Routes
How to Use Motorcycle Route Maps in Vietnam
Google Maps is excellent at telling you how to get somewhere. It is not always good at telling a motorcyclist which road is worth riding.
That is why we created the AZ Motorbikes route-map system. Our maps are built around roads we know, ride and use ourselves, with practical alternatives for riders who would rather take the interesting road than simply accept the fastest route on a navigation app.
You can browse the complete collection in our Vietnam motorcycle route map library. This guide explains what the maps contain, how the different map types work and how to use them when planning and riding your own trip.
Two types of motorcycle route map
The map library is built around two different jobs. A-to-B maps help you choose a good riding day between two places. Loop maps join several riding days together into a complete itinerary.
A-to-B route maps
Our A-to-B motorcycle route maps cover a single journey between two useful riding destinations. They are designed for questions such as: What is the best way from Hanoi to Mai Chau? Which road should I take from Bac Ha to Sa Pa? Is there a more interesting alternative to the obvious highway?
Where useful, we give you more than one route. The direct option may be the sensible choice when time is tight, while another colour can take you onto quieter, more scenic or more demanding roads.
Multi-day loop maps
Our multi-day motorcycle loop maps combine individual riding days into a complete trip. Instead of planning each night and each connection separately, you can start with a loop that already makes geographical sense and then adjust it to your own pace.
For example, the 7-Day Northwest Vietnam Loop links Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ta Xua, Mu Cang Chai, Sa Pa, Bac Ha and Vu Linh into one continuous journey.
A loop is a framework rather than a timetable you must obey. Add a rest day, stay two nights somewhere you like, or replace one day with an alternative A-to-B route.
What you will find on a AZ Motorbikes route map
The newer route pages contain much more than a line drawn between two towns. They are intended to help you make decisions before the trip and to give you useful reference points once you are on the road.
Route colours and alternatives
When a map shows several coloured routes, each colour represents a different way of making the same journey. One might be quicker and easier to follow; another might be slower, quieter or more scenic; another may involve smaller roads or occasional unsealed sections.
A good example is our Hanoi to Mai Chau motorcycle route map, where the straightforward route is shown alongside a more scenic alternative through smaller roads and reservoir country.
The point is not that one colour is always ‘best’. The best route depends on your available time, weather, energy level, motorcycle and the sort of riding you enjoy.
Distance, time, terrain and downloadable files
Each current map page gives you practical planning information such as total distance, expected riding time, terrain and the best general season for that route. Individual route options also include their own descriptions, advantages, disadvantages, sights and rider notes where relevant.
Many current map pages also include a downloadable KMZ file. KMZ is a Google Earth-compatible map format that can preserve route lines and geographical information outside the webpage.
A KMZ file is useful as a route reference, but it should not be confused with automatic turn-by-turn navigation. Your navigation app, phone settings and the file formats it supports will determine how you use the downloaded route.
How to use the maps before and during your trip
The maps are most useful when you use them twice: first while planning the trip and then again as a reference while riding.
Before you leave
Start by looking at the distance and estimated riding time rather than the distance alone. A 150 km day on a straight lowland road is very different from 150 km of mountain bends, villages, viewpoints and photo stops.
Compare the route options, read the pros and cons, and decide whether you want the direct road or the more interesting alternative. Then look at the next day’s map as well. This helps you avoid creating a series of individually attractive days that becomes too tiring when put together.
If you are still deciding which part of the country to ride, our Northern Vietnam motorcycle routes guide is a useful place to choose the overall region before dropping down into the individual maps.
While you are riding
When you open the map from the website on your phone, it will become a layer on your map and stay there. You can see your position as the blue dot and the route, so you just keep them together. Use the route map as a reference rather than blindly following a blue navigation line. Check the next key junction or waypoint, then let your navigation app help you reach it.
This matters because navigation apps may recalculate. If you miss a turn, Google may decide that a completely different main road is now the ‘best’ route and quietly remove the scenic section you were trying to ride.
Motorcycles also need to avoid roads they are not legally allowed to use. Our guide to avoiding Vietnam’s CT roads in Google Maps explains the Google Maps setting that helps reduce the risk of being routed onto motorcycle-restricted expressways.
Google Maps is a navigation tool, not a motorcycle route planner
Google Maps normally optimises for efficiency. That is exactly what you want when you are late for an airport. It is often not what you want when you have rented a motorcycle specifically to explore Vietnam.
A tiny road beside a reservoir, a mountain crossing or a rural detour can be slower on paper while being far more rewarding to ride. Conversely, a road that looks exciting on a screen can turn out to be unsuitable after heavy rain, under construction or simply too slow for the time you have.
Our maps add local route knowledge to normal digital navigation. They are not a guarantee that road conditions will remain unchanged. Vietnam changes quickly, so weather, construction, landslides and local restrictions can always affect a route.
Build your own Vietnam motorcycle trip
The most useful way to think about the map library is as a network. You do not need to find one article containing your exact ten-day holiday. You can join A-to-B routes together, borrow sections from established loops and change direction as your plans develop.
Start with the Vietnam motorcycle route map library, then open the routes between the destinations that interest you. If a ready-made itinerary already fits, use one of the loop maps as your backbone.
Once you know roughly where you want to go, the motorcycle becomes part of the route decision. Light dual-sports are particularly useful in the mountains, while riders covering long distances, carrying more luggage or travelling two-up may prefer a larger touring motorcycle.
You can compare our Vietnam motorcycle rental fleet, read about one-way motorcycle rental between Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City, or browse our guided motorcycle tours if you would rather have the route and logistics organised for you.
FAQ
Where can I find all of the motorcycle route maps?
The complete collection is in our Vietnam motorcycle route map library. You can browse individual A-to-B riding days as well as multi-day motorcycle loops.
What is the difference between an A-to-B map and a loop map?
An A-to-B map covers one riding day between two destinations and may give you several route choices. A loop combines several riding days into a complete multi-day itinerary, usually returning to the starting point.
You can browse A-to-B routes and multi-day loops separately.
Can I download AZ Motorbikes motorcycle routes for offline use?
All of the newer route pages provide a downloadable KMZ file. You can save the file and open or import it with compatible mapping software, which gives you a separate copy of the route information when you are travelling.
Download the file before leaving reliable internet coverage and make sure you know how your chosen navigation app handles KMZ or KML files.
Do the route maps work as turn-by-turn Google Maps navigation?
Not automatically. The maps are primarily route-planning and route-reference tools. They show the roads and route choices we recommend, while Google Maps or another navigation app can help you navigate between key points.
Be careful when an app recalculates after a missed turn, because it may send you back onto the fastest road rather than keeping you on the route you originally chose.
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Are the roads on the maps guaranteed to be open?
No. The maps are based on roads and routes we know, but road conditions in Vietnam can change because of construction, landslides, storms, flooding or local restrictions.
Check recent conditions before setting out, ask locally when weather has been poor, and be prepared to use an alternative route. A map should help you make decisions, not persuade you to continue when conditions are unsafe.
Use the map, then make the route your own
A good motorcycle trip is not about following a coloured line perfectly. The map gives you a structure, useful alternatives and local route knowledge; the rest depends on the weather, the bike, the time you have and what you discover along the way.
Browse the motorcycle route maps and start joining the routes that fit your trip. If you want help choosing a route or motorcycle, contact AZ Motorbikes and tell us where you want to ride and how many days you have.