Ride yourself or take an easy rider?

Riding yourself

You choose the pace and the stops and you can change the plan on a bad day. You also carry the legal side (a valid licence and permit, see the preparation guide) and the road: mountain bends, slippery surfaces and fog need experience on a manual or semi-automatic bike.

Taking an easy rider

A local rider drives, so the licence question moves to them and you can look at the view. The route and the day plan are usually set by the operator. Ask how they handle a bad-weather day, who decides to wait or turn back, and whether insurance covers you as a passenger.

Either way

Check the status of the pass each morning and keep a spare day. A good operator and a careful solo rider both skip a pass on a red day.

Questions people ask

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Sources

Check current rules and prices before you go; they change.

• vietnamtourism.com