Route Map: Hanoi to Ba Be Lake

Updated 25/01/2025
Admiring the view of Ba Be Lake with the CRF300L

The best way from Hanoi to Ba Be Lake is to take this route. The total distance is around 200km and the total drive time is around 6 hrs. The road surface is mainly tarmac, which is in good condition (there is construction on some roads) and there is little to stop and see on route. However, plenty to do when you get there.

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Route Map: Hanoi to Ba Be Lake

This map shows the full route from Hanoi to Ba Be Lake. There is also an alternative route. You will see there are important locations like cafes, fuel stops and lunch places marked along the way.

Live Google Route Map AM

Morning: Hanoi to Ba Be Lake / 80km – 2 – 2.5 hrs
Hanoi to Ba Be Lake AM

Live Google Route Map PM

Afternoon: Hanoi to Ba Be Lake / 120km – 3 – 3.5 hrs
Hanoi to Ba Be Lake PM

Afternoon (alternative): Hanoi to Ba Be Lake / 130km – 4 – 4.5 hrs
Hanoi to Ba Be Lake PM (alternative)

Morning Ride

Getting out from Hanoi is the hardest part of this morning’s ride, but leaving from our shop around 9am leaves enough time to get to destination and also means most of the rush hour traffic is gone.

You’ll head over Nhat Tan Bridge and then follow the QL3. The route is quite busy with traffic and urban. It is very much a hump day.

You can choose to have lunch just after Thai Nguyen if you are running late or keep on going up to Yen Do if you are making good time. Both locations have small roadside eateries.

Afternoon Ride

The map link shows you starting off from just after Thai Nguyen but you may well have gone up to Yen Do. Not a problem.

It is at Yen Do that you turn onto the smaller road but still be aware as there are large trucks on this route. The road is a small winding provincial road that is quite good tarmac and somewhat scenic.

You continue along the DT254 and head all the way to the lake. There are some nice views as you come over the hills through Khau Tham, Khuoi Phi and Pieng Luong.

Alternative Ride

If you wish to take a little longer, or you have some spare time in hand, you might like to take the detour from Bang Lung through Na Pai. This route is a little longer and there is some major construction on it, but it will pass through some very scenic hills and then bring you to Ba Be Lake past Hua Ma Cave.

Where to stay

In Ba Be Lake we like to stay in any of these places:

What to do

Ba Be Lake is the kind of place that you need to get to and there is not too much on the way to stop off and see. If you take the alternative route you can stop off at Hua Ma Cave and Tat Ma Waterfall.

Once you are at the lake and settled you can take a boat trip for a swim and visit Ba Goa Island, Fairy Grotto, or even Puong Cave.

Where to next

From Ba Be you have a few options to choose from. You can head over to Cao Bang or Quang Uyen and then on to thefalls at Ban Gioc. It is possible to make it to the falls in 1 day, if you wish.

You could head North to Bao Lac, Meo Vac or even Dong Van, though that is quite far.

The other option is to head towards Hoang Su Phi, but this is mainly a dull ride on the 279 so not really recommended.

Which bike to take?

If you are taking the direct route, then any of our bikes (except the Honda Cub) would be fine. The route is quite flat and the road is in good condition. I would simply say that if you use an automatic bike, it would be best to let it have a breather every hour or so.

For anyone thinking of taking the alternative route at the moment, I would suggest the XR150, or the CRF300, expecially if it is wet or has been raining for a few days. This is due to the current construction and the fact that there is a lot of mud on the road.

It is a long but scenic drive

Overall, it is a long haul to get up to Ba Be Lake. However, the last section of the road is scenic and good to drive on and you get into the heart of the countryside by doing this. From then on, you are far away from the city and it is very easy to get onto quiet roads.

It is well worth it at the end of the day.

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)