Cloud Hunter
Stepped rice fields and high mountains.
From $1080/rider
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Vietnam Motorcycle Tour Map - 9 Cloud Hunter - Rentabike Vietnam - White

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Hanoi
9 Days, 8 Nights
870 km
Pillions Welcome

Overview

Cloud Hunter is all about getting up high, riding to the top of some of Vietnam's highest mountains so that you can look down on the clouds from above. Traverse the narrow Dinosaur Spine on Ta Xua mountain before heading through national parks, stepped rice fields and back roads all the way up to the historic mountain town of Sa Pa.

Genuine Hondas

Professionally maintained. Maximum reliability.

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Full coverage as standard.

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4 riders
the road to Pu Luong overlooking Tien Son
180 km
6 hours
Hoa Binh Dam; Hoa Binh back roads; Pu Luong Nature Reserve
We get out of town as quickly as possible and then we take the smaller back roads and ATK roads to get to the beautiful Pu Luong valley. This is not a hard day but concentration is needed as you become acclimatised the the bike and the traffic conditions.
the road to Pu Luong overlooking Tien Son
80 km
4 hours
Pu Luong Valley; Mai Chau back roads; Bamboo industry on the QL15C
Again, not a difficult day, technically and it is a chance to relax a little and get a good feel for the bike. We take the road less travelled and, if time, a detour to get back round to Mai Chau village where we stay in a homestay that serves the best food in the village.
Ta Xua Lu Tre Homestay-looking North towards the dinosaur spine
160 km
5 hours
Chieng waterfall; Van Yen ferry crossing; Bac Son back roads; Ta Xua Mountain
We take the road halfway up the Moc Chau plateau only to then descend down into the Black River valley and up the other side. There are plenty of opportunities for dirt track in this area and we will try to stay off the main roads, even if it means getting lost on occasion :) With luck, we will have time to get to the Dinosaur’s spine for photos.
Ta Xua: Lu Tre Homestay on the top of the hill
90 km
4 hours
Ta Xua mountain road; church road
This is a very difficult road which can only be taken in the dry season (Nov – March) and it takes us over the Ta Xua range and down towards Nghia Lo. we stop off at the hot springs and stay overnight before heading out on much less technical but equally scenic road.
terraced rice paddies in Mu Cang Chai
100 km
4 hours
rice terracing; QL32: a great road with great views
This is where we hit the QL32 which is a great stretch of road. It is very easy to drive and there are plenty of sights to see as well as gorgeous views along the way. It’s the kind of drive that you don’t want to stop and you’ll find this day is over quite quickly.
some beautiful rice fields in Mu Cang Chai
130 km
6 hours
small back roads; beautiful views
Here we follow the Hoang Lien Son mountain range northwards and up into the highlands. We will get the chance to see more H’mong, Lo Lo and Dao people from now on and also the chance to get off road and take some of the single tracks in the area.
O Quy Ho Pass Sa Pa Lai Chau
100 km
5 hours
O Quy Ho Pass; Fansipan Mountain
As we move higher into the hills, the mountains open out before us and views become more and more impressive as we climb. We climb the O Quy Ho Pass, with Fansipan in view, before descending into Sa Pa town. Now is the chance to get that burger or pizza that you have been craving. We stay over night here as it gives us a chance to take the cable car up to the top of Fansipan and then go down into the valley.
sunset in Sapa, North Vietnam
30 km
2 hours
Sa Pa Town; Seo My Ty Village
Sa Pa town is quite crowded at times and it is good to get out and into the valley below for some peace and quiet. We head for Seo My Ty village which is far far away from the crowds and a great place to relax and watch the locals going about their everyday business.
Highway 6 in Ha Dong, Hanoi
80 km
3 hours (+ 6 hour bus ride)
back route down from Sa Pa
We head back to the main road via the smaller back roads where we drop off our bikes and get a VIP bus to whizz us back to Hanoi. We’ll back in the early afternoon in time to get ready for our farewell meal and drinks.
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FAQ

Choosing a professionally guided tour allows you to make the most out of your adventure.

You’ll take roads and visit areas well off the beaten track that only someone with a lot of riding experience in the country could know about.

And, you get to focus entirely on your adventure, since everything from your meals, accommodation and motorcycle to things like route planning and motorcycle maintenance is taken care of.

The bulk of our tours start in Hanoi because the best riding in the country is easily accessible from here. However, we have offices in Hanoi, Danang and HCMC so we are able to start and end tours from any of these three locations.

Yes, this is what we do. We can assist with reservations in any hotel in Hanoi and also provide a FREE airport pick-up that will take you to your hotel of choice. Good hotels can be had for 30-40usd per night and they will also store any excess gear you may have until you return from tour. You can choose from staying in the heart of the city’s old quarter or closer to West Lake and our office.

Up in the North, it is hard to say as each of the four seasons has distinct advantages and drawbacks. The Summer is usually around April to October and ranges from warm and wet to boiling hot with the occasional torrential downpour. This also leads to the risk of flooding and landslides. The Autumn, October to December will generally be dry and cool with the potential for cold fronts to descend creating cloudy drizzly days. Winter, January / February, will be relatively cold (10C) and colder at altitude (Ha Giang, Cao Bang), but often quite dry and clear. Spring, around February to April will often have mixed spells of warm and cold air with dry or drizzly days. 

Driving North/South or South/North means that you pass through a whole range of climatic regions (northern, central and southern) and it is very difficult to answer which is the best time. This is because the weather may be great to ride in one regions but not optimal in another. We suggest not passing through the central or southern regions in Summer as there can be a lot of storms and flooding.

You will see that we do not list tours less than 5 days on our site. This is because it takes a day to get out of Hanoi / Sai Gon and to get to the ‘countryside’. While this may be interesting and a culture shock for many, we don’t think it is what you came here for. You then have 3 days of pleasurable riding, which, in all honesty, will leave you wanting more. Therefore, we would say an optimum length of tour to be around 7 – 9 days with one or two rest days thrown in so that you can take some time off at key points and transform from being a motorbike tourist to just a tourist. 

North / South – South / North Route

You will need more time to complete this tour due to the distance covered. It simply isn’t wise to cover 1,600km in 8 days. We recommend around 10 days as a minimum and 14 – 16 days being perfect.  

The longer you have, the more chance we have of getting you to the most remote places that offer the highest rewards.

Absolutely, yes. Generally, speaking foreigners are left alone and not hassled other than by pesky tourist touts (just like any other country). Vietnam is a predominantly Buddhist and partly Christian country and women play a vital role in daily life. They are not wall flowers and nor are they hidden away. They are strong and capable and, although, there are some extra precautions that a female traveller might feel necessary, these are no more or less than most countries in the world. Also, bear in mind that this is a guided tour and there is plenty of support from our staff in all aspects of the tour. Contact us for details of female guides and female only groups.

Yes, we can let you know what tours we have arranged and whether they are willing to accept a new member. Often times this is possible but it takes a little understanding on both sides due to different skill levels, needs and desires. We have found that most people can get along quite well and this isn’t an option.

No, definitely not. Whilst the country does not shut down as it did in the past a large number of businesses, including ours, will close for at least one week and perhaps longer. It will be difficult to find services available and there will likely be a holiday ‘premium’ applied. 

Further to this, travelling on the roads at this time can be quite dangerous du to the levels of traffic, distraction and, unfortunately, drink driving.

You need a valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity to obtain a visa for Vietnam.

We have an excellent visa agent we work with, and will be happy obtain visa invitation letters for all riders in your group for free!

All you have to do is provide us with copies of your passports, and we’ll send you your invitation letters before you arrive in Vietnam. With your invitation letters sorted, you each bring two 3x4cm passport photos and around $20USD for the visa stamping fee to the immigration counter, they’ll give you your visas and you’re ready to start your adventure!

All riders in your group must have a valid motorcycle license.

If you can get an International Driving Permit, then you should do so. However, you must check to make sure that Vietnam is named on this. There are two different conventions and Vietnam signed up to the 1968 Convention so this is the one that you need.

You must have your own personal medical insurance that covers you for riding a motorcycle in Vietnam, and you must adhere to the requirements of that insurance.

We strongly recommend taking out our motorcycle damage waiver. For $5/day (Honda Future 125 or Honda XR 150) or $10/day (Honda CRF 250 or Honda CB 500), we cover you against loss, theft or any damage to the motorbike caused by an accident or fall and you will be covered should the bike be damaged beyond repair. This is not a license to go crazy as you will not be covered for misuse of the bike. The policy excludes any personal medical insurance, 3rd party liability or damage / injury caused by other vehicles or drivers. The peace of mind this offers is worth its weight in gold.