Motorcycle Trip

This trip so far has been the highlight of my travels here. What amazed me the most was the diversity of the people. I had no idea, but Vietnam is filled with at least a dozen different ethnic minority tribes. But you won't encounter them unless you head out of the cities and into the highlands. After the lakes of the central highlands, we spent a few days skirting the border with China, where the area is filled with Karst mountains that jut out of the plateau like a knife.
For the trip we all rode Soviet made Minsks from late 70's. The motorcycles flooded into N.Vietnam with the arrival of soviet advisors during and after the war. It's a hearty bike and did well both on the highways and off-roading.
I could go on quite a bit about this trip, but instead I'll just give the itinerary that the agency gave me, with a little bit of their broken english.

DAY 1 Hanoi-Vu Linh [The town of Vu Linh is so small it doesn't even appear on maps]
We head North following the Red River until Vu Linh. This is a small charming village populated by Dao ethnics on the East bank of the Thac Ba Lake (the biggest in N. Vietnam). Our Dao Quan Trang friends welcome is in their traditional stilt house. Sprightly mood on the menu [meaning they were constantly filling our glasses with moonshine rice whisky]. Here we can have a boat rip on the lake and enjoy the surroundings.

Day 2 Vu Linh-Na Khan
We ride from Vu Linh to Na Khan through Thai Nguyen. The road is sealed all the way until Bac Kan and the last part from Bac Kan to Na Khan is wild and a bit bumpy. Na Khan is a Tay ethnic village, lost in the middle of the primitive forest. Mr.Lo, chief of the village will welcome us in his house.

Day 3 Na Khan-Ba Be
A short ride on bumpy roads to Ba Be National Park. Once at the lake, the boat and our captain, Mr.Dang bring us for a nice cruise. We cross the lake then slide down the Gam River until the Dau Dang waterfalls in the primary jungle. We eat with Pirate Ong, the cook of the jungle, memorable time. We spend the night in the house of Mr.Dang on the bank of the lake.

Day 4 Ba Be-Quang Uyen
Beautiful ride up to Cao Bang Province. Few passes from where you can see the area. The road is easy but many curves. We can stop a lot to take it all in. Altogether, including stops for drinks and food , it should be an 8 hour journey. Then ride 1 more hour to reach the beautiful villiage of Quang Uyen, in the middle of a mountain circle. This is the territory of the Hung An people. Spend the night in our friend's house.

Day 5 Quang Uyen-Ban Gioc-Quang Uyen
Having obtained permission from the border police we make our way through spectacular scenery to Vietnam's most impressive waterfalls [Ban Gioc]. Weather permitting we can swim right up to where the 50m high falls hit the river.

Day 6 Quang Uyen-Lang Son
We leave gently the region of the karts to enter the forest again. Then we take the famous colonial road CR4 until the frontier town of Lang Son, particular atmosphere. We sleep in guesthouse in front of the market.

Day 7 Lang Son-Hanoi
Small walk in the town of Lang Son. Return to Hanoi, easy road.

Here are the rest of the pics from the trip.