Hanoi – HCMC / Mountains & Beaches Motorbike Route

Hanoi – HCMC / Mountains & Beaches Motorbike Route

This is our most popular motorbike route between the north and south of Vietnam, starting and finishing in Hanoi to HCMC or vice versa. It has had over 750,000 views and we are regularly updating it whenever we find more sights, better routes or new attractions.

Covering more than 2300km with options to go further it is perfect for those with about 3 weeks on the bike so you can have stops of more than 1 night in certain areas. If needed then it can be finished quicker, in about 2 weeks, but this will feel more rushed.

Heading through cities and small towns, beaches, waterfalls, caves, and national parks. This offers a great mixture of everything on offer between the north and the south. 

Day by Day Route

This route can be reserved to start or finish in Hanoi or HCMC. 

A * represents a recommended extra night. 

Day 1 – Hanoi to Ninh Binh *

(optional 2 days to Cat Ba before **)

Day 2 – Ninh Binh to Thanh Chuong Tea Fields

(optional 1 or 2 days to Mai Chau / Pu Luong before heading south **)

Day 3 – Thanh Chuong Tea Field to Phong Nha *

Day 4 – Phong Nha to Khe Sanh

Day 5 – Khe Sanh to Hue

Day 6 – Hue to Hoi An *

Day 7 – Hoi An to Kon Tum

Day 8 – Kon Tum to Mang Den

Day 9 – Mang Den to Quy Nhon *

Day 10 – Quy Nhon to Nha Trang

Day 11 – Nha Trang to Dalat *

Day 12 – Dalat to Nam Cat Tien

Day 13 – Name Cat Tien to HCMC

13 riding days

9 optional extra nights

Highlights

There are many highlights on this route but we tried to narrow this down to the key areas, particularly to the sections that offer something different to the rest. 

Ninh Binh

Offering boat tours, temples and great rice field views this is a must see on a trip to Vietnam. This is especially true if you are not visiting Ha Long Bay as it is the closest alternative in terms of views. Easy to reach from Hanoi via quiet roads and just 3 hours away making it a pleasant ride. Highly recommended for 2 days so you can enjoy all that it has to offer.

Phong Nha

The caves at Phong Nha are world renowned, especially with Son Doong cave being the largest in the world. Although not many people will be exploring this one, the others in the area are still very much worth a visit and bring something very different to your trip that you can not experience anywhere else in Vietnam. This is why 2 days here is required for the whole day cave tour. 

HCM Road

The ride between Phong Nha and Khe Sanh along the HCM Road is the best section of riding on this route and for many people is the best motorbike ride in all of Vietnam. Quiet, remote roads with good condition tarmac weaving through the jungle and mountains make this such an excellent ride. While it is quicker to miss Khe Sanh and head straight from Hue to Phong Nha this means missing this ride. 

Dalat

There is so much to see and do in Dalat that 2 nights here can easily be too short but should be considered a minimum. With multiple large waterfalls, some of which offer canyoning, (abseiling down waterfalls), go karting, alpine coasters, maze bar, crazy house, and just the mountain views and cooler temperatures, you can’t have enough time to relax and enjoy Dalat. 

Quy Nhon

This route has a number of different options for beaches including Da Nang, Hoi an and Nha Trang. Quy Nhon is one of the lesser known beach towns but with many stunning beaches inside and outside the city. Much quieter than the alternatives it is an excellent choice for a beach day for those wanting to escape the crowds. 

Hue & Hoi An

The central cities of Hue and Hoi An are both very well known and popular for tourists and should be visited by everyone coming to Vietnam. With the historical relevance of Hue, to the charm and beauty of Hoi An, it is a great place to enjoy. Hoi An is a common place to choose for an extra night as there is so much to do here and very much required if you want to visit a tailor or Cham island. 

Along with the draw of these 2 places the Hai Van Pass connecting them offers some excellent riding when travelling between them. 

Summary 

For most people if you have 3 weeks then this route between Hanoi and HCMC offers the best riding with the best combination of things on offer in Vietnam. For those with shorter time we have quicker options or if there are particular places you want to see not mentioned then just contact us and we can help build a custom route for you. 

It is easy to combine this route with routes from the north of vietnam if you have more time. You can find these routes here. 

North Vietnam Routes