The feeling of the open road, the Vietnam countryside and fresh air blowing by your motorbike, it’s a worthy bucket list item for any adventurer. There are a number of scenic drives in Vietnam that are perfect for a weekend motorbike or motorcycle trip. There are also private tours, buses and shuttles that travel these routes.
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Beautiful Driving Routes in Vietnam
Probably the most famous Vietnamese road trip that you can embark on is a cross-country journey, north-to-south or south-to-north. In addition to start or ending in Vietnam’s largest two cities, there’s a slew of mystery awaiting along these epic journeys. Motorbikes can be rented or purchased used for foreigners (and resold) who want to make a trek into the backcountry.
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Guide to Scenic Highways in Vietnam
One of the top ways to see among the most enjoyable parts of Vietnam is by traveling the open road. These routes are incredibly diverse and offer stunning views of the country’s abundant natural beauty while providing some relief from the hecticness of the bigger cities.
Whether you’re renting a car and driver, motorbike, or booking a tour through a private company, these are some of the drives that shouldn’t be missed on your next trip.
Hai Van Pass – 20km/12 miles
The Hai Van Pass is a short, breathtaking drive, complete with sharp turns, blind corners, and steep cliffs. Thanks to the Hai Van Tunnel development, the road that goes through the pass is now significantly less busy and easier to navigate. The views from this road are sweeping and often photographed for social media, with the ocean on one side of the pass and lush jungles on the other.
Visitors can stop at various locations on the pass for an iced drink or look at the Hai Van Gate, in addition to many other French building remnants. The main part of this route goes from Da Nang to Lang Co Beach; however, some tourists go the extra mileage and travel further up to the ancient town of Hue.
Ma Pi Leng Pass – 20km/12 miles
Located in the Ha Giang province in northern Vietnam, the Ma Pi Leng Pass is one of the most famous in the country for its beauty and risky pathway. While there aren’t any specific attractions along the Ma Pi Leng Pass, the scenery includes endless views of limestone mountain ranges and a stunning drop over the Nho Que River from up above. On a clear day, drivers on the pass want to stop multiple times for photos and occasionally see natives navigating their boats on the river.
All times of year are good to visit the Ma Pi Leng Pass area, but each season brings different types of foliage and natural highlights. September has been said to be one of the best times, following the rainy months, usually June through August. Aside from riding the path on a motorbike, tourists can also book a private tour or catch a bus ride from Hanoi.
Ha Giang Loop – 350km/218 miles
The Ha Giang Loop in northern Vietnam is an incredible place to plan an adventure, as this route provides some of the most scenic views with plenty of places to stop. Waterfalls, roadside food venues, and picturesque views of the world-famous rice pattie fields and corn terraces are just some of the fabulous things that you’ll cross while doing this drive.
In Vietnamese, “Ha Giang” means “water and mountains,” both of which are significant parts of the surroundings on the loop. While this drive can be done in a single day, many tourists like to take four or five days to do all the activities and see all the sights. Some of the popular things to do along the way include swimming in the river, taking a boat trip, caving, and hiking. Driving the road takes visitors through several local ethnic groups’ areas as well.
Dalat to Nha Trang – 134km/83 miles
The path starting in Dalat and ending in Nha Trang isn’t too long of a trip but takes travelers through the beautiful hillsides where pine trees, strawberries, coffee, and wildflowers are grown as opposed to rice and corn. Several small villages are passed through on this route, taking tourists right to the coast. Ending in Nha Trang, this road concludes at the beach with some of the most pristine teal waters in the country.
Con Son Island – 25km/15 miles
The Con Dao islands are some of the country’s most gorgeous, unspoiled areas, considering that they were isolated from visitors from the mainland for so long. This 15-mile route around Con Son Island showcases some of the best rural beach views in Vietnam and passes by many seafood shacks, tropical trees, historical prisons, and dreamy sandy beaches.
While Vietnam has lots of scenic pathways and roads, these are a few of the ones that should make the top of the list.
