HÀ NỘI — Long and sinuous, Việt Nam curves around the eastern shores of mainland Southeast Asia, becoming a perfect country for road-tripping, according to renowned US travel magazine Lonely Planet.

The magazine noted that its twin megacities – Hà Nội and Hồ Chí Minh City – are divided by 1,137km of mountains, jungles, paddy fields, beaches and historic sites. The trip between Việt Nam's northern and southern cities is just one of many epic road trips that call out to adventurers on four (or, more commonly, two) wheels.

With more than 61 million motorbikes on Việt Nam's roads, intrepid bikers will find themselves in good company as they explore the country’s wonderfully diverse landscapes, with ample repair shops, gas stations and food stops along the way.

Lonely Planet has selected seven of the country's best road trips.

Hà Giang Loop

Starting and ending in Hà Giang, the 305km journey is considered the best for mountain scenery and wild swimming.

The soaring peaks and plunging valleys of Việt Nam’s northernmost region are best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Mountainous Hà Giang, now part of Tuyên Quang province, is best enjoyed with plenty of stop-offs for revitalising dips in waterfalls, roadside snacks, and driving breaks to snap photos of the rice and corn terraces tumbling down the valley’s steep hillsides. The Mã Pí Lèng Pass is indisputably the most scenic section of the drive, with jagged mountains surrounding the emerald Nho Quế River.

Cao Bằng to Bản Giốc Waterfall

The 80km journey from Cao Bằng to Bản Giốc Waterfall, which straddles the Việt Nam–China border, is named the best road trip for countryside views.

It takes adventurers through some of northern Việt Nam’s most pristine pastoral terrain. Lush farmlands, stilt villages and crystal-clear lakes are all on the itinerary. However, for driving enthusiasts, nature's creations might be outdone by an artificial wonder: the 3.5km-long Mã Phục Pass, with its seven writhing bends offering gorgeous views of the terraced fields below.

Đà Lạt to Nha Trang

Covering approximately 134km, this route offers the best trip for relics from Việt Nam's French era.

From the cool conditions in the highlands around Đà Lạt to the sunny beaches of Nha Trang, this short and simple road trip is all about changing scenery and microclimates. Begin in the hills around Đà Lạt, founded as a hill station where French colonists came to escape the oppressive heat of Sài Gòn (now Hồ Chí Minh City). This is a unique corner of Việt Nam, where French-era buildings dot the hillsides, the scent of pine resin hangs in the air, and local farms cultivate strawberries, coffee and flowers instead of rice.

Hải Vân Pass

The 20km route, described as the best for dramatic views and hairpin turns, links Đà Nẵng with Lăng Cô Beach.

Before Hải Vân Tunnel was completed in 2005, just the thought of enduring the hairpin turns and blind corners of Hải Vân Pass was enough to send shivers down the spines of bus passengers travelling between Đà Nẵng and Huế. Now with significantly less car traffic, this short but stunning ride is a manageable, memorable trip even for the novice driver.

Hồ Chí Minh City to Mỹ Tho

The 70km journey from Hồ Chí Minh City to Mỹ Tho is the best for sampling the landscapes of the lush Mekong Delta.

The rice paper-flat Mekong Delta doesn’t get much road trip love because its every-shade-of-green rice fields can turn from mesmerising to slightly monotonous as the miles mount up. However, once you get outside of sprawling, smoggy Hồ Chí Minh City, you’ll see the urban shrubbery give way to majestic palms, lush banana trees and glimmering waterways amongst the emerald rice paddies.

Côn Đảo

As the best trip for visiting deserted island beaches, the 25km route runs from Đầm Trầu Beach to Bến Đầm Port.

Isolated from the mainland for years, the Côn Đảo islands are one of Việt Nam’s natural wonders. Côn Sơn, the largest and only inhabited island of the archipelago, has just one main road stretching across its length, but it's a beauty. A motorcycle trip is not only the best way to see the rural splendor of the island but also to hop from one gorgeous deserted beach to the next. Côn Đảo's scenic sands are also one of the most important nesting sites for green turtles in the region.

Hồ Chí Minh Road

Stretching approximately 1,880km from Hồ Chí Minh City to Hà Nội, the historic Hồ Chí Minh Road is called the best for quintessential Việt Nam experiences.

There are several different routes between Việt Nam’s two biggest cities, depending on whether you like beaches, mountains or smooth highways, but for the best balance between driving time (about 2 weeks is ideal) and impressive scenery, hit the Hồ Chí Minh Highway, part of which was once used to transport soldiers and supplies during the American War. — VNA/VNS