau with great views. The road is sealed and easy to drive. It is a fun drive and there is lots of local culture to see on the road and you pass more small villages. You then come back down to the river but have some great views just before that.
There is nowhere to stay at either end of the route and you will likely have been in Dien Bien Phu or Tua Chua and on your way between the two.
At each end of the route there are small roadside shops where you can get some drinks or snacks, but nothing really substantial.
Route: Si Ma Cai to Muong Khuong
Distance: 60km
Province: Lao Cai
Scenery: High Mountains, deep valleys, small ethnic villages, rural markets
Road Conditions: Some newly built smooth tarmac mixed in with older winding tarmac road. Minimal traffic
Best time of year: Spring March to April
When to avoid: Summer rains July / August
Best bike for this: CB500x or XR150
Where to stay: Small Hotels / Nha Nghi
This is a very wild area as there is very little in the way of tourist traffic and it is not on route to anywhere in particular. The border routes to China are mostly sealed up so there is very little traffic. Although, you might like to nip up to Border Post No. 163
Border Post no. 163. The whole area is dotted with ethnic markets; one for each day of the week in fact. If you hit a spot of good weather you can have a wonderful time winding your way through the small villages on small track detours or careering down steep mountains on smooth tarmac roads. It’s great fun. A closer inspection of the map will reveal some great winding routes that link out and back to the DT153. Try some.
There are small hotels in both Si Ma Cai and Muong Khuong. Do not expect much but they are enough to keep you warm, dry and showered. You may consider bunking in Bac Ha and making this part of a loop day trip.
Good food is a little more tricky to find, but there are some basic eateries in both towns.
Route: Cam Nhan to Xuan Long
Distance: 15km
Province: Yen Bai
Scenery: Winding lakeside road, small villages, forested hillsides.
Road Conditions: narrow winding road along the lake, some remnants of landslide and some mud, easy to drive.
Best time of year: Autumn – Sep – Nov
When to avoid: Summer / Monsoon
Best bike for this: XR150 or Honda Future
Where to stay: Vu Linh
This little strip of road is often overlooked by the motorcycle renter as Google will route you to go over the mountain on the main road. This route takes you on a small winding road along the lake shore so that you get good views, with minimal traffic and a more fun ride than the busy main road. You will find Unmarked Bridge, which is good for a photo.
Take your time and enjoy the curving route, but just beware that there IS traffic so stay alert.
There are plenty of homestays in the village of Vu Linh, Thac Ba and you can easily find a bed in a shared dorm or a private room with en suite bathroom.
The only food option is to eat in your homestay and they will cook up a large selection of meat, fish, and veggies for a real feast in the evening. Just watch out for the rice wine as the locals do enjoy a tipple.
Route: Cao Thuong to Huy Giap
Distance: 60km
Province: Bac Kan / Cao Bang
Scenery: Forested hillsides, deep valleys, ethnic villages
Road Conditions: mixture of wide smooth tarmac and small tarmac road. Some light muddy sections and roadworks.
Best time of year: Spring Feb – Apr or Autumn Sep – Nov
When to avoid: Summer may to Aug
Best bike for this: CB500x or XR150
Where to stay: Ba Be Lake / Bao Lac Town
This road offers you a range of conditions from larger tarmac roads to smaller country roads. This passes through valleys alongside rivers and climbs higher over the mountains where the road gets smaller. You eventually drive through some forest plantation on the smaller road and encounter some sections of mud and construction. There are a few small towns and plenty of little villages on the route. There is also a reasonable amount of traffic either between the towns or carrying lumber out of the forests. Anyone wants a more challenging ride can head up to Son Lo market and take the road north. You will find mroe dirt that way.
You will have been staying in Ba Be Lake and there is a wide variety of accommodation options to be had. Your final destination is likely to be Bao Lac where there are a couple of hotel options or some homestay options further out from the town.
Along the route you can find restaurants in the larger towns and there is a noodle shop at the junction in Huy Giap
Route: Ba Nang to Quinh Son
Distance: 50km
Province: Lang Son
Scenery: Small rocky karst outcrops, open valleys, small villages
Road Conditions: reasonable tarmac with some potholes, areas of grass to play on. some hilly sections, light traffic
Best time of year: Nov – Mar
When to avoid: Summer / Monsoon
Best bike for this: CB500x or XR150
Where to stay: Quinh Son Village / Bac Son Town
This fantastic stretch of road is around 50km long and will take you off the main road QL1 up to the small village of Quinh Son, near Bac Son town. It starts off with some heavy traffic and a few small villages but quickly becomes a quiet country lane bordered by fruit plantations on the rocky outcrops and the occasional valley full of paddy. It is tarmac in reasonable condition. There are a few turn offs that lead into dead ends but are worth exploring if you have time. You could spend a little time in Thao Nguyen Grassland where you can play a little in the dirt.
There are plenty of homestays in the village of Quinh Son and also one or two motel type hotels that are cheap and cheerful in Bac Son Town.
The homestays tend to have cheaper dorm beds available but the food is a little more expensive. However, making the trip over to town from Quinh Son can be a hassle, especially if the weather is bad.
The small hotels in town have private rooms, air con, ensuite bathrooms but you then need to hunt down decent food.
Tours
Our tours will take you on the smaller roads that not many people know about. You will get to see the real Vietnam up close and personal in more remote areas. With our experienced guides and mechanics you need not be concerned as you will be in safe hands and can relax and enjoy your trip.
Tax Code: 0105306316
International Tour Operator License: 01-2010/2022/TCDL-GP LHQT
15a Ng. 12 Đ. Đặng Thai Mai, Quảng An, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
© 2025 Rentabike Vietnam. This site is subject to copyright. No unauthorised reproduction is permitted.
Engine Type
air-liquid cooled, twin cylinder, DOHC, boxer engine
Displacement
1255 cc
Bore X Stroke
102.5 mm x 76 mm
Ignition
FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
12.5:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 37 mm
Rear Suspension
single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever
Front Brakes
dual disc brake, floating brake discs, diameter 305 mm, 4-piston radial calipers
Rear Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 276 mm, double-piston floating caliper
Front Tyres
120/70 R19
Rear Tyres
170/60 R17
Wheelbase
1514 mm
Seat Height
850 mm
Ground Clearance
790 mm
Kerb Weight
249 kg
Fuel Capacity
20 litres
Dimensions
2207 mm (L) x 952.5mm (W) x 1430 mm (H)
Engine Type
air cooled, OHC, single cylinder
Displacement
149 cc
Bore X Stroke
57.3 mm x 57.8 mm
Ignition
CDI
Fuel System
20 mm piston valve carburettor
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Starter
electric with kick starter backup
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
telescopic fork, 180 mm axle travel
Rear Suspension
single shock swing arm, 150 mm axle travel
Front Brakes
dual piston caliper, 240 mm disc
Rear Brakes
mechanical drum
Front Tyres
90/90 19
Rear Tyres
110/90 17
Wheelbase
1362 mm
Seat Height
825 mm
Ground Clearance
243 mm
Kerb Weight
129 kg
Fuel Capacity
12 litres
Dimensions
2091 mm (L) x 811 mm (W) x 1125 mm (H)
Engine Type
liquid cooled parallel-twin four stroke
Displacement
470 cc
Bore X Stroke
67 mm x 66.8 mm
Ignition
PGMI – FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
41 mm SFF-BP USD Forks
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
dual 296 mm discs with 4 piston calipers; ABS
Rear Brakes
240 mm disc; ABS
Front Tyres
110/80R19M/C (59H)
Rear Tyres
160/60R17M/C
Wheelbase
1445 mm
Seat Height
830 mm
Ground Clearance
180 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
17.7 litres
Dimensions
2,155 mm (L) x 830 mm (W) x 1,410 mm (H)
Engine Type
single cylinder, DOHC, liquid cooled
Displacement
286 cc
Bore X Stroke
76 mm x 63 mm
Ignition
Full Transistor Digital
Fuel System
PGM-FI electronic fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
43 mm telescopic upside down
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
Rear Brakes
220 mm disc, single piston caliper
Front Tyres
80/100 21
Rear Tyres
120/80 18
Wheelbase
1455 mm
Seat Height
880 mm
Ground Clearance
285 mm
Kerb Weight
142 kg
Fuel Capacity
7.8 litres
Dimensions
2230 mm (L) x 820 mm (W) x 1200 mm (H)