‘A country that has been through as much as Vietnam has to have some crazy music somewhere.’ – Henry Rollins
‘From splendid green terraced fields carpeting the mountains to the thrilling winding roads to the biggest caves in the world to kitesurfing on the beaches – Vietnam is a total package if you love traveling and being outdoors’.
‘I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam… that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain.’ – Graham Greene
‘They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived… promising everything in exchange for your soul. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from.’ – Graham Greene
Discover golden rice fields, tropical beaches, fascinating history, exotic culture and world renowned cuisine with us on the ultimate Adventure Motorcycling tour of Vietnam. The majority of Vietnam’s tourists visit the big cities, Halong bay, and a few other towns along the coast often travelling by train, plane or bus along the horrible highway 1. The Overlanders tour often deliberately avoids some of these commercial tourist areas in favour of the REAL Vietnam – a Vietnam that can only be experienced on a motorcycle. Prepare for the ultimate assault on the senses – the sights, smells and sounds are like nothing we’ve ever experienced.
There’s motorcycle adventures, expeditions, holidays and RTW trips. THIS Vietnam motorcycle tour is without doubt a motorcycle adventure of the very best caliber. Starting in the Mekong Delta our route takes us north along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, while zig-zagging in and out to the coast, as we meander our way ever north before making a loop around the northern provinces to the China border, before finishing in Hanoi. A land of war and history, having been under attack for centuries by some of the world’s superpowers, Vietnam offers ultimate adventure travel, stunning scenery and a very warm welcome, from what is arguably one of the worlds most resilient nations. There is so much more to see and experience in this dynamic, diverse country which has been shaped by periods of imperial rule, French colonialism and the Communist regime under the nation’s iconic leader, Ho Chi Minh.
Our Vietnam motorcycle tour visits key scenic sites, historic sites from the first and second Indochina wars and some of the most beautiful places the country has to offer. We also spend quite some time away from the “must see” touristy sites to see the REAL Vietnam. To see this country properly we are taking three weeks to traverse the entire length of it from the Mekong Delta in the south to it’s border with China in the north.
Difficult to describe in words we hope the photos from our previous personal tours and recce missions give some insight into this amazing, intriguing and wonderful country. Don’t mind the off-road photos and videos!
Why Vietnam? Pre – Overlanders we threw darts at the world map in order to determine where our next adventurous bike trip would be. These annual trips would be in addition to our usual summer biking holidays. This dart throwing method had seen us travel to Albania & The Balkans 2008, Baltics, Russia & Ukraine 2009, Morocco 2010 (Overlanders 1st year in business), Georgia & around the Black Sea 2012, South America 2014, Northern Thailand 2015, Southern Africa 2017 and so on. In 2013 however the dart landed on Vietnam and we concocted a plan to ride the Ho Chi Minh Trail from Saigon to Hanoi. Trip planning and preparation amounted to obtaining a visa plus a few dodgy bikes from a what seemed like a shady rental company. Early January 2013 three (of the 4 original amigos) flew to Ho Chi Minh and embarked on a 3 week adventure north through Vietnam. One paper map and no GPS.
A challenge that adventure motorcyclists regularly face is finding subsequent trips to better the last, and this is something we are always conscious of personally. It needs to be better. Vietnam 2013 delivered and then some. We had one of the most fantastic adventure bike trips we’ve ever had to date. In December 2017, three of the Rynhart’s returned for a 3 week trail riding tour of the northern provinces close to the Laos and China borders – the scenery remains some of the best we’ve ever seen.
We’ve been contemplating running a tour in Vietnam for many years and it was always left on the long finger for a number of reasons. We were absolutely delighted to say we would run it towards the end of our 2023 season. It’s a big country and you could easily spend months here but we believe our 3 week itinerary, from the Mekong Delta, north along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and around the northern provinces to the China border, is simply top class.
Blue Dragon?
Vietnam has a long coastline and is shaped somewhat like a dragon stretching along the sea. The “blue” part often symbolizes the ocean and rivers that are central to Vietnam’s geography, culture, and livelihood. Like the term “Asian Tiger” used for high-growth economies like South Korea or Singapore, “Blue Dragon” is sometimes used to describe Vietnam’s emerging status as a dynamic, growing economy in Southeast Asia. It reflects a blend of traditional symbolism and modern ambition.
China is called the red dragon, North Korea is the white dragon, and Japan is the black dragon.
Key Information

2026 Tour Itinerary *Subject to change
1st Leg Hanoi – Hoi An
Date | Day | Riding Day | Night | From / to |
04-Mar-26 | Wednesday | Night 1 | Arrival in Hanoi | |
05-Mar-26 | Thursday | Night 2 | Hanoi | |
06-Mar-26 | Friday | Day 1 | Night 3 | Ba Be |
07-Mar-26 | Saturday | Day 2 | Night 4 | Meo Vac |
08-Mar-26 | Sunday | Day 3 | Night 5 | Hagiang |
09-Mar-26 | Monday | Day 4 | Night 6 | Sa Pa |
10-Mar-26 | Tuesday | Day 5 | Night 7 | Sa Pa |
11-Mar-26 | Wednesday | Day 6 | Night 8 | Ta Xua |
12-Mar-26 | Thursday | Day 7 | Night 9 | Ba Thuoc |
13-Mar-26 | Friday | Day 8 | Night 10 | Vinh |
14-Mar-26 | Saturday | Day 9 | Night 11 | Phong Nha |
15-Mar-26 | Sunday | Day 10 | Night 12 | Phong Nha |
16-Mar-26 | Monday | Day 11 | Night 13 | Hoi An |
17-Mar-26 | Tuesday | Day 12 | Night 14 | Hoi An |
18-Mar-26 | Wednesday | Night 15 | Hoi An Departure | |
19-Mar-26 | Thursday |
Full Tour: Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City
Date | Day | Riding Day | Room Night | From / to |
04-Mar-26 | Wednesday | Night 1 | Arrival in Hanoi | |
05-Mar-26 | Thursday | Night 2 | Hanoi | |
06-Mar-26 | Friday | Day 1 | Night 3 | Ba Be |
07-Mar-26 | Saturday | Day 2 | Night 4 | Meo Vac |
08-Mar-26 | Sunday | Day 3 | Night 5 | Hagiang |
09-Mar-26 | Monday | Day 4 | Night 6 | Sa Pa |
10-Mar-26 | Tuesday | Day 5 | Night 7 | Sa Pa |
11-Mar-26 | Wednesday | Day 6 | Night 8 | Ta Xua |
12-Mar-26 | Thursday | Day 7 | Night 9 | Ba Thuoc |
13-Mar-26 | Friday | Day 8 | Night 10 | Vinh |
14-Mar-26 | Saturday | Day 9 | Night 11 | Phong Nha |
15-Mar-26 | Sunday | Day 10 | Night 12 | Phong Nha |
16-Mar-26 | Monday | Day 11 | Night 13 | Hoi An |
17-Mar-26 | Tuesday | Day 12 | Night 14 | Hoi An |
18-Mar-26 | Wednesday | Night 15 | Hoi An Rest Day | |
19-Mar-26 | Thursday | Night 16 | Hoi An Rest Day | |
20-Mar-26 | Friday | Day 13 | Night 17 | Kon Tum |
21-Mar-26 | Saturday | Day 14 | Night 18 | Buon Ma Thuot |
22-Mar-26 | Sunday | Day 15 | Night 19 | Nha Trang |
23-Mar-26 | Monday | Day 16 | Night 20 | Dalat |
24-Mar-26 | Tuesday | Day 17 | Night 21 | Nam Cat Tien |
25-Mar-26 | Wednesday | Day 18 | Night 22 | Ho Chi Minh City |
26-Mar-26 | Thursday | Night 23 | Ho Chi Minh City | |
27-Mar-26 | Friday | Ho Chi Minh City Departure |
We personally use Qatar / Etihad Airlines which include a one-stop in Doha / Abu Dhabi. They are reliable and if there is a delay and you miss your connecting flight, they can rebook you.
More Information
We suggest arriving a few days early if you’d like time to acclimate and explore this vibrant and captivating city. Some top attractions include the Cu Chi Tunnels—a vast underground network used by the Viet Cong for shelter, storage, and medical care during the war (a day trip is highly recommended). You can also visit the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, and the Ho Chi Minh Museum, or admire the French colonial architecture of landmarks like Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Saigon Central Post Office.
- Reunification Palace
- Ho Chi Minh Museum
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- Old Saigon Post Office
- Jade Emperor Pagoda
- Ben Thanh Market
- Tunnels of Cu Chi
- Mekong Delta
Over the next few weeks, we’ll steadily make our way north, weaving along the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail and occasionally detouring to key coastal locations and attractions. While Vietnam is a well-loved tourist destination, most visitors stick to the major cities, Halong Bay, and a few coastal towns—often traveling via train, plane, or along the notoriously busy Highway 1. Our journey takes a different route, steering clear of the typical tourist hotspots to offer a more authentic experience of the real Vietnam. Don’t worry—it’s not all cycling! We’ve planned a mix of shorter riding days and three scheduled rest days, each in locations with optional activities for those who wish to explore further.
We also recommend considering a few extra days at the end of the tour, whether you’d like to delve deeper into the capital city or unwind with a visit to Halong Bay. If you’re interested, we’re happy to help arrange a Halong Bay tour—just get in touch.
Some other highlights include:
- Ponagar Cham Tower
- Long Son Pagoda
- Visit Dalat & Hoi An
- Riding the Hai Van Pass
- Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park
- Ride the O Quy Ho Pass
- Ride the Hoang Lien Son Pass
- Ride the beautiful Muong Hoa Valley
- Riding the Fansipan Mountain Range
- The 100m high Sapa Silver Waterfall
- Fairy Twin Mountain
- Dong Van Karst Plauteau
- Sung La Valley
- Vietnams Most northerly point – Lung Cu Flag Tower
- Ride the Ma Pi Leng Pass
- Visit Ba Be National Park
- The Old Quarter Hanoi
Included:
- Overlanders Guide(s) and Local Guide(s)
- Recent & well maintained motorcycles. Remember this is Vietnam and large cc motorcycles are very scarce – we recommend mid-size!
- Fuel for motorcycles.
- Tour price is based on a Honda CB500X or Kawasaki Versys 300 or Similar – our choice and recommendation. Upgrade options subject to availability and on request – please call.
- All meals on riding days: Enjoy local food in every region you visit.
- Boat trips on Lakes or Rivers – Ferry crossings etc.
- All entrance tickets / Permits to remote / restricted areas
- Airport Transfers
- Hotel on arrival and pre-departure
- Welcome and farewell dinners
- Ethnic entertainment in homestays
- Support vehicle (for luggage transfers)
Excludes:
- Personal Motorcycle gear
- Fansipan Entrance ticket or optional rest day activities.
- 3rd Party Liability Insurance – not available – call for more info!
- Motorbike insurance to Cover any damages to the gear or the motorcycle.
- Insurance (damage waiver) = €15/day
- Security Deposit (with no damage waiver insurance)
- Visa fee (approximately 25 USD/person, depending on nationality)
- Tip, drinks, personal expenses, and other expenses not listed
- Any travel costs to get to the start and from the finish point for the tour.
- Personal travel, accident and medical insurance (covering matters such as medical expenses, repatriation, cancellation, curtailment, loss or damage to property)
- Personal documentation (eg visas, passport), vaccinations, personal taxes, border crossing fees
- Costs of motorcycle repair (parts, labour or other related costs), tyres
- Traffic fines or other charges relating to breach of the law
- Any other item not specifically included in the price.
As with all our guided tours we carefully select very good standard 3 or 4* hotels. Over the years we have built up a vast selection of tried and tested hotels around the world and we select hotels for their character and service rather than just on their star rating. Hotel standards vary all over the world and a 4* in Africa or South America is not always the same as in Europe. In some more remote locations, we may use equivalent 3* hotels or the best available in the area, which could be a more family run establishment, with local character.
In Vietnam we will stay in a few choice carefully selected homestay’s – these are an absolutely fantastic experience often with local ethnic entertainment.
This is Vietnam!
Riding Difficulty
This tour is classed as difficult riding and is only recommended for experienced motorcyclists. The standard of driving in Vietnam is different than anywhere else in the South East Asia and indeed the world. Maybe similar to India. Other road users are the primary hazards. It requires riders to adapt to the local ways to using the public roads and to be on full alert at all times. It’s not un-common to witness close calls on the roads every day! Additionally there are sections of roads in the more remote regions that are un-sealed. Generally the surface is good though and not much different to the sealed roads.
Should you have concerns please do not hesitate to contact us. It is your responsibility to ensure your motorcycling skills are up to the requirements for this tour. Obviously advanced riding skills increase enjoyment factor and reduce risk.
You will need an International Driving Permit for this tour and third party liability insurance is another topic.
Is this ride suitable for a passenger?
Yes. Pillion passengers should be experienced tourers / travelers.
What is the average group size?
Our groups are normally between 8 – 14 riders (some riders will have passengers). Most riders are from the Ireland, but we do also have overseas riders who may take part.
What documents do I need?
You will need your original documents as follows:
- Passport and Driving License. Passengers only need their passport. As a general rule, passports should be valid for at least 6 months after the end of the tour; however, this may be shorter in some European countries.
- International Driving Permit – available online
- In addition, you must have valid travel/medical insurance.
- Visas as required. An E-Visa can be applied for online and typically takes 3 working days and is valid for 1 month. Please ensure that you are fully aware of all passport and visa requirements and that you allow adequate time to obtain them. If you have any queries the likes of Trailfinders can help/advise or even apply for you.
- For more travel advise, please visit the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade for the most up to date information.
What will the weather be like?
Hot and humid in the south and a little cooler in the North – As you can imagine Vietnam has many different climates. Depending on season / time of year we will advise expected weather conditions in the pre-trip information and also suggest the most suitable gear based on our experience. It is imperative that tour participants have suitably adequate gear. Please note our tour calendar is carefully planned taking into account the most suitable seasons / local weather for the destination. However, as much as we would like, we cannot always guarantee the best weather. Particularly considering the un-predictable climates the world has been experiencing.
What about my health when I am abroad?
You need to be physically fit and healthy and also take the necessary health precautions. It is essential for you to consult your doctor or travel clinic for up-to-date medical travel information prior of travel, particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition. Please ensure that you are fully aware of all official travel advice, local customs, current affairs, travel requirements and medical/travel advice. Please check with your GP regarding recommended inoculations.
Do I need Travel / Medical Insurance?
It is a condition of you travelling with us that you are adequately insured. Your insurance policy must cover you for the costs of any medical expenses, medical treatment or repatriation needed, due to injury or illness on this trip, including those that occur whilst motorcycle touring, either as the rider or a passenger. It is important that your insurance company understands that the main purpose of your trip is motorcycle touring, using your own large capacity cc motorcycle or a rental motorcycle. Your insurance must cover you for the full duration of the trip and for all countries we travel through.
In addition, we strongly recommend that your insurance policy has cover for loss or damage to your personal belongings, delay at your outward or homeward point of departure, personal liability, overseas legal expenses and cancellation and curtailment. We do not refund your deposit simply because you failed to take out insurance in sufficient time. Some travel insurance policies do not cover motorcycle travel over a certain cc or for a prolonged duration.
Minimum Numbers
We require a minimum number of 8 riders on this tour. If we do not have this number of bookings, then we reserve the right to cancel the tour.
Booking:
- Overlanders may accept a booking online, via telephone or by email. To confirm a booking a deposit is required – once the deposit is received the booking is confirmed.
Payments & Fees:
- A deposit is required at time of booking.
- Guided tours – 50% required at least 60 days prior to the shipment / travel date.
- All payments must be made in full at least 30 days prior to the shipment / travel date.
Cancellation/Amendments/Refund Policy:
- Please note that all payments and deposits are non refundable nor transferrable if cancellation accrues within one month before the shipment / tour date.
- Where possible we will try to accommodate any amendments you wish to make.
- In the event of curtailment no refunds shall be made.
- Refunds may be processed via the original method of payment, except for cash transactions where refunds will be provided by cheque.