SHORT MOTORBIKE TOURS AROUND HANOI

Short Motorbike Tours Introduction

This page provides details about our short motorbike tours around Hanoi, designed for travelers who want to experience the countryside and lesser-known areas of northern Vietnam without committing to a longer motorcycle adventure.

Hidden Vietnam Motorcycle Tours invites you to try one of our short Vietnam motorbike tours if you have only one to three days available. These flexible trips take you away from the busy streets of Hanoi and into the less-traveled countryside of northern Vietnam, including rural villages and the traditional territories of Thai, Dao, and H’mong communities. Within just 200 km of Hanoi, the scenery, culture, and daily way of life can be remarkably different from the capital. Many of our customers begin with one of these 1 to 3-day motorcycle tours around Hanoi, then return later with friends to explore longer loops and discover another side of Vietnam that is rarely featured in conventional travel books and magazines.

These short motorbike trips are also suitable for riders who prefer scooters. They provide an easy entry point for travelers who may not be comfortable riding a manual motorcycle or who simply want a more relaxed experience. If you are concerned about riding a manual bike, we have a scooter option that can make your journey more accessible and enjoyable while still allowing you to explore the countryside and mountain roads around Hanoi.

On this page, you will find three typical short motorbike tours from Hanoi, with itineraries lasting 1, 2, or 3 days. Each route offers a different way to experience rural landscapes, local communities, mountain scenery, and quieter roads close to the capital. If you have more than three days available, we recommend choosing one of our longer Northern Vietnam motorcycle loops for a deeper adventure.

More Vietnam Motorbike Routes

• Northwest Vietnam (4 – 10 days)
• Northeast Vietnam (3 – 8 days)
• Scenic Ha Giang & Northeast (6 – 13 days)
• Central North (3 – 7 days)
• Great Loop In North Vietnam (14 – 16 days)
• Ho Chi Minh Trail/Road (6 – 16 days)

Below is a video clip from one of our one-day Hanoi motorbike tours, featuring a ride to Ba Vi Mountain and Duong Lam Ancient Village. This short adventure showcases the scenic countryside, historic villages, and quieter roads that can be reached from Hanoi in just one day. If you would like to watch more videos from our Vietnam motorcycle tours and off-road adventures, please visit our YouTube channel.

ONE DAY SHORT MOTORBIKE TOUR ITINERARY

Today, we start our one-day motorbike tour from Hanoi at 9 am and ride west toward the scenic countryside surrounding the capital. Our route takes us to Ba Vi Mountain, Duong Lam Ancient Village, and Dong Mo Golf Course, offering a combination of mountain scenery, historic architecture, rural roads, and local culture. This is an ideal short Hanoi motorbike tour for travelers who want to escape the city for a day and experience a quieter side of northern Vietnam. Please see the destination details below.

Ba Vi and Dong Mo Golf Course: The Ba Vi mountain range is a dramatic limestone and karst mountain area located approximately 40 km southwest of Hanoi. Covering around 50 km², the range rises to a highest peak of approximately 1,296 m and is surrounded by forests and beautiful countryside. In Vietnamese mythology, Ba Vi is traditionally regarded as the home of Son Tinh, the Mountain God, giving the area an important place in Vietnamese culture and legends.

Nearby, Dong Mo Golf Course is known as Vietnam’s first 36-hole golf course and is located close to Ba Vi. The extensive grounds feature green fairways, lakes, and open landscapes, creating a pleasant place to stop and enjoy the scenery. The combination of Ba Vi mountain roads and rural countryside makes this section particularly enjoyable for a one-day motorcycle adventure from Hanoi.

Duong Lam Ancient Village: Located approximately 40 km southwest of Hanoi near Son Tay, Duong Lam Ancient Village became the first village in Vietnam to receive national-level recognition as an ancient village on 19 May 2006. It is an excellent place to experience traditional Vietnamese architecture while walking through narrow lanes lined with historic houses.

The village is home to approximately 800 ancient houses, many built from laterite bricks and traditional materials. During our visit, you can explore the old lanes, visit temples dedicated to the two Vietnamese kings Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen, and meet local residents who continue to live in these historic homes. Two of the area’s best-known attractions are Mia Pagoda (Sung Nghiem Tu) and Mong Phu Temple. Mia Pagoda is located on a small hill in Dong Sang Hamlet and provides another interesting cultural stop during this Hanoi countryside motorbike tour.

For more information, itinerary options, or other short motorbike tours from Hanoi, please contact us at [email protected]

2-DAY SHORT MOTORBIKE TOURS ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi – Halong City. Halong Bay cruising. Sleep on the boat.

This 2-day motorbike tour from Hanoi to Halong Bay combines an enjoyable motorcycle ride with an overnight cruise through one of Vietnam’s most famous natural landscapes. This itinerary is more expensive than a standard short motorbike tour because it includes the Halong Bay boat cruise, accommodation, and meals on board. If you prefer a more affordable motorcycle adventure, we recommend the 2-day route to a mountainous village in Mai Chau, which follows the first two days of the 3-day itinerary below. Instead of continuing to Pu Luong, you return to Hanoi on Day 2.

We ride east from Hanoi along Highway 18 toward Halong City, covering the journey in approximately 4 – 5 hours depending on riding experience and road conditions. After arriving in Halong City, there are two cruise options available:

1. Join a group Halong Bay cruise: Depart around noon and board the boat for your Halong Bay overnight cruise. After checking into your cabin, enjoy lunch with a Vietnamese set menu while the boat begins cruising through the spectacular limestone islands and karst formations. We then transfer by tender to Surprising Cave, followed by opportunities for kayaking, swimming, or relaxing on the boat. Dinner is served with Vietnamese dishes, followed by optional evening activities such as watching movies, singing karaoke, or joining the crew for squid fishing, weather permitting.

2. Book a private boat: For travelers who prefer greater privacy and flexibility, a private Halong Bay cruise is also available. You can enjoy the dramatic scenery at your own pace and spend the night on a private boat. This option costs extra, and we can provide the additional price if you would like to upgrade.

Day 2: Halong – Hanoi (~160km/~5 hours)

After breakfast, we continue exploring Halong Bay before returning to Hanoi. There are two cruise options available:

1. Standard cruise option: Transfer by tender to Titov Island, where you can go swimming, enjoy the beach, or simply relax and take in the surrounding scenery. We then continue cruising through Halong Bay before returning to Bai Chay. After checking out of the cabins, you can settle any additional drink charges before having lunch at Thang Long Restaurant in Halong City or, depending on the cruise arrangement, on the boat.

2. Extended cruise option: Continue cruising through Halong Bay for longer before enjoying lunch on board and returning around noon. This option provides additional time to appreciate the limestone islands and scenic waterways but costs extra. We can provide the additional price if you would like this upgrade.

After the cruise, we collect the motorbikes and begin the ride back to Hanoi. We follow Highway 18 before joining Highway 1B toward the capital. The return journey takes approximately 5 hours and offers a final opportunity to experience the countryside around northern Vietnam. We aim to arrive in Hanoi around 5 pm, marking the end of this 2-day Hanoi motorbike and Halong Bay tour.

For more information, pricing, or other short motorbike tours from Hanoi, please contact us at [email protected]

3-DAY SHORT MOTORBIKE TOUR ITINERARY

This 3-day motorbike tour from Hanoi to Mai Chau takes you deep into the beautiful mountains and countryside of northern Vietnam, where you will stay with a welcoming Thai host family in a traditional stilt house. The Thai people are known for being friendly, relaxed, and welcoming, making a homestay a great way to experience local culture and rural life. If you can allow one additional day, we also offer a longer itinerary that gives you more time to explore the spectacular Mai Chau Valley and surrounding mountain areas.

Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau (~170 km/~6 h)

We leave Hanoi from the western side of the city, using a convenient route that involves just one main road and approximately three traffic lights. This is a much more enjoyable way to leave the capital than riding through the busy city center, where you may encounter around forty traffic lights before reaching Highway 6. The route takes us toward Son Tay, following the Red River before turning left at Trung Ha Bridge and continuing along the newer road toward Hoa Binh.

Once we leave the Red River Delta, the landscape quickly changes from traditional agricultural countryside to dramatic limestone formations and forested foothills. We pass through areas inhabited by the Muong people before climbing toward a beautiful, forest-covered mountain pass. From the pass, the road descends into the peaceful and relatively hidden Mai Chau Valley, where we spend the night with a local Thai family in a traditional Thai stilt house.

Mai Chau is surrounded by beautiful natural scenery and lies between the Da River and Ma River, helping create a fertile valley filled with forests, mountains, streams, lakes, rice fields, and countless small paths. The area offers excellent opportunities for walking and exploring local villages. Around Mai Chau, you can encounter several ethnic communities, including the Muong, White Thai, H’mong, and Dao, either in their villages or at local markets.

Day 2: Mai Chau. Options.

Today provides an opportunity to explore more of the Mai Chau Valley or take on a more challenging motorcycle adventure. If you enjoy off-road riding, we can arrange a demanding ride toward Pu Luong Nature Reserve, located not far from Mai Chau but requiring several hours of challenging riding through remote mountain terrain.

The route to Pu Luong includes dirt roads, rough tracks, mountain paths, and scenic countryside, making it an exciting option for experienced riders. Because some sections can be quite difficult, this route is best suited to confident riders with previous off-road motorcycle experience, particularly those riding suitable dirt bikes. Alternatively, you can spend a more relaxed day discovering Mai Chau’s villages, rice fields, local markets, and surrounding landscapes.

Day 3: Mai Chau – Hanoi (~220 km/~7 h)

If you are in Mai Chau on Sunday morning, we can make a short trip of approximately 35 km to visit a local H’mong market, where different ethnic communities gather to trade goods, meet friends, and socialize. After exploring the market, we begin the return journey toward Hanoi, following scenic karst mountain roads and winding through the countryside.

The route back to Hanoi provides a final opportunity to enjoy the dramatic landscapes of northern Vietnam before gradually returning to the lowlands. We stop for lunch along the way and continue toward the capital, aiming to arrive in Hanoi around 5 pm. This marks the end of our 3-day Hanoi to Mai Chau motorbike tour.

To get an idea of the Mai Chau motorcycle tour offered by our company, please watch the video below.

In case you would like to watch more videos from our Vietnam motorbike tours, please visit our YouTube channel.

For more information, pricing, and other options for short motorbike tours in Hanoi and Northern Vietnam, please contact us at [email protected]