Famous museums in Hanoi, Vietnam

If you arrive in Hanoi about one or two days before the Vietnam motorbike tours start, you should spend your time on learning more about Hanoi by visiting some of the most famous museums. The capital is home to Vietnam’s best museums which worth to visit during your Vietnam motorbike rides in Hanoi.

And here is the list of all museums in Hanoi, depend on your interest, you can choose some of them:

Army Museum: Item descriptions on museum exhibits are in Vietnamese, French and English. On display outside are the ubiquitous MiG-21 jet fighter, T-54 tank and many bombs and articles captured on Indochina and Vietnam wars. This museum covers it on four buildings with interesting pieces that extends back some two millenniums.
Open time: 08:00-11:30/13:00-16:30. Closed on Monday & Friday
28A Dien Bien Phu st, Admission fee 30,000 VND (Camera using fee: 20,000 VND)

Fine Art Museum: The museum displays wonderful pictures of soldiers on boats depicted on prehistoric bronze drums, Buddhist art, and revolutionary art of the 20th century wars, also some interesting silk paintings.
Open time: 08:30- 17:00, all days of the week
66 Nguyen Thai Hoc st, Admission fee 20,000 VND

History Museum: It is housed in a colonial French building which was completed in 1932 and it was designed by the architect Ernest Hébrard. This is a collection from Vietnamese history from about 1000 years back until 1945.
Open time: 08:00-12:00/13:30-16:30. Closed on Monday of the first week of month)
1 Trang Tien st, Admission fee 20,000 VND

Museum of Ethnology: The museum displays the culture and ritual practices of the various ethnic groups in the whole of Vietnam - one of the key attractions of the museum is the open-air exhibition, which has houses of some ethnic groups. The museum is listed in the top places to see to our customers of motorbike tours in Vietnam.
08:30 – 17:30 Closed on Monday and Lunar New Year Festival
Nguyen Van Huyen st, Admission fee 25,000 VND

Museum of Vietnamese Revolution: This museum gives a very informed and detailed account of the Vietnamese struggle against the French (starting in 1858 -- on the first floor), the Americans (on the ground floor - ending on 30 April 1975) 
Open time: 08:00-11:30/13:00-16:00. Closed on Monday
25 Tong Dan st, Admission 15,000 VND

Vietnam Women Museum: The museum was reopened in 2010 after a period of 4 years of renovations. The museum has three main galleries and these present three main themes: Women in Family, Women in History and Women’s Fashion.
08:00 – 17:00  Open all days of week
36 Ly Thuong Kiet st, Admission fee 20,000 VND

Now, do not waste your time more, you can plan yourself to visit these museum before or after our Vietnam motorcycle tours.

Visit Ho Chi Minh mausoleum to pay the respect to Ho Chi Minh.

Most of our customers joining our Vietnam Motorcycle Tours although they are the first time to visit Vietnam, they still want us to guide them to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum to pay the respect to Ho Chi Minh.

So today, we would like to introduce you about the Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum:

Ho Chi Minh is always considered as the greatest leader of Vietnam. Although his desire for a simple cremation, the mausoleum was constructed from materials gathered from all over Vietnam between 1973 and 1975. Modeled after the Mausoleum of Lenin in Russia, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is one-of-its kind in the world.

Set deep in the bowels of the building in a glass sarcophagus is the frail, pale body of Ho Chi Minh. The mausoleum is closed for about two months each year while his embalmed body goes to Russia for maintenance.

The roof and of the mausoleum are said to be the great combination of either a traditional communal house or a lotus flower, though to many tourists it looks like a concrete cubicle with columns.

The queue, which moves quite quickly, usually snakes for several hundred metres to the mausoleum entrance itself. Inside, adopt a slow but steady pace as you file past Ho’s body. Guards, in snowy-white military uniforms, are posted at intervals of five paces, giving an eerily authoritarian aspect to the slightly macabre spectacle of the body with its wispy white hair.

To visit, you have to stand in the queue that usually snakes for several hundred metres to the mausoleum entrance itself. Visiting the Mausoleum is free of charge but involves a set of strictly enforced regulations. No short skirts or tank tops are allowed and there is high level of security check upon arrival and no talking. It's also forbidden to put your hand in your pockets. Hats must be taken off, and you may also be requested to store day packs, cameras and phones before you enter. Photography is strictly prohibited in the mausoleum.

Spend one day to discover the real Hanoi before traveling with us for the most amazing Vietnam motorbike tours. Please do not miss the Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum.

Religion in Vietnam

Dirtbike Travel is specialized in organizing custom Vietnam motorcycle tours covering every destination in Vietnam. All of our trips are designed to suit every rider with different preferences such as  laidback sightseeing tours, intensive enduro tours and everything in between.

Today, we would like to introduce you about the main religions in Vietnam:

Buddhism
First introduced to Vietnam in the 2nd century, Buddhism became the most popular religion in Vietnam under the Ly dynasty (11th century) and it had a profound influence on people’s daily life. It was considered as official religion domination court affairs. Buddhism was preached broadly among the population and it enjoyed a profound influence on people’s daily life. If you travel to all regions in Vietnam, especially motorcycle tours Vietnam, you can see a lot of pagodas where they worship Buddha. 

Presently, over 70 percent of the population of Vietnam are either Buddhist or strongly influenced by Buddhist practices. On the special occasions, people always go to the pagodas to pray for luck, money, love, and happiness.

Catholicism
First introduced to Vietnam in the 17th century, but Catholicism was also very popular. Vietnam has the fifth largest Catholic population in Asia, after the Philippines, India, China and Indonesia. According to Catholic Hierarchy Catalog, there are 5,658,000 Catholics in Vietnam, representing 6.87% of the total population. There are 26 dioceses (including three archdioceses) with 2228 parishes and 2668 priests. The most densely – populated Catholic areas are Bui Chu – Phat Diem in the northern province of Ninh Binh and Ho Nai – Bien Hoa in Dong Nai province in the South.

Mother Worship (Tho Mau)
Mother is always the most beloved person to all people. Mother (Mẹ in Vietnamese) is pronounced Mau in Sino-script. The mother worship cult might be originated from the cult of the Goddess in ancient ages. But hardly anyone knows the mothers worship religion (tho mau). This is a very popular belief of an agricultural culture like Vietnam where nearly 80% population lives in rice cultivation. In North Vietnam, all famous pagodas, which are sanctuary dedicated to Mothers, is located near in the pagoda's area. The mothers are very distinctive: The Mother's forest wears green clothes; Mother's Water (Mau Thoai) who reigns World Water, wears white clothes; The Mother's Earth (Mau dia) with yellow dress; and the left is Mother Lieu Hanh, one the four immortal in Vietnamese culture.

Just a brief introduction of some main religions in Vietnam. Before or after the Vietnam motorbike tours, you can have a tour to visit many pagodas and temples in Hanoi to learn more about our religions.

Where to enjoy the best Vietnamese food in Hanoi

As a Vietnamese, we are so proud of when Vietnamese food is so adored around the world. So where to enjoy the best Vietnamese food in Hanoi is always one of the most popular questions of our customers who join our Vietnam motorcycle tours.

Today, we would like to introduce you 3 out of 10 best restaurants for Vietnamese food in Hanoi, that you can enjoy your lunches or dinners before depart for the Vietnam dirt bike tours with us:

1.    La Verticale 19 Ngo Van So Street
The restaurant is a fantastic fine-dining one with a colonial style mansion. Believe in us, the food doesn’t disappoint with a seasonal menu that reflects the herbs and spices of the region with French techniques. Duck terrine, ratatouille, veal in tamarind, and Mekong fruits sorbet are all popular dishes here and the wine list is excellent. The restaurant has a roof terrace with excellent views across the city.

2.    Highway 4 Restaurants 5 Hang Tre Street
A lot of customers agree with us that this restaurant is worth to visit at least once and perfect for large groups – despite the terrible name. With Vietnamese furnishings, English speaking staff and a large menu running through Vietnam’s entire culinary heritage, the restaurant soon to be famous and attract many tourists.  The specials are highly recommended, particularly the cat fish spring rolls. All food is served with plenty of local herbs which the restaurant tries to source sustainably.

3.    Sen 60 Ly Thai 60 Ly Thai To Street
Sen will impress everyone who does Vietnam motorbike rides even to some riders who don’t usually like buffets. With many different kinds of food from seafood, oysters, sashimi, crab, escargot and Vietnamese spring rolls served inside.  Located in the heart of the French Quarter, the architecture of the ivory-color scheme is so amazing and suitable with the excellent food here. The service is seamless here and cost of the buffet is excellent value, especially considering it proximity to the Hanoi Opera House and several of the finest hotels in the city. Although Sen has three other branches in Hanoi but this is the best of the bunch.

Just some suggestions of the best restaurants in Hanoi that our customers of Vietnam motorbike tours Vietnam should know. For the next article, we will provide you more.

Something as souvenirs for your family and friends from Vietnam

Riders who join our Vietnam motorcycle tours are also like other tourists who come here to discover the real Vietnam.

During the time of riding Vietnam Motorcycle Tours with us and especially after that, they always think about buying something as souvenirs for their family and friends. They always ask us about what are the most Vietnamese they should bring home. The souvenirs should remind our customers about their experiences but it’s important to remember that they should not buy items that are too big for their luggage.

And here are our suggestions:

Vietnamese Tea
Vietnam motorbike rides to some destinations such as Moc Chau, you can see many tea plantations. Yes, Moc Chau is very famous for tea product. Vietnamese tea has a wonderful flavor. The Vietnamese culture drinks a lot of tea and it’s one of the most commonly purchased souvenirs for our guests. You can buy tea everywhere in Vietnam and it is very cheap. Naturally teas with flavoring cost a little extra.

Vietnamese Coffee
When you visit Vietnam, you can see Vietnamese people drink coffee everywhere, especially in the big cities. If you take some home with you would make a great souvenir. Vietnamese coffee has a strong flavor. The most popular Coffee branch is Trung Nguyen and it costs about $4.00.

Clothes
Clothes are another great choice if you’re planning on having a souvenir from your trip for they are very easy to put into your suitcase. In a lot of cases items like scarves are handmade from locals and we recommend buying directly from them. If you buy clothes in a shop, they will be more expensive. Prices for clothing will vary depending on what you get, but to give you an idea a handmade scarf should cost you about $2.00.

Lacquer ware
Tourists loving adventure when coming to Vietnam, and especially when you travel on foot in Hanoi Old Quarter, you can find a lot of shops selling lacquer ware. Every Vietnamese lacquer ware bears the feelings of its creator: flexibility, complexity and variety. Visitors will be able to find small dishes for about $1.00 and larger dishes for about $3.00. The quality of lacquer ware varies significantly and the price will obviously reflect the processes used to make it. However, if you are foreigners, you should know how to bargain when buying lacquer ware in the very center of Hanoi.

Contact us for one of the best Vietnam motorbike tours in your life. Besides, we will show you many things out of the tours.

Want to know more about the White Thai in Mai Chau, come and join with us

Joining our Vietnam motorcycle tours to Mai Chau, you will have a chance to learn more about the White Thai ethnic group here.

To help you know more about the Thai people before starting your Vietnam motorbike rides, we would like to provide some information for you.

The Thai is the third largest ethnic group in Vietnam. In Vietnam, there are 2 different Thai groups: White Thai and Black Thai.

The Thai usually use bamboo to build their stilt houses. The roofs of the houses are traditionally thatch. Beneath the stilt houses, families keep their livestock and their looms. You will find stacks of colorful painted chests, mattresses, hand-woven blankets and pillows, rattan tables, bamboo stools, and numerous baskets in every Thai’s houses.

Mai Chau valley and its Thai ethnic culture and architecture has become a popular tourism destination. Vietnam motorbike tours to Mai Chau, where you will see a lot of Thai women on your way. Thai women are very famous for their beauty. Thai women are very easy to recognize because of their traditional dresses.  Thai women’s dress is a close-fitting skirt like a sarong and a blouse with silver clasps. The Black Thai make a traditional headscarf called a pieu. The pieu is a length of hand-woven black cloth, which is decorated with bright embroidery on either end. The black color is produced naturally from cham, or indigo. Another popular natural dye color is canh kien, which is a deep red color commonly used to make a cloth with supplementary weft called khuyt. Vietnam motorbike tours to Mai Chau, you will be very easy to recognize them.

Thai girls have to learn how to raise silk worms and to make natural dyes when they are very small. They are very skillful weaving and embroidering. If they want to marry someone, they have to make blankets, mattresses and pillow to bring to her new household.

In Mai Chau, you only see The White Thai who have a long tradition of weaving fine textiles for mattress covers and blankets. Like the black Thai they have also produces decorative pillows and trim for mosquito nets. Now women in many villages are using traditional skills to produce bright cotton scarves, the production of which has transformed the economy of their villages. Tourists of Vietnam motorcycle travel
come here like to buy the embroidered products for souvenir.

If you want to know more about the White Thai in Mai Chau, come and join with us for one of the best motorbike tours Vietnam with one night home-stay in Mai Chau.

Traditional unique customs and practices of the Black H’mong tribe are well-preserved in Cat Cat village

Sapa, Vietnam the home of many different hill-tribes such as the Black H’mong, the Red Dao, the Day, the Xa Pho…and there are many villages around the Sapa town you should visit. One of them is Cat Cat village.

Just about 1 km from Sapa town, you can easy to reach Cat Cat village by Vietnam Motorcycle Tours or just on foot, an age-old village of the Black H'Mong ethnic tribe. The local authority try their best to preserve the traditional unique customs and practices of the Black H’mong tribe here that are lost in many other villages. Rice and corn were grown in terraced fields, while traditional handicrafts such as twisting flax and weaving fabric have been well-kept.

Visiting Cat Cat, tourists will be impressed by the peacefully picturesque sceneries. What you can see during your adventure in Cat Cat village is a lively and unique colorful cultural picture. Many young women sitting by looms with colorful pieces of brocade decorated by hand with designs such as flowers and birds. The color used to dye these brocade fabrics is made from plants and leaves. And then they roll around and smooth section of wood covered with wax on fabrics to polish them, making their colors durable.

You can see that the Black H’mong girls wear a lot of jewelry. Many residents in Cat Cat are good at making gold and silver jewelry. Their products are fairly sophisticated, especially the jewelry for women. You can see many small wooden houses of the Black H’mong along the way, the houses have three rooms with three doors and covered with po mu wood roof. The walls are made from sawn timber.

It is also a good opportunity during your Vietnam motorbike rides to purchase some traditional souvenirs and handicrafts right from the craftsmen.

So, what you are looking for, both scenery and the local people, are all here in Cat Cat village. Join our Vietnam motorbike tours to this village to learn more a lot of things

Pha Din, the place where the sky meets the earth

Vietnam is very famous for it has many passes. Our Vietnam Motorcycle Tours will lead you to the Northwest of Vietnam where you can see a lot of beautiful passes. Northwest slopes are well-known for the rugged passes, favorite places for backpackers, especially the young ones, to discover through an off the beaten track Vietnam dirt bike tours.

Today, Vietnam Dirtbike travel will introduce you one of the most famous pass in the North of Vietnam: It is Pha Din pass, which is considered as the frontier between “Heaven and Earth.” and also the boundary between the two provinces of Son La and Dien Bien.

Known as one of the "four great passes" of the Northwestern region of Vietnam with total length of 32km. Pha Din, in the local language, means “Heaven and Earth” because, to them, it is the place where the sky meets the earth, at the highest point of the pass, 1.648m, compared with the sea level, visitors joining our Vietnam motorbike rides can have unforgettable experiences of the grandeur of nature between “heaven and earth”.

 1.000m, compared with the sea level.  One side is an upright cliff and the other side is a deep gulf. The Pha Din pass is always covered by clouds and at its foot there lie villages of ethnic minority groups. With it’s magnificent scenery, Pha Din is one of the most attractions in our Vietnam motorbike tours. The best time to spent some day tours in Pha Din is in spring. By this special time, you will have chance to see the valley in its new appearance, covered with pure white plum blossom.

Passing this mountain pass is a very interesting journey to a grandiose mountainous area for tourists who like adventures. Enjoying our motorbike tours Vietnam passing this mountain pass, you will have great opportunities to experience one of the most adventurous journeys, admiring imposing scenery and discover the daily life of the ethnic people. Oh, the tours are absolutely awesome.

Motorbike tours Vietnam are for tomorrow, now, it is the time to enjoy the dishes

Vietnam Dirtbike Travel is specialized in organizing custom Vietnam motorcycle tours covering every destination in Vietnam. All of our trips are designed to suit every rider with different preferences such as laidback sightseeing tours, intensive enduro tours and everything in between.

When riders first come to Vietnam, they really want us to provide some information about the food in Vietnam. Motorbike tours Vietnam are for tomorrow, now, it is the time to enjoy the dishes. What are the specialities?.

1.    Xoi:
Xoi is made from sticky rice and is commonly eaten for breakfast. Xoi can most cheaply be purchased from a street vendor. There are different choice for Xoi such as: Xoi xeo, rice topped with crushed yellow beans, crispy fried onion and pork floss plus a squirt of oil; xoi lac (with peanuts) and xoi do den (with black bean).

If you book hotel in the Hanoi Old Quarter, or need us to book the hotels before and after your Vietnam motorbike rides in this area, you can try it at one of the best restaurant named “Xoi Yen” at 35 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. The xoi is served in a bowl and eaten with a spoon. Expect to pay 40,000 to 50,000 VND per pax. There are also Sweet versions of xoi: kem xoi — served with ice cream — and xoi dua, with coconut.

2.    Pho:
You can find “Pho” in many place in Hanoi. This hearty, noodle-forward meal is served as breakfast, lunch, or dinner in Vietnam. However, if you want to enjoy it, the best one is at No.10, Ly Quoc Su Str. “Pho” here is just as good or better than what you might just happen across elsewhere, and the hygienic standards are decidedly better.

Service is good and the menu's in both in English and Vietnamese. With a bowl of delicious Pho, the price will range from 30,000 to 50,000 dong, which isn't much more than on the street.

3.    Bun Cha
Bun Cha includes rice vermicelli, grilled pork and spicy, raw vegetables and well mixed fish sauce. The best place to enjoy the dish is No.1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. For a dish of bún chả, you take a dish of rice vermicelli, a dish full of vegetables and a bowl of fish sauce combined with vinegar, sugar, hot chilly, garlic and pepper. You will find nowhere to enjoy this dish in your Vietnam motorcycle travel better than in Hanoi.

The sauce of the dish is very special for it is the mix of many different spices, so it contains essential tastes, sour, hot, salty and sweet. Grilles of well cooked pork would be opened and the contents dropped into the bowl of fish sauce.

There are two kinds of chả (grilled pork) used, depending upon the cut of the meat. If the pork is cut into small pieces, it is called chả miếng (piece of grilled pork). If it is minced prior to being shaped into small cubes, it is named chả băm (minced grilled pork).

You can enjoy these kinds of best street food in Hanoi before and after joining our Vietnam motorbike tours

Some main features of the Red Dao minority in the North of Vietnam

During our Vietnam motorbike tours, our customers can meet a lot of different minority people on their way to Northeast and Northwest of Vietnam, in which the Red Dao minority create a deep impression to all visitors.

Here are some main features of the minority:

Costume:
Red Dao women usually wear a long blouse over trousers. Their clothes are colorfully embroidered with designs that appear on both sides of the material. The men typically wear a short shirt with long trousers, and a head-scarf. Both men and women have a square piece of fabric on the back of their shirts which represents that they are children of God. They wear similar hairstyles – long on top, with the rest smoothly shaved. Many women shave their eyebrows as well. Women also wear a distinctive red triangular shaped turban decorated with silver coins and red tassels.

Housing:
The Dao ritual to select land for a new house is very important. At night, the household digs a bowl sized hole and fill it with rice grains that represent people, cows, buffalos, money and property. The family will know where to build the house based on the dreams that follow during the night. In the morning, the family inspects the hole to see if the rice remains – if not, the house will be built elsewhere. During the Vietnam motorbike rides, if you want, we will arrange 1 night for you to stay in the house of the Red Dao.

Social organization:
The Red Dao men play a dominant role in the family, community and the economy. They also play a major role in ceremonies such as marriages, funerals, and building new houses. The Dao people have many different family names. Each lineage has its own system of different middle names to distinguish people of different generations.

Birth:
The Red Dao women usually give birth in their bedroom with help of their mother and sisters. The new born is given a bath with hot water. The family hangs green tree branches or banana flowers in front of the door to prevent evil spirits from bringing harm and wickedness to the baby. When the baby is three days old, they celebrate a ritual in honour of the mother.

Marriage:
Parents select partners for their sons. When a boy is fourteen or fifteen years old, his father takes him to have a look at a girl he thinks is fit and healthy and can help with the housework. The couple chosen to be married then have to consult a diviner who judges their compatibility based in a ritual using a chicken leg, and their horoscopes.

The girl’s value is shown by how many silver coins, chickens, pigs and jars of rice wine the boy’s family have to give her family.

During the marriage ceremony, it is customary to stretch a piece of string in front of the procession. The groom carries the bride on his back, and she must step over a blessed pair of scissors to cross the threshold into his house.

When a family has no son, the parents can buy a groom who will live happily with his bride’s family. However, if a boy is so poor that his family can’t afford a dowry, he has to live in his bride’s house – which causes him great shame.

It is great if you can witness this happy day of the couple when you ride Vietnam dirt bike tours there.

Funerals:
When there is a death in the family, the deceased’s children have to invite a man called thay tao to supervise the rituals and find the right piece of land for a grave. The deceased is wrapped in a mat, placed in a coffin inside their house and carried to a grave built of stones. In the past, if the deceased was over 12 years old the body was cremated.

The funeral rituals celebrated ensure that the deceased rests in peace. The ceremony, which lasts for three days, usually coincides with initiation rites for Red Dao boys. The first day liberates the spirit of the deceased, the second day is a time to worship the deceased in the home, and the third day is the boy’s initiation rite.

The boy has to sit on a throne at the highest place in the village until he falls into hammocks hanging below him. This represents him falling down from the sky to be born on earth, another symbol of the Dao belief that they are the direct descendents of God.

Please join our Vietnam Motorcycle Tours to learn more about the Red Dao people.

Our 6 day tour will take you along Black river

Discover North Center of Vietnam (ONC-01) is one of our best 6 day Vietnam motorbike tours. It is a combination of sightseeing and off-road riding which gives you the best view of the mountainous North Centre of Vietnam. It will take you along Black river (or Đà River) with challenging roads, wallowing in the wilderness of Moc Chau highland, overcoming Ta So road which is used only by local people and horses to catch up its infinite natural scenery and staying in the village of Black H’Mong tribe. The mountains, the valleys and the friendly local people constitute a wild but friendly living environment which would properly surprise you.

According to your riding level, we will choose a suitable way to gain the best of one of our most amazing Vietnam motorcycle tours. 

The cost for each itinerary might vary depending on the number of people in the group.

Most of our Vietnam dirt bike tours are private and personalised, can be customised before and during the journey, taking into account actual roads and weather conditions and also your change of expectations.

Dirtbike Travel organises all-inclusive full package Vietnam motorbike rides. The only exception is the request of travelers who wish to upgrade their accommodation for something more luxurious (but it will be depended on situation).

Including:
- Experienced tour guide on motorcycle (dirt bike);

- Dirt bike Honda XR/XR Baja 250cc with mandatory insurance;

- Gasoline and spare parts;
- Standard hotel (double, twins or triple shared room) and/or homestay (sleeping bags, mosquito nets, sheets, pillows...are provided);
- 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners with non-alcoholic beverages (Vietnamese food, Western food costs extra);
- All entrance fees, permits, tickets, boat trips, ferries, bamboo rafts, etc;
- Dirtbike Vietnam provides support. We are with you along the way;
- Vietnamese tea and drinking water.

Not including:

- Support vehicle (Mishubishi Triton) for luggage transport, back up bike and service;
- Personal expenses, personal medical insurance;
- Drinks other than tea and local rice wine;
- Single room supplement if you request a single room;
- Motorbike protection pants, jacket, gloves, helmet, rain gear and other safety equipment at favourable rental rate;
- Train or flight tickets before and after your tour;
- Breakfast on the departure day and dinner on the return day;
- Accommodation and food in Hanoi;
- Tips.

Contact us to join one of the best motorcycle tours Vietnam ever in your life.

Leave Hanoi Capital for Ninh Binh, enjoy the beautiful sceneries of the rural areas

If you have 2 days and want to join Vietnam motorcycle tours in this short time like that, we, Vietnam dirtbike travel will introduce you one place. It is Ninh Binh.

Just 100km south of Ha Noi, Ninh Binh Province offers a world of natural and cultural heritage to explore. Hoa Lu was the first capital of the independent Vietnam, under the Dinh dynasty and the early Le Dynasty (968-1009). Tam Coc, better known as "Ha Long Bay on land", is also one of astounding natural beauty with limestone peaks whose splendor is often said to surpass that of Ha Long Bay. Cuc Phuong national park is the first recognized and best preserved nature reserve in Vietnam. The Park’s primary tropical rainforest is home to an amazing variety of wildlife and in recent years several species have been discovered here.

And here is the itinerary of one of the best Vietnam motorbike tours:

Day 1:
In the early morning,  we will jump on our dirtbike and spend sometime to get familiar with the bikes, then leave Hanoi Capital, start your Vietnam motorbike rides to Ninh Binh, enjoying the beautiful sceneries of the rural areas on the way. About 11h00 we arrive Phat diem Cathedral which is built of large stones and big wood pillar during 24 years.

Coming back to Ninh binh city for lunch at local restaurant.

After lunch you will get on bamboo boat - rowed by the local people - in Hoang Long river to visit Tam Coc (three caves) on the way, you also have a chance to see the paddy field if you visit Tam Coc in April or September.

Dinner in local restaurant. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Day 2:
07h30AM: Riding Vietnam motorcycle travel about an hour on picturesque quiet roads through villages, rice fields, rivers and rocky outcrops to Cuc Phuong national park. We take a 2 hours trek through the old rainforest then we have lunch on the forest.
After having lunch, we will visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre to learn about the important work being done to help protect the endangered species of the park and riding back to Hanoi.
Finish one of your best motorcycle tours Vietnam in life.

Best time to ride up North

Dirtbike Travel is specialized in organizing custom Vietnam motorcycle tours covering every destination in Vietnam. All of our trips are designed to suit every rider with different preferences such as laidback sightseeing tours, intensive enduro tours and everything in between.

Many riders who want to join our Vietnam motorbike rides always ask us about the weather especially in the north of Vietnam for the weather here is the most unpredictable weather in Vietnam.

Here is some information about the weather of outstanding places in our Vietnam motorbike tours for your reference:

The climate in Sapa and Vietnam’s far north-west is divided into two seasons:  the dry season runs from October to late March with  the wet season lasting  from April to September. It can get very cold in December and January, especially at night. In winter, sometimes, you will see snow and ice in Sapa and some places around.

The best months for motorcycle tour Vietnam in the north-east (Ha Giang) is during the dry season, from October to April, although December and January can get very cold. We recommend avoiding Vietnam dirt bike tours  in Ha Giang during the rainy season (May to September).

Daytime temperatures range from 15-28°C, and night-time temperatures from 10-18°C. Trekking and motorcycling are possible year round, however the wintertime can be rather chilly, and the summer rather wet.

Some brief information about DMZ

Many our customers want to join our Vietnam motorbike tours which are the combination of sightseeing and visiting the old battle fields.

With your intend, the Vietnam motorbike rides to DMZ will satisfy you. We would like to provide some brief information about DMZ:

The Geneva Conference on July 21, 1954, recognized the 17th parallel as a "provisional military demarcation line" temporarily dividing the country into two states, Communist North Vietnam and "Free" South Vietnam. The Vietnam motorcycle travel of DMZ will bring you the historical study about the war between Vietnam and USA in the years from 1954 to 1975. Besides, you will explore the charming of the nature here with forest, mountain range and river…

So, what you can see when joining our Vietnam motorcycle tours to DMZ?

Dong Ha Town: was the location on a strategically important U.S. Marine Combat Base, outposted to provide surveillance of troops movements across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

Doc Mieu base: One part of an elaborate electronic system (McNamara’s wall) intended to prevent infiltration across the DMZ.

Hien Luong bridge: known as the "Peace Bridge", a beam bridge built from steel by the French in 1950

Ben Hai river: an important landmark in the partition of the country into a northern and a southern zone along the 17th parallel by the Geneva Accords of 1954

Cua Tung beach: the river flows from west to east just south of the 17th parallel and close to the northern border of Quang Tri Province

Vinh Moc tunnels: The complex of tunnel, located deep in the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone, grew to include wells, kitchens, rooms for each family and spaces for healthcare.

So contact us for a great motorcycle tour Vietnam to DMZ.

Riding in Sapa will be one of your favourite days

Sapa is always considered as one of the most must-see destinations in the North west of Vietnam. It is a really good place for both refreshing and discovering. Beside ideal weather that is cool all year round; picturesque landscapes with mountains stretching endlessly, green valleys, traditional trade village of ethnic minorities, forest of bamboo tree, terraced field, and stunning scenery, Sapa is also well-known as one of the best place for off-road Vietnam Motorcycle Tours.

Winding roads connecting Sapa town with many remote villages of different ethnic minorities are not always flat and easy. In some places, the roads are really challenge and very difficult to conquer during your motorbike tours in Vietnam. You will have opportunity to try a single track on the way back or follow the off-road going to the far remote village. Riding in Sapa will be one of your favourite days when joining our Vietnam motorbike tour.

After an adventure day tour, coming back to the hotel in Sapa town to take a hot shower or having dinner with local food in an wooden house of the Red Dao will make your day much more interesting.

Come and ride with Vietnam dirtbike travel, we dedicated to helping you discover the best of Vietnam through our Vietnam motorcycle tour.

"I had the time of my life"

Vietnam dirtbike travel is built not only to help you discover the best of Vietnam but also create a common playing-field for both Vietnamese travelers and foreign travelers.

We are very professional in organizing Vietnam motorcycle tours, especially off-road Vietnam motorcycle tours.

Our customers for Vietnam motorbike rides come from many different countries in the world such as: Sydney, Australia; Ommerschans; Vientiane, Laos; Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Singapore, Bergen, Norway; Berlin, Germany; Colmar, France; America…However, the major are from America, Germany and Australia.

Let see some of their reviews after enjoying our services:

Ms. Kaska M from Poland but now lives and works in Shanghai, China:
“I've tried riding a motorcycle off-road for the first time - and I loved it, mostly due to great help of the Dirt Bike Travel ;) The tour is very exciting but also educative. Home stay at the local family was unforgettable as well as the views and places we've seen. I recommend”.

Mr. Martijn from South Africa
Just got back from my trip to Vietnam and a definite highlight was the motorbike tour Vietnam through Northern Vietnam and the assistance of Dirt Bike Travel. I was welcomed like a friend, invited for dinner and beers and attended a wedding! Most definitely because of Dirt Bike Travel and the group of people attached to this great company. A variety of itineraries were offered, even though I changed my route and plans every other day to be honest, and I loved the bike. A great feeling to have your freedom and go as you please to discover those places where the busses with tourists never come. This has changed my way of looking at travelling and I can recommend it to everybody. For the adventurous; you can do it by yourself on one of their bikes, but to take a guide and go with a group of friends will make things even better. The bike was in good condition and never let me down on the 2000 km trip, I was given spare parts and tools if I would need anything and an emergency number to get hold of 24/7. I had one of the best adventures of my life!!

And there are many many other reviews for your reference if you are intending to join Vietnam motorbike tours. You can read them here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293924-d4025487-Reviews-Dirtbike_Travel-Hanoi.html

Get off the beaten track to see some of the most beautiful scenery Vietnam has to offer

In Motorcycle Touring, Vietnam Dirtbike travel has years of experience in delivering premium Vietnam Motorcycle Tours throughout VIETNAM, we offer private and tailor made motorbike tours, we are experts at organizing memorable and amazing motorcycle tours Vietnam for clients. “Come ride with us”, we know the very best and most stunning destinations in Vietnam, including its best such as North East Vietnam, NorthWest Vietnam, Northern Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh trail Vietnam Motorbike Tours. If you want to get off the beaten track to see some of the most beautiful scenery Vietnam has to offer, then come ride with us for best Vietnam motorcycle tours! Charming ethnic minority villages, winding trails, World nature heritage, Snacking mountain roads like roof of Indochina, majestic mountain scenery and more await your discovery.

Unlike other motorcycle tour operators in Vietnam, our Vietnam motorbike tours offer “The Real Vietnam motorbike rides”. Along with your journey, we include cultural tours, to points of interest. By joining one of our motorbike tours Vietnam, you will be a part of helping maintain the Vietnam’s Nature and Traditional Villages. It’s a great participation of cultural exchange and an insight view on Vietnam lifestyle.

Vietnam motorcycle tours to Ban Gioc waterfall

The north of Vietnam is not only attract the riders who join Vietnam motorbike tours organized by Vietnam dirtbike travel by the wonderful nature of the winding mountain passes with amazing view, beautiful terrace rice fields, imposing rock plateau and peaceful natural lakes but also some waterfalls that the tourists should not miss. Ban Gioc waterfall – the biggest and the most beautiful one in Vietnam locating in Northeast Vietnam is also the one you can’t skip especially if you are a motorcyclist.

Ban Gioc Waterfall, always a highlight of our motorbike tour Vietnam is located in the district of Trung Khanh- on the Vietnamese side (Cao Bang Province – Northeast Vietnam), and another half is on the Chinese side.

The scenery around the waterfall changes from season to season and make the waterfall has it’s own beauty in each time. In spring, the flame-red blossoms are in full bloom. In autumn, the waterfall surroundings turn golden-yellow. In the summer, the waters become stronger and violent and during winter the fall’s clear water drop slowly. Moreover, the road to the Ban Gioc waterfall is considered as one of the best roads for Vietnam motorbike tours and also in the world. It is not only a great mixture of on and off-roads but offers amazing mountain views, therefore, Vietnam Dirtbike travel usually choose it as a favorite destination to have great motorbike tours in Vietnam.

Vietnam Dirtbike travel – Come and have Vietnam motorbike rides with us!

Well-designed motorbike tours Vietnam

Things you should know when joining our Vietnam motorcycle tours:
o    You should bring your own riding gear if you have due to size and quality matters. If you don't have any or don't want to carry them, you can get rent from us with cheap prices. A typical set includes a helmet, a pair of gloves and protection knee and elbow pads.

o    The prices quoted are based on double, twins and there will be single supplement charge. The amount depends on your group size, duration, on road or off road motorbike tours you book and we will advise the cost if you request a single or have any special requirement.

o    You need to bring spare money to pay for drinks on the way of Vietnam motorbike tours or buy some souvenir for your friends and family at home. Drinks in home stays usually cost more than in restaurants or along the way, but your money will be contributed directly into local communities and we believe you accept this.

o    For North Vietnam where most of our Vietnam motorcycle tours take place, the best time is usually from September to January (cool and dry). From February to April is normally cold and wet. May to August is hot and summer is in June, July and August.

o    The best group size is from three to four riders, not too many and not too little. More people means more fun but too big a group means less information the guide can provide as he needs to take care of your safety. Maximum is a group of 6, however if your group is bigger than that, we will provide more guide. 1 guide/6 riders.

o    Speed limit in Vietnam is very low (30-80km/h). Don't break the speed limit.

o    You don't need to bring everything with you on the trip, pack essential things in a small bag (medium size, max 10kg) and put it on the back of the bike.

Vietnam dirtbike travel – Come and ride with us!

Get off the bikes and help each other to go through

Wish to experience Vietnam motorcycle tours Vietnam, you meet the right people at right place.
Vietnam Dirtbike travel are dedicated to helping you discover the best of Vietnam with it’s base in Dam Trau, Bach Dang Ward, Hanoi city, two kilometers away from Hoan Kiem Lake, especially through the well-organized motorcycle tours Vietnam.

Forget about a set itinerary, no plan is needed and ride with maximum flexibility and freedom. This sounds like a journey not like the norm, yes that’s true. Careful preparation and good riding skills are necessary. You will be doing something that only a few dare to conquer but once you return in one piece, you will ready for any challenge in your life.

Many riders want to challenge themselves with many dirt-roads that make them get off the bikes and help each other to go through. Even with this kind of off-road Vietnam Motorbike Tours, you will be surprised a lot by the beauty of the untouched nature of the mountainous region in the north of Vietnam.  The quantity, quality, and diversity of the roads will astound you. The weather is cooler than down south, the food is great, yet different from the other regions in Vietnam.

Joining Vietnam motorbike tours is the best way to learn about our country

Ride a Vietnam Motorbike Tour in the South of Vietnam for a week and off road through the remote villages and rugged mountains in the north of Vietnam. Get the wind in your hairs, the sun tan on your skin and laughs around a campfire. Contact us for an adventure of your time in Vietnam!

We are Vietnam Dirtbike travel, built not only to help you discover the best of Vietnam but also create a common playing-field for both Vietnamese travelers and foreign travelers. You can easy to contact us by sending email to dirtbiketravel@gmail.com or add nick dirtbiketravel  to chat with us on skype to ask any questions related to Vietnam motorcycle tours. We are very happy to help you clear more about our country and ready for your motorbike tours Vietnam.

Believe in us, joining Vietnam motorbike tours is the best way to learn about our country. Diverse culture of the hill tribes, stunning beauty of the scenery in the mountainous region of northern Vietnam are waiting for you to discover.

Choose your right time, pack your luggage, book a flight ticket, come to Vietnam and ride with us!
We are dedicated to help you discover the best of Vietnam.

Things you should know about our tours

Vietnam is a wonderful place for motorcycle touring in Asia, as the country scenery changes fast from one region to another and the road condition is quite good and spectacular.

If it is the first time you come to Vietnam and decide to discover this beautiful country by joining Vietnam motorcycle tours, you are landing in the right place.

We, Vietnam Dirtbike Travel,  plays a major role in setting up many leading Vietnam dirt bike tours and together with Dirtbike-Friends members we have explored and learnt every parts of Vietnam deeply for over 10 years. Our goal is to share the mania for riding motorbikes to discover the wildernesses of the country.

Here are some of the frequently asked questions of our customers before joining our Vietnam motorbike rides:

1.    Is there internet access to all the places we travel to?
In the fast developing information technology, there is internet access in most of the places in Vietnam. There might be no internet access when staying at home-stay. But this happens only for a few trips and just for 1 night. Internet access won't be away from internet access longer than 48 hours.

2.    Do I need to exchange currency and how much do I need ?
It will almost always be useful to have some local currency available. How much you should carry depends on where you are going and how long you expect to be there.

3.    How far is the daily distance?
On Vietnam motorbike tours the distance is usually 150 - 250 km per day but depends on the terrain and how many interesting things there are to see and do along the way. On good black topped roads the riding distance might be much greater.

4.    I hear the traffic is crazy in Vietnam. Is it safe?
Normally, our Vietnam motorbike tours start from Hanoi. However, traffic in Hanoi is chaotic to the uninitiated driver. For this reason we always use the easiest roads (even if they are longer) to get out of town. We can also arrange for riders to be dropped off at the city limits by taxi. Once out in the countryside, the level of traffic drops off remarkably and on some roads it is possible to not pass a single vehicle for the whole day. That said, it must be emphasized that the conditions here are demanding and extremely defensive driving is imperative. All riders must be very careful and be fully aware that the purpose of the trip is not to ride performance bikes hard into the bends, but rather to trundle along nice and slow and enjoy the sites and sounds.

5.    Can we choose which bike we ride?
Yes, you can choose among Yamaha serow 250cc, Honda XR 250cc, Honda XR baja 250cc, Suzuki Djebel 250cc, Kawasaki super sherpa 250cc, honda XL 125cc, vespa sprint 150cc, vespa acma 150cc, vespa super 150cc. One of them is suitable with your skill and stature, so that you will be more confident when joining our motorbikes tour Vietnam.

6.    What if I can't ride a dirt bike?
If you have limited biking experience but would like to learn, we offer a number of training packages from Dirtbike Friends to help you gain confidence on dirt roads. These can then be combined with one of our more laidback out of town tours so that you can get more hours under your belt and see some more of the country.

Come and ride with us!

Come and ride with Vietnam dirtbike travel to northeast of Vietnam

Rich in culture and history, Northeast Vietnam is always one of the most beautiful areas in North Vietnam. There is not enough word to say about the beauty of high mountain views in Ha Giang, Dong Van geo-park, Cao Bang, Ban Gioc waterfalls and Highway 4 (RC4). Breathtaking landscapes that you definitely see in your motorbike tour in North Vietnam  like Cao Bang mountains, Ba Be lake, Ban Gioc waterfalls and Highway 4 plus warm and friendly Tay and Nung people will definitely make you feel very welcome. Good for experienced and inexperienced riders who join Vietnam motorcycle tours of Vietnam dirtbike travel.

As true riders for more than 10 years before working in tourism field, we believe to satisfy you all with our motorcycle tours Vietnam for all riders of all levels. To visit all worth-to-see places in this area, you should spend at least 6 days for the Vietnam motorbike rides. If not, we will cut off some places that not as wonderful as the others.

In addition to the stunning landscape, you will experience local way of life in home stays in host families & stilt-houses. Those are truly typical Vietnam motorbike tours that show YOU a REAL VIETNAM!

Come and ride with us!

Vietnam dirtbike travel – Come and ride with us

If you a fan of motorbike tours, you are landing in a right place and welcome to the official homepage of Vietnam Dirtbike travel. This website is part of Dirtbike travel, a company that offer rides Vietnam motorcycle to all over the northern mountains of Vietnam, down the Ho Chi Minh Trail with powerful dirt bike for all level: novice, intermediate and expert and cruises in small groups.

Furthermore, we will also be happy to introduce Vietnam’s cultural and people on vintage vespa.
Vietnam is a motorbike nation and there is no better way to see this vibrant country than on motorbikes. A successful and safe motorcycle tours Vietnam needs to be operated by a professional company and you have found the right place.

Found in 2009 by some of “Dirtbike-Friends” members who are specialists in organizing Vietnam motorbike tours and classic tours and have a strongly passion for travelling. The company is based in Dam Trau, Bach Dang Ward, Hanoi city, two kilometers away from Hoan Kiem Lake.

By joining one of our Vietnam motorcycle tours, you will be a part of helping maintain the Vietnam’s Nature and Traditional Villages. It’s a great participation of cultural exchange and an insight view on Vietnam lifestyle.

Home-stay, the highlight of all motorcycle tours Vietnam

Many customers, when come back Hanoi from the Vietnam motorcycle tours, agree with us that homestay is one of the best highlight of the tours.

If you reach us via website: http://www.dirtbiketravel.com and travel through it with interest, you can see in many motorbike tours Vietnam, we have at least one night homestay.

Many riders who book our Vietnam motorbike rides email to us and say that they do not want to have any home-stay for they are afraid that it is not well-equipped and dirty.

We have to take time to convince them that they should try because travelling is to experience the new things and learn more about the life of local people in any place they visit. Finally they decide that in their motorbike tours in Vietnam, there are 2 night homestay. They will try the first night one, if they love it, they will have second night home-stay. If not, we have to book hotels instead for them. And we agree.

Let’s imagine, after a long day conquering off road tours, you will be welcomed by the very friendly host. The north of Vietnam is the home of many different ethnic minorities. Therefore, the host may be the Thai, the Dao or the black H’mong. Each group has it’s own tradition and costume, therefore, the fastest way to learn their culture is to live with them.

Taking a hot shower after a hard day tour is a good way to refresh yourself. In the evening, you will have an opportunity to help the host to cook and prepare for dinner with full of local food. You will be very surprised for the dishes are very delicious although it is the first time you try it. Enjoy the food with local rice wine and chat with the host and our friendly guide will make your dinner much more interesting.

Night at the homestay is very quiet and the air is very fresh. It makes you sleep easily to recover yourself for the next day of Vietnam motorbike tours.

When you wake up in the early morning, you will be very surprised by the beauty of the sun rise and terraced rice fields  around you.

That will be so wonderful and very nice experience!

If you read our customers reviews after finish motorcycle tours Vietnam, you will see that homestay bring them much joy.

Come and ride with us to experience overnight in homestay!

Contact us for the best Vietnam motorcycle tour ever

This is your chance! Vietnam dirtbike travel team is dedicated to making unparalleled adventures catered towards the specific interests and skills of the riders. You are invited to plan your trip from your computer at home, or even meet us here in Vietnam for a special planning session for your Vietnam motorbike tours.

Vietnam dirtbike travel offers the best Vietnam motorcycle tour riding you can find in Vietnam. Updated after each trip, blessed with well trained guides, and managed by a passionate team with a leader that has been riding motorbikes for over 10 years.

Our base is in Dam Trau, Bach Dang Ward, Hanoi city, the beautiful and peaceful capital in Asia. From here we explore the wild north of Vietnam or other places in Vietnam with our well serviced motorbike & creatively planned Vietnam motorcycle tours.

Since our start in 2009, Vietnam dirtbike travel has been offering unique adventures on and off the road. Experience our Vietnam motorbike tours like no other adventure tours can.
Heading up and into the stunning North regions of the massive Mountains where you'll be happily surprised at the green and stunning views.

Although we suggest you having a little off road motorbike experience in your home country before you come out to Vietnam and have an amazing time riding our bikes, we can find you a great off road Vietnam motorcycle travel that is perfect for novice, intermediate and expert riders, so you too can enjoy this beautiful land that is ...Vietnam.

The off road motorbike tours are set up for novices, experienced off road riders or expert motorcyclists and we don’t mix the groups unless you are bringing a mixed-ability group with you.
When you're riding the motorbikes through Vietnam, you will be riding through rough and rugged terrains, as well as riding the bikes across vast dunes of soft sand and dry lake beds where you can really let rip and have some fun.

We offer various off road Vietnam motorbike tour packages to suit your needs from 4 days to 7 days or more of riding. We are flexible enough to set up your own Vietnam motorbike tour specific to what you would like to get out of your biking holiday. 

Take part in a breathtaking, one-of-a-kind experience that takes you to unique areas with very few people. You can have a leisurely, scenic Vietnam motorcycle tour ride or experience the "extreme" motorcycle ride of a lifetime. Come and ride with us!