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Hanoi to Ha Giang: Vietnam’s Northern Backroads
Your own route through Vietnam’s wild north – handlebars, homestays and heritage
Overview
The lowdown
This private adventure dives deep into northern Vietnam – from Hanoi’s buzzing alleyways to limestone bays and the misty mountain roads of Ha Giang. Ride pillion on the back of a motorbike through jaw-dropping passes, stay in remote homestays and cruise quiet waters far from the crowds. With local guides and every detail handled, this is Vietnam like you’ve never seen it – untamed, unforgettable and entirely your own.
Highlights
The best bits
Hanoi Street Food Safari
Bia hoi, pho and backstreet BBQs. Train Street buzz, sizzling pans and bold local flavours from curbside to market.
Itinerary
The day to day
Day 1
Arrive Hanoi, Eat the Streets
Day 2
Old Quarter, New Flavours
Day 3
Cruise Bai Tu Long Bay
Day 4
Caves, Cooking & the Night Bus
Day 5
Start the Loop, Ha Giang Bound
Day 6
Skywalk & Valley Stay
Day 7
Waterfalls & Wind-Downs
Day 8
Loop Ends, Hanoi Bound
Day 9
One Last Wake-Up
Host
The experts
Mango Tiger
This trip is powered by the legends at Mango Tiger. A crew of locals and long-time wanderers who just flat-out love Thailand. They know the secret spots, the best street eats and how to make every moment feel effortless. Good people doing good travel.
Accommodation
The quarters
Set in the heart of the Old Quarter, Tirant is your comfy, air-conditioned base between adventures. Step outside into Hanoi’s chaos or retreat upstairs to the rooftop bar for skyline views and a sunset cocktail. Walkable to markets, cafés and train street – it’s location perfection.
Tirant Hotel, Hanoi (or similar)
Phố Gia Ngư, Hoàn Kiếm, V...
A boutique wooden junk boat that brings Bai Tu Long’s magic to life. Enjoy fresh seafood feasts, kayak to hidden lagoons and unwind with sunset drinks on deck. With cosy cabins and a slow travel pace, Renea is your floating home.
Renea Cruise, Bai Tu Long (or similar)
Bai Tu Long Bay, Vietnam
Board your overnight VIP sleeper bus and glide north into the mountains. Expect lie-flat beds, privacy curtains, Wi-Fi and a surprisingly smooth ride. It’s not luxury, but it’s cosy and efficient – you’ll drift off to roadside scenes and wake up in a whole new world.
VIP Sleeper Bus (Hanoi to Ha Giang)
Hà Giang, VN
Perched in the northern mountains, this rustic stay offers warm hospitality and stunning scenery. Share home-cooked meals with your hosts, swap stories with fellow travellers and wake to cool mountain air. Simple, soulful and right in the heart of Dong Van.
Ecostone House, Dong Van (or similar)
tổ 4, Đồng Văn, VN
Valley-hugged bungalows with misty morning views, breezy balconies, and hammocks built for lazy hours. Dinner is home-cooked and shared family-style, while stars sparkle overhead. It’s peaceful, pared-back and the perfect reset after days on the road.
Du Gia Panorama (or similar)
Yên Minh, VN
After a final ride through the highlands, you’ll board your overnight VIP sleeper bus back to the capital. Lie back in your pod-like bed, pull the curtain and drift off as mountain roads give way to city lights. One last chance to reflect before Hanoi sweeps you back in.
VIP Sleeper Bus (Ha Giang to Hanoi)
Hanoi, VN
Set in the heart of the Old Quarter, Tirant is your comfy, air-conditioned base between adventures. Step outside into Hanoi’s chaos or retreat upstairs to the rooftop bar for skyline views and a sunset cocktail. Walkable to markets, cafés and train street – it’s location perfection.
Tirant Hotel, Final Night (or similar)
Phố Gia Ngư, Hoàn Kiếm, V...
Activities
The fun stuff
Explore Hanoi’s buzzing heart on foot and by cyclo. You’ll weave through lantern-lit alleys, sip egg coffee, and sample street eats shoulder-to-shoulder with locals. Hear the city’s soundtrack of sizzle and scooters, visit temples and train tracks and experience the capital’s chaos in full colour.
Hanoi Old Quarter Tour
Hanoi, VN
Cruise through Bai Tu Long Bay aboard a boutique junk boat. Paddle into quiet lagoons, visit limestone caves and try your hand at squid fishing. A cooking class offers a taste of Vietnamese flavours, while sundowners on deck set the mood. Less crowded than Halong, this bay is all about calm and beauty.
Bai Tu Long Cruise
Bai Tu Long Bay, Vietnam
Embark on Vietnam’s most epic motorbike ride with your guide at the handlebars. Wind through misty passes, past minority villages and rice-terraced valleys. From rugged peaks to warm homestays, this four-day ride brings wild landscapes, cultural encounters and a sense of freedom you won’t forget.
Ha Giang Loop
Hà Giang, VN
Lace up for the Skywalk: a dramatic footpath clinging to the ridgeline above Tu San Canyon. It’s a thigh-burner with views that make your heart race – steep drops, river-carved valleys and sharp limestone spires all around. Not keen to hike? A gentler scenic route is available nearby.
Ma Pi Leng Skywalk Hike
Mèo Vạc, VN
Time to exhale. This relaxed day in the lush village of Du Gia is made for recharging – take a short jungle walk to a waterfall, dive into the clear water, or stretch out in a hammock with a book. Surrounded by rice terraces and quiet life, it’s a chance to soak in everything you’ve seen so far.
Du Gia Waterfall Chill-Down
Hanoi, VN
Meet the weavers of Lung Tam, a H’Mong cooperative preserving age-old techniques. See how hemp is grown, spun, dyed with natural indigo and woven into beautiful, symbolic textiles.
Lung Tam Weaving Encounter
Hanoi, VN
Fine Print
The small stuff
Cancel 65+ days out for a 70% refund. Within 64 days, we’ve locked in logistics, so no refund can be offered. Thanks for understanding – it keeps things running smooth for everyone.