Le Vietnam en moto - Show Me The Road

Vietnam is the 5^th step of our wonderful adventure. This time we chose to let down public transport and decided to visit this country by motorbike! So, we travelled around the country from North to South on our lovely motorbike. It was three magical months of pure liberty joy and wonder to discover the beauty of Vietnam. We had so much pleasure to drive hours and hours in the amazing mountain roads in the North or just drive along the beautiful cost in the south and be able to stop wherever we wanted.

You will find in this article some global information about Vietnam. What we liked to do, how to travel by motorbike, what you should try to eat or drink and an idea of budget. We share also with you our good addresses and some advices to discover this wonderful country.

We spent three months there from January to March. On the whole, we had a nice weather, even if it was a bit cold in the mountains in the North of the country.

We really loved Vietnam; it is a welcoming country where we felt at peace. And even if sometimes the communication was a bit difficult because really few Vietnamese speak English, we always felt a desire to share with us from local people. We also have been astonished by the beauty of the landscapes and their diversity from a region to another. And of course, we feast all our trip by discovering all the local dishes, that’s why we definitely want to come back one day!

These are our crushes of our three months in Vietnam, we displayed them from North to South as we discovered them:

1. Hanoï : Capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is a city full of life. It’s a very ancient town which owns an important and rich culture. You can find there the influence of the old Chinese empire and the French occupation. It is also a great place to discover the Vietnamese culture, let it be religious, artistic or gastronomic! There is so much things to do and see, many little streets to get lost. So, even with the noise, the pollution and the global craziness, Hanoi charmed us!

2. Mai Chau : Mai Chau is a small haven of peace surrounded by rice fields in the North of Vietnam. We loved to walk into the Vietnamese countryside and relax in one of the nice guesthouses of the area. It is really a quiet place where to feel at peace.

3. Mu Cang Chai : Mu Cang Chai is a small village lost in the Northern mountains. The Hmong community lives there and built the most beautiful terrace rice fields of Vietnam. The landscapes are astonishing and the region is absolutely not touristic (unlike Sa Pa). So, it is really pleasant to be able to live at the local rhythm and enjoy the views.

4. Ha Giang Loop : The « Ha Giang Loop » is a few days motorbike trip in the mountains at the North-West of the country. The landscapes are so amazing that you don’t know where to look. If you like the motorbike and the nature you have to do it! Depends on the season, but better have some warm clothes and rain protection because it can be cold really quick on the motorbike.

5. Cat Ba : Cat Ba is the biggest island of the Lan Ha bay. It is a good alternative if you want to avoid the Ha Long bay which is extremely touristic. We enjoyed to trek into the Cat Ba national Park and discover the Lan Ha bay. It is a touristic place but sympathetic and of course there is nothing much to say about the karstic landscapes because it is pure beauty.

6. Tam Coc : Tam Coc is a small town in the Land Ha Long Bay. The city owns lots of guesthouses and restaurants as it is very touristic. But if there is so much people around here it is for the beauty of the surroundings. We advise you to get lost into the countryside it is just amazing and peaceful. Some small and nice temples, lost in the landscape, are worth the visit.

7. Phong Nha : Phong Nha is a small town along the river. It is a region full of impressive caves, it is really worth it to take the time to visit one at least. It is a nice place to chill and enjoy the nature. There are some good treks in the national park and around. Also, if you are traveling by motorbike the roads to came here by the inlands are beautiful.

8. Hoi An : Hoi An is without a doubt the most beautiful city of Vietnam. It will charm you in a glance with its colourful houses and all the lanterns suspended around the town. It is a touristic place for sure but it is easy to forget it by resting at the beach or getting lost in the cute little streets. Also, there are so much local food to try (Mi Quang, Com Ga…) and street food everywhere in the city, a delight!

9. Da Lat : Da Lat is a town on the highlands in the south of the country. This part of the Vietnam is very agricultural and known for its strawberries, its coffee and its wine! We really enjoyed our time there; it is a town where it feels good to live and where it is easy to take your time and live at the local rhythm.

The end of our trip in Vietnam has been shorten by the covid-19 pandemic. We had to go back to France but we hope we will be able to get back on the roads very soon. We really loved our journey in Vietnam, it is a country which has much to share by its history, its culture, the beauty of its landscapes, the food which is amazing and of course the kindness of its people. Surely, we will come back one day in Vietnam. We hope you enjoyed this article and that you found the answers to your questions. If not, feel free to ask for more information or just let a comment to tell us what you think about it!
For more detailed information we’ve made a travel guide where you can find information about each city we visited. If you’re interested, it is just below ?
You can also check our itinerary and our detailed guides about Vietnam to give you some ideas!

By motorbike

Vietnamese food

Good addresses

Our budget

Telecom

Banks