Northwest Super Dual Sport - 4 days+

This is a route I’ve been building and refining for over 3 years - something a bit different from the usual motorbike tours in Vietnam.

I call it a ‘Super Dual Sport’ route. It’s not hardcore, but it can get properly challenging in the wet. You’ll get a solid mix of off-road riding, with a few technical sections if you’re up for it. Nothing extreme - but enough to make it feel real.
You don’t just ride for the views - you ride through them, and that’s what makes this area special. The off-road here just keeps going - we can link different tracks together, adjust the route to your level, and even when we turn around, the ride doesn’t stop - there’s always another way forward.

Day 1: Hanoi to Mai Chau

Distance: ~160 km.

Starting from Hanoi, it takes about an hour and a half to escape the capital.
After getting through the busy traffic, we fuel up and stop for a good coffee.

This day actually surprised me a lot when I first researched this route.
There are three main tracks, with a good mix of dirt, bushes, plantations, and one steep hill.

Technically, you could keep riding off-road until 7 PM if you wanted to.
But we prefer to take it easy - enjoy a proper lunch, a few cold drinks, and arrive at the homestay early.

We check in, grab a cold beer with friends, maybe a massage, and finish the day with a great traditional dinner.

Notes: Mai Chau is set in a peaceful valley of rice paddies, known for the culture of the Thai ethnic community, as well as grilled chicken and sticky rice cooked in bamboo.

Day 2: Mai Chau to Phu Yen

Distance: ~170 km.

It’s a relatively short ride if we go direct, but we take a detour through the villages, getting deeper into the local countryside.

A bit of wet weather actually makes this day more interesting - the jungle and cornfield trails can get slippery, and the tea plantations turn muddy, making the ride more fun.

We stop for a hearty bowl of noodle soup for lunch, then cross the Black River on a local ferry.
This is one of the most powerful rivers in Vietnam, with two of the country’s largest hydroelectric dams, and it’s also the only major river that flows north.

In the afternoon, we climb up into the mountains, visit a small grassland on top, and catch the sunset before checking into our hotel.

Notes: Phu Yen is a lively local town, set away from the main transport routes of the Northwest. It’s not a typical tourist stop, but that’s exactly what gives it its character.
Dinner is just across the street - simple BBQ and cold beers to end the day.

Day 3: Phu Yen to Tram Tau

Distance: ~160 km.

This is my favorite day of the whole trip.
After breakfast, coffee, and fueling up, we stop by a local grocery store to grab some snacks - just in case we don’t make it to lunch on time.

It takes about 2 hours to reach the famous Dinosaur Backbone if we go direct.
Instead, we take the fun way - climbing over the mountain with around 40 km of dirt.
The last 10 km can be a bit challenging if it’s wet.

If we can’t make it over the mountain, we loop back towards Phu Yen for a coffee, then take a different set of trails towards Ta Xua.
From Ta Xua, we follow a local H’mong trail, cross a small river at the bottom of the valley, then rejoin DT112 on the way to Tram Tau.

Notes: Tram Tau also has an off-road loop with plenty of trails, single tracks, and rice terrace views, but we usually skip it and spend the rest of the day relaxing in the hot springs.

Day 4: Tram Tau to Hanoi

Distance: 220 km.

It’s a 4-5 hour ride back to Hanoi, with coffee, lunch, and a few smoke breaks along the way.
Before heading into the city, we stop at a car wash to clean up both the bikes and ourselves.

We aim to return before 3 PM to avoid the rush hour. From there, we return the bikes and wrap up the trip..

Notes: Notes: Hanoi is a fascinating city with great food and culture. It easily takes 3-4 days to explore, but even a short stay here is always worth it.

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