Riding it February 2027
Saigon to Hanoi, the slow way.
Two thousand-odd kilometres of coast roads, mountain passes and noodle stops, on a small motorbike. This is the guide we wished existed, written in plain English.
- about 303 km
- 4 stages
- 4 days
- first-timers welcome
Small bikes, big country
What's in the saddlebags
Everything for the ride, in one place.
Good information about riding Vietnam is scattered across old blog posts and forum threads. We are gathering it here, keeping it current, and saying so when we are not sure.
Routes
Stage-by-stage write-ups with maps, distances and honest difficulty ratings.
OpenGuides
Licences, bikes, weather, budgets and gear, in plain English.
OpenDirectory
Rider-friendly rentals, mechanics, beds and bowls of noodles.
OpenNotice board
Ask a question, find a riding buddy, sell your bike in Hanoi.
OpenTrip planner
Lay out your days, beds and saved map routes in one place.
OpenThe famous one
Ha Giang Loop
Four days of limestone passes, canyon views and hill markets in the far north – spectacular, and not a road to take lightly.
While you're up there
The great northern loops
Reached Hanoi and not ready to stop? The far north has the most dramatic roads in the country.
The quiet neighbour
Cao Bang Loop
Waterfalls, caves and karst valleys along the Chinese border, on gentler roads than Ha Giang and with a fraction of the traffic.
- 277 km
- 4–5 days
- Moderate
On the drawing board
More rides coming
The north-west loop through Sapa and Mu Cang Chai, the full Ho Chi Minh Road, and the Mekong Delta are next on our list.
Tell us what to write up firstBefore you go
The boring bits that make the fun bits possible.
Each guide starts with a short version, shows when it was last checked, and lists its sources.
Start here
Start here: can I actually do this?
An honest first look at riding Saigon to Hanoi. How far, how long, how hard, which decisions to make first, and who should think about a different…
5 min readPaperwork
Licences, IDPs & staying legal
What licence you need to ride in Vietnam, which International Driving Permits count, what police stops and fines look like, and why your insurance…
6 min readBikes
Rent or buy? Getting a bike
One-way rental or buy and sell? What each costs, which bike suits which rider, what to check before you ride away, and why your passport stays in…
6 min readPlanning
When to go: weather, seasons & Tết
Vietnam has three climates at once, so no month is perfect everywhere. What each region does through the year, what February is really like, and how…
5 min readGear
Gear & packing list
What to wear and carry for a ride that starts at 33°C and ends in single digits, what to bring from home, what to buy in Vietnam, and a printable…
6 min readSafety
Riding safely: road rules & road sense
How Vietnamese traffic really works, the rules and fines that matter, the hazards to respect, and what to do if something goes wrong.
6 min readThe notice board
Got a question? Pin it up.
A simple bulletin board for riders. Reading is open to everyone; sign in with just your email to post.
Route help
Roads, detours, timings and "is this pass open?"
Bikes & mechanics
Choosing, renting, buying and fixing.
Licences, visas & paperwork
IDPs, insurance, blue cards, borders.
Gear & packing
What to bring and what to leave at home.
The directory
Good people along the road.
We are building a list of rider-friendly businesses, and checking them in person as we ride north.
- Bike rental & sales
- Mechanics & repairs
- Places to stay
- Food & coffee
- Guides & easy riders
- Gear & shops
Run a business on the route? Get listed, free.