Route Map: Hanoi to Thac Ba Lake by Motorbike

Updated 04/02/2025
Tom racing through the dirt in Bac Kan province

Use this map for general planning. You will see there are hotels, cafes, lunch stops and interesting sights labelled. You can easily find more info about them by clicking on their Google Map pins.

Contents

Route Map: Hanoi to Thac Ba Lake

This is the most direct route from HANOI to THAC BA is to take this route. The total distance is around 170km and the total drive time is around 5 hrs. The road surface is tarmac, which is in good condition, but there is a LOT of traffic on this main highway. There are some sights but they lie off this main route.

Google Map with Added Detours

This is content and will show you the alternative ways to get to Thac Ba. It should be very useful and help you to have a great trip. Hanoi to Thac Ba by Motorbike + Detours

The Direct Route

This is the quickest, but also one of the most congested ways out of town. You will be heading for the QL32, which starts around Cau Giay area. Then, you follow this for a good 50km until you go over Trung Ha Bridge. It is probably about here that is a good place to stop for a rest.

A few kilometres further on you can take the left fork and get onto the ‘Duong HCM’ which is a large and fast road. You can keep on this all the way North up to Doan Hung. This is where you turn off and head for Thac Ba on the smaller ‘Duong 78’ or ‘AH14’

You turn onto the 170 which hs been rebuilt and is in good condition. It is quite fast and not a bad ride. This will take you up to Vu Linh where there are two ways to get in to the village. The first left turn has a little mud and might not be a good choice in the wet. The second turning is much easier to take.

You will need to look out for signposts to your chosen accomodation because the village is full of small tracks.

Where to stay

All of these places are family-run with the large dorm rooms typical of a stilt house and also private rooms both with and without connected bathrooms. They are all recommended by us.

What to do

All of the homestays are connected to the lake in some way and it is very easy to arrange a boat trip and go for a swim. You can also ask your homestay owner to show you around the area either on a trek or a fun motorbike tour on the muddy trails.

Where to go next

From Thac Ba is is usual for people to head North towards Ha Giang City. This is the standard option. However, you should consider Bac Ha or Hoang Su Phi.

You can of course go over to Nghia Lo or Ba Be Lake, but generally speaking the roads to get to these places are fairly dull.

Which bike to take?

Honda XR150 at the border with China
The CB500x ready to go

You can use any of our bikes, except the Honda Cub, for this trip as the route is quite good and tarmac all the way. It is an easy, flat drive and not challenging other than the traffic. We definitely recommend using either the Honda XR150 or the Honda CB500x

Have a great start to your trip

This route is a busy one but it does get you out of the city quickly. From the second day you will be on smaller routes with less traffic so it is more fun.
Vu Linh is a cool area to stay in and make sure to take a boat trip on the lake and have a swim.

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)