Friday, September 26, 2014

Paradise of street food in Vietnam

Foodies who count Vietnamese food as a favorite find themselves in culinary paradise when visiting Vietnam, where finding delicious and iconic fare requires little more than a table and a set of chopsticks. One of Vietnam’s most enduring traditions is street food — where the country’s tastiest food is served up on sidewalks atop plastic stools in the open air. Cooks here whip up family specialties right on the pavements as hungry passers-by gather around miniature furniture to get a taste. As a traveler, especial a riders who join our Vietnam motorbike tours, missing out on experiencing street food in its natural environment would mean missing out on one of Vietnam’s most important cultural elements.

If you have time, please enjoy street food at the 4 best cities on the way of our Vietnam motorcycle tours from the North to the South of Vietnam.


Hanoi

Hanoi is proud of its food, and that pride becomes pretty clear with just a stroll down a road in the Old Quarter, Hanoi’s historical center. Most pavements are packed with diners hunched over plastic tables at all times of the day and into the night, with the city’s most bustling nightlife centered squarely on where the best food stalls are located. While many city’s social gatherings take place over beers or cocktails, Hanoi’s almost always include food, and with prices of street food so low, it’s possible to enjoy an expertly cooked dish for every meal when traveling here.

Hanoi is never, ever short on delicious food, and nearly everything you’ll try in the Old Quarter is delicious. That said, no visitor to Hanoi should ever be forgiven for skipping bun cha, bun rieu, bun ca, ngan nuong or bun ngao — and those that do will have missed out on some of Hanoi’s tastiest specialties.

Sapa

The misty mountain town of Sapa is famous for its mysterious atmosphere and ethnic minority locals — but one of its best features is its incredible food. The cold, humid and foggy weather makes eating in Sapa equal parts an enjoyable past-time and a matter of staying warm. Eating in Sapa is an adventure in flavors and cooking, since much of the food in Sapa is cooked oven a sizzling open flame in the open.

Sapa street food is more savory, warm and filling than the rest of the country, with flame-grilled barbeque along with beef, chicken or fresh seafood a particular favorite. Street vendors regularly grill up pork skewers, duck eggs, sweet potatoes and chestnuts, too, with a lighter snack of com lam, or sticky rice in a bamboo pipe.


Hoi An

Among all of the central cities renowned for delicious food, Hoi An is regularly touted as the best. The ancient city has centuries of history that it draws its distinct culinary flavors from, with influences from Japan, China and other neighboring countries thanks to its history as a major port city. Plus, the city is quieter than many of its more urban counterparts, so eating on the street here is as relaxing as it is delicious.

Street food stalls along the Thu Bon River cook up Hoi An specialities year-round, but specialize in a few dishes that are found almost exclusively in Hoi An. The absolute favorite is cao lau, which features noodles with a distinct Japanese twist, but don’t miss out on a few other favorites, like mi quang, banh can and banh it.

Ho Chi Minh City

Just like its northern culinary cousins, Ho Chi Minh City is a hub for street food, but has a particular taste that’s different from the rest of the country. Thanks to the year-round heat, food in Ho Chi Minh City is thinner and sweeter than the north, so many of its iconic dishes (including pho) trade northern Vietnam’s thick and savory tastes for something decidedly lighter.

Ho Chi Minh City’s signature sweetness is best showcased with its specialties, including pho cuon (fresh spring rolls in a sweet dipping sauce), com tam (broken rice with a choice of sides) and bun thit nuong (a peanut-infused noodle and meat dish in a sweet soup). End any meal with the city’s iconic sweet soup che, which can be found around Vietnam, but is especially popular in HCMC.

Now, do you feel hungry, it’s time to book our motorcycle tours Vietnam to enjoy the best street food in your life.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Learning the culture of the Tay people with Vietnam Dirtbike travel

Learning the culture of the Tay people with Vietnam Dirtbike travel

Vietnam Dirtbike Travel Tours offers trips to suit everyone. Just take a look at the Rental Task and you’ll see that we have suitable bikes for both male and female riders. Our dirtbike Vietnam motorcycle tours include: sightseeing tour, enduro tour or a combination of both.

With our motorbike tours Vietnam, you can visit some of the most outstanding destinations in the north of Vietnam. In each place, tourists can have a change to learn more about the ethnic minorities there.


Today, we would like to introduce you the Tay people:

With a population of about 1,200,000 inhabitants, the Tay is the largest group in the community of ethnic minorities in Vietnam. Tay language belongs to the Tay-Thai Group.

The Tay have other names such as Tho, Ngan, Phen, Thu Lao and Pa Di. The Tay inhabit along the valleys and lower slopes of mountains in Cao Bang, Lang Son. Bac Thai, Quang Ninh provinces and in some regions of Ha Bac province.

The Tay preserve a traditional and fairly developed agriculture with a cultivation of all kinds of plants including rice, maize, sweet potato, etc.and seasonable fruit and vegetables.

The Tay villages are always set up at the foot of a mountain or along a stream and are named after a mountain, a field or a river. Each village contains about 15-20 households. A large village is divided into many small hamlets. The houses are built on stilts or level with the ground. The houses in frontier region are called ”defense houses” which are often protected against interlopers by a stone wall along with a ditch.

The interior is divided into two rooms, the front one reserves for men and the rear one serves as women’s bedroom.

The Tay clothes are generally dyed with indigo. Women wear a below knee-length dress split at the right side up to the armpit with five buttons and narrow sleeves.


The Tay prefer sons to daughters. Prescriptions in relationship between members of the family are obviously dictated. The couples live in harmony. Divorce is rare. Matrilocate is no longer observed.
Ancestor worship is the regilious rite of the Tay. The ancestor altar is placed in a central and grand place of the house. Strange guests are not allowed to sit on the bed in front of the altar. Moreover, they ought to refrain from stepping on a fired firewood in the kitchener or on the later’s side. Those who are back from a funeral ceremony abstain from watching cattle and poultry if they have not taken a bath. After giving birth, the women are not permitted to come near the ancestor altar.
The Tay possess a rich traditional folklore with all kinds of poems. songs, dances and music. Proverbs and folk songs are numerous. Tay folk songs have the turn (a kind of duet between lovers). wedding songs and lullabies.

The Tay are hospitable, open-familiar and talkative. They have respect for the same-aged people. Once they have fraternized with other persons-they consider the laters their next of kin.

In many itineraries of our Vietnam motorbike tours, you can see the destination of Vu Linh where you can spend one night home-stay in the house of the Tay people.

An extraordinary experience, lost in learning and meetings

An extraordinary experience, lost in learning and meetings

Vietnam Dirtbike Travel plays a major role in setting up many leading Vietnam motorcycle tours in Vietnam and together with Dirtbike-Friends members we have explored and learnt every parts of Vietnam deeply for over 10 years. Our goal is to share the mania for riding motorbikes to discover the wildernesses of the country.

For more than 10 years experience in organizing motorbike tours Vietnam, we know you join the tour to learn deeply the culture of the local people in every part of our country.


Today, we will introduce you about the home-stay in Mai Chau, Hòa Bình:

Situated in a magnificent valley 150 km northwest of Hanoi, Mai Chau is home to the Thai minority people who live in remarkable wooden stilt house. The rolling hills with their beautiful rice terraces are ideal for walking. The verdant and rugged mountain scenery combined with the colorful local population makes this an unforgettable experience.

Coming to Lac Village, you will see stilt houses border both sides of the roads. Spend a night in the village, in a stilt house, share a meal with your hosts will leave interesting memories. They will welcome you with friendly smiles. Lac village is populated by Thai White people surrounded by gardens and rice fields.

The houses are quite large with palm leaf roofs and polished bamboo-slat floors. The kitchen is located in the center of the house; the cooking as well as the making of the colorful tho cam, the material used by Thai minority to make their clothes, takes place in the kitchen. The windows are large and decorated with patterns. Each house also has a pond to breed fish. The Sunday market brings a lot of people into town. People from different minorities living in the mountains come to Mai Chau market to sell their specific products: honey, bananas, corn, and tho cam made by skilled Thai women. The Sunday market is also an occasion to enjoy traditional Thai dishes and to participate in traditional dances.

This is an extraordinary experience, lost in learning and meetings. Indeed you can also participate in the daily activities of the locals, ride a bike through the countryside, discover the weaving of fabrics by women on an old loom, or learn to cook Thai minorities’ dishes.

To experience the real Vietnam, please contact us to book the best Vietnam motorbike tours.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Motorbike tours to Northwest of Vietnam to discover the diversity

Motorbike tours to Northwest of Vietnam to discover the diversity

On a rainy summer’s day in Ha Noi, some group of Western backpackers, bags fastened to their muddy Vietnam motorcycle tours, return to the crowded city after riding through some of Viet Nam’s northwest provinces.

It is no surprise that in recent years, the Northwest has become a popular destination for eager Vietnamese and Western backpackers with a taste for the unfamiliar. Cultural diversity is among many reasons why tourists have flocked to the region.


The Northwest now consists of Lao Cai, Hoa Binh, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Phu Tho provinces. The local markets are a vibrant hub for trade and cultural exchange, and word is spreading.

For those looking to avoid the scourge of excess luggage, the northwest is fast becoming famous as the ‘land of traditional festivals’. Tourism maps boast an active calendar of fairs that have become famous across the region, including the Khau Vai ‘love market’ in Ha Giang and the Bac Ha market in Lao Cai, recently voted one of the top 10 most unique fairs in Asia.

Visitors can also escape to the mountainous provinces and immerse themselves in unique folk festivals, ranging from the popular fire dancing festival of the Pa Then people to the horse races in Bac Ha.

The region’s rich biodiversity provides a stunning backdrop for tours. Many tourists choose to experience nature first hand by riding through one of the many winding mountain passes in our Vietnam motorbike tours. O Quy Ho in Lao Cai and Ma Pi Leng in Ha Giang have become a rite of passage for many young visitors to the region.


Many customers have a deep impression on the fascinating journey along a picturesque 70km strech of road from Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai) to Muong La (Son La). Especially, in the time of harvest season, terraced rice fields in Mu Cang Chai are always the highlight of our motorbike tours Vietnam.

"It was one of the most treacherous sections in the northwest and a main destination for backpackers. Sometimes we had to get off the bike to push it, because the path was so slippery. But the mountainous scene was stunning with waterfalls and streams lining the path. I also have fond memories of the dangerous zig-zag mountain paths and the charming Ha Giang landscapes."

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Harvest Season in North of Vietnam

From September to October, the fanciful scenery of terraced fields during the harvest season attracts many riders

Vietnam Dirtbike Travel plays a major role in setting up many leading motorcycle tours in Vietnam and together with Dirtbike-Friends members we have explored and learnt every parts of Vietnam deeply for over 10 years. Our goal is to share the mania for riding Vietnam motorbike tours to discover the wildernesses of the country.

In many motorbike tours Vietnam, you can see Mu Cang Chai’ terraced rice fields are always the highlight of our tour.

Mu Cang Chai is a western district of the Yen Bai province in Northern Vietnam. Mu Cang Chai is famous for its terraced fields. The terraced fields here are mostly located in three towns: La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha and Ze Xu Phinh. These three towns were ranked as National Famous Landscapes. Due to that, from September to October, the fanciful scenery of terraced fields during the harvest season attracts many riders to this area.

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The mountain pass, Khau Pha, with a 30km-long, and high slope, make the Northwest area full of obstacles and difficult to access, but deep in mystery. When joining our Vietnam motorcycle tours, all riders can have a chance to overcome the mountain pass and for sure, all of you will be satisfied with the view of the terraced fields in the dusky mist and pure white clouds. The terraced fields, as hundreds of different soft ridges, make up the framework of this land with an altitude over 1000m, which captivates hearts. The all-yellow hillsides of ripe rice seedlings, circling around the terraces – all of these things make up a dreamy beauty; enchanting, romantic and serene. This is a very distinguishing beauty; generous for all visitors, but only during the special Mu Cang Chai harvest season. There are also round roads – no matter how many times visitors turn around, they will be surprised by Mu Cang Chai’s amazing beauty in each turn. Terraced fields and ripe rice seedlings are mixed under the hands of nature, creating an endless sea of yellow. These appear and disappear alternately with the small houses of the ethnic people, which stretches to the top of mountain.

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Mu Cang Chai’s beauty is not only shown by the miraculous scenery, but also the human presence here. The vision of the ethnic people harvesting the ripe, full-yellow rice seedling is like a mixture of colors, brightening up the corner of the Northwest sky. The pattern on the colorful costumes of the ethnic people here is drawn by beeswax mixed with color. Therefore, the costumes of the ethnic people in Mu Cang Chai always have special colors that no other dyes can create. Normally, people here harvest in the afternoon, since it’s the time when the sunshine is most bright. People are hurrying for the harvest season, otherwise all of the ripe seedling rice will fall down and there will be no more sunshine to dry it up. There are families with relatives of all generations to help with harvesting. Families take turns harvesting from one family to the next until it’s all harvested. Even the Red Dao ethnic minority woman brings her newborn baby with her while in the fields to harvest.

Now, you are ready to join with us for one of the best motorcycle tours Vietnam?

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Do not hesitate to tell us if you want more and more add on services

Beside Vietnam motorcycle tours, Vietnam dirtbike travel also provide many add-on services such as pick up and drop off service by private 4, 7, 16, 24 seat car. Our service’s include VIP airport pickup’s and transfers.  Quality well appointed Hotel and Guest house stays with private bathrooms (many would rate 4+ star back home) before and after the Vietnam motorbike tours. Most of these hotels are located in the very center of Hanoi or other provinces and cities.
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Enjoy great foods and cold drinks after hard but exciting days on the tour. “Customer feedback confirms” our choice in motorcycles are perfect for touring Vietnam which are easy to ride offer good comfort for both rider and pillion, Our bikes used for the motorcycle tour Vietnam are serviced and maintained to western standards and safety checked before each tour, and are “legal to ride in Vietnam”.
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We supply good helmets and other gear and you can rent them with very low prices. Besides, we alsp provide chased pick up car that comes loaded with ice cold drinks and snacks if you buy them from Hanoi and it will carry a back-up bike in case you have any problem with your bike when joining our motorbike tours Vietnam.

Please do not hesitate to tell us if you want more and more add on services. We will try our best to meet all of your demands.

Come ride with us!

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Moc Chau, a pretty little town in the northwest mountainous area of Vietnam

Moc Chau, a pretty little town in the northwest mountainous area of Vietnam

We are Vietnam Dirtbike travel, our company organize a lot of Vietnam motorbike tours to Moc Chau. Moc Chau Plateau is one the largest and most beautiful plateau in North Vietnam which is famous for cool temperature and interesting attractions such as: Doi cave, Thai Hung waterfall and large green tea fields. Besides the green and beautiful nature, the Moc Chau plateau is also a land of culture and traditions, with plenty of different colorful hill tribes such as: the Hmong, Muong, white Thai…it can also give you chances to discover the colorful culture of Vietnam. What’s more, the unique and delicious food made by the local is another reason to make tourists love Moc Chau.

Moc Chau, about 200 km away from Hanoi, is a pretty little town in the northwest mountainous area of Vietnam. This town is a very popular tourist destination, especially in spring when peach blossoms in bloom. Moc Chau is famous for its beautiful flower fields, green tea plants, fresh milk, and the “love market” of H’Mong ethnic minority. It’s true to say that in each month of the year you can see the different beauties of Moc Chau but the best time to come to the plateau is from January to May when you can see the most green nature with many different kinds of flowers.


It’s not too far from Hanoi but it need 2 days to have enjoyable motorbike tours Vietnam from Hanoi to this plateau. Many Vietnam motorcycle tour organizers design motorbike rides to Moc Chau but touring with us we will take you almost on the countryside back-roads and beautiful mountain passes also we can offer some fun offroad motorbike ride to Moc Chau. Besides, the Vietnam motorbike tours to this area including some interesting home stays that make the trip really unique experience. Here is some of our Motorcycle tours Vietnam including Moc Chau plateau.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Just follow Vietnam Dirtbike travel, our experienced guide will show you Mai Chau with our way

Do not have much time to the remote mountainous areas to see the real Vietnam with the imposing mountain passes, hill tribes and rice paddies…Do not worry about it, you will still be very satisfied with our 2 day Vietnam Motorbike Tours  with Vietnam Dirtbike travel to Mai Chau from Hanoi then you will have concept of what the hidden charm of Vietnam is.



Mai Chau valley is a rural district of Hoa Binh province in the northwestern region of Vietnam. The scenery, lovely people and the great local food of Mai Chau attract more and more tourists. The local people here include of The Muong and The Thai people who mostly live in the wooden houses on the stilts make Mai Chau become a beautiful land with rich culture.

The houses of the local people here are very special. Mai Chau is famous for its stilt houses – the type of houses which is constructed from bamboo and timber. The houses are about 2 meters off the ground in order to avoid water damage and shelter animals. Most of foreign and domestic tourists who come to Mai Chau choose to do home stay with the local, especially riders who want to join motorbike tours Vietnam to experience the real Vietnam. To them, one night home-stay is a real highlight of the Vietnam motorcycle tour for it is the best way to experience the culture and the hidden charm of Mai Chau.


There are 3 different roads to the valley. Most of non-adventure tourists take a bus tour then drive straight from Hanoi on the big and busy highway No 6. It takes just about 3.5 hours from Hanoi city center; however you can just follow Vietnam Dirtbike travel, our experienced guide will show you Mai Chau with our way. we will take you there by smaller roads, but you will get chances to see more interesting things about countryside of Vietnam, get away from tourists and have concept what the Real Vietnam is.

We have at least 2 day motorcycle tours Vietnam from Hanoi to Mai Chau or just visit our website to take one of our North Vietnam Motorcycle Tour so you will have chances to see Mai Chau because most of our motorcycle tours to NorthVietnam run through this great valley of Mai Chau.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

We try our best to care about your trips

With dozen years of guiding and organizing motorbike tours Vietnam, we know what, where and how to ride a motorcycle tour as you wish and we know for sure the flexibility is the most important thing to make the motorcycle tours Vietnam suitable most to motorcyclists. We, Vietnam dirtbike travel is trying our best to care about your trips and just to make them become the most relaxed and enjoyable motorbike trips. Please view the ways we make a motorcycle touring in Vietnam below:

Most of our tours start and finish in Hanoi however upon on your request we can design the tours start and end in any cities of Vietnam.
All our guided Vietnam motorcycle tours include at least 1 guide for group of 1 to 6 riders, and add more guide for a bigger group. All of our guides have good demand of the interesting mountain routes therefore you just ride safely after them and enjoy the scenery and special things along the way. For us, thing to make a wonderful trip is not where to go but it is how to go, who to go with and what to see along the way. Those influence on the way we make a motorbike tour for you.
We always do our best to design a Vietnam motorcycle tour’s itinerary which can be most suitable to your wishes, and we are ready to accommodate those unexpected developments that may alter your plans at the last minute (travel delays, bad weather, changing road conditions, illness…). We are flexible and always willing to discuss making necessary changes to your itinerary.

Motorcycle touring is a special holiday on 2 wheels therefore we will count for you not to ride too long or too short a day. Tours usually start around 8.30 AM and end at around 5 PM. Somewhere stops is in every 20-30 minutes ) to visit special attractions, enjoy scenery, take pictures or have rest with  local drinks.

About your luggage, each rider has his/her own bike with saddle bags so we can help to keep your small luggage safely in the saddle ones or tie your bigger bag at the back of your bike. We also provide support chased pick up car (if you request) which can carry whatever you would like to bring with and also one back up bike on that.

Riding experience is necessary to have perfect motorcycle tours Vietnam. For non-experienced rider can travel as a pillion passenger on the bike of tour guide or other friends. We also provide a motorbike riding lesson for beginners and non-experienced riders with a friendly cost. We can also offer 1 hour to practice riding motorbike for free for ones who used to ride motorbike but haven’t ridden for many years or want to check their levels.