Thứ Sáu, 19 tháng 9, 2014

Some main features of the Red Dao minority in the North of Vietnam

During our Vietnam motorbike tours, our customers can meet a lot of different minority people on their way to Northeast and Northwest of Vietnam, in which the Red Dao minority create a deep impression to all visitors.

Here are some main features of the minority:

Costume:
Red Dao women usually wear a long blouse over trousers. Their clothes are colorfully embroidered with designs that appear on both sides of the material. The men typically wear a short shirt with long trousers, and a head-scarf. Both men and women have a square piece of fabric on the back of their shirts which represents that they are children of God. They wear similar hairstyles – long on top, with the rest smoothly shaved. Many women shave their eyebrows as well. Women also wear a distinctive red triangular shaped turban decorated with silver coins and red tassels.



Housing:
The Dao ritual to select land for a new house is very important. At night, the household digs a bowl sized hole and fill it with rice grains that represent people, cows, buffalos, money and property. The family will know where to build the house based on the dreams that follow during the night. In the morning, the family inspects the hole to see if the rice remains – if not, the house will be built elsewhere. During the Vietnam motorbike rides, if you want, we will arrange 1 night for you to stay in the house of the Red Dao.

Social organization:
The Red Dao men play a dominant role in the family, community and the economy. They also play a major role in ceremonies such as marriages, funerals, and building new houses. The Dao people have many different family names. Each lineage has its own system of different middle names to distinguish people of different generations.

Birth:
The Red Dao women usually give birth in their bedroom with help of their mother and sisters. The new born is given a bath with hot water. The family hangs green tree branches or banana flowers in front of the door to prevent evil spirits from bringing harm and wickedness to the baby. When the baby is three days old, they celebrate a ritual in honour of the mother.

Marriage:
Parents select partners for their sons. When a boy is fourteen or fifteen years old, his father takes him to have a look at a girl he thinks is fit and healthy and can help with the housework. The couple chosen to be married then have to consult a diviner who judges their compatibility based in a ritual using a chicken leg, and their horoscopes.

The girl’s value is shown by how many silver coins, chickens, pigs and jars of rice wine the boy’s family have to give her family.

During the marriage ceremony, it is customary to stretch a piece of string in front of the procession. The groom carries the bride on his back, and she must step over a blessed pair of scissors to cross the threshold into his house.

When a family has no son, the parents can buy a groom who will live happily with his bride’s family. However, if a boy is so poor that his family can’t afford a dowry, he has to live in his bride’s house – which causes him great shame.

It is great if you can witness this happy day of the couple when you ride Vietnam dirt bike tours there.


Funerals:
When there is a death in the family, the deceased’s children have to invite a man called thay tao to supervise the rituals and find the right piece of land for a grave. The deceased is wrapped in a mat, placed in a coffin inside their house and carried to a grave built of stones. In the past, if the deceased was over 12 years old the body was cremated.

The funeral rituals celebrated ensure that the deceased rests in peace. The ceremony, which lasts for three days, usually coincides with initiation rites for Red Dao boys. The first day liberates the spirit of the deceased, the second day is a time to worship the deceased in the home, and the third day is the boy’s initiation rite.

The boy has to sit on a throne at the highest place in the village until he falls into hammocks hanging below him. This represents him falling down from the sky to be born on earth, another symbol of the Dao belief that they are the direct descendents of God.

Please join our Vietnam Motorcycle Tours to learn more about the Red Dao people.

Thứ Hai, 15 tháng 9, 2014

Our 6 day tour will take you along Black river

Discover North Center of Vietnam (ONC-01) is one of our best 6 day Vietnam motorbike tours. It is a combination of sightseeing and off-road riding which gives you the best view of the mountainous North Centre of Vietnam. It will take you along Black river (or Đà River) with challenging roads, wallowing in the wilderness of Moc Chau highland, overcoming Ta So road which is used only by local people and horses to catch up its infinite natural scenery and staying in the village of Black H’Mong tribe. The mountains, the valleys and the friendly local people constitute a wild but friendly living environment which would properly surprise you.
According to your riding level, we will choose a suitable way to gain the best of one of our most amazing Vietnam motorcycle tours
The cost for each itinerary might vary depending on the number of people in the group.

Most of our Vietnam dirt bike tours are private and personalised, can be customised before and during the journey, taking into account actual roads and weather conditions and also your change of expectations.

Dirtbike Travel organises all-inclusive full package Vietnam motorbike rides. The only exception is the request of travelers who wish to upgrade their accommodation for something more luxurious (but it will be depended on situation).
Including:
- Experienced tour guide on motorcycle (dirt bike);
- Dirt bike Honda XR/XR Baja 250cc with mandatory insurance;
- Gasoline and spare parts;
- Standard hotel (double, twins or triple shared room) and/or homestay (sleeping bags, mosquito nets, sheets, pillows...are provided);
- 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners with non-alcoholic beverages (Vietnamese food, Western food costs extra);
- All entrance fees, permits, tickets, boat trips, ferries, bamboo rafts, etc;
- Dirtbike Vietnam provides support. We are with you along the way;
- Vietnamese tea and drinking water.
Not including:
- Support vehicle (Mishubishi Triton) for luggage transport, back up bike and service;
- Personal expenses, personal medical insurance;
- Drinks other than tea and local rice wine;
- Single room supplement if you request a single room;
- Motorbike protection pants, jacket, gloves, helmet, rain gear and other safety equipment at favourable rental rate;
- Train or flight tickets before and after your tour;
- Breakfast on the departure day and dinner on the return day;
- Accommodation and food in Hanoi;
- Tips.
Contact us to join one of the best motorcycle tours Vietnam ever in your life.

Thứ Năm, 11 tháng 9, 2014

Leave Hanoi Capital for Ninh Binh, enjoy the beautiful sceneries of the rural areas

If you have 2 days and want to join Vietnam motorcycle tours in this short time like that, we, Vietnam dirtbike travel will introduce you one place. It is Ninh Binh.

Just 100km south of Ha Noi, Ninh Binh Province offers a world of natural and cultural heritage to explore. Hoa Lu was the first capital of the independent Vietnam, under the Dinh dynasty and the early Le Dynasty (968-1009). Tam Coc, better known as "Ha Long Bay on land", is also one of astounding natural beauty with limestone peaks whose splendor is often said to surpass that of Ha Long Bay. Cuc Phuong national park is the first recognized and best preserved nature reserve in Vietnam. The Park’s primary tropical rainforest is home to an amazing variety of wildlife and in recent years several species have been discovered here.



And here is the itinerary of one of the best Vietnam motorbike tours:

Day 1:
In the early morning,  we will jump on our dirtbike and spend sometime to get familiar with the bikes, then leave Hanoi Capital, start your Vietnam motorbike rides to Ninh Binh, enjoying the beautiful sceneries of the rural areas on the way. About 11h00 we arrive Phat diem Cathedral which is built of large stones and big wood pillar during 24 years.

Coming back to Ninh binh city for lunch at local restaurant.

After lunch you will get on bamboo boat - rowed by the local people - in Hoang Long river to visit Tam Coc (three caves) on the way, you also have a chance to see the paddy field if you visit Tam Coc in April or September.

Dinner in local restaurant. Overnight in Ninh Binh.


Day 2:
07h30AM: Riding Vietnam motorcycle travel about an hour on picturesque quiet roads through villages, rice fields, rivers and rocky outcrops to Cuc Phuong national park. We take a 2 hours trek through the old rainforest then we have lunch on the forest.
After having lunch, we will visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre to learn about the important work being done to help protect the endangered species of the park and riding back to Hanoi.
Finish one of your best motorcycle tours Vietnam in life.

Thứ Ba, 9 tháng 9, 2014

Best time to ride up North

Dirtbike Travel is specialized in organizing custom Vietnam motorcycle tours covering every destination in Vietnam. All of our trips are designed to suit every rider with different preferences such as laidback sightseeing tours, intensive enduro tours and everything in between.


Many riders who want to join our Vietnam motorbike rides always ask us about the weather especially in the north of Vietnam for the weather here is the most unpredictable weather in Vietnam.

Here is some information about the weather of outstanding places in our Vietnam motorbike tours for your reference:

The climate in Sapa and Vietnam’s far north-west is divided into two seasons:  the dry season runs from October to late March with  the wet season lasting  from April to September. It can get very cold in December and January, especially at night. In winter, sometimes, you will see snow and ice in Sapa and some places around.


The best months for motorcycle tour Vietnam in the north-east (Ha Giang) is during the dry season, from October to April, although December and January can get very cold. We recommend avoiding Vietnam dirt bike tours  in Ha Giang during the rainy season (May to September).

Daytime temperatures range from 15-28°C, and night-time temperatures from 10-18°C. Trekking and motorcycling are possible year round, however the wintertime can be rather chilly, and the summer rather wet.

Thứ Bảy, 6 tháng 9, 2014

Some brief information about DMZ

Many our customers want to join our Vietnam motorbike tours which are the combination of sightseeing and visiting the old battle fields.

With your intend, the Vietnam motorbike rides to DMZ will satisfy you. We would like to provide some brief information about DMZ:



The Geneva Conference on July 21, 1954, recognized the 17th parallel as a "provisional military demarcation line" temporarily dividing the country into two states, Communist North Vietnam and "Free" South Vietnam. The Vietnam motorcycle travel of DMZ will bring you the historical study about the war between Vietnam and USA in the years from 1954 to 1975. Besides, you will explore the charming of the nature here with forest, mountain range and river…

So, what you can see when joining our Vietnam motorcycle tours to DMZ?

Dong Ha Town: was the location on a strategically important U.S. Marine Combat Base, outposted to provide surveillance of troops movements across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

Doc Mieu base: One part of an elaborate electronic system (McNamara’s wall) intended to prevent infiltration across the DMZ.

Hien Luong bridge: known as the "Peace Bridge", a beam bridge built from steel by the French in 1950

Ben Hai river: an important landmark in the partition of the country into a northern and a southern zone along the 17th parallel by the Geneva Accords of 1954

Cua Tung beach: the river flows from west to east just south of the 17th parallel and close to the northern border of Quang Tri Province


Vinh Moc tunnels: The complex of tunnel, located deep in the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone, grew to include wells, kitchens, rooms for each family and spaces for healthcare.

So contact us for a great motorcycle tour Vietnam to DMZ.

Thứ Sáu, 5 tháng 9, 2014

Riding in Sapa will be one of your favourite days

Sapa is always considered as one of the most must-see destinations in the North west of Vietnam. It is a really good place for both refreshing and discovering. Beside ideal weather that is cool all year round; picturesque landscapes with mountains stretching endlessly, green valleys, traditional trade village of ethnic minorities, forest of bamboo tree, terraced field, and stunning scenery, Sapa is also well-known as one of the best place for off-road Vietnam Motorcycle Tours.

Winding roads connecting Sapa town with many remote villages of different ethnic minorities are not always flat and easy. In some places, the roads are really challenge and very difficult to conquer during your motorbike tours in Vietnam. You will have opportunity to try a single track on the way back or follow the off-road going to the far remote village. Riding in Sapa will be one of your favourite days when joining our Vietnam motorbike tour.



After an adventure day tour, coming back to the hotel in Sapa town to take a hot shower or having dinner with local food in an wooden house of the Red Dao will make your day much more interesting.

Come and ride with Vietnam dirtbike travel, we dedicated to helping you discover the best of Vietnam through our Vietnam motorcycle tour.

Thứ Tư, 3 tháng 9, 2014

"I had the time of my life"

Vietnam dirtbike travel is built not only to help you discover the best of Vietnam but also create a common playing-field for both Vietnamese travelers and foreign travelers.

We are very professional in organizing Vietnam motorcycle tours, especially off-road Vietnam motorcycle tours.



Our customers for Vietnam motorbike rides come from many different countries in the world such as: Sydney, Australia; Ommerschans; Vientiane, Laos; Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Singapore, Bergen, Norway; Berlin, Germany; Colmar, France; America…However, the major are from America, Germany and Australia.

Let see some of their reviews after enjoying our services:

Ms. Kaska M from Poland but now lives and works in Shanghai, China:
“I've tried riding a motorcycle off-road for the first time - and I loved it, mostly due to great help of the Dirt Bike Travel ;) The tour is very exciting but also educative. Home stay at the local family was unforgettable as well as the views and places we've seen. I recommend”.

Mr. Martijn from South Africa
Just got back from my trip to Vietnam and a definite highlight was the motorbike tour Vietnam through Northern Vietnam and the assistance of Dirt Bike Travel. I was welcomed like a friend, invited for dinner and beers and attended a wedding! Most definitely because of Dirt Bike Travel and the group of people attached to this great company. A variety of itineraries were offered, even though I changed my route and plans every other day to be honest, and I loved the bike. A great feeling to have your freedom and go as you please to discover those places where the busses with tourists never come. This has changed my way of looking at travelling and I can recommend it to everybody. For the adventurous; you can do it by yourself on one of their bikes, but to take a guide and go with a group of friends will make things even better. The bike was in good condition and never let me down on the 2000 km trip, I was given spare parts and tools if I would need anything and an emergency number to get hold of 24/7. I had one of the best adventures of my life!!


And there are many many other reviews for your reference if you are intending to join Vietnam motorbike tours. You can read them here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293924-d4025487-Reviews-Dirtbike_Travel-Hanoi.html