This 21 day ride trip Hanoi Saigon takes 17 riders from Ireland on an unforgettable motorcycle journey across Vietnam aboard Honda CB500s. Starting in Hanoi, the route heads through the spectacular mountains and remote roads of the Northwest and Northeast before continuing south through Central and Southern Vietnam to Saigon. Over 21 days, the group experienced Vietnam beyond the main tourist routes — riding through dramatic landscapes, mountain villages, historic towns and some of the country’s finest back roads.
For 17 riders from Ireland, the road from Hanoi to Saigon became a 21-day journey through some of Vietnam’s most spectacular and least predictable landscapes. Riding Honda CB500 motorcycles, the group travelled almost the full length of the country, moving from the mountains of the North through Central Vietnam before eventually reaching the southern capital.
The journey began in Hanoi, but the busy streets of the capital quickly gave way to quieter roads heading into the Northwest. Within days, the scenery had changed dramatically. Mountains rose on the horizon, valleys opened beneath winding passes, and rice terraces followed the contours of steep hillsides. The further the riders travelled, the more the journey became about the road itself rather than simply reaching the next destination.
In the Northwest, the group encountered communities whose traditions and daily lives have developed differently from those of Vietnam’s major cities. Villages appeared among the mountains, with traditional houses, cultivated hillsides and local markets providing glimpses into rural life. The riders met people from different ethnic communities and saw regional customs that are rarely encountered on a conventional sightseeing itinerary.
The Honda CB500s proved well suited to the changing terrain. Mountain roads demanded concentration, while longer stretches allowed the riders to settle into the rhythm of travelling together. A roadside stop could last only a few minutes or turn into an unexpected conversation with local residents. In many places, the motorcycles themselves became an easy way to connect with people curious about the large group of Irish riders passing through their communities.
From the Northwest, the route continued into Vietnam’s Northeast, where the landscape became even more dramatic. Limestone mountains, deep valleys, forests and winding passes created a constantly changing backdrop. Some sections of road seemed to disappear into the mountains before emerging again above a valley. Others passed through small settlements where everyday life continued almost unchanged beside the highway.
Food became another defining part of the journey. Travelling across Vietnam by motorcycle gave the group the chance to eat where local people eat, rather than following a fixed menu designed for tourists. Breakfast might be a steaming bowl of noodles at a roadside stall, followed later by grilled meat, mountain vegetables or unfamiliar local specialities. As the riders moved south, the flavours changed with the landscape.
Central Vietnam brought another transformation. The high mountains gradually gave way to historic towns, coastal landscapes and wider roads. The group had opportunities to explore famous landmarks and places shaped by centuries of Vietnamese history, while still experiencing the freedom of travelling by motorcycle. Each region offered a different combination of scenery, architecture, culture and food.
Further south, tropical vegetation became more prominent and the pace of life changed again. Markets were filled with tropical fruit, seafood and regional dishes, while the roads led the riders through a mixture of countryside, towns and increasingly busy urban areas. The contrast with the cool mountain roads of northern Vietnam was striking.
After three weeks on the road, the group finally reached Saigon. By then, the 17 riders had experienced far more than a long-distance motorcycle tour. They had crossed Vietnam from north to south, travelled through remote mountain regions, met people from different ethnic communities, explored major landscapes and historical sites, and sampled food from almost every region along the way.
For the riders from Ireland, the 21 day ride trip Hanoi Saigon was ultimately a journey of contrasts. Vietnam revealed itself not as one landscape or one culture, but as a country constantly changing from one province to the next — and the motorcycle offered a front-row seat to that transformation.
A 21 day ride trip Hanoi Saigon by Honda CB500 is more than a cross-country motorcycle adventure. For these 17 riders from Ireland, it was an immersive journey through Vietnam’s mountains, cultures, history, landscapes and regional cuisine — experienced from the road, one unforgettable day at a time.
21 day ride trip Hanoi Saigon – VIETNAMRIDER
Nam Ngô,
6.3.2026
