The road was a slow road, real rustic with all kinds of animals wandering about, produce being dried and pot holes everywhere. To slow me down even more I was given so many differing directions I eventually gave up as the next part of the ride was about 80km along a single track lane through the mountains. Need to start a ride like that earlier.

 

Isolated here!  

 

Day 20. Tuesday 04 Oct. 180 km

As leaving Yen Bai I spotted a motorbike seat shop. 8.30 am and already open. Had the seat modified due to not being comfortable, done and dusted 40 minutes, impressed!

An easy day followed riding along the valley up to the Lao Cai, Hekou Vietnamese/Chinese border.

The bike toppled as I was getting on after checking out a hotel. I burnt my right ankle badly on the exhaust.

 

Day 21. Wednesday 05 Oct. 163 km

Today I rode a loop from Lao Cai North West on road TL156 along the Chinese border to Trurong Mam Non Y Ty and back. A seriously good ride off the beaten track, over high mountains through Hill tribe villages.

 

China on the opposite river bank, near Lao Cai. 

 

So remote here, but they managed to build this! 

 

Stunning views, China in the background. 

 

Day 22.  06 Oct. 160 km

Lao Cai to Xin Man. Light rain in Lao Cai this morning as I crossed the Red River, which was brown! I was a little concerned as rain and the mountains don’t mix on a motorbike. But besides bad visibility and the cold high in the mountains, no problem.

 

A bridge over the Red River near the Chinese border, Lao Cai. 

 

The Chinese characters say “keep the f#ck away!”

 

My original plan to stay at Muong Khuong was cancelled as I arrived too early. Bac Ha my next stop was also early, so I decided to carry on to Xin Man. Tremendous views ruined by the weather.

This area is extremely remote near the Chinese border.

 

High in the mountains, cold and wet! The road I am heading to is just visible in the valley. About 1,650 meters, 5,400 feet high.

 

Arriving at Xin Man I found a small landslide! 

 

Day 23. 07 Oct. 155 km

Xin Man to Ha Giang via Hoang Su Phi and Bac Quang. What a ride, spectacular views all the way to Bac Quang, a bit too hazy for good photo’s, but great ride!

 

I decided to give this bridge a miss! 

 

 

The road in the distance was my goal today.

 

 

More rice terraces.  

Day 24. 08 Oct. 153 km

Ha Hiang to Dong Van, another day of great views and mountainous, winding roads.

The local veg shop in the mountains! 

 

Yet another great motor biking road! 

 

This small hill has the name “the fairies bosom!? I searched, but no nipple!  

 

The roads were full of young Vietnamese motorbike rider’s mostly heading the same way. Apparently they ride here from Hanoi to see the mountains, and book all the hotel rooms!

I arrived tired and thirsty to find no rooms available in the whole town. Turned away from four different hotels and told to try a home stay. Home stay! Long way to go! Tried one last hotel which had one room remaining……..VIP!

I bit the bullet as I did not want to sleep on the street! 1,400,000 vnd. Then they wanted my “permit”! I knew about this, but hoped to avoid paying to be in Vietnam again. It reminds me of Thailand, pay for a visa, pay to leave, pay pay…. So although I paid for a three month visa, I had to pay again for a “permit” to stay.

Well the room was great huge living room and bedroom, better than the street!

 

Nice living room! 

 

Bedroom not so bad! 

 

Day 25. 09 Oct. 149km

Dong Van to Bao Lac. Ieft Dong Van this morning to go to the most Northern point in Vietnam, Lung Cu. It’s 20/30 minute walk from the car park to the top but worth it. I later found out you can ride to five minutes from the top, but needed the exercise! I should go back often, the amount of beautiful, young Vietnamese ladies asking for photo’s with me kept me happy! But as I was breathing hard after the walk, they probably thought I was an old pervert, again!

 

Stunning views ruined by the haze! 

From Lung Cu I backtracked through Dong Vang and on to Meo Vac, another stunning ride. After taking in the views I continued to Bao Lac.

 

The most Northern point of Vietnam at the Chinese border. 

 

 

Looking down from the view point of the most Northern point of Vietnam. 

 

Such a pity about the smog! Or a cleverly taken atmospheric photo!

 

Day 26. Oct 10. 132 km

An easy ride today from Bao Lac to Cao Bang. Cold in the mountains, hot in the valley.

 

A nice view from my balcony at Cao Bang.  

 

 

Day 27. Oct 11. 83km

From Cao Bang I took a pleasant round trip to Quang Uyen. On the return trip I took a small side road where I had a chance to see and meet the locals. Really an enjoyable day.

 

Nice meeting (getting mugged by) the local school kids. 

 

 

The school kids having fun with my sunglasses. 

 

Fantastic trip report, top notch photos.

 

So the 'bike" came with panniers fitted?

 

 

The locals catching lunch at the pond.  

 

The only road to the village. 

Another nice and remote place. 

 

Great views looking down into the valley. 

Day 28. Oct 12, 140km about

Due North from Cao Bang to Pac Bo Cave on the Chinese border. The cave is where Ho Chi Mihn stayed when arriving back from exile. This is the beginning or end of the Ho Chi Minh Road.1880 km. I have ridden most but not all of it. The Pac Bo Cave and surrounding area are well worth visiting.

 

The start of the Ho Chi Minh Road. 

 

0 km Ho Chi Minh Road.