10 Days Motorbike Loop: Hanoi to Ha Long to Ninh Binh
A tested 10-day motorbike route through northern Vietnam, starting in Hanoi, skirting Ha Long Bay, and looping back through the limestone karsts of Ninh Binh. Budget, road conditions, and real stops included.
Why motorbike this route
Rental bikes let you move at your own pace—stop for breakfast at a family [pho](/posts/pho-vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム)-noodle-soup-guide) stand, detour to a limestone village, sleep where you want. This loop covers roughly 800 km over 10 days, staying mostly on decent highways and regional roads. You'll see fewer tour buses than the standard Hanoi–Saigon backpacker trail, spend less than flying between cities, and eat better because you're stopping where locals eat.
Practical setup
Bike rental. Rent a 100–125 cc semi-automatic (Honda Win, Yamaha Exciter, or Suzuki) in Hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ) from a hostel or shop in the Old Quarter. Cost: 80,000–120,000 VND per day with helmet and basic insurance. International Driving Permit is rarely checked but carry it. Fuel costs roughly 20,000 VND per 100 km.
Road notes. Most routes are paved; some regional stretches are potholed. Avoid riding at night (road markers are poor, truck drivers are reckless). Wear a helmet, long sleeves, and sunscreen—UV is intense. Bring a phone mount and a Grab/Maps offline download.
Day 1 — Hanoi to Cat Ba Island (60 km, 1.5 hours)
Start early from central Hanoi. Take the Red River road or Highway 5 northeast to Hai Phong (45 km), then head south to Cat Ba ferry. The route is straightforward; Hai Phong city itself is not scenic, so push through. Ferry to Cat Ba (15 minutes, bike + rider: 200,000 VND). Arrive by early afternoon.
Stay. Cat Ba has cheap beachfront bungalows. Sunrise Resort or similar guesthouses run 150,000–250,000 VND for a double. Eat. Seafood is the obvious choice—squid, shrimp, local fish. Dinner along Cat Ba town waterfront, 100,000–180,000 VND for two people.
What to do. Climb Pha Suong (Monkey Island) viewpoint or walk to Cannon Fort for views over the bay. If you have energy, swim off the beach.
Day 2 — Cat Ba to Ha Long Bay loop (80 km round-trip)
Spend the morning riding to Ha Long City (40 km north)—the road is pleasant, hugging the coast. Fuel up there. The town itself is tourist-focused but functional. Eat lunch at a sidewalk pho (쌀국수 / 越南河粉 / フォー) stall (40,000 VND).
Cruise option. If you book a half-day limestone bay cruise (2–3 hours, 150,000–250,000 VND per person), you'll see karst scenery and Hang Sung Sot cave. Budget travelers skip the cruise and just enjoy the ride. Return to Cat Ba for a second night.
Day 3 — Cat Ba to Hai Phong to Thai Nguyen (120 km, 2.5 hours)
Ferry back to the mainland early (200,000 VND for bike + rider). Ride southwest to Thai Nguyen, a provincial town not on most tourist maps. The road climbs into foothills; traffic thins out.
Stay. Thai Nguyen has basic 2–3-star hotels: Song Huong Hotel or Thanh Huong, 180,000–280,000 VND for a clean double room. Eat. The town is known for clay pots ("man thao")—seek out a local noodle or rice restaurant near the market. Dinner for two: 80,000–120,000 VND.
What to do. Walk the town market (Dong Tay Market) or visit a nearby tea plantation. This is a working Vietnamese town, not a tourist site—that's the point.
Photo by Sergey Guk on Pexels
Day 4 — Thai Nguyen to Bac Kan to Cao Bang (150 km, 4 hours)
A longer day. Head north on Highway 3 to Cao Bang province. The road gets twisty and mountainous; expect loose gravel in places and stop for water. You're in the northeastern tier now—fewer foreigners, authentic landscape.
Stay in Cao Bang town. Midland Hotel or Ban Me Hotel, 200,000–320,000 VND for a double. Diner-style restaurant near the hotel, 100,000–150,000 VND for pho and greens. What to do. Cao Bang is a small, quiet town. Rest your legs. If energy permits, walk to a local park or sit at a cafe with "ca phe sua da" (iced milk coffee).
Day 5 — Cao Bang to Truc Lam to Hanoi (200 km, 5 hours)
A long push back south. Take Highway 3 toward Bac Kan, then Highway 34 cutting toward Hanoi. The ride is rural and quieter than the outbound leg. Stop in Truc Lam village (halfway point) for a midday rest and lunch at a family restaurant.
Arrive Hanoi late afternoon. Stash the bike at your hostel or return it to the rental shop. Stay. Return to your original area (Old Quarter or Hoan Kiem) for familiarity. 250,000–400,000 VND for a mid-range hotel.
Day 6 — Hanoi rest day
Your legs and back will appreciate a break. Walk Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Tran Quoc Pagoda (one of Vietnam's oldest temples, on an islet in the Red River), and explore Hanoi's street food. Eat "banh mi" (Vietnamese sandwich) for 20,000–35,000 VND, "goi cuon (고이꾸온 / 越南春卷 / ゴイクオン)" (fresh spring rolls) for 30,000 VND, and "pho" for breakfast (40,000–60,000 VND).
Option. A half-day motorbike taxi tour of Old Quarter craft streets (each street specializes: silk, lanterns, coffins, bamboo). Ask your hostel to arrange; guides cost 200,000–400,000 VND for a couple of hours.
Day 7 — Hanoi to Ninh Binh (90 km, 2 hours)
Rent a fresh bike or keep yours if the shop allows. Ride south on Highway 1, a busy but straightforward route. Ninh Binh (닌빈 / 宁平 / ニンビン) is a compact town known for limestone scenery and "Tam Coc" (the "ha long of rice paddies").
Stay. Ninh Binh has dozens of guesthouses. Majestic Hotel or similar: 180,000–280,000 VND for a double. Eat. Ninh Binh's specialty is "com tam (껌땀 / 碎米饭 / コムタム)" (broken-rice) cooked in a small clay pot with pork or seafood. Try a local family restaurant, 80,000–150,000 VND for two.
What to do. Rest evening. Explore Ninh Binh town center and riverside.
Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels
Day 8 — Ninh Binh: Tam Coc boat tour (day trip)
Morning. Book a Tam Coc boat tour (3 km south of town) for sunrise or late morning. Rowers pole wooden boats through flooded rice paddies and cave passages. Cost: 150,000–200,000 VND per person for 2 hours. Stunning and worth it.
Afternoon. Ride to Hoa Lu ruins (15 km north), the ancient capital of Vietnam (10th–11th century). Small entry fee (30,000 VND). Walk temple complexes; views over the karst landscape are good.
Evening. Return to Ninh Binh, relax at a cafe.
Day 9 — Ninh Binh to Thanh Hoa to Hanoi (180 km, 4 hours)
A scenic ride back. Head north on Highway 1, passing through rural Thanh Hoa province (stop for lunch if needed). Road is straightforward, traffic manageable.
Return to Hanoi by late afternoon. Return bike to rental shop. Settle your account and walk off stiffness in the Old Quarter.
Day 10 — Hanoi recovery and departure
Sleep in. Walk to a quiet cafe for coffee. Take a "ca tru" (traditional chamber music) performance if one's on (found at various cafes and cultural centers; 150,000–300,000 VND entry). Visit the Temple of Literature if you haven't. Pack and prepare for your next move.
Cost breakdown (two people)
- Bike rental. 10 days × 100,000 VND/day = 1,000,000 VND (~USD 40).
- Fuel. ~800 km ÷ 30 km/liter × 25,000 VND/liter ≈ 670,000 VND (~USD 27).
- Accommodation. 10 nights × 250,000 VND average = 2,500,000 VND (~USD 100).
- Food. 10 days × 300,000 VND/day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee) = 3,000,000 VND (~USD 120).
- Ferry (Cat Ba). 400,000 VND for two round trips (~USD 16).
- Activities. Tam Coc tour, Hoa Lu, other minor entries: ~500,000 VND (~USD 20).
- Total. ~7,670,000 VND (~USD 307 per person).
This assumes no accidents, no major bike repair, and modest mid-range hotels. Budget travelers can trim food and lodging by 20–30%.
Practical notes
If you're not confident riding in chaotic traffic, start in Hanoi with a day tour or short ride before committing to 10 days. Check your bike's lights, brakes, and tires before leaving each morning. Carry basic tools (spare tube, patches, multi-tool), a first-aid kit, and sun protection. Ride during daylight. Fill up fuel whenever the tank drops below half-full in remote areas. Finally, download offline maps and save your hostel/hotel address in your phone in case you get lost.
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