Vietnam Suggested Motorbike Route

The Recommended Vietnam Motorbike Route

Vietnam is a country with limitless route options. There is no right or wrong route and no right or wrong section to drive. Some people come back yearly, just like a ski holiday, and with each revisit, they tackle a new set of roads. Don’t overthink your route. Whatever you do, it is going to be good!

The country is rapidly changing, and new roads open up yearly. Content from places like Tigit and VietnamCoracle can get outdated. However, for Vietnam to gain popularity, we make it a yearly objective to go out there and find the latest and greatest routes to drive. The journey documented within is what we believe is the ultimate Vietnam motorbike route for travelers.

For information about preparing for the Vietnam journey, check how to navigate Vietnam, where we answer all your “logistical, gear, and local culture questions.

Recommended motorbike route video

How long does it take to travel each part of Vietnam?

When planning your route by motorbike, consider Vietnam in three sections. This will allow you to skip some areas while spending more time in other more desirable locations.

Why do the Tigit recommended routes not involve much coast?

Vietnam is famous for its coastline, but it should be famous for its mountains. Tigit is a motorbike company, so we will recommend the routes that involve the most motorbike-friendly fun. We seek incredible scenery and roads with amazing straights and corners. And, of course, with as few trucks and cars as possible!

Mainstream tourism is not of interest, and anyone with Google Maps can navigate up the highway, we don’t need to do that for you.

There are few documented coast roads by Tigit, and this is because we don’t like them. Jon invests time and money to find the country’s best roads, and these are not found on the coastline!

The Different sections of Vietnam

• The south, which I consider HCM to Danang
• The middle, which I consider Danang to Hanoi
• Ha Giang
• North West
• North East

The South Ho Chi Minh to Danang

Extra Reading:

• Danang to Nha Trang the Best Route
• Route Research Ho Chi Minh to Danang.
• Saigon Motorbike Loops
• The best coast in Vietnam

Advantages of Ho Chi Minh to Danang

• It is basically always hot. Although there are some cold times, and the city of Dalat can be cold. In general, the weather and the season are not hugely important.
• A large variety of driving styles from mountains to coast.
• A pretty set route that is easy to follow with good accommodation.
• Long stretches of road where it can be rare to see other people.

Disadvantages of Ho Chi Minh to Danang

• Although pretty, there is no jaw-dropping beauty.
• It is mostly developed; this can be seen as a pro or a con.
• Due to being a set route, there are no areas where foreigners are “rare“, so we don’t get the really fun local interactions.

Ho Chi Minh to Danang motorbike route

Day 1: HCM to Cat Tien National Park
The reason for this is that it is an easy, short day to get the journey started. It is also one of the easiest ways to exit Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 2: Cat Tien National Park to Dalat
This day contains some great mountain roads and is beautiful

Day 3: Dalat to Nha Trang via the coast.
This can be the coast to Mui Ne all the way through to Nha Trang, or you can cut it short and do the coast Phan Rang to Nha Trang. There is a mountain road between Dalat and Nha Trang, but this is our opportunity to do the best coastal riding in the country, so let’s do it.

You should note that it doesn’t matter where you stop on the coast; there is accommodation for all budgets throughout the coastline. There is no need to go to Nha Trang city itself. We just use it as a marker.

Day 4: Nha Trang to Quy Nhon
This continues to be fun coastal driving, and Quy Nhon city. On the way to Quy Nhon be sure to do the Bamboo bridge.

Day 5: Quy Nhon to Mang Den
This is one of our favorite days of riding and takes some very remote open roads. Mang Den is a cool destination with lots of waterfalls.

Day 6: Mang Den to Hoi An / Danang
A continuation of some of the best driving in the country. Awesome stuff.

The middle, Danang to Hanoi

Extra Reading:

• Danang to Hanoi the Best Route
• Hanoi to Danang the Famous Ho Chi Minh Road
• Hai Van Pass
• Offroad and History Danang Loop
• Ho Chi Minh Road Motorbike Guide

Hanoi to Danang / Hoi An Advantages

• It contains the Ho Chi Minh Road, which is probably the best road in the country.
• Lots of tourist activities such as Phong Nha, Hue and Hoi An.
• The weather is mostly consistent and pleasant.

Hanoi to Danang / Hoi An

• Hanoi to Phong Nha is two days of average driving. We are trading days of amazing driving, for days with average driving.
• The weather can be really bad if unlucky. This area gets hit by storms.
• Some drives are long; some drives are short. No real consistency.

Hanoi to Danang / Hoi An recommended motorbike route

Day 1: Hanoi to Mai Chau or Pu Luong
This is an easy way out of the city, and gets you started with a beautiful day 1 destination.

Day 2: Mau Chau / Pu Luong to Cua Lo (Vinh)
Nothing great about this drive.

Day 3: Cua Lo to Phong Nha
Most of this day isn’t interesting, but as we start to approach Phong Nha the driving improves.

Day 4: Phong Nha to Khe Sanh
This is the Ho Chi Minh road, which is probably the best road in the country for most tourists.

Day 5: Khe Sanh to Hue
Pass through Vinh Moc Tunnels and the DMZ to get to Hue.

Day 6: Hue to Danang / Hoi An
A short but very famous drive, the Hai Van pass.

The North Disclaimers read before looking at routes Ha Giang, North East, North West.

The North is full of small villages with homestays. There is no set tourist route or way to recommend where you finish each day. Due to being mountainous and the weather playing a big part of the distance covered, it is impossible to set a recommended route with exact locations.

All you need to know is that no area in the North is more than a one-day drive from Hanoi. Do not overplan the North, and do not rush it. Just drive at your pace and enjoy what you see. When your time is up, return to Hanoi.

Tourists’ biggest mistake in the North is trying to see “everything.” A mountain is a mountain; they are all the same in the end!

Ha Giang Loops – One week
The North East – One week
The North West – One week

Extra Reading Ha Giang

Ha Giang Loop 7 Days by Tigit Guides

Advantages of Ha Giang

• Good road conditions in the mountains.
• Stunning views.
• A feeling of being remote and “hardcore” without really leaving the tourist infrastructure.
• Short driving days if you want.

Disadvantages of Ha Giang

• It can be incredibly busy these days, meaning some travelers are caught off guard by how touristy it is now.
• The weather is super random and unpredictable, meaning you might not see anything!
• Ha Giang has an entrance fee of around 3,000,000 vnd (120usd) now. You are basically guaranteed to get stopped by the police. They now issue you a receipt that can be used for the rest of Ha Giang police. No other area in Vietnam does this.

Ha Giang recommended motorbike route

Day 1: Hanoi to Ba Be Lake
Easy exit of Hanoi and overall a nice drive

Day 2: Ba Be Lake to Meo Vac
Stunning stuff

Day 3: Meo Vac to Ha Giang
The main part of the loop

Day 4: Ha Giang to Vu Linh
Vu Linh is very nice

Day 5: Vu Linh to Hanoi

Extra reading North West

• North West in 7 days
• North West in 3 to 6 days
• South West of Hanoi 3 to 4 days

The North West advantages

• Contains some of the best scenery in Vietnam.
• The drives are relatively short.
• It contains the dinosaur backbone, which is very cool.
• It is off the beaten trail, not much tourism.
• Probably the best local interactions in Vietnam.

The North West disadvantages

• The driving can be difficult in terms of narrow roads and slippery clay.
• Not much tourist infrastructure means very little English in these areas.
• Although on paper, this lack of tourist infrastructure sounds perfect. In reality, it goes outside of many tourists’ comfort zones.

The North West recommended motorbike route

Day 1: Hanoi to Mai Chau / Pu Luong
An easy way out of the city with a nice day one destination.

Day 2: Mai Chau / Pu Luong to Bac Yen
A cool drive that contains a massive ferry.

Day 3: Bac Yen to Tram Tau, visiting the dinosaur backbone in Ta Xua.
It is one of the country’s best drives in the country, finishing up in the picturesque town on Tram Tau with hot springs. A tour favorite of ours.

Day 4: Tram Tau to Vu Linh.
A continuation of mountain terrain with a nice final day with a boat tour in Vu Linh.

Day 5: Vu Linh back to Hanoi
Easy drive to enter the big city.

The North East Extra Reading

Currently no extra reading, but a generic North Article

Motorbiking In Hanoi And The North

The North East advantages

• There are lots of caves and waterfalls if you want to see them.
• Relatively good driving and good road conditions.
• Ban Gioc Waterfall is out of this world.
• Connects nicely into the Ha Giang loop.

The North East disadvantages

• Despite being in the North, it hasn’t really got jaw-dropping beauty.
• A North East loop in itself probably isn’t the best idea. Use it to connect to Ha Giang Loops.

The North East recommended motorbike route

Day 1: Hanoi to Trang Dinh stopping by the Hoang Van Cave
Kick off the journey with a very cool cave.

Day 2: Trang Dinh to Cao Bang, visiting Ban Gioc Waterfall.
Experience the wonders of Ban Gioc Waterfall.

Day 3: Cao Bang to Ba Be lake
Another natural beauty with boat tours.

Day 4: Ba Be Lake to Hanoi
A very easy and quick route for entering Hanoi city.

Optional – The Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc 

We don’t really recommend driving the Mekong Delta. It is suitable for a motorbike tour where a guide has developed routes to avoid chaotic traffic.

Minimum of 3 days. 

Ho Chi Minh — > Can Tho — > Phu Quoc Island

How Long: 3-5 days depending on your love of wet markets and beaches (385 km)

The Mekong Delta Extra Reading

Mekong Delta Maps & Musings

Places not to ride in Vietnam

The Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is hot, flat, and busy. There is no real way to escape this. A fully guided tour with years of route planning can navigate the Mekong Madness to provide a feeling of remoteness. However, for the standard traveler, this is not a section to “motorbike.” It is a lovely option for general culture and a relaxed holiday that is not based around covering hundreds of kilometers. 

Hanoi to Ha Long Bay

Hanoi’s drive to Ha Long Bay is probably the busiest and the worst driving in the entire country. There is a reason why Ha Long Bay tours only operate from Ha Noi by bus!

If you really must drive this horrific section, then head off to Cat Ba Island and run your Ha Long Bay tour from there. 

Hanoi to Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba by Motorbike

The Weather

For a full article on the weather, please read the Weather article. There is no right or wrong time to travel to Vietnam by motorbike. The South has different seasons to the North, and a traveler committing to the entire country will experience the heat, the cold, and the rain. We strongly recommend not planning your holiday based on the weather. Instead, read our suggestions on what to bring and wear and pack carefully.

Choosing the right section to ride on a time budget

Da Nang to Hanoi by motorbike

For most people, the standard choice will be the Ho Chi Minh road between Danang and Hanoi.

This section has the “overall best road” in the country, being the Ho Chi Minh Road. It also has Hoi An, which tends to be one of the most popular destinations for tourists. The journey passes through Phong Nha, which has the world’s largest cave, various other caves, and limestone water of jaw-dropping beauty.

A traveler will need to make a decision between Ninh Binh or Mai Chau, which are excellent spots for the authentic homestay experience.

Ho Chi Minh to Da Nang by motorbike

The South contains all the beaches while managing to throw in some mountain glory to go along with it. The South has the most varied riding from the coasts to the mountains, which will likely be a decision made for many people combined with the gorgeous tropical heat.

It is Tigit Jon’s favorite area of the country to drive, and he has an article and video on Nha Trang to Danang the best route.

Ha Giang Loops by motorbike

The weather is volatile and unpredictable, but this is made up for by incredible mountain beauty. For views that you will never forget, then Ha Giang is the place to be. Here is our article on the Ha Giang loop.

The North West

Probably the most beautiful area of Vietnam, certainly the best for local interactions. However, the driving can be difficult with narrow roads and slippery clay terrain. There is also a lack of tourist infrastructure that can beyond the capabilities of many casual tourists.

How far is it possible to ride in a day? 

There is no mathematical equation to calculate the optimal time spent on a Vietnam motorbike route, and we cover this topic in detail on how to navigate Vietnam. Here are some general rules to follow.

1. For most, everything on GoogleMaps in terms of timing needs to be doubled or tripled.
2. For most, a typical day is 150-200km on models 150cc and below.
3. On models above 150cc, 200-250km becomes normal, and 300km is achievable.
4. There are hotels everywhere, so failing to reach the destination is not a problem.
5. A full day of driving includes coffee breaks, pictures, and generally relaxing, not stressful.

Common mistakes when considering motorbike distances

1. Booking everything in advance (apart from in High seasons and Vietnamese holidays)
2. A concept of “driving a little bit” each day. Commit to a full day drive, then take a rest day
3. Planning the holiday around “countryside hotels” is a mistake. The countryside is poor, and not fun for a tourist. Make sure to try and commit to the next city or tourist town.
4. It is a mistake not to plan for rest days. From experience, there needs to be at least one rest day for every four days of driving.