We were recently featured in a blog post by our friend Steve Coupland over at Siam Enduro. He and his friends, Toby and Graham, came over for an extended tour of the North of Vietnam. The guys spent the best part of four weeks exploring the northern territory, principally visiting Lao Cai, Ha Giang, and Cao Bang provinces.
Needless to say, they had an amazing time and are scheduled to return in 2026!!
Contents
How We Got Along
Once we heard they were coming over, we got in touch and suggested they check out our Maps page for general ideas. They did this and it helped them plan a great deal. Then, whilst they were on tour, we stayed in touch via Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger to help them with the intricate details. This was things like which roads are flooded, easy to drive, more scenic or have less traffic. One major ask from these guys was to GET THEM OFF THE LOOP, so they could avoid the 1,000s of backpackers. Easy.
Along with this, once we knew what kind of accommodation they were looking for and their rough budget we could ping across a few suggestions from our list of contacts.
All in all, this helped to make their trip the best it could possibly be. Of course, they did what they wanted to do and went where they wanted to go. However, armed with our 25 years of knowledge, they could make the best decisions for themselves.
The Return Ride
As we said, the guys are planning to come back to do more exploring in 2026. We will have the chance to help them again and are happy to do so. Now that they have experience of the country, and know what to expect, they are well prepared to get even further off the beaten track.
If you want to see what they saw, check out the the gallery they made.
This also suggests that we get over to northern thailand and explore what they have to offer. Siam Enduro looks to have some great rides organised. The 7 Day Dragon’s Tail looks particularly appealing.
Great Loop | 12 Days
Great Loop | 12-Day Motorcycle Tour
Ready to ride the ultimate northern loop? This 12-day adventure takes you deep into Vietnam’s wildest and most breathtaking landscapes.
✅ Over 1,800 km of tarmac, dirt, and single track ✅ Ride legendary passes, visit remote villages, and cross the Chinese borderlands ✅ Stay with ethnic minority families, experience authentic highland life
