Long and winding, like the mythical Naga snake, Vietnam curves around the eastern shores of mainland Southeast Asia, stretching from China in the north to Cambodia and the Mekong Delta in the south. Its twin megacities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, are divided by 1,137 kilometers (707 miles) of mountains, jungles, rice fields, beaches and historical sites. In other words, this is the perfect country for road trips.
The trip between Vietnam’s northern and southern capitals is just one of many epic road trips that attract adventurers on four (or, more commonly, two) wheels. With more than 61 million motorcycles on Vietnam’s roads, intrepid riders will find themselves in good company as they explore the country’s wonderfully diverse landscapes, with ample repair shops, gas stations and food stops along the way.
Whether you’re thinking about hitting the road by car or motorbike, here’s our pick of the best road trips in Vietnam.
1. Ha Giang Circuit
The best road trip to swim in nature and pass mountain passes.
Ha Giang – Ha Giang; 350 kilometers (218 miles)
The soaring peaks and deep valleys of Vietnam’s northernmost province are best enjoyed at a leisurely pace, with plenty of stops for revitalizing waterfall dips, roadside snacks (nothing keeps energy levels high like dried buffalo) and to take photographs of the rice. and corn terraces that tumble down the steep slopes of the valley. Begin your adventure in the city of Ha Giang, the gateway to a land of forested, conical peaks lifted straight from an ancient scroll painting.
Ha Giang means “water and mountains” in Vietnamese, and you’ll never be far from either when you hike this circuit through Yen Minh, Dong Van and Bao Lam, with gurgling streams and waterfalls forming a major part of the landscape. This rewarding multi-day tour, which takes in communities from at least 10 different ethnic minorities, offers many opportunities for excursions and activities, including hiking, river boating and caving.
Planning Tip: The Ma Pi Leng Pass is undoubtedly the most scenic section of the route, with rugged mountains surrounding the emerald Nho Que River. Remember to allow half a day for a leisurely boat ride and a place to swim in its tempting waters.
2. Cao Bang to Ban Gioc
The Best Vietnam Countryside Road Trip
Cao Bang – Ban Gioc; 80 kilometers (50 miles)
The journey from Cao Bang to the churning Ban Gioc waterfall, which straddles the China-Vietnam border, takes adventurers through some of the most pristine pastoral terrain in northern Vietnam. Lush farmlands, stilt towns and crystal-clear lakes are on the itinerary. For driving enthusiasts, however, nature’s creations may be surpassed by a man-made wonder: the 3.5 km long (2.1 mi) Ma Phuc Pass, with its seven winding curves offering magnificent views. of the terraced fields below.
For more natural highlights, consider making a stop at the vast, stalactite-filled Nguom Ngao Cave, which stretches for several kilometers underground, but save plenty of time for the main purpose of the road trip. Fed by the Quay Son River, the Ban Gioc waterfalls are located partly in China and partly in Vietnam, and thunder dramatically over a series of vegetation-covered platforms. View the falls from viewing platforms or hop on a bamboo raft for a closer look at the impressive waterfalls, which drop more than 98 feet (30 m).
Planning Tip: While worth tackling as a standalone trip, this route is also a popular addition to the Ha Giang Loop.
3. From Dalat to Nha Trang
The Ultimate Road Trip to a French Colonial Hill Station
Dalat-Nha Trang; 134 kilometers (83 miles)
From the cool climates of the highlands around Dalat to the sunny beaches of Nha Trang, this short and easy road trip is all about changing landscapes and microclimates. Start early to have time to appreciate the mountainous terrain along the way and the coastal views near the end of the trail.
Start on the slopes around Dalat, founded as a healthful hill station where French settlers came to escape the oppressive heat of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). This is a unique area of Vietnam, where the scent of pine trees wafts through the air and farms grow strawberries, coffee and flowers instead of rice.
As you descend from the mountains and the humidity starts to return, things start to look more conventional. The paved road QL27C winds around hills and winds through small villages to the coast, where a dip in the turquoise waters of Nha Trang Beach is a worthy end to your trip.
4. Hai Van Pass
The best road trip for spectacular views and hairpin turns
Danang-Lang Co Beach; 20 kilometers (12 miles)
Before the Hai Van Tunnel was completed in 2005, the mere thought of enduring the hairpin bends and blind corners of the Hai Van Pass was enough to send shivers down the spines of bus passengers traveling between Danang and Hue. Now, with significantly less car traffic, this short but impressive drive is a manageable and memorable trip even for the novice driver.
The Hai Van Pass, which translates to “ocean clouds” in Vietnamese, is bordered by jungle-covered mountains on one side and cliffs plunging to the East Sea on the other, a spectacular setting that has turned this road into a one of the most published on Instagram. the world – with a whopping 4,298 photos per mile!
Detour: Stop at the midpoint for a Vietnamese-style iced coffee and admire the Indochina-era Hai Van Gate and the remains of several French fortifications. While the pass officially ends at the windy Lang Co Beach at its northern end, most travelers continue for about an hour more to reach the ancient imperial city of Hue to see its palaces and eternal tombs.
5. From Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho
The ultimate road trip through the lush Mekong Delta
Ho Chi Minh City – My Tho; 70 kilometers (44 miles)
The rice-paper-flat Mekong Delta doesn’t get much love on road trips because its rice fields of every shade of green can go from hypnotic to slightly drab as the miles add up. However, once you leave the sprawling, polluted Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll find the urban bush giving way to majestic palm trees, lush plane trees and glistening canals between emerald rice paddies.
While the scenery here is certainly atmospheric, the best part of driving in the Mekong Delta is taking your foot off the gas and getting lost in the small alleys and riverside roads, where life moves at a very different pace than the bustling streets. of HCMC.
When you finally reach My Tho, a town famous for its chewy noodle soup, pork and shrimp, more cultural experiences await, with the flower farms of Sa Dec a short drive to the west and Can Tho, home of the market. larger float. in the Delta, located to the southwest.
6. Island Con Son
The Best Road Trip to Desert Island Beaches
Trau-Ben Dam; 25 kilometers (15 miles)
Isolated from the mainland for years, the Con Dao Islands are one of Vietnam’s natural wonders. Con Son, the largest and only inhabited island in the archipelago, has only one main road running the length of it: a motorcycle trip is not only the best way to see the island’s rural splendor, but also to jump off a beautiful deserted beach to the next.
Start at Dam Trau, a long stretch of beach dotted with seafood stalls near the airport, and wind your way along forested slopes, a French colonial-era prison and a series of glorious beaches that only appear at low tide, finishing at Ben Presa by where the mainland ferries come and go. Take it easy during the morning or afternoon and bring your swimsuit.
7. Ho Chi Minh Highway
The best road trip to enjoy the quintessential experiences of Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi; 1,880 kilometers (1,168 miles)
There are several different routes between Vietnam’s two largest cities, depending on whether you like beaches, mountains or quiet roads, but for the best balance between driving time (about two weeks) and excellent scenery, take the Ho Chi Minh Highway, part of which was once used to transport soldiers and supplies during the Vietnam War.
After leaving busy Ho Chi Minh City, follow the road along the Truong Son mountain range, winding between quiet villages, where the smell of coffee from nearby plantations wafts through the air. This arid plateau gives way to forested mountains as you reach central Vietnam, considered the most scenic stretch of this epic road trip.
Detour: Adventurers will want to stop at Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, home to the world’s largest cave, and Cuc Phuong, Vietnam’s oldest national park, located in the Red River Delta, before joining the throng of Traffic on the old streets of Hanoi.
