Thailand and Vietnam are both exceptional nations. Explore the real Vietnam on two wheels by venturing outside the popular tourist areas and mingling with the populace. Thailand, also known as the “Land of Smiles,” is regarded as one of the best places in the world for motorcycle touring. The nation is a true motorbike paradise thanks to its fishing villages, jungles, elephants, monkeys at the side of the road, and breathtaking natural beauty.
Here are the top road excursions in Vietnam and Thailand that every motorcycle enthusiast should take if you plan a motorcycle journey in this region of the world.
- Saigon – Dalat – Nha Trang, Vietnam
On a network of picturesque coastal roads, this backroad leads riders past beaches and mountains so they can experience the real Vietnam. Above 1,500 ft (450 m) from the sea level at the Dai Ninh and Prenn passes, the drive from Saigon to Dalat will take you through mangrove forests and past magnificent beaches.
The road from Dalat to Nha Trang takes riders by farmlands, mountain scenery, rolling hills, and passing through the Long Lanh Pass before reaching Nha Trang.
- Best time: all year
- Distance: around 370 miles (600 km)
- Days Required: at least four days
- Ha Giang – “The Road of Happiness,” Vietnam
The “Road of Happiness” is the more popular name for highway 4C in the northern province of Ha Giang. However, if you dare explore beyond the popular tourist attractions, you will find hundreds of hairpin curves. This route, which hangs precariously over cliffs close to the Yunnan province of China, is not for the timid.
You can go from Ha Giang to the Dong Van karst plateau geopark by way of a road that passes numerous hill tribes, tall limestone walls, and rice terraces. However, the stretch of road between Dong Van and Meo Vac, which is thought to be the most picturesque in all of Vietnam, is the excursion’s high point. In this segment, you will pass via the Ma Pi Lang Pass, which offers several breathtaking vistas.
- Best time: June and July and September to November
- Distance: around 200 miles (330 km)
- Days Required: at least three days
- The Chiang Rai Loop, Thailand
The Chiang Rai Loop is a network of winding roads north of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. The Mae Sa Elephant Camp is where you may see the elephants and observe them doing their “daily chores,” which include bathing, painting, and even playing football.
As you travel from Mae Sa to Tha Ton, a picturesque vista of the lush countryside will unfold before your eyes. The impressive Wat Tha Ton temple welcomes guests with breathtaking panoramic views of the beautiful countryside. Make time to see the settlement of the long-necked Karen tribe while you’re here.
You can visit mountain tea farmers in Doi Mae Salong, which is accessible via the road. When you arrive in the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand meet, you will have traveled as far north as Mae Sai, Thailand. Since no visa is needed, you are free to board a long-tail boat and travel to Laos.
- Best time: October to April
- Distance: around 350 miles (570 km)
- Days Required: at least four days
- The Mae Hong Son Loop, Thailand
You will travel by the Doi Inthanon National Park on your way to Mae Sariang, where you can take a diversion and ride to the top of the Doi Inthanon Mountain, Thailand’s highest peak and a part of the Himalayan mountain chain. You can stop along the way to Pai to explore caverns or participate in one of the numerous thrilling outdoor sports, like white water rafting.
It is preferable to complete the Mae Hong Son Loop in a clockwise direction if this is your first time riding in Thailand. You can take on one of the numerous breathtaking hikes close to Mae Sariang if you stay here for an additional day or two.
- Best time: October to April
- Distance: 420 miles (670 km)
- Days Required: allow at least five days
