This seven day ride was done in April 2013 on a YBR125 and a Minsk with a refitted 125 from the guys at Flamingo Travel Hanoi.
Day 1. A three hour ride from Hanoi to Mai Chau for overnight stay in $20 homestay village in the rice paddies. Dinner, breakfast and comfy bedroll with a White Thai family and entertained with traditional dance and music. The view from the mountain down to the valley is totally inspiring, great sweeping roads in all locations and low in traffic, sometimes felt we were the only ones on the road.
Day 2. Mai Chau to Son La, about 6 hours. Continue on QL6 great roads along the mountains edge in and out of valleys and along river edged roads. Stop for great meals and of course a Cafe Su Da (iced coffee). 3 star hotel with lockup garage for the night and stroll around for a great meal at $5 with beer!! Son La has the old French Prison worth the visit.
Day 3. Son La to Dien Bien Phu, 6 hours. Continue on great roads low in traffic, only the mad bus drivers to worry about. Some great photo ops and quiet towns to stop for the obligatory iced coffee. Arrive in DBP to another glorious statue to Vietnamese strength during wartimes. Many guesthouses near the bus depot for $20 or less and a hot shower.
Day 4. DBP to Lai Chau, 7 hours. Head out to Muong Lay on QL12. Road quality lessens here due to roadworks along the river valley. Stop at Muong Lay for lunch and check out the valley, mostly under construction for a few dams....the place is to flooded out soon for irrigation. From Muang Lay we take a shortcut to Lai Chau via Sin Ho....no one said it was under construction though, 60 kms of dirt and mud through the mountains and a wrong turn for 30 kms due to my ignorant fellow rider, made for good video though. Finally hit tar on a 3 lane freeway with absolutely no other vehicle on it to arrive at Lai Chau for the night. Hot shower tonight. Try and find another westerner here.
Day 5. Lai Chau to Sapa, 3-4 hours. Take the QL4D across the mountain tops, beautiful snaking roads up and down valleys, amazing views, waterfalls and Vietnams highest peak, Mt. Fansipan at 3000 metres....these roads your on are at 2300 metres. Each curve and bend in the road presents you with another view of the mountain. We eventually get a glimpse of Sapa ahead and throttle up to get to the mountainside retreat. Great accommodation at $25 with views across the valley and villages to view Fansipan from another angle. Pfftt, off with the bottletop and cheers to a great ride. A 2-3 day stay here before sending the bikes back to Flamingo on the train at Lai Cao and our exit to Laos for the New Year fun.
Day 1. A three hour ride from Hanoi to Mai Chau for overnight stay in $20 homestay village in the rice paddies. Dinner, breakfast and comfy bedroll with a White Thai family and entertained with traditional dance and music. The view from the mountain down to the valley is totally inspiring, great sweeping roads in all locations and low in traffic, sometimes felt we were the only ones on the road.
Day 2. Mai Chau to Son La, about 6 hours. Continue on QL6 great roads along the mountains edge in and out of valleys and along river edged roads. Stop for great meals and of course a Cafe Su Da (iced coffee). 3 star hotel with lockup garage for the night and stroll around for a great meal at $5 with beer!! Son La has the old French Prison worth the visit.
Day 3. Son La to Dien Bien Phu, 6 hours. Continue on great roads low in traffic, only the mad bus drivers to worry about. Some great photo ops and quiet towns to stop for the obligatory iced coffee. Arrive in DBP to another glorious statue to Vietnamese strength during wartimes. Many guesthouses near the bus depot for $20 or less and a hot shower.
Day 4. DBP to Lai Chau, 7 hours. Head out to Muong Lay on QL12. Road quality lessens here due to roadworks along the river valley. Stop at Muong Lay for lunch and check out the valley, mostly under construction for a few dams....the place is to flooded out soon for irrigation. From Muang Lay we take a shortcut to Lai Chau via Sin Ho....no one said it was under construction though, 60 kms of dirt and mud through the mountains and a wrong turn for 30 kms due to my ignorant fellow rider, made for good video though. Finally hit tar on a 3 lane freeway with absolutely no other vehicle on it to arrive at Lai Chau for the night. Hot shower tonight. Try and find another westerner here.
Day 5. Lai Chau to Sapa, 3-4 hours. Take the QL4D across the mountain tops, beautiful snaking roads up and down valleys, amazing views, waterfalls and Vietnams highest peak, Mt. Fansipan at 3000 metres....these roads your on are at 2300 metres. Each curve and bend in the road presents you with another view of the mountain. We eventually get a glimpse of Sapa ahead and throttle up to get to the mountainside retreat. Great accommodation at $25 with views across the valley and villages to view Fansipan from another angle. Pfftt, off with the bottletop and cheers to a great ride. A 2-3 day stay here before sending the bikes back to Flamingo on the train at Lai Cao and our exit to Laos for the New Year fun.
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