Itinerary

Day 1

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Hanoi – Mai Chau, 170km
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Transfer out of the city (to avoid crazy traffic) by car, about 30 km west of Hanoi.

Prepare your bikes and begin our adventure, riding on the first part of Ho Chi Minh Highway then turn onto a small, zigzag road round the foot of the mountains. Pass through Muong ethnic villages near Kim Boi Hot Spring and stop for a drink or swimming before lunch in Muong Khen - a Muong village in Hoa Binh province.

In the afternoon, we climb mountain passes through beautiful scenery of rice fields and valleys before descending into Mai Chau, a village of White Thai minority for a walk around the village, see the rice-fields and learn about the lives of the local people.

Dine with a Thai family where we will spend the night. Later we will join the traditional dancing group from the village and drink ruou can.

Day 2

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Mai Chau – Phu Yen, 130km
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A really challenging ride. After an hour on the new Highway no. 6 we make our way along the torturous and bumpy road to explore the H'mong hill tribe's colourful customs and majestic mountainous scenery. Visit our H'mong friends' families, walk in the village and then continue on the dirt road to Moc Chau.

These beautiful grasslands of Moc Chau have the best of both worlds and breath-taking scenery which is favoured by nature and covered with cloud all year round. It seems to offer the most ideal climate in Northwest Vietnam. Moc Chau's flora is diverse, ranging from forest and tea plantations to fruit tree covered hills.

Moreover, we can walk to the local dairy farms and sample produce from the local processing factories. Dairy produce is Moc Chau's specialty and is exported to many other countries.

We drop down to Da river and take a boat across the river. Then we ride along the river to visit Phu Yen, one of the most prosperous and beautiful villages of Thai people in Northwest Vietnam.

Day 3

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Phu Yen – Mu Cang Chai, 160km
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In the morning we will conquer Lung Lo mountain pass which was once a good road but was ruined by an hour of heavy rain in 2005. Yes, 1km up to the top, on a dirt track, will give you a realy challenging rolling ride.

We join road no. 32 for lunch in Nghia Lo valley then continue riding through a beautiful landsape of high mountain ranges and rice terraces.

This road passes through many villages of Tay,Thai, Dao and H'Mong ethnic, you will have many chances to stop for short walks around the villages.

Day 4

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Mu Cang Chai – Sapa , 170
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Keep riding on road 32, through Muong Kim, one of 9 largest area of Thai ethnic groups in the Northwest of Vietnam.

Then to Than Thuoc village, where the hills are covered in green tea bushes. Turn onto a small track, riding through green tea fields to beautiful villages of Thai and Viet people who own the tea fields. Visit some of our friends there to learn about their lives.

Arrive on Route 4C and head up to Sapa, enjoy a picnic lunch at the top of Tram Ton Pass, the most beautiful pass in Sapa. In the afternoon we are free to explore Sapa, quite often engulfed by clouds. After enjoying an Artichaux cup of tea, a special drink from Sapa, we embark on a walk to discover this charming town and get acquainted with the host people who are the soul of this area.

Sapa was founded in the early years of the last century as a hill resort for the French administration at the time. It soon became famous in Indochina for its ideal climate. Nowadays, Sapa's breathtaking scenery is some of the best in Asia.

Day 5

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Sapa – Lao Cai - Hakou – Kaiyuan, 240 km
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We leave Sapa in the early morning to ride down hill to Lao Cai to check out of Vietnam.

Enter Hekou town in China, drive along the Red River (Honghe) to Kaiyuan on the paved road (part of the road about 55 km is on the construction).

Ride along the fast-flowing Honghe River. Stop at Mengzi (157 km) on the way to visit Bisezhai railway station at Mengzi to experience the French narrow gauge railway built a century ago. It was busy 20 years ago, carrying passengers and goods, now there is no regular train, just a shuttle train used by local residents. There are many French buildings around Lake Nanhu – a legacy of French colonial times.

Diannan hotel 3*.

Day 6

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Kaiyuan - Stone Forest - Kunming, 210 km
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Drive along the old paved road to Kunming via Mile, Shilin, Yulian. Beautiful scenery paddy fields with crops. Stop and visit the Stone Forest at Shilin along the way (110 km). Stone forest, the number one natural spectacle in China, was underwater 270 million years ago. Shifts in the earth's crust caused the sea to recede and a new tableland was made while its limestone bed rose up, and produced the stone pillars.

Camellia hotel 2*.

Day 7

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Kunming Local tour
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Kunming (Spring City) 1896 m, the capital of Yunnan Province, the gateway of China to South East Asia. Trade to Burma, Thailand and Vietnam is very flourishing. As its climate is nice all year round, Kunming is also famous for its wide variety of flowers. City tour: visit the Bamboo Buddhist Temple (18 km) with 500 Arhat statues, built in the Qing Dynasty (280 years ago). 25 minority nationalities are scattered across Yunnan. The numerous ethnic groups with their peculiar residential architecture have attracted many visitors and Yunnan Ethnic Villages have been established near Lake Dianchi. We will spend 3 hours to get the knowledge of the cultures, customs and the natural village houses of the 25 nationalities in Yunnan Ethnic Villages.

Note: Camellia hotel 2*.

Day 8

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Kunming - Yuanmou, 207 km
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Continu riding to Yuanmou on paved road, via Fuming, Luqian, Wuding, enjoy seeing paddy fields with crops, villages and forest. Upon arrival, visit the Earth Mound Forest - a mysterious and magnificent wonderland. The visitors wandering among the earth mounds are just like people touring in a wonderland. The main spectacles include views of castles of ancient Greece; cathedrals of ancient Rome and temples of ancient China, etc.

Yuanmou hotel 2*.

Day 9

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Yuanmou - Huaping , 214 km
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Today ride to Huaping on paved road, via Yongren, Renhe (Sichuan province, 123 km), Pangzhihua (Sichuan), then to Huaping (Yunnan).

Ride along the Yangtze River valley about 30 km, through natural forest.

Local hotel 2*.

Day 10

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Huanping - Lijiang , 203 km
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We ride on an old road, via Yongsheng (125 km). The last part of today is easy and we will arrive in Lijiang quite early in the afternoon for a beautiful walk and visit the old town of Lijiang,

Lijiang located at an altitude of almost 8,000 feet and is a UN World Heritage Site. The old part of the town has wonderful old cobbled streets, meandering streams and views that will take your breath away. Ancient Lijiang is a lovely Chinese traditional town. Naxi classical concert in the evening.


Sanhe Guest Inn3* in the old town of Lijiang.

Day 11

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Lijiang Local tour
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Local tour in Lijiang: visit a traditional Naxi Village Baisha, where life has gone relatively unchanged for hundreds of years. Black Dragon Pool, where the snow-capped mountains seemingly shimmer as they are reflected in the waters of the lake and a Tibetan lamasery Yufeng is also on the agenda. This afternoon has been left free for further independent exploration of the old town.

Note: Sanhe Guest Inn3*.

Day 12

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge, 106 + 23 km
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Lijiang - Qiaotou (83 km) 9 km up steep hills and 24 km downhill to the Yangtze River (Golden Sand River). Ride 20 km, along the Yangtze River to the Qiaotou, Tiger Leaping Gorge is in the countryside north of Lijiang where the scenery is stunning. The Yangtze River, still in its infancy here, passes through the Gorge with cliffs of almost 4,000 m on either side.

Qiaotou - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Middle Gorge - Heitaoyuan (23 km) Riding in the Gorge along the river between two Mountains: Jade Dragon and Haba. All roads are paved. Visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge which descends through more than 400 steps down to the river bed at the bottom of the gorge. Continue to the Hetaoyuan by motorcycle, about 10 km.

Woody House (there are only 6 rooms with the bathroom for 12 people; the others have to go the public for the shower).

Day 13

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Tiger Leaping Gorge – Dali, 223 km
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Ride along the old road to Dali, via Jianchuan (110 km), Dali is located beside the beautiful Erhai Lake,. It was once the capital of Nanzhao and Dali kingdom, two strong and independent dynasties lasting from 725 till 1360 AC, their territory included all actual Yunnan and for some time even spread to Guangxi. The dominant minority is Bai people. The young girls' traditional dress is beautiful; the hat is especially eye-catching.

Ride through the high mountain passes, villages and forests. Visit the one of oldest Bai village Zhouchen and see the traditional Bai handicraft of tie-dying cloth along the way.

Landscape hotel 3* in Dali Old Town.

Day 14

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Dali Local tour
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Sightseeing in Dali: visit 3-pagodas, the symbol of Dali, established a thousand years ago in Nanzhao Kingdom. Visit Xizhou Bai village with its market and Bai family visit to see the unique house. Tour on the Erhai Lake, cruise by the islands in the lake, the second largest fresh water lake in Yunnan, 250 sq km.

Note: Landscape hotel 3*.

Day 15

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Dali - Zhernyuan , 223 km
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Road to Weishan (53 km), visit Taoist temples - Weibaoshan, the original birthplace for the Taoist in Yunnan. Walk up the winding steps, connecting 7 temples. (2 hrs up and back) Visit the old town of Nanzhao and Dali kingdom (937 BC), which was the original capital during the Nanzhao period before it moved to Dali.

Road to Zhenyuan via Nanjiang (40 km Yi people), Jingdong (130 km Yi people) and Zhenyuan (53 km). Today we will drive along the Tea & Horse Road in the Wulian Mountain. It was started in the Han dynasty (nearly 2 thousand years ago), flourished in the Tang Dynasty (a thousand years ago) and was finsihed after the Second World War when the highway was built. The road starts from Puer in Simao and ends in India via Tibet. People exchanged the tea from Yunnan with horses and herbs from Tibet. It can be compared with the Silk Road since it was the only road in South-west China.

Zhenyuan, Hani and Lahu people Autonomy County, is an important station for the horsemen and horses in local history. A visit will be made to the king tea treee, which is 3000 years old.

Zhenyuan hotel 2*.

Day 16

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Zhenyuan - Jinggu - Shuangjiang , 236 km
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Ride along the narrow mountain road to Shuangjiang (125 km), the Lahu people (Kucong in Jinping) area, via Jinggu (121 km). Cross the Mekong river at Dahai. Visit a Jiefang village.

Roadside views: crops on the high mountains and valleys, especially at the bridge on Mekong River.

Shuangjiang hotel 2*.

Day 17

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Shuangjiang - Ximen ,154 km
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Rocky and bumpy and narrow road with spectacular scenery to Ximen. Visit a new town, the Wa area (154 km). Drive along the branch of Mekong -Xiao Heijiang (Black river).

Head towards the Burmese border at Yuesong Wa village (16 km from the old town) on the unpaved road to see the real life of the Wa people up here near the Armed Police Frontier Station. Return to the old town of Ximen.

Local guest house.

Day 18

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Ximen - Menghai , 235 km
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Continue on the narrow bumpy road to Lancang (110 km). Continue driving along the river Nanlanhe Road to Menghai (125 km). One of the towns of Xishuangbanna, borders Burma and Laos. This is a sub-tropical area. The main people here are Dai, Hani, Bulang and Yao. It is rich in primitive forest and is renowned world-wide as the kingdom of animals and plants. Visit the Octagonal Pavilion of Dai, the symbol for the Buddhism. Visit the Aini village (a branch of Hani) to discover the testing marriage: pregnant before getting married.

Menghai hotel 2*.

Day 19

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Menghai - Jinghong – Menglun, 127 km
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In the morning, we ride on smooth paved road to Jinghong (53 km), the capital of Xishuangbanna. We ride through the city and continue riding along the Mekong River to Ganlanba (38 km) through the forest and Dai villages. Enjoy the paddy fields dotted with traditional Dai villages, explore the very simple life of these pristine and hospitable farmers. Visit Dai Custom Garden with Dai performance show and Water splashing. Transfer to Menglun Botanic garden (34 km.). Visit the garden of tropical plants.

Menglun hotel 2*.

Day 20

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Menglun – Boten – Udomxay, 210km
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Early departure is necessary Ride from Menglun to Mohan border (120 km), cross the border to Banboten in Laos

Finish China part.

Try to enter to Laos before lunch time.
After lunch in a local restaurant we ride to Udomxay.

Day 21

Vietnam motorbike tour(Vietnam-China-Laos):
Udomxay – Luang Prabang , 180km
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In the morning, we ride through high mountain passes with spectacular mountain views and local hill-tribe villages. We will make some stops for short walks in the villages and make friends with the local people.

After lunch, the road gets bigger and easier to ride. If time allows we will stop for a visit in Pak Ou cave which has thousands of Buddha images.

Phu Sy Villa 3*

Extra Information

Inclusions -

accommodation, entrance fees, permission

Exclusions -

visa, taxes

Extras -

Inclusions
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- Permission to enter and exist China, Laos on motorcycle
- Transport your bike from Luang Prabang back to Hanoi (250USD/bike already added)
- 2 Group Leaders from Voyage Vietnam through the trip, 1 mechanic, 1 local guide through the ride in China, 1 support car followed the group in China;
- All entrance fees during the tour;
- All Accommodation; Hotel 2-3 star in China;
- All food as mention in the program details;
- Motorcycle and all gasoline needed.

Not included:
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- Drinks and 8 meals as mention in the tour program;
- Visa and taxes for enter and exist those countries