Motorcycle trip

Vietnam

It depends on the region and the terrain you are after. For a first motorcycle tour in Asia, or to ride two-up, The Jungles and Shores of Central Vietnam is an 11-day loop from Hoi An, in the centre, entirely on tarmac: the Ho Chi Minh Road, Hue, the caves of Phong Nha. For high mountains, Across the Mountain Passes of Ha Giang is a 12-day ride in the north from Hanoi, around the Ha Giang loop to the Chinese border, with some tracks.

From £2,690 (€2,990) to £2,990 (€3,430) per rider for 11 or 12 days, depending on the tour, and from £2,190 (€2,490) to £2,690 (€2,980) per pillion. The motorcycle, fuel, the team, accommodation, most meals and airport transfers are included. You budget for your flights, the International Driving Permit, drinks and tips, plus a £31 (€35) registration fee on your first tour with us. Each tour page lists what is included.

It varies from north to south. In the northern mountains, we ride from March to May, then from September to November, away from the summer rains and the winter cold; next departures in October and November 2026, from late March to early May 2027, then in October 2027. In the centre, the season runs from late January to September, before the autumn rains on the coast; published departures run from late January to early March 2027. Monthly temperatures are in our Vietnam weather guide.

Our two tours cover two levels. The Jungles and Shores of Central Vietnam is rated Accessible: tarmac only and reasonable stages, with a rest day, ideal for a first tour abroad or for riding two-up. Across the Mountain Passes of Ha Giang is rated Intermediate on its tour page: narrow, steep mountain roads and about 10% on tracks, slippery in the rain. You should ride regularly. If in doubt, your travel advisor will point you to the right one.

Your full motorcycle licence and an International Driving Permit, compulsory there. Vietnam only recognises permits issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention: UK and most European permits qualify, Irish ones do not. Visa rules depend on your nationality, and an online arrival declaration is required. The up-to-date list of documents is in Preparing your trip to Vietnam, in our help centre.

Through Hanoi or Da Nang, depending on the tour, and you book your own flights. Across the Mountain Passes of Ha Giang starts and ends in Hanoi, the capital and the main airport in the north. The Jungles and Shores of Central Vietnam starts from Hoi An, close to Da Nang airport, usually reached with a connection in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Either way, our team meets you at the airport.

The main risk is the traffic: streams of scooters, lorries and horns, especially in and out of the cities. Traffic drives on the right. Our tour leader opens the road, a mechanic and a support vehicle follow the group, and our team in France can be reached day and night. Some mountain stages are far from hospitals. Before you go, read the FCDO travel advice for Vietnam, or your own government’s advice if you live elsewhere in Europe.

Not with Vintage Rides: in Vietnam, every departure is a guided tour in a small group of 10 motorcycles at most, with a motorcycle prepared by our mechanic, hotels booked and full support. Our self-guided tours, with motorcycle, hotels and road book included, run in the United States, in South Dakota.