Top Scenic Bike Routes for Adventurous Riders in Northern Vietnam

The Cloud-Hunting Route from Hanoi to Ta Xua – Bac Yen

Detailed Route: Hanoi – Son Tay – Trung Ha Bridge – Thu Cuc – Thu Cuc Junction (Highway 32) – turn left to Phu Yen – Bac Yen (Highway 37) – Ta Xua – Bac Yen – Hanoi.

Best Time to Visit: Ta Xua is coolest during the summer with temperatures ranging from 20-25°C. The best season for cloud hunting is from November to April.

This bike journey to chase the clouds is captivating and stands as one of the most beautiful and challenging routes for riders. Treacherous slopes, vast flower hills, or valleys immersed in a sea of clouds… All combine to make a biking path that one can never tire of.

On this route, you’ll conquer the Kem slope, Cun slope, and the winding Thung Khe pass. Following is the Moc Chau region with its plum gardens, pine forest of Ban Ang, and fresh green tea hills amidst floating clouds. Don’t miss the opportunity to climb Pha Luong – the rooftop of the Moc Chau plateau at a challenging altitude of 2000m. Ta Xua welcomes you with its “Dinosaur Backbone” and a sky filled with rolling clouds. The final stop, Bac Yen, will treat you to the rooftop of Hang Dong, higher than 2000m, always enveloped in thick mist, giving you a genuine sense of what “cloud hunting” truly feels like.

The Route from Hanoi to Nghia Lo – Mu Cang Chai

Detailed Route: Hanoi – Son Tay – Thanh Son – Thu Cuc – Khe Pass – Nghia Lo – Tu Le – Khau Pha Pass – Mu Cang Chai.

Best Time to Visit: While every season showcases its beauty, the most enchanting periods are during the ripe rice season in September and October, and the water pouring season in May and June.

Among the top bike routes in Northern Vietnam, the path from Hanoi to Nghia Lo – Mu Cang Chai offers the most adventurous feels:

• Conquer the grand mountain passes, including the treacherous 40km Khau Pha Pass on Highway 32, one of the four most spectacular passes in Vietnam. Ensure your grip is firm as you navigate and bask in the beauty of nature.

• The journey from Nghia Lo through Khau Pha Pass to Mu Cang Chai will take you through renowned golden rice-viewing spots such as La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha, Tu Le, Lim Mong, Khau Pha, Thai village, and horse-shaped hills. Here, the shimmering gold of terraced fields overflows with the intoxicating aroma of the heavenly grains.

• A trip to Mu Cang Chai wouldn’t be complete without paragliding. The most famous take-off points are at Khau Pha Pass and La Pan Tan village. Paragliding offers an adventurous experience for those who are in love with the sky and wish to sail amongst the winds and clouds.

Hanoi – Mu Cang Chai – Muong La Biking Router 

Detailed Route: Hanoi – Nghia Lo – Khau Pha Pass – Mu Cang Chai – Che Tao – Hua Trai – Muong La – Son La Hydroelectric Plant – Son La – Moc Chau – Hanoi.

Best Time to Visit: The most captivating seasons are during the water pouring period in May and June; the ripe rice season in September and October; and the red leaf hunting season in November. Avoid traveling during heavy rains as the roads can become slippery, prone to landslides, and can be isolated.

Che Tao – Muong La is renowned among the biking community for its previously extreme off-road terrains. Although the roads have become less challenging over time, this remains one of the “Four Daunting Destinations” of the Northwestern region in Yen Bai, and is still a route challenging enough to test the mettle of truly passionate and courageous riders willing to complete the journey.

This route takes you through Nghia Lo, reaching Tu Le, conquering the Khau Pha Pass, and paragliding over the Cao Pha fields. Once in Mu Cang Chai, you’ll be greeted by a paradise of terraced rice fields. The approximately 70km stretch connecting Mu Cang Chai to Muong La, passing through Che Tao, is characterized by narrow dirt roads riddled with numerous tight and perilous bends.

The exhilarating sensation of overcoming such a muddy and difficult route, only to be rewarded with mesmerizing views of cascading terraced rice fields and verdant forests flanking either side, amidst crisp, serene air, is an unforgettable experience.

Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu – Far West of A Pa Chai Biking Route

Detailed Route: Hanoi – Moc Chau – Lai Chau – Thuan Chau – Tuan Giao – Dien Bien Phu – Muong Nhe – Chung Chai – Border Post 405 Leng Su Sin – Ta Kho Khu – Border Post 317 A Pa Chai.

Best Time to Visit: A Pa Chai is most stunning at the end of August and the beginning of September when the rice turns golden and from January to early February during rice planting season.

A Pa Chai, situated in Sin Thau commune, Muong Nhe district, Dien Bien province, stands at the tri-border point of Vietnam, Laos, and China. This landmark has gained fame as it represents the westernmost point of the nation, a dream destination for many adventurous bikers. Besides conquering the majestic Pha Din Pass – one of the four renowned passes in the Northwestern region, this journey offers a treat for those interested in the nation’s history, giving them an opportunity to explore the D’Cat tunnel and other historic sites from the monumental Dien Bien Phu victory.

Without unwavering determination and a spirit to conquer, one might be easily overwhelmed by the chilling cold of the Northwestern mountains and the fatigue after hours of strenuous mountain trekking. However, all these challenges are compensated by the pristine natural beauty and the triumphant moment when one touches the nation’s unnumbered landmark pillar.