Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau. ~160 km, ~6 h.
Today is the first day of this 6 days Central North Vietnam Homestaying. Before starting to ride, we will have a short briefing to let you know about the rules. In addition, the guide will show you how to understand him by his body language. We start around 9.30am after the rush hour.
Once out of the Red River Delta, which brims with traditional farming activity, we pass through limestone monoliths and into foothills populated by Muong people. We head straight at the main range before breaching a high and beautiful forested pass, which descends into the hidden valley of Mai Chau where we spend the night with friends in a traditional Thai stilt house.
The valley of Mai Chau lies between two rivers: the Da River and the Ma River. Therefore, Mai Chau is very fertile and rich in varied landscapes, medium mountains, forest, lake, rivers, and infinitude of small footpaths and offer many possibilities of a trek. In the valley of Mai Chau and its surroundings are Muong, White Thai, H’mong (in the height), and the Dao who we meet at the markets or in their villages during trekking, boating, or while driving.

Day 2: Mai Chau – Song Thao. ~180 km, ~8 h.
Beautiful landscape. Valley of wax-tree, the native land of lacquer makers in Vietnam. We are welcome in the house of our friends. You meet Kinh (ethnic Vietnamese).
The particular thing is that this is the place where we grow lacquer trees to collect the precious substance called lacquer. We propose to stay in the house of the 2 “uncles”, the direct descendant of the ancestor who discovered the property of this tree and the way to use it, about 4 hundred years ago (quite recently compared to China who knew about lacquer few thousands years ago).
Golden Trail Travel Motorbike Adventures - 6 days Central North Vietnam homestaying via Mai Chau.

Day 3: Song Thao – Vu Linh. ~150 km, ~6 h.
Ride from Song Thao to Vu Linh, we will ride through limestone and palm trees, on asphalted road and dirt roads, then reach Thac Ba lake where a boat will be waiting for us. Then we will cruise on the lake from west to east, until the Dao village of Vu Linh. The welcome is exceptional.

Day 4: Vu Linh – Na Khan. ~180 km, ~7 h.
You ride from Vu Linh to Na Khan through Thai Nguyen. In fact, the road is sealed almost all the way, and dirt road the last 10 kilometres. Na Khan is a Tay village, lost in the middle of the primitive forest. Mr. Lo, chief of the village will welcome us to his house.

Day 5: Na Khan – Ba Be. ~50 km, ~2 h.
A short drive from Na Khan to Ba Be on a bumpy road. Lunch at our captain’s house (Mr. Dang, we call him Zi Dang). Easy boating on the lake and river. Go to the market (if it is the day you arrive). Stop at the waterfall, beautiful swim, etc. Ong pirate, the chief of Dau Dang waterfall where we enjoy dinner. Down the waterfall, we could visit the village and a small school (only a few pupils during the summer). We propose to stay in the stilt house of forest guards.
Golden Trail Travel Motorbike Adventures - 6 days Central North Vietnam homestaying via Ba Be lake.

Day 6: Ba Be – Hanoi. ~240 km, ~8 h. End of 6 Days Central North Vietnam Homestaying.
Today is quite a long ride but easy (so early departure is better) from Ba Be back to Hanoi ~240 km.
We try to arrive in Hanoi between 3 and 4pm, before rush hours.

Including
– Motorcycle(s);
– Fuel;
– Tour guide (also a translator, leader, and handy mechanic);
– Standard hotel (double, twins, or triple shared room) and/or homestay (sleeping bags, mosquito nets, sheets, pillows, etc. are provided);
– Third-party motorbike insurance in case you have a Vietnamese motorbike driving license;
– All food (Vietnamese food, Western food costs extra);
– All entrance fees, permits, tickets, boat trips, ferries, bamboo rafts, etc;
– Golden Trail Travel provides premium assistance (1). We are with you along the way;
– Vietnamese green tea.

Not including
– Personal expenses, personal medical insurance;
– Drinks other than tea and local rice wine;
– Single room supplement in case you request a single room;
– Motorbiking protective pants, jacket, gloves, helmet, rain gear, and other safety equipment at favourable rental rate;
– Bike shipping and tour guide’s travel back to Hanoi (for Ho Chi Minh trail/road trips or tours that don’t end in Hanoi);
– Train or flight tickets before and after your tour;
– Breakfast on the departure day and dinner on the return day;
– Accommodation and food in Hanoi;