Reservation Hop | 6 Days
Tour Info
- Hanoi
- 6 Days, 5 Nights
- 770 km
- pillions welcome
- easy difficulty
- CRF 250, XR 150, Future 125
Highlights
Itinerary
- 180 km
- 6 hours
- Hoa Binh Dam; Hoa Binh back roads; Pu Luong Nature Reserve
We cruise along the Red and then Black Rivers to allow us to get used to the bikes and traffic. As we head further out of town we need to pay attention and not become complacent; the unexpected can still surprise us. Then, we head into the hills and the lush valley of Pu Luong to our homestay.
- 80 km
- 4 hours
- Pu Luong Valley; back roads behind Mai Chau; bamboo industry on the QL15C
It’s an easy run up to Mai Chau on the main road but we veer off to take the smaller roads. There is plenty of time to stop for photos and to take a scenic loop to get to our destination so that we can experience more of the countryside.
- 160 km
- 5 hours
- Chieng Waterfall; Van Yen ferry crossing; back roads to Bac Son; Ta Xua Mountain
On paper a very easy route, however, we take the Hmong Highway in order to spice things up and get away from the traffic. You’ll leave the Mai Chau Valley and then through the bamboo groves before moving higher up the hills then dropping back down to the Black River. From then on, we can choose to take the high road or the low road to get to the mountains.
- 120 km
- 5 hours
- back roads to Xuan Son; Xuan Son National Park
We take the quieter back roads to get to the national park and enter through some very rarely used routes. If you choose this route you need to be skilled and ready for anything. Alternatively, we can take the more well used roads and enter the park from the main entrance. Expect it to be a little cooler here in the lush forest of Xuan Son.
- 80 km
- 5 hours
- back roads out of Xuan Son; Da Bac and Sung Villages
Again, weather depending, you can choose to take the quiet back roads or the more challenging hill routes out of the park. You will pass through the virgin forest of the reserve and down to the managed hillsides of Da Bac, where we have the choice to stay on the lake or in the hills. Either way, the hospitality of the local people will be evident in the exceptional food and drink that they serve us.
- 150 km
- 5 hours
- lakeside road; the Black and Red Rivers
This is the home run and we have a choice of routes back to Hanoi. We can speed along the highway or take a quieter more roundabout route through the hills or along the Black River once more. Either way, it is a peaceful ride back into the hustle and bustle of the city in time for our farewell meal.
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.
