Hanoi to Sapa Motorcycle Tour

Myself and 6 other riders from western Canada booked the 12 day Great Loop ride in February based on advice from the owner (Danny) when I described what we were looking for in a tour (ie: twisty roads, mountain passes, great scenery and memorable cultural experiences).

I organized the trip for the group and had good communication with Danny (the owner, via email) and Thu (his wife via Whatsap) when setting things up and after we arrived.

Experience with Rental/Tour Company:

The hotel Thu suggested (Quang Ba Trade Union) to stay at before and after the tour was located well, close to their shop, reasonably priced and had amenities close by.

Thu also sent an additional vehicle to transfer one of our riders to the hotel from the airport as they arrived a few days later and we also had 2 separate transfers back to the airport as we were on different flights.

The lady at the shop was welcoming and helpful (we visited the shop the day before the tour started).

Tour Experience:

Our tour guide Hoan was helpful, and very knowledgeable about the local area, back roads and trails. We rode through and experienced areas that we would never have seen otherwise.

The food during the tour was plentiful and varied (lots of rice). The welcome and farewell meals included were a nice way to start and end the tour.

Thu also surprised us with a group photo and a gift bag of Vietnam salted coffee after the ride.

The included walking tour was interesting and a great way to see some of Hanoi.

The tour accommodations were interesting and we especially liked the home stays as we were able to interact/support a local family.

*Below are some things to be aware of that may improve your tour enjoyment.

When I sent the tour deposits (4 months before the ride, (we would have booked earlier but we had to wait until all 7 riders had approved Vietnam Visas and one rider needed a new passport as it was expiring within 6 months of the trip)) we requested 5 CRF300L’s and 2 CB500X’s (for our larger riders).

Unfortunately despite the early booking date Thu said the CRF300’s were not available. But when we picked up the bikes we were happy to see 3 of the 5 CRF300’s were provided (other 2 bikes were CRF250L’s).

We assumed the bikes had all been checked over and any mechanical/operational issues corrected as their web site states:

Established 2004:

Expert service from our experienced team of mechanics and licensed tour leaders.

Professionally maintained late-model Honda, Royal Enfield, BMW and Yamaha motorcycles.

They also have a poster in the office that says “Just Say No To Crappy Rentals”.

Unfortunately we should have done a better job of inspecting/going over the bikes before we left on the first day as they were not up to the level of maintenance we expected (this was only our second commercial bike tour outside North America so we were a bit inexperienced, but assumed all would be good based on their web site and reviews).

For example, the guide’s bike had no running light or head light which made it hard to follow him sometimes in the very dense fog we encountered, and his rear tire had about 10% tread left.

Two of the bikes needed their oil topped up 1-2 days after the ride started so oil level checks were not done prior to the tour.

One bike kept stalling after being put into gear so they had to adjusted some wires, another bike’s instrument panel did not work so there was no speed/fuel gauge/gear indicator, only the high beams worked, the low/high light switch was missing and it had no tail/brake light.

Another bike sometimes wouldn’t go into neutral and would not start. One of the bike’s rear shock had very little suspension, we were able to adjust another one for the heavier rider and 2 more bikes didn’t have working tail lights (I used my 4 way flashers when the fog was thick to help the riders following).

The 500x bikes they did not have appropriate style of tires for the road conditions (ie: steep slippery gravel/cement), they should have been at least 50/50 tires (instead of 95/5 street tires), one had only about 25% tread and the other had a slippery tire dressing sprayed on the rear tire. It was fortunate both riders were experienced in those conditions.

Also, when one CB rider had a ~5km/hr tip over, the aftermarket engine guard was not very strong and it folded into the water pump thermostat housing and cracked it, we were able to pull the guard away with our hands. The guide was able to stop the leak with an epoxy glue, we were charged $100 for a new cover. Both CB’s rear shock had not been adjusted for the larger riders, fortunately we found the adjustment tool and were able to do that.

When planning the ride, I explained the type of roads we wanted to ride Danny recommended the CB500x for all of us as being from North America we were used to riding larger displacement bikes. But as it turns out we were very glad we had the more off road style and lighter CRF’s as they were easier to ride and more appropriate for the conditions.

After the second day when we were more accustomed to the traffic/road conditions/distractions we told the guide we wanted to ride faster in the twisty pavement sections (when safe) as our top speed was about 30 miles/50kms per hour. We very much like riding paved twisties and Danny recommended the Giant Loop tour for that experience.

Unfortunately (except for one afternoon on Day 7 and it was awesome!) we were not able to, as the guide said we had to follow the traffic rules (even though locals on scooters would pass us). So keep that in mind if you like going above 30 miles/hour in the corners!

Also the guide could have done a better job of letting us know where we were going each day (ie: explain summary of day’s events at breakfast) if there were changes from the route itinerary as shown on the web site (which are families were following).

As an example, towards the end of the ride when the next day was suppose to be a rest day (as per the web schedule) we looked at Google maps and found out we were not in the town we were suppose to be in (as indicated on the web itinerary) for the night and the rest day was actually the following day.

When planning the trip I found out Canada is not part of the correct International Driver’s Permit agreement for Vietnam, I asked Danny how best to deal with that issue. He said it shouldn’t be a problem as usually the large tour groups and the larger bikes don’t get stopped (fine is $200US unless the guide can negotiate a lower fee) and because the Canadian IDP says Vietnam (but there is an asterisk beside it which indicates it’s not part of the correct agreement).

When we got close to the check point we waited as our support vehicle went ahead and confirmed the police were checking so our guide suggested a couple of options.

One was for all the bikes to ride to the check point and if we got stopped the guide would try and “work a deal”. The second idea was the 2 larger bikes would ride pass the check point and if they were stopped, he told them to speak “gibberish” until the police got tired of them and hopefully let them pass, and then the rest of us would ride a by pass trail that was too rough for the larger bikes.

The final plan he decided on was for the chase truck to go ahead, drop our gear off past the check point and then come back and put the two CB bikes into the now empty truck and drive the two riders through the check point and the rest of us would ride the trail around the checkpoint.

The guide also said the two riders had to pay the support truck driver $1 million Dong each, which we thought was strange given what Danny said about our Canadian IDPs and we assumed it was something the support truck driver would do as part of the “support” service (we waited over an hour for the truck to unload the gear and come back for the bikes/riders). The two riders in the truck didn’t see any check points but the guide said they have cameras and will stop you.

Be sure you are aware of what’s included in the tour as our guide didn’t realize non alcoholic drinks were included so we mistakenly paid for them for the first 9 days (Thu refunded us the $). Thu said the guides are contract workers they are not employees.

At one of the hotels the guide mistakenly tried to put us in cramped guide dorm style quarters with bunk beds, we complained and were given hotel rooms but were charged, fortunately Thu refunded us the cost.

Also, be aware the home stays are dormitory style (all sleeping in the same room, sometimes sharing a bathroom) and you may want to bring an inflatable mattress as the homestay beds (and at some of the hotels) are thin and/or hard (ie: sore hips in the morning).

Thu was thankful for our feedback and appreciated our thoughts on how to improve the experience for other riders.

It was a very memorable tour!

You can email me at justfishdamit@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

A group of friends completed the 12-Day North Vietnam Motorcycle Tour and it was nothing short of incredible. From start to finish, this was an adventure of a lifetime, all thanks to the professionalism and dedication of Danny, our guide and the owner of the company. His attention to detail, incredible personality and deep local knowledge made the journey seamless and truly immersive.

The route, known as the Great Loop Tour, took us through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in North Vietnam. Every day brought a new highlight, from winding mountain passes to serene villages, giving us a real taste of Vietnamese culture and natural beauty. Danny made sure the journey was both exciting and safe; he provided us with well-maintained Honda CB 500X bikes, which were a dream to ride. Reliable and comfortable, these bikes handled everything the terrain threw at us with ease.

One of the things that stood out to me was the quality of the accommodations and meals. We stayed in clean, comfortable lodgings that gave us a chance to rest well every night, and the food was absolutely delicious, showcasing the best of Vietnamese cuisine. Danny clearly puts a lot of effort into choosing quality stops that reflect local culture and hospitality, ensuring that we were always well cared for.

The level of care Danny showed for his group was outstanding. His professionalism and expertise kept us feeling safe and looked after, whether it was a minor bike adjustment, guiding us through tricky terrains, or sharing insights into the local culture and history.
The major complaint here is that there was nothing to complain about. I would really believe Danny even organized the weather for our tour as we had no rain in 12 days ;)
If you’re looking for an authentic, exhilarating experience through North Vietnam with a trustworthy and passionate guide, I can’t recommend this tour enough!

I have rented from Rentabike Vietnam every year for the past 8 years. Why? They have very well maintained, reliable bikes and super friendly staff. I highly recommend them.

I would recommend Rentabike Vietnam to anyone visiting/living in Hà Nội. Over the course of the 2 years that I used their services, I rented a Janus, Vision, Airblade, and a Honda Winner (I only changed bikes so much because I was a complete beginner when I moved here and I wanted to upgrade slowly so that I could be confident on a manual). In that time, I had no mechanical issues with any of the bikes that were provided. The main mechanic is one of the best and most efficient I have come across in the country, the staff are friendly, welcoming, and speak great English. Furthermore, the owner Danny is a top guy that speaks incredible Vietnamese and knows the country and his bikes inside out. It is with a heavy heart that I have moved on from renting here, but it is only because I have just purchased a Honda Winner. I hope to return here in the future to rent an adventure bike like the CB500 or XR if I am going on a long journey (which I also used for one day and had no issues with). For me, no other rental place in Hà Nội compares to here. 5 stars, it has been an absolute pleasure and I can’t speak highly enough of this business.