Info-sheet Vietnam - Tribal North · The northernmost region of Vietnam is truly a motor-biker’s...
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© Explore360° 2020/2021 The northernmost region of Vietnam is truly a motor-biker’s paradise for on- and off-road riding. The rugged Mountains of northern Vietnam are home to colorful hill tribes and some of the best rice terracing in the whole country, if not the whole of Southeast Asia. Every bend in the road reveals something new and adventure is guaranteed! Below follows some information that you should know before we meet in Hanoi. Riding abilities. You don’t need to be a hard-core off-road/enduro expert to join our tours. You do need experience with travelling in foreign countries and with riding on gravel for this tour. The days can be long, depending on many factors, so you have to be comfortable in most situations in order not to suffer fatigue to quickly. The pace is relaxed, it is not a competition, as we are traveling and will take a break frequently. There will be time enough to take pictures, movies, rest etc. We do want to emphasize that for our off-road tours you need to be healthy and in a good physical condition. We have different levels for our different tours. On our website it is clarified which level the tour is and what level of experience is needed (Vietnam is level 4). Self-assessment is not easy, and if in doubt please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are more than willing to explain you more about it.
Transcript of Info-sheet Vietnam - Tribal North · The northernmost region of Vietnam is truly a motor-biker’s...
©Explore360°2020/2021
ThenorthernmostregionofVietnamistrulyamotor-biker’sparadiseforon-andoff-roadriding.TheruggedMountainsofnorthernVietnamarehometocolorfulhilltribesandsomeofthebestriceterracinginthewholecountry,ifnotthewholeofSoutheastAsia.Everybendintheroadrevealssomethingnewandadventureisguaranteed!BelowfollowssomeinformationthatyoushouldknowbeforewemeetinHanoi.Ridingabilities.Youdon’tneedtobeahard-coreoff-road/enduroexperttojoinourtours.Youdoneedexperiencewithtravellinginforeigncountriesandwithridingongravelforthistour.Thedayscanbelong,dependingonmanyfactors,soyouhavetobecomfortableinmostsituationsinordernottosufferfatiguetoquickly.Thepaceisrelaxed,itisnotacompetition,aswearetravelingandwilltakeabreakfrequently.Therewillbetimeenoughtotakepictures,movies,restetc.Wedowanttoemphasizethatforouroff-roadtoursyouneedtobehealthyandinagoodphysicalcondition.Wehavedifferentlevelsforourdifferenttours.Onourwebsiteitisclarifiedwhichlevelthetourisandwhatlevelofexperienceisneeded(Vietnamislevel4).Self-assessmentisnoteasy,andifindoubtpleasedon’thesitatetocontactus.Wearemorethanwillingtoexplainyoumoreaboutit.
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Duringthistouryouwillrideonlight250CCHondaCRFoff-roadmotorcycles.Theyareeasytohandleandperfecttodothejob.We’llrideondifferentkindsurfacefromperfectcurvytarmac,gravelroadsand(technical)singletracksthatcanbesteepandstony.Combinedwithwater-crossings,remotetribalvillagesandjaw-droppingviewsitisanamazingtourthatwillmoveallyoursenses.
ITINERARYDay1:Arrival(Hotel)-welcomingdinnerDay2:GuidedHanoicitytourbyUSArmyJeep(hotel)–½dayDay3:HaNoi-BaBe220km(Home-stay)Day4:BaBe-DongVan210km(Hotel)Day5:DongVan-HaGiang200km(Home-stay)Day6:HaGiang-PanHuu110km(Resort)Day7:PanHuu-XinMan180km(Guest-house)Day8:XinMan-Sapa220km(home-stayatBanHovillage)Day9:Sapa-MuCangChai140km(Home-stay)Day10:MuCangChai-NgocChien-NghiaLo230km(Hotel)Day11:Nghialo-MocChau200km(home-stay)Day12:MocChau-PuLuong180km(Homestay)Day13:PuLuongHaNoi180km(Hotel)Day14:DeparturePRICERider: €3590/SEK37700Pillion notpossible
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Included• Airportpickup&dropoff• 3nightsinHanoi(singleroom)inluxuryhotel.• 1/2dayHanoicitytourbyUSArmyJeep(incllunch)• 11ridingdaysonmotorcycle.• HondaCRF250cc• English,Vietnamese,Swedish,and/orDutchspeakingguides• Mechanicandallspares• Vehicleforluggage• Allaccommodation(homestays,resorts,guest-housesandhotelsontour
(singleroomwhereavailable)• Allmealsontour(localfoodforbreakfastanddinner,picnicsforlunch,etc.)• Alldrinksduringtheday(exceptbeerandwine)• Welcomedinner(localVietnamesefood)• Finalnightdinner(localVietnamesefood)• Thirdpartyinsurancemotorcycle(fullcoverageisavailableatextracosts)Excluded• Flightticket• Medical/travelinsurance,fullcoveragemotorcycleinsurance• Visa(ifneeded)• Alcoholicdrinks• Personalexpenses
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DaybydayDay1:ArrivalHanoi(hotel)WewillmeetyouatNoiBaiInternationalAirportandtransferyoutoyourhotelfor2nights.Eveningfree.Day2:Hanoi1/2Daycitytourandorientation(hotel)WewillcomemeetyouatyourhotelinourclassicUSarmyJeepstotakea1/2daycitytourHanoiOperaHouse,TheFrenchquarterArmyMuseumandtheMuseumofEthnology.Lunchincluded.Wedropyouatyourhotellateafternoonandpickyouupagainfororientationdinneratalocalrestaurant.Day3:Hanoi-BaBeLakeNationalPark,220km(home-stay)Sealedroadswithdirtsections6hr.LeavingHanoiweheadoffonpavedroadsclimbingupintothemountains,LunchonroutebeforeturningofftothesmallroadthattakesustotheBaBeLakeNationalPark,Thisspectacularclearlakesurroundedbyjunglecoveredmountainsisgreatforaswimandiscoolinthesummer.OvernightanddinnerwithalocalTayhill-tribefamily.Day4:BaBelakeNationalPark-DongVan,210km,(hotel)Sealedroadsanddirtsections8hr.Afterbreakfastweheadnorththroughhill-tribevillages,forestandriverstoBaoLac.ThegatewaytotheHaGiangplateau.Weleavethemainroadandjoinpavedroads(offroadoptionsavailable)tothehighpassesandblackrocksthatmakeupthelandscapeofHaGiang,Hereyouseemanycolorfulhill-tribesandspectacularscenery.Wehavetinetostoptakephotosandvisitsomevillagesorlocalmarkets.OvernightinDongVan.Day5:DongVan-HaGiang,200km(Home-stay)Sealedroadswithoffroadoptions7hr.Earlystarttodayandweheadtoupthemountains,theroadherehugstheclifffaceandweclimbuptotheMaPhiLiengPass,herewecantaketimeforasnackandenjoytheviewsintoChina,TaketimetostopintheancientvillagemarketofDongVan.Lunchenroute,westopatNhaVuaMeoandvisittheHmongKingspalacebacktothe1840’s.MoreamazingpavedroadsthroughtherockylandscapeonourwaydowntoHaGiang.Overnightinhome-stay.Day6:HaGiang-PanHou,110km,(resort)Sealedroadswithdirtsections5hr.TodayweleaveonmainHanoihighwayfor50kmthenturnoffandclimb
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throughthericeterracestoHoanSuPhianddowntotheDaohill-tribevillageofPanHou.OvernightinFrenchrunresortwithitsgardensandrelaxinglounge,taketimetoexploreonbikesorthesurroundingvillages.Day7:PanHou-XinMan,180km,(guesthouse)Off-roadtracksandshortpavedsections5hrWeleavetheresortafterbreakfastandheadthroughtheterracedmountains,stoppingtomeetpeople,takephotosandcheckoutthecountryside.Afterlunchwekeepheadingupthemountains,fromheretheroadgetrough(2hr)aswecrossoverthepassanddownintotheXinManvalley,HeretheFlowerHmonghill-tribeliveandcanbeseenwearingtheiruniquecolourfulclothesastheycarryonwiththeireverydaytask.Bigviewsandweekendmarkets.OvernightinXinManDay8:XinMan-BanHoVillage,220km,(home-stay)Sealedwithdirtsections6hr.Inthemorningweheadoutanddriveonsealedandpackeddirtroadsupthroughthemountainsthroughvillagesandforest,Lunchenroute,afterLunchwetravelthroughterracedricefieldsandtotheH’mongHill-tribevillageofBanHo.Overnightinlocalhome-stay.Day9:BanHoVillage-MuCangChai,140km(home-stay)Sealedwithdirtsections5hr.WegetonthebikesandtakeashortridetotheFrencherahill-stationofSapawherewecanstopforacoffee,afterashortbreakweheadovertheTramTonpassandoverthehighestmountainsinVietnam.AfterapicniclunchwecontinuethroughteaplantationsandterracedricefieldstothemountaintownofMuCangChai.Overnightinhome-stay.Day10:MuCangChai-NgocChien-NghiaLo230km,(hotel)Dirtroadsandsmalltracks6hr.Inthemorningweheadbackupinthemountainsondirttracksforadayoftoughriding.Stopforhill-tribevillagesandstunningviewsstopforpicnicforlunch.WecontinueonsmallroadstothevillageofNgocChienandstunningviewsonourwaytoNghiaLowherewe.OvernightinNghiaLo.Day11:NghiaLo-MocChau,150km,(home-stay)Sealedroadswithdirtsections7hr.Weleaveourhome-stayandheadoverthehighmountainsonsmalldirttracks,crossingtheblackriveronasmallboat,andmakeourwaytakingback-roadsandexploringthehillsandterracedfields.OvernightinMocChauhome-stay.Day12:MocChau-PuLuong,180km(home-stay)
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Sealedwithdirtsections5hr.AfterBreakfastweheadbacktroughthehillsondirtroadsalongtheblackrivertothevillageofPuLung,therearemanyoptionontheroutetodaysoifyouarereadyformoreoff-roadorstayonthepavement.Overnightinlocalhomestay.Day13:PuLuong-Hanoi,170km(hotel)Sealedroads5hr.AfterBreakfastweheadbacktotheblackriverandHanoi,arriveinHanoiaround3pmanddrivebacktoourgaragetodropoffthebikes,wewilltransferyoutoyourhotel.Wewillmeetat19:00forafarewelldinner.Day14:Hanoi-NoiBaiInternationalAirportTaketimetodosomelastminuetshoppingbeforewetransferyoutotheairporttocatchyouflighthome.Endofanamazingadventure! WHATTOBRING?Documents:
• PASSPORT(validfor6monthswithatleast2consecutiveblankpages.• DRIVER'SLICENSE• INTERNATIONALDRIVERSLICENSE.• MEDICALANDTRAVELINSURANCE.Bringcontactnumberandpolicy
number.Makesurethathelicoptermedevacisincluded.• CREDITCARD:thereareATM’sinHanoi.PaymentwithcardonlyinHanoi.• CASH(US$)BringcashUS$ortakefromaATM.Youcanchangefor
VietnameseDong.• VISA:PleasecheckVisarequirementsforyourcountryoforiginpriorto
travel,asformostcountriesavisaisneeded.Avisaapplicationformbeforedepartureisneeded(somecountriesareexempted)whenstayinglongerthan15days.Wewillprovidethevisaletter.Bringthistogetherwith2xphoto4x6cm.withawhitecolourback-ground.Bringthevisaletteraswell.
Gear/clothes:
• Protectiveridinggear(suit,helmet,gloves,etc).Thetemperaturecanfluctuatebetween30Celsius(Hanoi)and5C°upinthemountainswhenit’sraining.
• Boots.Bringhard(enduro)bootswithankleprotection.Itwillsafeyouleg/ankle!
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• Sunglassesandsunscreen• Lightraingear/rainjacket.Temperaturescandropwhenridingonhigh
altitudeorwhenraining.• Casualwearforeveningdinnersandnon-ridingdays.• Warmfleeceandhatforourcoolerdays/evenings• Camelbags/Hydrationback-pack.Highlyrecommended!Necessaryand
veryhandytopreventdehydration(alsotopreventaltitudesickness).• Camera.Thesemagnificentviewsyouwanttocapture!• Head-light.Somehome-stayshavenoelectricityduringthenight.• Travelsheets/thinsleepingbag/travelpillow.Canbeusefulwhenstaying
inthehome-stays.• Powerpack.Asaback-upforchargingyouelectronicequipment/phone.• Yourspiritforadventure!
OTHERREQUIREMENTS:MEDICAL/VACCINATIONSPleasecontactyourlocalhealthauthorityforwhichvaccinationsareneeded/mandatory.Thisvariespercountry.Malaria.WewillnotbeinthesouthofVietnam,butifyou’replanningtoextendyourstayandtravelelsewhere,pleasecontactyoulocalhealthauthority. YellowFever.AlthoughthereisnoriskofyellowfeverinVietnam,avalidyellowfevercertificateisrequiredifyourjourneystartsorentailspassingthroughtheYellowFeverBeltofAfricaorSouthAmerica.Medicines.Don’tforgetyourpersonalmedicines.Somepainkillersandmedicinesagainsttravellers-diarrhoeaarerecommendedtobring.ROADTRAVELWITHINVIETNAMVietnamhasanextensiveroadinfrastructureincludingnationalroadsandsecondaryroads.Mostroadsareingoodcondition,butthereareafewexceptions,withsomegreatgravelroadsforouroff-roadexperience–yeahhh!Traffic.InVietnamthetrafficisontheright-handsideandchaotic,especiallyinbiggercities/townslikeHanoi.Butwhendrivingslow,accidentsarelesslikelytohappen.Onthemainroadsbusesandtrucksareontopofthehierarchyandtakeoverwhenevertheyfeellikeit.Thiscanbeincurvesorwherever.Keepalwayscautiousand“expecttheunexpected”!Speedlimits.Keepaneyeoutforthedesignatedspeedlimitasthesemayvarydependingonroadconditionsandlawenforcementdoestakeplacenexttotheroad.
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Driver’slicense:Youmusthaveavaliddriver’slicenseissuedinyourowncountry.InternationalDriverslicense.Itismandatoryyoucarryanofficialtranslationofyourlicense/aninternationaldrivinglicense.Youshouldalwayshaveyourdriver’slicensewithyouwhenyouaredriving,asyouwillbeaskedtoproduceitifyouarepulledoverforanyreason.Fuel:Fuelisincludedinthetourpriceandwewillrefuelwiththewholegroup.
OTHERUSEFULINFORMATIONINSURANCEMakesurethatyouhaveatravel/medicalinsurancethatalsocoversmedicalevacuationbyair.Someoftheplaceswewillride,areremote.ERV(Swedishonly)offersagoodtravelsinsurancethatevencoversupto25.000krself-riskondamageofrentalmotorcycles.FULLCOVERAGEINSURANCEOPTIONThebikeshave3rdpartyinsuranceonly.Acomprehensivebikedamageinsuranceispossiblefor275$USDThisinsurancepolicycoverslost,theftoranydamagetothemotorbikecausedbyanaccidentorfall.Thepolicyexcludesany,personalmedicalinsurance,liabilitytoothervehiclesorinjurycausedtoanotherparty.Contactusforfullcoverageanddetails.CURRENCY VietnamhastheVietnameseDong(VND).Thevalueis100.000Dong=40,5SEK/3,9€/4,3US$(January2019)
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ATM.Therearecashmachinesinbiggercitiesandtownsavailablewhereyoucanwithdrawnlocalmoney.CASH.BringUS$incash.Soyoucanalwayschangeincaseneeded.WATER. WaterinVietnamisnotsafetodrink.Whentravelingtoremoteruralareasyoushouldtakeyourowndrinkingwateralongorbuybottledwater.ELECTRICITY TheVietnameseelectricitysupplyis110/220voltsAC50HZ.InVietnamthepowersocketsusedareoftypeA,CandD.Checkoutthefollowingpictures(whenfromcontinentalEurope).Moreinfoyoucanfindhere:http://www.power-plugs-sockets.com
INTERNET/WIFI Youcanbuyalocalsim-cardwithinternetaccess.InternetandWi-Fiareaccessibleinurbanareasbutnoteverywhereinruralareas.TIPSANDTIPPING Asaroughguide:givelike10%toawaiterinarestaurant.SECURITY Vietnamisasavecountry.Butusecommonsenseandtakebasicsafetyprecautions.Keepvaluableslockedawayanddon’twearexpensivewatchesorjewellery,flashexpensivecameras,etc.Ifindoubt,askaguideoratyouraccommodationforsafetyguidelines.
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MISCELLANEOUS. AIRPORTPICK-UP/DROPOFF.Youwillbepickedupbyadriver(withaExplore360sign)whenarrivingatHanoiInternationalairportandbroughtbackwhendeparting.Pleasesendyourflightnumberandtimingstous.TRAVELSUITCASE/SOFT-BAG.Whentravelingwithallyourgearyoucanbringabigsuitcase.ThisoneyoucanleaveinhotelwherewestayuponarrivalandwhenwecomebacktoHanoi.Forduringthetour,pleasebringasmallersoft-bagforinthesupportcar.Therearesmallerwaterproofsoft-bagsavailabletostrapwithbungeecords(alsoavailable)onthebikesforrainclothesetc.incaseneeded.ACCOMMODATIONYouwillstayinsingleroominaluxury4*starintheOldQuarterinHanoithe1st,2ndandlastnight(thismightchangeduetoavailability).Duringthetouryou’llstayinguest-houses,hotelsandhome-stays(singleroomwhereavailable).Thehome-staysare(basic)sleepingdormitoriesatlocalpeople’shomeandtrulyenhancesthewholeexperience.PLEASEDOGETINCONTACTWITHUSIFYOUHAVEANYFURTHERQUESTIONS!E-mail:[email protected]:+46-720150570
