Highway 4 Trail Riding 9 days

Overivew

Highway 4 is a road in the NortheastVietnam, bordering the Chinese border from Hanoi to Cao Bang. It is famous for a French military disaster in 1950 in which several units of the French army, including some battalions of the Foreign Legion, were decimated by the Viet Minh and essentially ceased to exist as fighting units.

Motorcycling trip to the Northeast is amazing trip, a lots of experiences. Northast with high mountain ranges and colorful traditional dress of local hill tribes. Cao Bang is a beautiful landscape with limestone karts with Ban Gioc Waterfall, where thousands of limestone monoliths loom high above paddy fields tended by Nung, Tay and Green Hmong peoples, you will find sealed, winding roads which make for excellent riding. Ba Be Lake: This pristine mountain lake, arguably Vietnam's most beautiful lake, is situated 240 kilometres north of Hanoi. Surrounded by primary jungle and limestone cliffs, the surrounding areas are inhabited principally by Thai and Hmong peoples.

Highlights:

- Take cyclo tour of Hanoi's charming Old Quarter and "the 36 streets of 36 wares".
- Climb up and stay at the Peak of Mau Son Mountain, an old French hill station, which was ravaged during war with the Chinese and the buildings have recently been rebuilt in traditional style. A winding road leads us to the summit and at over 1,600 meters altitude.
- Strike the legendary 'Highway 4' where the Viet Minh forces carried out numerous raids over uncountable passes in this remote border region.
- Meander around and through the countless rock monoliths all the way to the huge Ban Gioc Waterfall which sits on the Chinese border.
- Take boat cruise in Ba Ba Lake to visit the Dau Dang waterfall, Long Phuong cave and stay with a family in a Tay minority stilt house on the shores of the lake

Dossier

Day 1: Hanoi (D)
Arrival Hanoi and welcome at the airport. Transfer and check in to your hotel. Afternoon, take the orientation tour of Hanoi. Pay particular attention to the expert at the Ethnology Museum who will give us a briefing, we'll be meeting many minority groups along the way. After a cyclo tour of Hanoi's charming Old Quarter and "the 36 streets of 36 wares", it's time for a welcome dinner where you meet your fearless motorbike leader. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi

Day 2 : Hanoi - Mau Son (B,L, D)~180 km
After a hearty breakfast we saddle up and make the break out of the city limits and the lowlands and plains of the Red River Delta. We pass through clusters of limestone as we head out north-east before leaving the main road and climb up to the Peak of Mau Son Mountain. An old French hill station, Mau Son was ravaged during war with the Chinese and the buildings have recently been rebuilt in traditional style. A winding road leads us to the summit and at over 1,500 meters altitude we enjoy fantastic views out over China and down towards Ha Long Bay. Overnight at the hotel in Mau Son.

Day 3 : Mau Son - Cao Bang (B,L, D)~200 km
Breakfast and dropping down from the heights of Mau Son we strike directly north, skirting the border city of Lang Son, visiting the Dong Dang 'Friendship Gate' on the Chinese border, then we join the legendary 'Highway 4' where the Viet Minh forces carried out numerous raids over uncountable passes in this remote border region. We follow the border all the way to Vietnam's major city in the north-east, Cao Bang. Overnight at the hotel in Cao Bang.

Day 4: Cao Bang (B,L, D) ~120 km
We explore into the magical region of the far north-east with its impressive limestone karsts scenery. We meander around and through the countless rock monoliths all the way to the huge Ban Gioc Waterfall which sits on the Chinese border. We can swim under the falls and picnic on bamboo rafts. Then in the afternoon we loop back to Cao Bang past even more spectacular karts scenery. Overnight at the hotel in Cao Bang.

Day 5: Cao Bang (B,L, D)~120 km
In the morning we strike north-west to the border, marked by a massive range of peaks, and pass over to Pac Po Cave where Ho Chi Minh made his return to Vietnam in 1941. Then we head straight up on challenging road, pass through deep, remote karst country and rest at a secluded lake deep in the forest. Late afternoon ride on sealed road back to Cao Bang and a soothing massage. Overnight at the  hotel in Cao Bang.

Day 6: Cao Bang - Ba Be (B,L, D) ~180 km
We move south-west from Cao Bang and breach several passes on route in an area hosting huge mountain scenery. The Cao Bac Pass offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Descending the pass we see hillsides carpeted with apiaries, Vietnam's most famous honey-producing areas. In the afternoon we arrive at Ba Be Lake in the heart of a National Park. Overnight with a family in a Tay minority stilt house on the shores of the lake.

Day 7: Ba Be (B, L, D)
A day to explore at Ba Be Lake, take in some markets, enjoy a boat cruise, go fishing, explore caves, dine with friends at the edge of a waterfall, enjoy the hospitality of the minority peoples who inhabit this area. We will take a boat up the seven-kilometer length of the lake to the Dau Dang waterfalls on the Gam River and also visit the 300m Long Phuong Cave. During the war the cave was one of the rare natural shelters for the local population hiding from the bombing. Overnight with a family in a Tay minority stilt house on the shores of the lake.

Day 8 : Ba Be – Hanoi (B,L) ~240 km
Morning staying off the main road for as long as possible we head back towards the Red River Delta, passing through areas inhabited by Hmong, Dao, Tay and Nung minority peoples. A mixture of both challenging track and glorious sealed road all the way back to Hanoi. Check in hotel. Time free. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi

Day 9 : Hanoi – Departure (B)
Morning you are free until time to transfer you to airport for flight back home. End our service.

Trip includes

• Private English speaking guide.
• All airport transfer by private vehicle
• Accommodation in standard hotels and in local homestays with daily breakfasts
• Meals as indicated (B= breakfast; L=Lunch; D = Dinner
• Motorbike with all fuel.
• Boat cruise in Ba Be lake
• Protective pants, rain gear, other safety equipments;
• Entrance fees and permits during guided time.
• Service charge & Government taxes

Trip excludes

• International airfares.
• Meals not indicated
• Drinks & beverage ..
• Early check in / late check out
• Vietnam visa stamp fee : ( 25 USD/ per person)
• Personal travel insurance (Compulsory).
• Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills.
• Tips and gratuities