Last updated March 2017 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle
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This post was last updated 8 years ago. Please check the comments section for possible updates, or read more on my Updates & Accuracy page.
INTRODUCTION | ROUTES & MAPS | RELATED POSTS
Riding from Saigon to Hanoi by motorbike is probably the most popular road trip in Vietnam, and it’s unquestionably one of the best ways to experience the country. For years, travellers simply took the most obvious route: Highway 1. Today, however, thanks to ambitious road building programs, there are far more scenic, pleasant and less trodden ways to ride between the country’s two main cities. Having ridden south to north on numerous occasions (the first time, predictably, on Highway 1), I’ve put together the following 5 suggested motorbike routes from Saigon to Hanoi, so that travellers who are planning this road trip have more of an idea of the kind of options available to them.
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New roads have opened up exciting & scenic routes for riding between Saigon & Hanoi
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SAIGON TO HANOI: 5 SUGGESTED ROUTES
ABOUT THESE ROUTES:
The main objective of these routes is to get from Saigon to Hanoi on good roads, passing good scenery, and avoiding traffic-clogged arteries, such as Highway 1, as much as possible. New roads are constantly being constructed, thus improving journey time and opening access to more parts of the country. The suggested routes below are based on my own experience of riding south to north. I’ve designed each route to suit the needs of different travellers; based on scenery and/or time frame. For each of the 5 routes I have: given it a name, written a short description and bullet points of essential information, illustrated it with an image, and plotted it on a map. The route maps include markers containing links to any Vietnam Coracle guides that are relevant to the route, where you’ll find more detailed information about that particular section of the road trip. For other useful resources that will help you plan your Saigon to Hanoi road trip, such as expenses and weather, see Related Posts.
Click a route from the list below to view the map and read the details:
- 1. THE CLASSIC: 2,770km: (2-4 weeks)
- 2. THE BEACH BUM: 2,050km: (10 days-3 weeks)
- 3. UNCLE HO’S ROAD: 1,880km: (10 days-2 weeks)
- 4. THE BIG ONE: 4,180km: (3-6 weeks)
- 5. THE EASY RIDER: 2,230km: (2-4 weeks)
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1. THE CLASSIC:
- Total Distance: 2,770km
- Average Duration: 2-4 weeks
- Road Conditions: paved rural & coastal back-roads, new & old highways
- Navigation: mostly simple, some tricky bits in central areas
- Scenery: coast, highlands, mountains, limestone, cities, villages, cultural sites
IMAGE: The Classic route between Saigon and Hanoi
DESCRIPTION: Weaving a course between coast and highlands, The Classic route is equal parts beach and mountain. Quiet, stunning coastal roads in the south and central provinces yield to a mighty landscape of limestone karsts on the Ho Chi Minh Road in the north-central region. Popular towns and sights, such as Mui Ne, Dalat, Nha Trang, Hoi An, the Hai Van Pass, Phong Nha Caves and Ninh Binh are all covered; but so too are off the beaten path areas, such as the beaches around Quy Nhon, the coastal back-roads north of Hue, and the Western Ho Chi Minh Road. It’s the perfect balance of must-see sights and hidden gems. Zoom in on the map below and click the map symbols for links to my guides to specific locations. Enjoy the ride!
ROUTE MAP: red pins mark major towns, all other markers are links to my guides to specific areas.
- [View this map in a separate window HERE]
2. THE BEACH BUM:
- Total Distance: 2,050km
- Average Duration: 10 days-3 weeks
- Road Conditions: new coastal highways, paved rural back-roads
- Navigation: fairly simple, some tricky bits on the central coast
- Scenery: coast, beaches, fishing villages, farmland, beach towns, cultural sites
IMAGE: The Beach Bum route between Saigon and Hanoi
DESCRIPTION: Echoing Vietnam’s curving coastline for nearly 1,300km, this is the route to choose if you enjoy sand between your toes, playing in the surf, and the sound of the sea at night. Avoiding Highway 1 for most of its course, The Beach Bum route uses jaw-dropping new coast roads and rarely-ridden coastal back-roads to take you to countless deserted beaches, sleepy fishing villages and hedonistic beach towns. Calling in at established beaches, such as Mui Ne and Nha Trang, this route also covers up-and-coming coastal regions, such as Phan Rang, Cam Ranh and Quy Nhon, where the sand and sea are almost completely undisturbed. When the beaches lose their gloss in the north-central provinces, this route takes to the hills along the Ho Chi Minh Road, for a good dose of limestone magic, including the caves at Phong Nha. Zoom in on the map below and click the symbols for links to my guides to specific beaches and coast roads. Enjoy the ride!
ROUTE MAP: red pins mark major towns, all other markers are links to my guides to specific areas.
- [View this map in a separate window HERE]
3. UNCLE HO’S ROAD:
- Total Distance: 1,880km
- Average Duration: 10 days-2 weeks
- Road Conditions: highways & paved mountain roads
- Navigation: simple & straightforward for the majority of the route
- Scenery: agricultural plateaus, mountains, limestone, minority villages, war vestiges
IMAGE: Uncle Ho’s Road: the Ho Chi Minh Road from Saigon to Hanoi
DESCRIPTION: Surely one of the most evocative road names in the world, The Ho Chi Minh Road is now a fully paved passage from the south of Vietnam to the north. Uncle Ho’s Road might be the shortest route in this list, but it’s also the most mountainous; following the Truong Son Range, which forms the jagged, high-peaked spine of Vietnam. From vast agricultural plateaus, where tea and timber grow in equal number, to the ragged edge of the frontier lands along the border with Laos; from teetering passes above roaring rivers on the western branch-road, to the limestone wonderland at its northern ‘neck’: you’ll bear witness to some of the most dramatic scenery Vietnam has to offer. Sparsely populated for much of the route, some thriving cities (such as Buon Ma Thuot) and charming towns (such as Kon Tum) offer human interaction, as do the multitude of ethnic minority hamlets lining the way. Geological wonders abound, punctuated by war vestiges with hauntingly familiar names, like Khe Sanh. Enjoy the ride!
ROUTE MAP: red pins mark major towns, all other markers are links to my guides to specific areas.
- [View this map in a separate window HERE]
4. THE BIG ONE:
- Total Distance: 4,180km
- Average Duration: 3-6 weeks
- Road Conditions: highways, new coast & mountain roads, paved back-roads
- Navigation: requires regular map checks & occasionally asking locals
- Scenery: coast, rivers, limestone, mountains, minority villages, cities, cultural sites
IMAGE: The Big One: the scenic route between Saigon and Hanoi
DESCRIPTION: If time is no object, and you want to see everything there is to see between Saigon and Hanoi, both on and off the beaten path, The Big One has it covered. This meandering route zigzags up the country on mountain passes, coastal back-roads, the Ho Chi Minh Road, and new national highways, to create a road trip of epic proportions. Taking in all the best beaches in southern and central Vietnam, twisting through remote valleys in the Central Highlands, corkscrewing through limestone forests on the Western Ho Chi Minh Road, and following shimmering rivers from source to mouth; this is the definitive south to north route. Major towns and tourist hotspots, such as Nha Trang, Dalat, Hoi An, Phong Nha Caves and Ninh Binh, are woven into this itinerary to balance all the off-the-grid exploration. Don’t forget to zoom in on the map below and click the symbols for links to my guides to specific regions and sights. Enjoy the ride!
ROUTE MAP: red pins mark major towns, all other markers are links to my guides to specific areas.
- [View this map in a separate window HERE]
5. THE EASY RIDER:
- Total Distance: 2,230km
- Average Duration: 2-4 weeks
- Road Conditions: good highways, some back-roads
- Navigation: easy to follow, a couple of tricky bits on the central coast
- Scenery: mountains, farmland, coast, cities, fishing villages, cultural sites
IMAGE: The Easy Rider route between Saigon and Hanoi
DESCRIPTION: Specifically designed for travellers who want a less complicated (but no less scenic) passage from south to north, The Easy Rider route sticks to good-quality roads on a relatively direct route from Saigon to Hanoi which is easily navigated. Switching from coast to highlands on several occasions, this route threads an arcing path through some of Vietnam’s most attractive eye candy: Dip your toes in the southern waters of Mui Ne, Nha Trang and Quy Nhon; escape to the cooler climes of mountain towns such as Dalat and Kon Tum; enjoy the cultural delights of Hoi An and Hue, connected by the Hai Van Pass; and gaze in awe at the limestone dreamscape of the Phong Nha Cave system and along the Ho Chi Minh Road. This is a good, time-saving alternative to The Classic route. Make sure you zoom in on the map below and click the symbols for links to my guides to specific sites along the way. Enjoy the ride!
ROUTE MAP: red pins mark major towns, all other markers are links to my guides to specific areas.
- [View this map in a separate window HERE]
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RELATED POSTS:
• 23 Differences from South to North Vietnam:
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Hi Tom,
Thanks for the guide. I want to attempt the big one, I was just wondering if there has been any changes/ new roads etc since the guide was released that I may need to be aware of.
Hi Aidan,
Yes, the Big One route is still good – most, if not all, road conditions are good.
However, you can also explore other route possibilities by browsing my Motorbike Guides category and adding any routes to the Big One as and when you want.
Best,
Tom
Hello Tom, my name is Katarina. My husband and I are travelling to Vietnam in four weeks and want to cover the distance from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi by bike within three months. So we have plenty of time. I came across your blog and would first like to say thank you for the great information.
I have a question for you: which of the Ho Chi Minh/The Road East of Long Mountains/Beach Bum Coast Road routes would you recommend, namely between Dalat and the heights of Quang Ngai.
The idea is to go from Dalat first to Nha Trang, then a bit along the coast and back inland. But how far along the coast? I saw from your suggestions that the route from Buon Ma Thuot to Kon Tum would not be that interesting. On the other hand, it is much more interesting for us cyclists to take non-touristy, quieter routes. It is important for us to have good supplies on the way: food, drink, sleep, as we can do stages of up to 70-120 km a day. So less than on a motorbike.
I would be happy to receive some inspiration from you.
Best wishes from cold Germany.
Katarina
Hi Katarina,
Well, for scenery the Ho Chi Minh Road is best from Kon Ton and beyond: see sections 3-6 of this guide, which also includes information about food, drink and accommodation. But there are some long ascents on this road.
The Road East of the Long Mountains is best from A Yum Pa and beyond: see sections 4-6 of this guide. (Note that section 6 is now complete). This route has fewer places to stay, eat and drink, but has slightly less steep ascents than the Ho Chi Minh Road.
The Beach Bum Coast Road is best from south of Nha Trang, but north of Nha Trang around Tuy Hoa is nice and also to Quy Nhon: see section 3 of this guide, which also includes information about food, drink and accommodation. Although there are some ascents on the Beach Bum Coast Road, they are nothing compared to the mountains.
Any of the east-west roads connecting the coast to the mountains are necessarily steep because they are going from sea level to the highlands, but QL25 from Tuy Hoa and QL19 from Quy Nhon are slightly less so that other alternatives.
It terms of traffic, there is very little traffic on the Road East of the Long Mountains at any stage of it; there is a fair amount of traffic on the Ho Chi Minh Road until you get to Kon Tum, after which it fades away quickly and after Kham Duc there’s hardly any traffic at all; for most of the Beach Bum Coast Road traffic is fairly light because the route uses back road as much as possible, except for short sections where it uses QL1A when traffic can be moderately heavy.
Best,
Tom
I am traveling to Hanoi on the 18th February and meeting up with 3 other friends. We will be hiring bikes in Hanoi and considering one or 2 of the Saigon-Ho Chi Minh rides.
We are flying out of Hanoi on Tuesday 4th.
I’m thinking about either the Beach Bum or Uncle Ho’s. Can you recommend which town/ village to stop in over night to make the trips the most interesting, and have somewhere decent to stay, eat and have a couple of beers each night?
Thanks, Alan
Hi Alan,
For full details about both of those routes, please see the following guides: Ho Chi Minh Road and Beach Road Coast Road.
Best,
Tom
Thanks for this post! It’s been the most informative of any I’ve come across. I’ll have two weeks for the trip so was leaning towards Uncle Hos but also I’m a very experienced rider who loves a challenge and more technical riding (have ridden all over the world). Will this route still be satisfying? I don’t want to sell myself short. I love culture and small villages.
Thank you!
Hi Jarob,
For much more detail about the Uncle Ho’s Road route, please see my complete guide to the Ho Chi Minh Road.
As a technical ride, it is a very easy route. The central part is particularly spectacular.
For more technical rides and opportunities to get off road, it might be better to look at my Northern Routes.
Bear in mind that time of year is an important consideration: see my Weather Guide.
Also, two weeks isn’t actually a very long time for riding in Vietnam: in reality, you will only have time to either ride Saigon to Hanoi or to ride all around the north.
Note that all my routes try to stay on paved roads as much as possible and avoid busy main roads. There are dozens of potential routes, so please take some time to browse through my Motorbike Guides archive. No one has ‘the perfect’ route, and many riders find that their most memorable part of a Vietnam road trip is actually the part that didn’t go according to plan 🙂
Best,
Tom
Hello me and my friend are gonna drive your classic route. Is there a way i can load it in google maps?
Hi Seppe,
You can export the map to Google Maps but you can’t get step-by-step navigation unless you input each waypoint manually. Another option is to load it to maps.me.
You can either search how to do this online or you can purchase any of my Offline Guide & Map packages, which includes a how-to PDF for exporting my maps and using them offline with Maps.me. For example, you could purchase the Beach Bum Coast Road or the Ho Chi Minh Road.
Best,
Tom
Hello Rob,
first off, thanks for the detailed routes and descriptions! much appreciated.
I was wondering if the timeframe of 3/6 weeks for ” The big one ” include routes like the golden loop and Ha Giang loop. Or does it just take 3/6 weeks to do the main route you made in google maps?
I’ve got about 30 days, and I’m quite inexperienced on the motorcycle/scooter. I did ride a lot of 150cc scooters in Thailand, but that’s 4 years ago. I also owned and drove a scooter here in the netherlands for about a year. I’m planning on taking it slow and steady. By reading this, would you recommend me doing the big one?
Thanks in advance,
David
Hi David,
The Big One includes the Golden Loop but not the Ha Giang Loop. The time estimate of 3-6 weeks is just for the route shown in the Big One map.
For other routes, such as the Ha Giang Loop, see the specific guides, which all have time estimates in them.
With 30 days I would suggest taking one of the shorter Saigon-Hanoi routes and then adding a northern route to it if you have time.
Please note that I will be completely updating these 5 Saigon-Hanoi routes and adding new ones later this year.
Best,
Tom
Hey Tom
Is October is good month for do this classic road ? Your website is amazing
Hi Jean-Charles,
For more information about weather and when to go, please take a look at my Weather Guide.
Best,
Tom
Hi Tom
how safe is it to travel alone? on motorbike north to south?
regards John
Hi John,
Vietnam is a very safe country in which to travel solo – people are friendly, helpful and hospitable.
Best,
Tom
Hi Tom,
I’ve never ridden before but really eager to do the Easy Rider over the course of 3-4 weeks from mid-July onwards.
I was planning on doing the UK’s Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) before heading out to get my legs under me but having read about the dangers of beginners riding on Vietnamese roads I’m having some doubts. A few questions:
1) Do you think it’s too dangerous for a complete beginner or will it be safe as long as I ride carefully?
2) If doable, is the Easy Rider the best / safest route for a beginner?
3) Do you know if passing the UK CBT (which allows for riding up to 125cc in the UK as long as you use an L Plate) would enable me to get a Vietnamese license? Will only do it if licensed so I can be covered by health insurance.
Amazing website by the way & appreciate any advice.
Cheers,
Darius
Hi Darius,
1. Yes, it is doable, but you would of course need to be extremely careful.
2. The Easy Rider is OK, but perhaps it might be a better idea to start/end your road trip somewhere else where roads aren’t so busy. For example, you could base yourself in Phong Nha and ride the routes there instead. Or base yourself in Hoi An or Hue and ride the Golden Loop.
3. You should contact the bike rental agencies to ask for more information about that: I suggest some rental companies on this page.
Best,
Tom
Hi tom,
love these routes! My partner and I Are going to drive south to north in june, we are going to go moutaineous dalat, to bun ma thoat and stay mountaineous until around hoi an move out coastal. I was wondering do you have any advice on driving to khe san to phong nha caves, we can see online its a 10 hour drive with no fuel stops and I am wondering if you made this journey? As i plan on driving a semi automatic which does not have the biggest fuel tank.
Thanks so much any advice is really appreciated! we live in ho chi minh 🙂
Hi Jane,
For the Western Ho Chi Minh Road (that’s the section between Khe Sanh and Phong Nha), please see the following posts and also read the recent comments on them: Ho Chi Minh Road: Section 5 | The Hotel on the Western Ho Chi Minh Road | Ho Chi Minh West is Best route.
Best,
Tom
Hi Tom,
My two friends and I love the idea of doing a road trip from south to north but we are 19 and have only had a some experience of riding bikes from our trip so far. We are planning to get some lessons on how to ride mopeds properly and especially how to deal with traffic once we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City. Do you think this is enough for us to do this journey or is it realistically just asking for trouble?
Hi Luca,
As long as you are very careful and ride sensibly then you should be able to do it safely. However, if you don’t feel comfortable, you can always choose to do a shorter route instead.
Best,
Tom
Hi,
I was wondering if anyone has followed the coastal road recently. There is currently a lot of construction going on for the highway connection between Hanoi and Saigon and i was wondering if it impacts the travel a lot. I’m especially worried on the section between Tuy Hoa and Nha Trang where the QL1 coincides with the new highway so there’s no alternative. Is it still and will it remain accessible for motorbikes/bicycles?
Kind regards
Hi Maikel,
Yes, it’s fine. I was just riding there recently. They are constructing a separate expressway (CT) parallel to the original QL1, so that shouldn’t be a problem.
Best,
Tom
Hi Tom, thanks for the great info. Is it possible to ride south to north on a 50cc bike? To eliminate any issues with police and insurance? I’ve heard of some who’ve done it, and others who say it’s not possible. If possible, which route would you suggest?
Hi Jono,
You could do it, yes. But the bike would need to be in good condition and it would take you longer because you’d be riding slower. If you decide to do, it’s probably best to stay away from very mountainous roads where the bike might struggle with steep ascents, so perhaps the Beach Bum route would be best. Another option would be for you to ride an electric bike instead.
Best,
Tom
Hello Tom,
I will be traveling to Vietnam this Sunday. I will rent a bike in Ho Chi Minh City on the 21st of February and return it in Hanoi on the 20th of March.
I am a expierenced Motorbike traveler only on european roads so far, therefore I would like to know your approx. how long will it take on the roads in Vietnam for about 100km pure riding?
Because I am calculating if I will do your Classic Route or the big one and in the End thought about adding Ha Giang loop.
Also are your cards downloadable as a route for nav system?
Thanks ahead!
Best Regards,
Manuel
Hi Manuel,
Distance and time depends entirely on the road conditions, terrain, weather and motorbike model. As a very general guide: 100km will take 90-140 minutes. For most people, riding between 250-350km a day in Vietnam is a full day on the road.
For downloading maps to navigation systems, you can search online for how to download a google map to a navigation system.
Best,
Tom
Which one of the routes have the fewest check/border points? Basically less likely to get stopped by the police
Thanks so much for this website
Hi William
No one knows if/where police check points might be, so I can’t answer that question.
Try Uncle Ho’s Road – it is the most direct and easiest to follow and the scenery in the central section is fantastic.
Best,
Tom
Thanks so much
Any book suggestions to read while in Vietnam 🤣
Hi William,
Yes, sure: take a look a my Vietnam Reading List.
Best,
Tom
Hi tom,
My friend and i have 24 days in Vietnam.
We want to do the classic but before that, since we arrive in Hanoi we want to do the ha gian loop before going into the classic.
Is it doable or it’s gonna feel way to rushed?
Hi Alex,
It depends really on how much you want to ride each day and how long you want to stop off at places along the Classic route.
Personally, I think Ha Giang is best left for another trip. However, it is a wonderful region to ride. Or perhaps you could do Ha Giang and then just limit yourselves to only half of the Classic route.
Best,
Tom
Hello
My partner and I are planning to riding the coast from the north to the south of vietnam. We are a bit worried about police checks though. Have you had any experience with the police checking your license? Is it common on the route?
Many thanks
Leah
Hi Leah,
In general, police checks for foreign riders happen mostly in touristy areas – such as Mui Ne and Ha Giang – or border regions. But they can potentially happen anywhere. If you’re stopped, be patient, polite, smile and try your best to resolve the situation.
Obviously, the best way to avoid these situations is the ride legally, if possible, and not to ride recklessly.
The vast majority of foreign riders do not have major problems, but yes it is a possibility.
Best,
Tom
Thanks Tom! Thats very helpful and good to know.
Hi Tom,
What route would you suggest for a first time traveller to Vietnam? I’ll be in the country the beginning of January and I have 4 weeks to travel in either direction. The route with the least amount of traffic would be ideal, but not necessary.
Thank you,
Damian
Hi Damian,
Try the Classic or Uncle Ho’s Road. With 4 weeks you’ll have plenty of time, so you can take it slow and modify the route if/when you like.
Bear in mind that the weather north of Danang at that time of year can be surprisingly cold and quite bleak.
Best,
Tom
Thanks for the info Tom.
Are there benefits to going in a particular direction, or is it just preference?
Damian
Hi Damian,
No, you can ride any of these routes in either direction, it doesn’t matter. The only thing that might influence your decision on that is weather: see my Weather Guide.
Best,
Tom
Thanks for all the info Tom. Much appreciated!
Damian
Hello,
I am leaving from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang via motorbike tomorrow. I would love to use your specific route but I am struggling to get it into google maps. I tried using KML but google maps just resorts to the fastest route when I click go. Do you have any tips, tricks, or applications that would help me stick to the route as best as possible?
Thank you!
Hi Cody,
Try the following steps:
1. Install the MAPS.ME application on your mobile device from the app store
2. Download the country map for Vietnam
3. Get the KMZ file for the Vietnam Coracle map you want to take with you offline.
4. Open the KMZ file on your mobile device
5. Locate the KMZ file on your mobile device using the “Files” app and open it. If your device asks you to
select which app to open the file with, select MAPS.ME. The map should now appear in the “Favorites” tab
in the MAPS.ME app
Best,
Tom
How would one go about getting the kmz file for the map? For instance I want to import the easy rider map into my maps.me, but can’t figure out how to download the info from Google maps
Hi Casey,
You can open the Easy Rider map in a new window then click on the three vertical dots in the top left of the map next to the map title, then select ‘Download KML/KMZ’ from the dropdown menu.
Best,
Tom
Hi Tom,
I followed these instructions and 5 folders for the different sections of the beach bum were created, but they don’t contain any bookmarks and nothing happens when I click on the folders under favorites?
Hi Ashley,
Sorry for the slow reply.
If you’re referring to using the map offline, you can either google around for instructions about exporting the KMZ file and loading it to your phone, or you can buy one of our Offline Map packages ($15) which comes with step-by-step instructions of how to do it. For example, open the Hai Van Pass guide here and scroll down the first paragraph and you’ll find a link to buy the Offline Map package.
Best,
Tom
21F travelling from HCMC to Hanoi.
I have a month, I want to do it slow.
1. Can I rent a geared motorbike and drop it off at Hanoi? What would that budget to?
2. How do you figure out stay and Wi-Fi on the road? Which route is most friendly for slowmading?
3. Currently more inclined towards Uncle Hos road, but I’m open to other suggestions.
4. Need to stop in Da Nang. Does the road pass through there?
Thanks. This website is amazing.
Hi Aditi,
For motorbike rental please see this page.
For Wifi, you should get a Vietnamese SIM card when you arrive here and get data on the phone.
For places to stay on the road, all towns has mini-hotels.
Going slow on the Ho Chi Minh Road is fine.
The Ho Chi Minh Road does not pass through Danang, but you can easily detour down to Danang from the Ho Chi Minh Road.
You might fine my Resources archive helpful.
Best,
Tom