Hanoi-Dong Dang

Three day ride from Hanoi to Chinese Border at Dong Dang and onto Lang Son (railway station back to Hanoi). Day 1 Hanoi to Thai Nguyen - easy ride. Stayed in guest house - many in Thai Nguyen. Day 2 Thai Nguyen to Binh Gia - pleasant ride climbing in undulating limestone scenery up to Binh Gia. Binh Gia has very limited or no accomodation. However a lovely family invited me to stay with them as I was passing and asking about a place to stay and I had a great evening eating with them and sharing a few Tet drinks. ( I think the town about 20 Km before Binh Gia has a guest house. I passed a sign but didn't see the place actually as I wanted to go further and thought there would be a place to stay in Binh Gia) Day 3 Binh Gia to Dong Dang (Chinese Border) then on to Lang Son for lunch and afternoon train back to Hanoi. Lots of ups and down through pleasant country. Carry plenty of water. I did the trip during Tet in 2007 - believe me I wouldn't have got far if I had stopped for just a small percentage of people who shouted me to have a drink with them as I was passing - Warning Hanoi Vodka can seriously affect bike handling :O