Lao Culture in Dien Bien: 3-Day Motorbike Tour
I. Tour introduction
MUONG LAOS 3 days
3 days
No one knows exactly when the Lao people first came to Dien Bien. Today they live in a handful of villages across Dien Bien and Dien Bien Dong districts, and they have kept their culture alive: distinctive traditional dances such as the lam vong, and remarkable handicrafts — Lao women are gifted brocade weavers, and the villages still practise blacksmithing, basketry and hand-thrown pottery on the turning wheel.
This Dien Bien tour takes you into the villages of the Lao Noi (Vietnam is home to two Lao groups, the Lao Boc and the Lao Noi). The route leads to some of the wildest corners of Dien Bien, places no tourist has ever set foot in.
II. Tour at a glance
| Duration | 3 days |
|---|
III. Itinerary summary
| Day | From | To | Distance (km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dien Bien | Bung Bua | 50km |
| 2 | Bung Bua | Na Sang – Muong Phang | 120km |
| 3 | Muong Phang | Dien Bien |
IV. Detailed itinerary
Day 1Dien Bien – Bung Bua [50km]
Our guide and vehicle meet you at the airport and take you to our office to load up your gear. After a rest, the guide goes through the itinerary again, checks that everything is ready and briefs you on what to keep in mind during the trip.
13:00 We set off towards the Tay Trang border gate, stopping to light incense at the Noong Nhai memorial (on 25 April 1954 French aircraft bombed the internment camp here, taking the lives of 444 villagers). We visit the Hong Cum historical site before continuing along narrow trails that follow the clear He Muong stream, past beautiful terraced fields set among silent mountains.
Together we take on the Chua Ta cave, listed as a national scenic landmark in 2015.
As the sun goes down we explore a H’Mong village that still has no electricity and where the track in is rough going.
Overnight with the villagers
- Meals: lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: H’Mong village
Day 2Bung Bua – Na Sang – Muong Phang [120km]
After breakfast with the family and farewells to the villagers, we ride on to a beautiful Lao village of traditional stilt houses, where we learn about the craft of brocade weaving and listen to the traditional Lao khene.
We head into the wild country of Dien Bien Dong, where H’Mong hamlets cling to the mountain tops. We stop for lunch, rest and khene music with a H’Mong family. In the afternoon we ride through magnificent mountain scenery before arriving at Muong Phang Homestay, where you can relax and soak in a herbal bath prepared with local medicinal leaves.
In the evening the women of the village gather round a campfire to share the distinctive dances of the Black Thai of the Northwest.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: Muong Phang Homestay
Day 3Muong Phang – Dien Bien
After breakfast we visit the Headquarters of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, where General Giap and the command staff of the 1954 battle set up their base, in tunnels dug beneath the forest canopy of the Pu Don range.
We then follow a forest road across the suspension bridges of Pa Khoang Lake and return to Dien Bien Phu city.
End of the tour.
- Meals: breakfast
V. Tour prices
Motorbike – self-ride, 1 rider per bike
| Vehicle / type of participation | 5–6 | 7–8 | 9–10 | 11–12 | 13–15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125cc semi-automatic | — | — | — | — | — |
| Win 135cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda Winner 150cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda CRF 150cc (enduro) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda 230-250cc (enduro) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda CRF 250cc (enduro) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda CB 500X (small adv) | — | — | — | — | — |
| CFMoto 450cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| CFMoto 525cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| CFMoto/Voge 800cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| BMW F800 GS | — | — | — | — | — |
| BMW R1200 GS | — | — | — | — | — |
| BMW R1250 GS | — | — | — | — | — |
| BMW R1300 GS | — | — | — | — | — |
| ChiangJiang Sidecar 750cc | — | — | — | — | — |
Motorbike – 2 people sharing one bike
| Vehicle / type of participation | 5–6 | 7–8 | 9–10 | 11–12 | 13–15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125cc semi-automatic | — | — | — | — | — |
| Win 135cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda Winner 150cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda CRF 150cc (enduro) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda 230-250cc (enduro) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda CRF 250cc (enduro) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda CB 500X (small adv) | — | — | — | — | — |
| CFMoto 450cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| CFMoto 525cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| CFMoto/Voge 800cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| BMW F800 GS | — | — | — | — | — |
| BMW R1200 GS | — | — | — | — | — |
| BMW R1250 GS | — | — | — | — | — |
| BMW R1300 GS | — | — | — | — | — |
| ChiangJiang Sidecar 750cc | — | — | — | — | — |
Motorbike – riding pillion with our rider
| Vehicle / type of participation | 5–6 | 7–8 | 9–10 | 11–12 | 13–15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125cc semi-automatic | — | — | — | — | — |
| Win 135cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda Winner 150cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda CRF 150cc (enduro) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda 230-250cc (enduro) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda CRF 250cc (enduro) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Honda CB 500X (small adv) | — | — | — | — | — |
| CFMoto 450cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| CFMoto 525cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| CFMoto/Voge 800cc | — | — | — | — | — |
| BMW F800 GS | — | — | — | — | — |
| BMW R1200 GS | — | — | — | — | — |
| BMW R1250 GS | — | — | — | — | — |
| BMW R1300 GS | — | — | — | — | — |
| ChiangJiang Sidecar 750cc | — | — | — | — | — |
Self-drive car tour prices
| Vehicle / type of participation | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 seater | — | — | — | — |
| UAZ | — | — | — | — |
| Jeep | — | — | — | — |
| Fortuner/Everest | — | — | — | — |
| Toyota Rav 4 | — | — | — | — |
| Tank 300 | — | — | — | — |
Car tour prices with driver
| Vehicle / type of participation | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 seater | — | — | — | — |
| UAZ | — | — | — | — |
| Jeep | — | — | — | — |
| Fortuner/Everest | — | — | — | — |
| Toyota Rav 4 | — | — | — | — |
| Tank 300 | — | — | — | — |
Children under 5 travel free; from 5 to under 12 the tour is charged at 75% of the adult price; from 12 years old the adult price applies.
A maximum of one child discount applies per two adults.
The tour price depends on the number of participants — the larger the group, the lower the price.
The tour price also depends on the vehicle and on how you travel (which car, which motorbike, whether you ride yourself or travel as a pillion passenger).
Tours run with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 15 participants.
VI. The price includes
- Transfers between Dien Bien Phu airport and our office, both ways,
- The vehicle selected in the price table above,
- A driver who specialises in mountain routes, knows the terrain well, and is courteous, professional and helpful,
- A guide for the whole journey: a local from one of the ethnic minority communities, born and raised in the area, professionally trained and with a deep knowledge of the history, culture and customs of the local peoples,
- Meals as per the programme: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners,
- One night at Muong Phang homestay (no private rooms) and one night in a family home in Bung Bua — not yet a homestay, so facilities there are fairly basic; we carry tents and sleeping bags if you would rather sleep under canvas,
- A local guide for the cave visit and vehicle parking fees in the villages,
- 1.5 L of water and a cool towel per day on board (for car trips),
- 1 litre of local rice wine per table at homestay dinners,
- Travel insurance,
VII. The price does not include
- VAT,
- Optional services such as entrance tickets, cultural performances and herbal baths… (you are free to choose; if you visit a site or use a service you pay for it directly on the spot)
- Other drinks, anything not listed under “Price includes”, costs arising during the trip, air tickets, personal expenses… and tips for the guide and driver.
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