Thailand to Vietnam and return - November 2025

[Heineken]

Well once again I went on another tour of Northern Vietnam, this was a few months ago in November 2025


I was riding my Honda ADV350 again which is quite a comfortable touring bike


For me the trip started from home in Chiang Rai and I allowed 3 days to get to our starting point of Mukdahan, I could of done this ride quicker but I chose to catch up with a friend in Udon Thani, that was after my 1st night in Loei, and then on the 3rd day I arrived at our hotel in Mukdahan to meet our group of riders, most of the group I have ridden with before which is great


One of our team Nigel has put together a series of videos of our trip, he is very knowledgeable of the history of Vietnam, which is great when you have travelled to these places.........................................................

 

[Heineken]

Here is Part 2 of Nigel's series of Youtube videos of our Vietnam Ride 2025...............................

 

[Heineken]

We had 12 x riders in our group from Thailand, we met another 3 x riders once we arrived in Vietnam, these guys were renting bikes from Vietnam, DT Tours owner Win was riding his own personal bike, a Honda Transalp 750.


Mukdahan to Vietnam is just over 300km, fairly good bitumen roads through Laos, we left Mukdahan at 7am and arrived in Vietnam Lao Bao border at 4pm, including a lunch stop and a stop at a war museum in Laos which was fantastic, none of our group had been there before, I enjoyed the machinery on display, only problem was no english signs.

 

[Heineken]

Here is Part 3 of Nigel's series of Youtube videos of our Vietnam Ride 2025...............................

 

[Heineken]

Here is Part 4 of Nigel's series of Youtube videos of our Vietnam Ride 2025...............................

 

[Heineken]

Here is Part 5 of Nigel's series of Youtube videos of our Vietnam Ride 2025...............................

 

[DavidFL]

We had 12 x riders in our group from Thailand, we met another 3 x riders once we arrived in Vietnam, these guys were renting bikes from Vietnam, DT Tours owner Win was riding his own personal bike, a Honda Transalp 750.


Mukdahan to Vietnam is just over 300km, fairly good bitumen roads through Laos, we left Mukdahan at 7am and arrived in Vietnam Lao Bao border at 4pm, including a lunch stop and a stop at a war museum in Laos which was fantastic, none of our group had been there before, I enjoyed the machinery on display, only problem was no english signs.

Nice pics Heineken.
I reckon you may well have enjoyed looking at the old vehicles & equipment more than anything on the trip?
What are your top 5 highlights if the trip?

 

[Heineken]

Nice pics Heineken.

What are your top 5 highlights if the trip?

Hard to pick 5 highlights as there are so many, here are 5...............................

1/ Sapa Fansipan, my 3rd time up to the highest mountain in Vietnam and probably the best, as we ascended the cable car through the thick clouds near the top we broke through to a beautiful clear day, it was amazing being above the clouds and so unexpected.

2/ Riding through the mountains on the "Happy Road" with magnificent views on either side, you have to concentate as its a busy narrow road....................

3/ The boat trip at the river below the Happy Road, just so relaxing sitting in a boat slowly going through the valley with huge mountains on either side, only went for a hour or so but was great.....................

4/ Riding to Ban Gioc Waterfall, my 2nd time here, just a beautiful waterfall, in the photo LHS is Vietnam and RHS is China, yep the river is the border......................

5/ The "Secret Cave" which is a cave the Vietnamese used to hide from the Chinese when they were trying to invade in 1979, this cave goes through this mountain for 2km, yes you can ride your bikes through to the otherside, there are old building inside that were used to store weapons and for accomodation...................

 

[Heineken]

Here is Part 6 of Nigel's series of Youtube videos of our Vietnam Ride 2025...............................