Northern Shore | 2 Days
Tour Info
- Hanoi
- 2 Days, 1 Night
- 290 km
- pillions welcome
- easy difficulty
- CRF 250, XR 150, Future 125
Highlights
Itinerary
- 140 km
- 5 hours
- Hoa Binh Dam; lakeside road; Thai or Dao village
We take the longer, more scenic route to get out of Hanoi and get used to the bikes. Following the Red and then Black Rivers before heading into the hills. We can cross the Black River early and then wind our way down to Hoa Binh on quieter roads before take the lake road to our homestay. We have the choice of staying on the lake with the Thai People or up in the hills with the Dao. This is partly your call and partly down to the weather (sometimes landslides block the road).
- 150 km
- 5 hours
- views of Ta Xau Dinosaur Ridge; Dolphin Rock; tea tree forest
There are several possible routes to get back to Hanoi and we can choose to skirt the northern shore back to Hoa Binh or cross the Hoa Binh Lake and then had along the shoreline before taking back roads into Hanoi. Either way, we get a mix of smaller quieter road and then a little more highway as we get closer to Hanoi.
Motorcycles
The Honda XR 150 is the most popular dual sport in Vietnam for a reason: whether you’re riding a highway, a country road or a single track through the jungle, it’s built to handle anything the region has to throw at it.
- comfortable seat, even carrying a pillion
- huge fuel tank gives the XR fantastic range
- very capable off road
| Displacement | 149 cc | Fuel Capacity | 12 litres |
| Starter | electric/kick | Fuel System | carburettor |
| Dry Weight | 129 kg | Front Brake | disc |
| Seat Height | 825 mm | Rear Brake | drum |
| Transmission | manual (5 speed) |
*Please bear in mind that, because we stock a few different models of each bike, your model’s specifications may differ slightly from those shown above.
The Honda Future is our most powerful semi-automatic motorbike, and makes for a surprisingly capable tourer.
- fuel injected: easy to start and good throttle response
- storage space beneath the seat
- light and easy to maneuver
| Displacement | 124.9 cc | Fuel Capacity | 4.6 litres |
| Starter | electric/kick | Fuel System | fuel injection |
| Dry Weight | 106 kg | Front Brake | disc |
| Seat Height | 756 mm | Rear Brake | drum |
| Transmission | semi-automatic (4 speed) |
*Please bear in mind that, because we stock a few different models of each bike, your model’s specifications may differ slightly from those shown above.
(images coming soon)
The extra power provided by the CRF’s 250cc engine makes it an absolute joy to ride. Its enduro/off road pedigree means it was designed specifically with the gnarly roads Vietnam likes to throw at you in mind.
- front and rear disc brakes
- high riding position and excellent suspension
- our most powerful, capable motorcycle
| Displacement | 250 cc | Fuel Capacity | 7.6 litres |
| Starter | electric | Fuel System | fuel injection |
| Dry Weight | 130 kg | Front Brake | disc |
| Seat Height | 881 mm | Rear Brake | disc |
| Transmission | manual (6 speed) |
*Please bear in mind that, because we stock a few different models of each bike, your model’s specifications may differ slightly from those shown above.
Inclusions
The cost of motorcycle rental for the duration of your tour is included. Each rider on your tour can choose any of our three bikes:
- Honda CRF 250
- Honda XR 150
- Honda Future 125
See above section for images and specifications.
Your motorcycle is 3rd party insured. This is a legal requirement here in Vietnam, and protects you in the event that you injure another road user.
Additionally, we are responsible in the event your motorcycle breaks down or suffers a mechanical failure. However, if you damage your motorcycle by crashing it or through general misuse, you will be responsible for repair costs.
Naturally, you are also responsible for your own travel and medical insurance.
All the fuel you need for the duration of the trip is provided.
Your breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided and will be a mixture of European and Vietnamese food. Soft drinks and water are also provided and guides keep them stocked up at all times.
- Breakfast will be in your homestay or hotel and will generally be a mix of fried eggs and bread, noodles, pancakes and sticky rice, accompanied by fruit and coffee.
- Lunch will be in roadside restaurants (small eateries offering clean and delicious local food), or we’ll stop for picnics (sandwiches with cold cuts and cheese) when appropriate.
- Dinner will be in your hotel or homestay and will usually be a family cooked meal with a range of meat and vegetable dishes with some local specialties (all of which will be washed down with local fire water if requested!)
Vegetarian and vegan options may be limited in the countryside, but we always do our best to cater to our riders’ dietary requirements.
Beer in the evening is not included, but it’s cheap and in plentiful supply.
You will have one Western tour leader who will also act as translator, mechanic and route master. Larger groups will also be accompanied by an English speaking Vietnamese mechanic.
Your guide and support staff are all trained in first aid, and will be carrying first aid equipment.
We will arrange your visa invitation letter free of charge.
(Please note, though, that you will need to collect this take this to immigration yourself and pay a stamping fee of about $25 to receive your visa.)
We take it on ourselves to offer a covid guarantee. We offer a full refund/rescheduling of your tour should you be unable to fly due to having covid. All we ask is that you provide us with photo copies of a failed covid test taken less than 3 days prior to your flight departure date.
For every rider and pillion on the tour we donate 10 usd per day to our favourite charity: Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. You can read more about the great work they do and why we’ve supported them for for so long here.
At the beginning and end of your tour, we’ll be happy to arrange transportation to and from the airport for you!
Extras
You are able to hire a support vehicle that will allow follow your group you to stow extra luggage that you do not want to carry on the bike, this is especially useful if you plan to take a pillion.
We will also have an extra pair of hands to help with the tour and back up in case of sickness / break down. we often put a spare bike on this vehicle. the charge fo rthis is 150$ per day, fuel included.
As stated above, accommodation is provided on a twin sharing basis. If you wish to have a single room we can arrange this at a small extra cost.
You can purchase this to exempt you from liability for any damage caused by accidents caused by you or a third party vehicle. we will cover the cost of repairs to your vehicle but not the third party. This is only 20usd per day per bike extra.
