Vietnam’s Greatest Motorbike Day Trip

If you are visiting Vietnam, you can’t miss this motorbike day trip. It easily gets my seal of approval as the best trip in Vietnam and frankly, I’ll confidently claim it’s the greatest motorcycle trip in South-East Asia!

Nowhere else in the country will offer you such a well-rounded window into the diverse local lifestyles, scenic variety and juxtaposition between modern and traditional Vietnam in a distance so short. It’s that simple. It’s perfect for those on a tight schedule, most importantly getting you out of the cities and into genuine local life. Straight into the deep end, albiet relatively safely and comfortably.

On top of that, you’re travelling by motorbike. Riding a motorbike in Vietnam is par for the course, a bucket list item and an experience you’ll never forget. Over 95% of traffic here is two wheels – the country is designed for it. Burst your tourist bubble, view Vietnamese life by joining the locals directly, exposing yourself to the dry heat acclimatized only by the wind in your hair. You’ll soak up the culture like a sponge, it’s fascinating and absolutely liberating. A feeling of ultimate freedom!

Or, you can instead hop onto a crammed bus with no air conditioning and head down the dusty, uninspiring inland highway to reach Hoi-An…

…but let me ask you this, are you transiting or travelling?

I’ll make the decision for you, you’re travelling. Alright, let’s get into it!

What do you see?

The route begins in Hue city on the central coast of Vietnam, and your destination is Hoi-An; about 140km to the south. You’ll head off the beaten track, down the coastal roads intersecting the tourist hubs of Lang Co and Da Nang, both conveniently linked by the stunning Hai Van Pass popularized in that Vietnam Top Gear Episode you remember.

But…it’s between these anchor points that provide the icing on the cake!

The fishing villages, the lush green rice fields, the water buffalo, the cone hats, religious influence, lush flooded green rice fields, mountainous views, secluded sandy beaches; Pho as it’s meant to be made…and small town life as it’s always been. Delve into it.

Oh and did I mention it can be traversed in as little as 6 hours? Yep. At a relaxing pace too.

But hell, why 6 hours? Make a two day trip out of it, don’t rush at all and stay a night in Lang Co to break it up. Take the detours, embrace every photo opportunity, enjoy swimming an undiscovered beach whilst watching fisherman catch fresh seafood. Explore the village mazes to the novelty of the locals. Buy their products, get to know them as you eat their mouth-watering cuisine and don’t forget to drink their rice wine (responsibly!).

It’s very rare you’ll pay local prices in Vietnam. But, with any luck you will at village stops – tourism is an untamed beast and you’ll feel quite out of place. And it’s fantastic. You’ll also feel like Brad Pitt. You’ve never quite waved at so many people.

How do you do it?

You have two options, you can either rent a motorbike to tackle it yourself (recommended!) or if that isn’t suitable, you can hire a driver. He will supply the bike but the cost is considerably higher as you’d expect. Experiencing it is far better than missing out though! There are many reputable groups offering drivers on customised trips out of Hue, I recommend Vietnam Motor Trail.

For those undergoing it themselves: Petrol is obtained easily from locals in the villages on the way, and there are stations in all the main hubs. The road conditions on this route are surprisingly great. It’s mainly paved, with some unsealed sections – the potholes are easy to navigate and it’s not tough on the bike.

For this reason, you can even get away with doing this trip on an automatic scooter. Rent one in Hue for just $10 a day including a full tank of fuel, you can drop it off in Hoi-An for a small one way fee. Just please, not a Vespa. It’ll be rough going. Get yourself something like a Honda Airblade (very popular) and your golden. I didn’t have a problem!

Why is this route so great?

Unprecedented variety! Alright, so those large tourist hubs I mentioned – what do they offer? A lot. Let me give you a run down!

You’ll begin in Hue:

Hue is my favourite city in Vietnam. Much of its population lives within the historic walled bounds of the Hue Citadel. This fortress is even surrounded by a moat sourced from the Perfume River that snakes through the city – 10 gates allow entry. Hue is a comparatively small, quiet coastal city that was once the capital – and due to its central positioning was unfortunately hit hard during the Vietnam War.

Lifestyles are conservative, right down to the bars and restaurants, a welcome change in South-East Asia. It’s a relaxing, friendly atmosphere. Royal Tombs of past Kings sit atop the marsh riverbanks, pagoda’s tower overhead. It’s just 8km out from the beach (unforgettable fresh seafood), the jungle of detours take you onto scenic journeys into local life and the inland highlands are ingrained into a tour of Vietnam’s war history.

How’s that for variety. Hue is an awesome launch pad.

The street food can’t be missed either, you’ll become addicted to Bun Bo Hue (beef noodle soup – Hue style) and I ate more Banh Cuon Thit Heo (Rice-paper rolled pork with peanut sauce) than I’m willing to admit. I’m not a foodie, but the cuisines impressed me here. Adventurous? Ech Xao Xa Ot. Fried Frog with Lemongrass.

Also, I have to add this: Most tourists only spend a night in Hue. Almost all itineraries follow that recipe, but trust me – they don’t know what they are missing! For those that are willing to take some responsibility over their travel (that’s you), Hue is a gold mine to exploration.

You’ll move through coastal villages and scenic mountain ranges into Lang Co:

A small picturesque fishing town, Lang Co is a weirdly shaped piece of land shielded by a lagoon on one side; and over 10km of white sandy beach on the other. It’s flanked by stunning mountainous Vietnam, contrasted by modern day engineering feats and traditional fishing methods. From my experience, it’s a must stop for seafood so fresh you’ve seen them catch your meal just 10 metres away from the comfort of the restaurant, many of which are located physically out in the lagoon; reachable only by their own jetties.

Lang Co is still quite underdeveloped, popular with local tourists more so than foreigners. However, it’s great for either a lunch or dinner stop-off, a swim to beat the Vietnamese heat or a stay overnight if you’re travelling north to Hue. If you’re heading south, remember it’s only another hour onto Da Nang for more abundant accommodation and city life!

 Continuing on you’ll traverse the spectacular Hai Van Pass!

The jewel of the region – one of the greatest ocean drives in the world. It’s a big claim and if you don’t trust me, Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear was quoted as saying those exact words. Hai Van Pass or in English “Ocean Cloud Pass” is a stunningly scenic route, etching hairpin turns and long straights high into the mountain range. To say the least, it lends itself to being best enjoyed by motorbike. Late afternoon, an eerie mist joins you, adding to the aura. It’s a fun road to navigate, I’m guilty in taking joy rides across it every chance I get. Luckily for you, the pass actually links both Lang Co and Da Nang; you don’t even need to go out of your way. There is very little traffic, usually just a handful of motorbikes, as trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles are required at Lang Co to continue down AH1 through the tunnel instead.

Hai Van Pass is quiet and relaxing, so embrace it at your own pace – enjoy the postcard vistas and breathe the cool ocean air for 21 kilometres of some of the best time you’ll ever spend on a vehicle.

Descending leads into the modern city of Da Nang:

Da Nang is different – I personally love it. It’s the largest city of central Vietnam – a breath of fresh air to the region providing a modern; commercial hub to the country.

Best of all though, Da Nang avoids the tiresome commotion of Ho Chi Minh City; whilst providing a charm unlike Hanoi, in the form of a coastal beach paradise. You can relax here and just 5 minutes inland sits a stylish, clean and organized cityscape. The nightlife is bright and active. The cuisine is spectacular. Palm trees line the far stretched white sands banked by tall, block hotels reminiscent of an early Australian Gold Coast. The 72 metre ‘Lady Buddha’ stands dominant to the peninsula; visible as you take a dip in refreshing blue waters. Just 10 minutes south sit religious cave systems of the limestone Marble Mountains; to an otherwise flat landscape. Da Nang’s eastern backdrop of Ba Na Hills is a perfect day trip too, if not just for the 6km world record cable car.

It sounds like a no-brainer right? You’d be surprised – Da Nang is often overlooked or completely missed by tourists, outshined by it’s close proximity to the tourist haven of Hoi-An.

But you now know better, integrate Da Nang into your itinerary!

Final stretch adjacent beach front resorts into Hoi-An!

Hoi-An. The Vietnam tourist favourite, a mecca really. For good reason. I haven’t yet met anybody that disliked Hoi An. The ancient town, the focus of the tourist masses is a world heritage UNESCO site and seen as one of the best examples of 15-19th century Chinese and Japanese trading influences in Vietnam. If this means nothing to you, trust me – the old buildings, amidst lively, colourful walking streets that form a relatively mazey plan to get lost in give it a unique feel I haven’t otherwise experienced in South-East Asia. You’ll take a lot of photos here. You’ll also eat a lot of food.

The riverfront is lined with a myriad of culinary options – the daily struggle is making a decision. It’s tough. If you like fresh beer – it’s 3000 VND a glass ($0.14 USD). Cheapest I’ve seen in the country. Transportation is primarily push bikes, a relaxing back pedal (pun intended) from the noise pollution elsewhere – it allows a peaceful discovery of markets, locally made handicrafts and tailor-made silk clothing Hoi-An is so well known for. If you’ve been hustled for ‘tailored’ suits in Thailand, don’t let it shy you from getting one done in Hoi An – they are quality, it’s an institution here!

Accommodation options are generally cheap and comfortable ‘home stay’ accommodations. Also, don’t forget an opportunity to take cooking and handicraft lessons with the locals here! They’re popular and they do a great job.

‘Relative safety’?…elaborate…

Alright, something to consider. Riding a motorbike in South-East Asia is dangerous. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. Heed this advice: If you’ve never ridden a motorbike or scooter before; Vietnam is not the place to learn.

Country-wide, there are an estimated 40 road deaths a day. The majority occur on the highways, where high speed, neglected vehicle maintenance, poor road conditions and careless driving take their toll. I’ve witnessed countless accidents, some quite horrific – foreigners regularly wear their own story physically. It’s not a joke guys, and you aren’t invincible.

If anything terrible was to happen, you’re about 2 hours away from the nearest hospital in Hue or Da Nang – keep this in mind.

Anyway, enough disclaimer.

Traffic in Hanoi and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is insane, and you’re easily bottlenecked into it. Luckily, on this route you can avoid the dangerous highways – instead hugging the quiet, safe coastal roads dissecting villages and farmland, populated only by the locals residing within. They’re more single lane paved paths than sealed roads. Very little traffic. Glorious riding.

You aren’t totally safe though…there’s water buffalo to dodge, cows to weave between and from personal Vietnamese testimony – rogue pigs are prime lunging offenders. Apparently they are as solid as a rock and become more aggressive when hit. I don’t recommend investigating!

So, what do you think?

Chances are, if you’re visiting Vietnam you’ll cross through Hue city. After enjoying the itinerary favourites of The Imperial City, Thien Mu Pagoda and all of the Royal Tombs – you’ll likely be herded onto a tourist bus the following day off to Hoi-An. 

Don’t.

If you’re open to some self-directed adventure, game enough to embrace the Vietnamese roads and have an insatiable appetite for cultural enlightenment – you’ll be suitably rewarded on this motorcycle trip. An enriching journey, encapsulating both authentic Vietnamese lifestyle and stunning countryside scenery; with everything in between – in just one or two days. Perfect.

Yes, it’s extra effort. It’ll require a bit of organisation and maybe a step outside your comfort zone. But, you’ll get out what you put into it. It’s what travels about.

Whether you’re in Vietnam for 1 week, 2 weeks or 3 months – this motorbike journey is for you and one of the best in South-East Asia.

Put it on your list!

P.S If you have done this trip, or one similar within South-East Asia I’d love to hear your thoughts. So share it with me in the comments below!