Motorbike From Thailand to Laos and Vietnam - 20 Days provides an outstanding opportunity to obtain a thorough impression of the uniqueness of Northern Thailand, & Laos, and Vietnam. The selected roads are a mix of mostly rural two lanes with a variety of surfaces. During most of the tour, we will ride through areas of spectacular mountainous beauty – some of the best ridings anywhere in the world. We start riding east towards Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong where we meet the Mekong River for the first time. Crossing the border into Laos and riding towards Oudom Xai. Already during our third day of riding, we cross into Vietnam and visit the battleground at Dien Bien Phu. Heading north towards the Chinese border and the Phan Xia Pang, at 3,143 meters tall, it is Vietnam’s and South East Asia’s highest mountain. (Distance: approximately 3.375 km / 2.100 miles)
Day 1. Chiang Mai, Arrival
Upon arrival, we will meet you at the airport and drive you to the hotel (recommended arrival to Chiang Mai, no later than 3 pm). At 5 pm, we meet for a welcome briefing and motorcycle handover at our Service Centre. Ride back to the hotel so you can get familiar with your motorcycle and local riding environment etc. Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Hotel: Amora Tapae Hotel
Hotel: Amora Tapae Hotel
Day 2. Chiang Mai – Chiang Khong (Thailand) 309 km
In the morning we start our motorcycle adventure. We ride in the eastern direction, passing the Doi Luang National Park, hot springs, etc. The first part will be on the main road, an enjoyable ride with nice twists and bends. In Chiang Rai, we will visit the White Temple, one of north Thailand’s main attractions. In the early afternoon, we ride along the magic Mekong River (mother of all rivers), which in this area makes the border between Thailand and Laos. We will meet the Mekong River often during our tour. Towards the end of the day, we arrive in Chiang Khong which is the destination of our first riding day. We park our motorcycles and enjoy the river view and Laos on the other side. Overnight in Chiang Khong.
Hotel: Teak Garden Riverfront
Hotel: Teak Garden Riverfront
Day 3. Chiang Khong – Oudomxay (Thailand / Laos) 311 km
A bit earlier start today, the goal is to be at Thai Immigration when they open at 8 am. After clearing the Thai border formalities, we cross the Thai – Lao Friendship Bridge. On the Laos side, our Lao tour guide greets us and helps us with the border formalities. The immigration- and customs procedures are always an experience. It simply just takes time, so relax, be patient. Don’t forget! In Laos, we drive on the right side of the road! We have lunch in Luang Namtha and then continue the remaining stretch to Oudomxai. The road is quite good and the scenery is great as we are passing through a couple of villages, where it is time to stop and “mingle” with the locals. The first stretch of today to Luang Namtha is the main transit road between Thailand and China and normally has a bit more traffic. After lunch, the road is more provincial, with plenty of cures and villages. Part of this stretch is full of trucks due to the high-speed railway construction between China and Vientiane. Once the high-speed train is in service this part of Laos will change a lot, especially Luang Prabang. Overnight at a lovely resort in Oudomxai.
Hotel: Namkat Yorla Pa Resort
Hotel: Namkat Yorla Pa Resort
Day 4. Oudomxay – Muang Khua - Dien Bien Phu (Laos / Vietnam) 221 km
Our motorcycle adventure continues in an eastern direction on low traffic density provincial roads to the Vietnamese border. On the first stretch, we ride along the Nam Phak River and enjoy the scenery. At Pak Nam Noy we start climbing up the mountains towards the Vietnam border. This is a remote area of Laos, the scenery is spectacular, not many villages. Not much is happening at the Laos / Vietnam border, said that it can still take some time to work through the paperwork. Our Vietnamese guide will wait for us at the Tay Trang border crossing and together we will ride to Dien Bien Phu. You will notice how things have changed once crossing into Vietnam, different landscapes, more people, villages, and traffic. The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was the climactic confrontation of the First Indochina War between the French Union’s French Far East Expeditionary Corps and Viet Minh communist-nationalist revolutionaries. We can visit the Dien Bien Phu Museum, the notorious hill
Hotel: Him Lam Hotel
Hotel: Him Lam Hotel
Day 5. Dien Bien Sapa – Sapa (Vietnam) 274 km
Today we have quite a long ride ahead of us, we will pass endless villages, with plenty of photo opportunities. Toward the end of the day, we start climbing up the mountain, and the scenery gets better by the hour. After an early breakfast, we depart follow the NR12 to Muong Lay, then head up to the Taphin plateau to conquer a scenic and stunning road through the Sin Ho Valley. We stop at the Sin Ho Market, which is more lively and crowded if we arrive early. We continue this less traveled road until Lai Chau and drive the winding road to Sapa with a photo stop at the O Qui Ho pass at 2005 meters from where we have a spectacular view of Phan Xia Pang, 3,143 meters, Vietnam’s and South East Asia highest mountain. In Sapa, there are plenty of restaurants, souvenir shops, and bars, something for every taste. Overnight in Sapa.
Hotel: Sapa Panorama Hotel
Hotel: Sapa Panorama Hotel
Day 6. Rest Day in Sapa (Vietnam)
Today is a rest day. Sapa is a mountainous town in Northwestern Vietnam, blessed with a cool climate throughout the year. The Hoàng Liên mountain range dominates the area with a dramatic backdrop for many scenic treks. There are many things to do in Sapa. You can do an optional ride in the area. Or you simply chill out. For a remote small town in northern Vietnam’s mountains, Sapa is surprisingly modern. It offers a great variety of gastronomic options – from local street food and Vietnamese specialties to high-quality Italian restaurants and wine bars. Not to mention the many local cafes that serve super robust Vietnamese coffee. If you are up to it, take the cabin to the top of Phan Xia Pang or simply just stroll around in the town. Overnight in Sapa.
(Laundry service possible)
Hotel: Sapa Panorama Hotel
(Laundry service possible)
Hotel: Sapa Panorama Hotel
Day 7. Sapa - Nghia Lo (Vietnam) 231 km
With newly “charged batteries” our journey takes us in a southern direction. We ride on good-quality mountain roads to Nhiah Loh. During the whole day, we pass through endless villages and rice fields. There are countless photo stops and possibilities to “mingle with the locals”. The closer we get to Nhiah Loh the more spectacular the landscape becomes, especially the valleys with their endless rice terraces. The road is especially scenic between Than Uyen to Nghia Lo. We will stop at a monument on pass 1570 and viewpoint No1, take the opportunity and climb the watchtower. The view of the rice paddies is best from here. Overnight in Ngiah Lo.
Hotel: Nghia Lo Hotel
Hotel: Nghia Lo Hotel
Day 8. Ngurah Lo – Thai Nguyen - Hanoi (Vietnam) 296 km
After breakfast, grab our bikes and ride the stunning mountain roads to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. En route, have lunch in Thai Nguyen. Overnight in Hanoi.
Hotel: La Siesta Hotel Trendy
Hotel: La Siesta Hotel Trendy
Day 9. Rest Day in Hanoi (Vietnam)
A day of leisure. Time to relax or optional visit some of the most outstanding sights such as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Temple of Literature …
Hanoi is the capital and the largest city in Vietnam by area. With an estimated population of 7.7 million as of 2018, it is the second-largest city in Vietnam by population. Located in the central area of the Red River Delta, Hanoi is the commercial, cultural, and educational center of Northern Vietnam. Originally a small settlement along the banks of the Red River, the city was founded as Thang Long, the capital of Imperial Vietnam, in 1010 by monarch Ly Thai To. Thang Long would remain the most important political and cultural center of Vietnam until 1802. Thang Long was renamed to its current name Hanoi in 1831. In 1873, Hanoi was conquered by the French, and from 1883 to 1945, the city was the administrative center of French Indochina. The French colonization left a lasting impact on the city’s architecture that is visible today, as showcased through French-style avenues, bridges, and buildings juxtaposing with traditional Vietnamese architecture. Overnight in Hanoi.
(Laundry service possible)
Hotel: La Siesta Hotel Trendy
Hanoi is the capital and the largest city in Vietnam by area. With an estimated population of 7.7 million as of 2018, it is the second-largest city in Vietnam by population. Located in the central area of the Red River Delta, Hanoi is the commercial, cultural, and educational center of Northern Vietnam. Originally a small settlement along the banks of the Red River, the city was founded as Thang Long, the capital of Imperial Vietnam, in 1010 by monarch Ly Thai To. Thang Long would remain the most important political and cultural center of Vietnam until 1802. Thang Long was renamed to its current name Hanoi in 1831. In 1873, Hanoi was conquered by the French, and from 1883 to 1945, the city was the administrative center of French Indochina. The French colonization left a lasting impact on the city’s architecture that is visible today, as showcased through French-style avenues, bridges, and buildings juxtaposing with traditional Vietnamese architecture. Overnight in Hanoi.
(Laundry service possible)
Hotel: La Siesta Hotel Trendy
Day 10. Hanoi - Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
Travel to Ha Long Bay by shuttle bus and embark on an overnight cruise to explore this extraordinary piece of Vietnam and relax. Ha, Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name Hạ Long means “descending dragon”. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes. Ha, Long Bay is a center of a larger zone that includes Bai Tu Long Bay to the northeast, and Cát Bà Island to the southwest. Hạ Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km2 (600 sq mi), including 1,960–2,000 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km2 (129 sq mi) with a high density of 775 islets. The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate.
Overnight at the Ha Long Bay.
Boat: Royal Cruise
Day 11. Second Rest Day in Hanoi (Vietnam)
Disembark after lunch and return to Hanoi for the night and in the evening watch the famous Thang Long Water Puppet show in the theatre.
Hotel: La Siesta Hotel Trendy
Hotel: La Siesta Hotel Trendy
Day 12. Hanoi – Ninh Binh (Vietnam) 117 km
After breakfast, leaving the capital of Vietnam. We arrive at Tam Coc, a small town, full of guest houses, coffee shops, restaurants, and souvenir shops (a good opportunity to buy inexpensive Vietnamese handicrafts), etc, once the ancient capital of Viet Nam, settled in the 10th century. We can visit temples of two dynasties of Dinh and Le with very unique architectures. Explore the local area by bicycle. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
Hotel: Tam Coc Valley Bungalow
Hotel: Tam Coc Valley Bungalow
Day 13. Ninh Binh – Pu Mat (Vietnam) 243 km
In the morning we board sampan boats (2 people share one boat) and drift down the river among the villages, beautiful mountains, and lush rice fields. We pass through 3 caves (“Hang Ca”, “Hang Hai”, and “Hang Ba”). Enjoy the peaceful fullness and watch the skills of the boat operator. Once back on our motorcycles we continue our journey to Pu Mat. We follow the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the Ca (big) river and arrive in Pu Mat town in the Nghe An province towards the end of the day. Most of today’s route is on good enjoyable low-density roads. Next to our hotel is a swimming pool with a bar, full of locals. Enjoy a swim and a beer with them. There is also a possibility to ride and visit a waterfall, paved road, a total 50 km return. Overnight at hotel in Pu Mat.
Hotel: Muong Thanh Con Cuong
Hotel: Muong Thanh Con Cuong
Day 14. Pu Mat - Nam Can - Phonsavan (Vietnam / Laos) 268 km
Today we continue to the Nam Can border gate and check out to Laos. The last part of our riding in Vietnam passes through endless villages and just before the border, we climb up the mountain range creating the natural border between Vietnam and Laos. We better be there on time. At 11:30 am the immigration office will take their rather long lunch break. After the immigration process, we ride in the direction of Phonsavan. You will notice the change in landscape and fewer villages once in Laos. We stay overnight in Phonsawan.
Hotel: Vansana Plain of Jars
Hotel: Vansana Plain of Jars
Day 15. Phonsavan – Luang Prabang (Laos) 267 km
Phonsavan is home to the famous “Plain of Jars”, a megalithic archaeological site that we will visit in the morning – a must-see stop on our Motorcycle Tour of Vietnam Thailand & Laos. Then we will jump straight back to the twisties, winding our way northwest towards Luang Prabang. Some stunning mountain trails give way to a wide-open track through the beautiful countryside with remote villages along the way. Luang Prabang with its gleaming temple roofs, fading French architecture, and stunning mountain backdrop has been claimed by UNESCO to be ‘the best-preserved city in South East Asia’. In the evening we will enjoy a deserved dinner in the old quarters of the town. Take the opportunity to visit the night market. We stay overnight in Luang Prabang.
Hotel: Mekong Sunset View Hotel
Hotel: Mekong Sunset View Hotel
Day 16. Rest Day in Luang Prabang (Laos)
As this is a rest day the day is totally at our disposal. In the morning you will have the option to rise early to view the procession of monks on their daily outing collecting alms, a practice that dates back centuries. It is done early, as the monks cannot eat anything after midday. By giving food to a monk you make merit, which should augur well for your next life. You may also want to visit the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls. It’s possible to swim in the lagoon, so bring your swimming gear. A great way to get there is to take a local “Tuktuk”. Another option is cruising a couple of hours on the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Caves. If this is too long-time spent on a boat, enjoy a short sunset cruise on the river. Once back in Luang Prabang you can visit the major temples, including the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, which nestles at the meeting of the Mekong and the Nam Khan Rivers, and Wat Wisunalat, which is the oldest temple in the city. Another great optional activity is to sample a traditional Lao massage and herbal sauna. Along the walking street, you find plenty of antique shops, bakeries, bars, etc. After sunset, the night market takes off. Enjoy and have fun! We stay another night in Luang Prabang.
(Laundry service available)
Hotel: Mekong Sunset View Hotel, Luang Prabang
(Laundry service available)
Hotel: Mekong Sunset View Hotel, Luang Prabang
Day 17. Luang Prabang - Pakbeng (Laos) 280 km
In the morning you will have the option to rise early to view the procession of monks on their daily outing collecting alms, a practice that dates back centuries. It is done early, as the monks cannot eat anything after midday. By giving food to a monk you make merit, which should augur well for your next life. Once on our motorcycles, we start riding in the southern direction to Xayaburi. The road heralds the start of a 170 km wild stretch of highway along steep ridges and around hairpin bends, with headlong views of rugged valleys and remote mountains as far as the eye can see. From Xayaburi we take the narrow and winding local road passing a couple of remote villages to Hongsa where we enjoy lunch. For the last part of the day, we ride to Pakbeng. Pakbeng is a colorful village situated at the junction of the Mekong River and the smaller Beng River, hence the town’s name ‘Pak’ meaning ‘mouth’ in Lao. The scenery is stunning, the pace is slow. The town is a transit point for many backpackers traveling by boat on the Mekong River between Luang Prabang and Huay Xai. Enjoy the view from the hotel’s infinity pool. Overnight in Pakbeng.
Hotel: Le Grande Pakbeng
Hotel: Le Grande Pakbeng
Day 18. Pakbeng - Nan (Laos / Thailand) 261 km
Today is our last day in Laos on our motorcycle tour of Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. The first part of the route takes us back in the direction of Hongsa. We cross into Thailand at the Huai Kon border point. Normally the border formalities leaving Laos and entering Thailand are rather straightforward. Once in Thailand, we are in Nan province, one of the few remote areas left in Thailand. Enjoy road 1081 south towards Bo Kluea. At Bo Kluea (salt well) we stop for lunch and visit the salt well where we will experience old traditional salt extraction. Back on the road, we continue a great windy and scenic road towards Nan, the capital of this province. For centuries Nan was a separate, autonomous Kingdom with few relationships to the outside world. Now, the city is a beautiful town with many well-preserved temples. For local bikers, the area is a treasure. Overnight in Nan.
Hotel: Namthong Nan
Hotel: Namthong Nan
Day 19. Nan - Chiang Mai (Thailand) 297 km
After breakfast, we drive from Nan in a western direction. During the last day of our motorcycle tour, we cruise once again on hilly roads via Phayao to Chiang Mai. In Phayao we enjoy a nice lunch by the lake before we arrive back at Bike Tour Asia Service Center in Chiang Mai in the afternoon. Transfer to the hotel and get ready for our farewell dinner. We end the day together with our new friends, sharing good riding memories and looking at some of the pictures from our adventures. We will overnight in Chiang Mai.
Hotel: Amora Tapae Hotel
Hotel: Amora Tapae Hotel
Day 20. Chiang Mai, Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Chiang Mai Airport (International Terminal) or stay and explore Chiang Mai and the surrounding area.
End of Tour
End of Tour