5 Amazing Roads in Northern Vietnam (that you never heard of)

Updated 24/01/2025
On tour with rentabike vietnam

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

Contents

5 Amazing Roads in Northern Vietnam

Huoi Toong to Nam Len

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

Overview

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.

Si Ma Cai to Muong Khuong (DT153)

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

Overview

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.

Cam Nhan to Xuan Long

Rentabike rider before a stunning view in northern Vietnam

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

Overview

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.

Pac Nam / Son Lo Rd

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

Overview

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

Ba Nang to Bac Son (DT243)

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.

BMW 1250 GS

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)

Honda XR 150 motorcycle rental

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)

Honda CB 500X motorcycle rental

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)

Honda CRF 300 motorcycle rental

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

256 mm disc, 2 piston caliper

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)