Voyage Vietnam MOTOTOURS ASIA | Vietnamese New Year (Tet, Tet Nguyen Dan) Fiesta Tour in 2009, Te celebration, ethnic Tet, family, homestay

TÊT FIESTA 2009

* This is the special offer from Voyage Vietnam(Vietnam motorcycle tours,motorbike adventures company) to our clients. We organize this tour to discover the special way the Tet holiday is celebrated in the countryside. You will stay with local families for a completely integrated and unique experience. (The Tet holiday is the celebration of the Lunar New Year - the biggest celebration in Vietnam).

Celebrating and parties are never end during Tet in Vietnam as we always call AN TET = Party during Tet, CHOI TET = visiting friends during Tet…
Tet is also beginning for the Spring with flowers and festivals . Tet marks the changing of time, end the “old year” and begin the “new year”. The “old” passed with bad things, unlucky gone. Wising for the “new” comes with good things, lucky and happiness.
Going for Tet Parties, don’t mention that having too much food and drinks as the Tet parties are never end in the Spring.
- For the Tet we do tipping each other called MUNG TUOI = wishing for the “new” age; for children = wishing them eat more, grow up fast, strong and successful at school. For adults = strong, successful in work and happiness in life. For old people = strong, ager, happiness.
- How much should you do for tipping during Tet? It doesn’t matter, it is value of the wishes most of people would try to get new notes from bank of 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 VND…but the note 10000 VND is the best choice with it’s red colour. You also need red colour envelope to keep the tipping money in (rate 1 USD ~ 16300 VND).
- Control yourself; never be upset, angry or saying any bad words, just talk about good things. Being happy

* Held once a year, this TET FIESTA 2009 with 2 options in Feb
* IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A PART OF 5-6 DAYS CONTACT US

* Itinerary 1 TET109: 12 days / 11 nights Jan 17^th - Jan 28^th 2009
* Itinerary 2 TET209: 15 days / 14 nights Jan 25^th - Feb 8^th 2009

Price

ITINERARY 1 (TET109): 12 days / 11 nights

Day 1 : Jan 17^th ’09: Hanoi – Mai Chau, 140km ~4h
It is getting more crazy traffic in Hanoi with people carrying goods for their Tet. We will slowly get out of Hanoi by passing the Tet Flower market on the Red River bank.
Ride along Black River upstream through villages of Viet and Muong people to see how they are preparing for this Tet. Visit Hoa Binh Hydro Electric Power Dam and having picnic lunch there.
The last 70 km in beautiful mountain road limestone karts, villages…we will make many photo-stops. If time is permitted we will make a short walk in those beautiful villages of White Thai people to learn about their traditions.
In the evening, enjoy the traditional dance of Thai people perform by local women in the village, you will be invited to join the group hand on hand dance till the late night and drink local “Ruou Can” liquor.

L,D, dance show
White Thai family

Day 2 : Jan 18^th ’09: Mai Chau – Hang Kia, 100km ~4h
Today we continue venturing onto Northern Vietnam by following the old National Highway No 6 which has been neglected for 20 years. The rough narrow road, cutting through many hill-tops makes the terrain difficult to maneuver, so the road transport is very limited. Sometimes, if lucky you might catch sight of a horse-drawn carriage or buffalo cart but, apart from that, this road is quite deserted. Along the way, we have excellent opportunities to learn about the people of different cultures, such as the Red Dao, Dao Tien, Muong and Thai ethnic groups. The people living here are very friendly and live a simple lifestyle. Typically they live by cultivating dry rice, vegetables and fruit at high altitudes and hunting in the wild forest.
At noon we stop for picnic lunch at the top of the pass and enjoy a beautiful view of spacious Moc Chau grassland and the Da River.
The afternoon will provide a real challenge. After heading out on New Highway 6, we make our way onto the torturous and bumpy road. However, exploring the H'mong hill tribe’s colourful customs and majestic mountainous scenery makes the hardship all worthwhile.

B,L,D
H’Mong family

Day 3 : Jan 19^st Hang Kia – Bac Yen, 140km ~5h
In the morning walking in the village to explore the H'mong hill tribe’s habits and customs visit our H’mong friends’ families,
A real challenging ride on bumpy, dirt and rocky road through nature forest, before arriving into the beautiful grasslands of Moc Chau have the best of both words and breath-taking scenery which is favoured by nature and covered with clouds all year round. It seems to offer the most ideal climate condition in Northwest Vietnam. Moc Chau's flora is diverse, ranging from forest and tea plantations to fruit hills. Drop down to Black River and take a ferry to pass on the other side. Ride along the river before heading up hill to Bac Yen village where we will stay with our Thai friend.

B,L,D, Ferry
Thai family

Day 4 : Jan 20^th ’09: Bac Yen – Tuan Giao, 170km ~5h
The journey north continues onto Son La, following the 113 Highway. Along the way, there are superb landscapes with green valley and terraced rice fields. Passing the Chen Pass to the largest "maize" and "manioc" forest, we arrive at Son La plateau.
After lunch in Son La town, we will visit the former French Prison and provincial museum. We have more mountain passes to challenge us, such as Son La, Chieng Pac, and Pha Din. You will enjoy the beautiful landscape on your way from Son La to Lai Chau town. The afternoon will provide free time to climb over the top of the Pha Din Pass - known as the interface between Heaven and Earth. Pha Din forms a natural border between Son La and Dien Bien Phu, the site of the decisive battle in Vietnam’s struggle for independence in 1954. Then we take time to travel to Tuan Giao to view the sunset.

B,L,D
Trade union guesthouse

Day 5 : Jan 21^st ’09: Tuan Giao – Xin Ho,
Continue wheeling in to northern Vietnam. The road is rough, but the scenery is unbelievably beautiful and magnificent with the 7 tall passes cutting though steep mountain along the Da River flowing around the foot of the passes, which can be found nowhere else in the Northwest route. Moreover, part of the pleasure of travelling by motorbike in this region is the simple joy of the friendly smiles and greetings of the local people. Along the way, we stop to visit the Black Thai, Kho Mu, Lu, Black H'mong, Green H'mong and White H'mong, just some of the many hill tribe groups and discover their simple lifestyles and colourful cultures.

B,L,D
Thanh Binh Hotel 2**

Day 6 : Jan 22^nd ’09: Xin Ho – Sapa, 110km ~3h
Due to the environment and a height of 1,700m, getting to Sin Ho is very hard journey, so the people living here mostly keep to their very long lasting lifestyle. The unchanged way of life from ancient days is hard to be done anywhere. However, it should be said that there is no way for urbanization to occur in these areas. Only a handful of travel agencies can bring their customers to this remote area.
In the morning, we visit Sin Ho Market, the last of the Lunar Year, you will be amazed by local hill-tribe dressing and local goods they are exchanging for the Tet. It is regarded as the richest mountain market in the Northwest province, Here you will meet Green H'mong, Black H'mong, White H'mong, Dzao Dau Bang, Lu…
Leave Xin Ho market for Sapa, we will enjoy a picnic lunch at the top of Tram Ton Pass, the most beautiful one in Sapa. In the afternoon we are free to explore Sapa, usually being engulfed by clouds. After enjoying a cup of Artichaux local herbal tea, a special drink from Sapa, we embark on a walk to discover this charming town and get acquainted with the host people who are the soul of this area. Sapa was founded in the early years of the last century as a hill resort for the French administration at the time. It soon became famous in Indochina for its ideal climate. Nowadays, Sapa’s breathtaking scenery is some of the best in ASEAN.

B,L,D
Hoang Long hotel

Day 7 : Jan 23^rd ’09: Sapa,
To day we enjoy the trek to discover the spirits of Sapa hundred years-the local Mong, Dao people who migrated to Vietnam from China and chose Sapa as one of their homeland to continue their rich traditional cultures there. We learn how they renounced the habit of opium plan and move to the wet rice and herbal-medical tree plan now. Picnic lunch will be provided on the mountain side. After 5 hour trek of Ta Van and Lao Chai villages the Car will transfer you up hill back to Sapa and overnight in Sapa.

B,L,D permit, car to pick up from Ta Van to Sapa
Hoang Long hotel

Day 8 : Jan 24^th ’09: Sapa – Xin Man, 150km ~4h
Go down to Lao Cai town with a visit to Lao Cai International border Crossing to China. Then roll along the route 70 to Bac Ngam for a nice break, taking pictures of beautiful scenery of mountain and river view. We head up mountain pass to Bac Ha for our lunch and short hiking to some H'mong villages there.
In the afternoon, we continue the small trail to Xin Man in the rocky, muddy for taste of motorbiking in Vietnam.

B,L,D
Gia Long Hotel

Day 9 : Jan 25^th ’09: Xin Man – Luc Yen, 150km ~4-5h
LAST DAY OF LUNAR YEAR. One special day begins by heading South direction on the bumpy, dirty, and muddy road. Luckily, we climb up to top hill on a good condition road, enjoy your riding down hill with beautiful scenery of rice paddies on the mountain sides toward Xin Man which seems to be impossible in the rain. Stop at many villages to chat and talk with local people and discover their culture.
After about 3 hours riding, we reach a good road, but still small and wild. That would be great for rolling a bike through rice fields, limestone mountain karsts of Luc Yen.
Arrive in our Dao friend family on top of the mountain, prepare with the villagers for our dinner and the Eva party, the Eva party will hold everyone fall.

B,L,D
Red Dao family

Day 10 : Jan 26^th ’09: Luc Yen
First day of Tet; wake up early to visit and celebrate with our neighbors being the first guest in their family of the year, you will be welcome as a special person. Local people expecting that the first person come to the family will bring the lucky spirit for the whole year.
Party and party never end in the villages…

B,L,D
Red Dao family

Day 11: Jan 27^th ’09: Luc Yen – Vu Linh, 70km ~2h
Wake up when ever you can, ride through limestone karts to Vu Linh village where we will meet more our friend White Trouser Dao. Visit our friends for more parties and sharing happiness of the Tet.

B,L,D
White Trouser Dao family

Day 12 : Jan 28^th ’09: Vu Linh – Hanoi, 165km ~4h
Easy day to ride back to Hanoi by following the Chay River on dirt road, last chance to enjoy dirt riding in North Vietnam.
Beautiful scenery of daily life boating, maize and rice fields, beautiful villages of Tay and Viet people.

B,L

Price

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ITINERARY 2 (TET209): 15 days / 14 nights

Day 1 : Jan 25^th '09: Ha Noi - Hanoi – Vu Linh, 165km ~4h (Motorbike tour)

Leave Hanoi on the last day of the Lunar New Year with crowded traffic, people carrying things for their Tet such as furniture, bonsai, flowers, food… it is a real challenge for experiencing the traffic game during the Tet.
Ride along the Red and Chay River banks to get out of the main road traffic, enjoying beautiful scenery and visiting Viet people families to see how they preparing for the Tet.
When arrive in Vu Linh village, we prepare with our Dao family for the dinner and the Mid-night Eva party.

B,L,D
White Trouser Dao family

Day 2 : Jan 26^th '09:Vu Linh – Luc Yen, 70km ~2h

First day of Tet; wake up early to visit and celebrate with our neighbors being the first guest in their family of the year, you will be welcome as a special person. Local people expecting that the first person come to the family will bring the lucky spirit for the whole year.
Party and party never end till late afternoon we leave this village to drive for about 70km to another Red Dao village called Dong Inh, a small village set on top of the mountain for more Tet party.

B,L,D…
Red Dao family

Day 3 : Jan 27^th '09: Luc Yen

Second day of Tet; parties in Red Dao village and also the near by villages of Tay ethnic for the whole day.

B,L,D
Red Dao family

Day 4 : Jan 28^th '09: Luc Yen - Xin Man 140km ~4h

Third day of Tet; Leave our friend parties for an exciting ride through forest, windy road and 30km off-road. There will not be any local restaurant opened yet but never mind, it is Tet, just stop in any village on the road side for more party.

B,L,D
Gia Long Guesthouse

Day 5 : Jan 29^th '09: Xin Man - Ha Giang, 140km ~4h (Hill-tribe market)

We spend the morning in Xin Man market, this is one of the most beautiful market in the Northern of Vietnam with colourful dressing of many different hill-tribes such as H’Mong, Dao, Nung, Tay…who live in the surrounding villages.
This market is also special as the first opening for the Lunar Year, people come to meet, chatting, showing their dressing coloured… the market sessions provide a chance for locals to promenade and young men and women in colourful costumes to meet, date or seek sweethearts. For this reason, markets in the northern mountainous areas are often called the Love Markets.
Try to leave the market as soon as possible because the 100 km windy on mountain passes you will meet more villages and parties.

B,L,D
Huy Hoan Hotel 3***

Day 6 : Jan 30^th '09: Ha Giang - Meo Vac, 165km ~4h

Rise and shine for a few hours trek to many of the Heaven Gates such as Quan Ba, Yen Binh, Dong Van. They are called so because one gets the feeling of touching the sky, the heaven gates. This is the best time and place to enjoy the wonderful sightseeing of the vast limestone mountain range and perpendicular walls of rock, which brings one a feeling of adventure while being lost in a magic land. Here we are surrounded by many rocks of all shapes and sizes. After lunch at Yen Minh town, the scenic route climbs over a pass before arriving to Pho Bang, which was built a long many centuries ago and features multi-storey houses made of clay bricks and tile roofs. Then we continue our trip to visit the infamous Vuong Palace, a H’mong family of high rank during French colonial rule. This palace attracts keen interest from architecturally minded visitors due to it mixed style of European and Chinese architecture. After bidding farewell, we take use of time to climb over the Ma Pi Leng Pass from which we can see and enjoy a beautiful view of sunset overlooking the Nho Que river. Visiting these remote areas, we will bear witness to how hard the local people struggle with their environment for their survival and development. Because the living conditions are extremely harsh, there is barely any arable land within the rocky mountains; the people who live there survive on a diet of corn, which is about the only crop able to grow in the rocky soil. Even through this hard ship, the local people are very friendly, simple yet have develop a strong attachment to other people. They are the soul of this remote area.

B,L,D, Permit
Nho Que family guesthouse

Day 7 : Jan 31^th '09: Meo Vac - Bac Me, 150km ~5h

Meo Vac is a land of rugged mountains and beautiful hill villages remaining unchanged for centuries.
Today is a real challenge as the group travels by a track through a forest. The last 80 km motorcycle ride is a measure of your bravery and skill. The rolling rocky roads take you to hell on a rainy day. However the breath-taking scenery makes the hardship all worthwhile.

B,L,D
Phuong Anh family guesthouse

Day 8 : Feb 1^st '09: Bac Me - Ba Be, 80km ~5h
Yesterday you had an opportunity to develop your riding skills, and again today its time to muster up all your skill, technique and experience for the 80 km of forest road. Only with the help of our experienced guides will you not get lost in one of the 16 branching roads. Along the way, we traverse many tall passes and deep river valleys. This road trip will take you only 3-4 hours during the dry season, but at least 7-8 hours during the rainy season. However, the feeling of ‘conquering nature’ makes the hardship all worthwhile. Upon arrival, we will cross 3 rivers between 20-30m in width and up to 70cm in depth, all managed with the instruction of our experienced guide. The remaining 3kms of the journey is a pleasant and relaxing ride. You’ll ride along an open hillside road along the Nang river. Catch your breath while you can. We complete our journey at the Dau Dang waterfall. This is basically an overnight stop to break our long journey and stretch our legs, take the tiredness away and share the day's adventure with the owner of the Nang river restaurant; Mr. Pirate’s. The next day we canoe our hearts out through the tranquil lakes of Babe, renowned for their majesty. Then we can swim or trek to visit the Tay ethnic minorities and talk with the local people.
More Tet back when stay in local family,

B,L,D, 2 boat trips
Tay family

Day 9 : Feb 2^nd ’09: Ba Be – Quang Uyen, 180km ~5h
Time to prepare for the quite difficult riding ahead, steep mountains and passes. To reach Cao Bang, we avoid National Highway No 3 but take the Colie Pass road, through dense old-growth forest. The road is rough but the scenery is unbelievably beautiful and magnificent. After lunch at Nguyen Binh town, we continue our journey for about one and a half hours to visit Cao Bang township. The national vestiges are some of this hill town’s major sights. We have a chance to visit these before we head out in the direction of Ma Phuc Pass to enter an area of innumerable vast steep limestone karsts and visit the North and North East’s district which is home to Nung and Tay ethnic people.

B,L,D
Nung family

Day 10 : Feb 3^rd '09: Quang Uyen,
Quang Uyen area is beautiful of limestone karts and villages, friendly people. It is a worth day for a break after riding days and it is a good reason to enjoy more Tet parties with our friends of Nung and Tay there. Party in Phjia Chang village, settled by Nung An ethnic people 300 years ago. This village is famous for the traditional handicraft, such as basketware, weaving and so on.
Alternatively, in the afternoon we continue visiting some villages of Tay and Nung An people where they make incense and local rough paper from mulberry trees to burn when praying to their ancestors.

B,L,D
Nung family

Day 11 : Feb 4^th '09: Quang Uyen – Ban Gioc – Ha Lang – Quang Uyen, 120km ~4h
Today we will take the opportunity to explore the spectacular scenery and wonderful world of local ethnic minority people. Along the way we will visit Ban Gioc waterfalls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Vietnam, which form a natural border between Vietnam and China. The echo of the falls can be heard kilometers away. In rainy season, the waterfall makes the scenery even more magnificent. While here we will take a bamboo raft trip and have a picnic lunch. We also have a chance to visit China on the other river bank. Before the sun sets, we ride back to Quang Uyen via Ha Lang, this small road bordering with China is one of the most beautiful riding part in the North East of Vietnam.

B,L,D, Permit
Nung family

Day 12 : Feb 5^th '09: Quang Uyen - Bac Son, 140km ~4h
The most impressive landscape of Cao Bang is the riding from Quang Uyen to Dong Khe. The scenery is unequalled with the steep limestone mountain and a green rows of sugar-cane fields. After seeing this scenic site, we continue our journey following the historical National Highway No 4 with the famous battles, such as Dong Khe, That Khe, Coc Xa or Lung Phay Pass…We stop for lunch in That Khe.
After lunch we continue riding on small dirt road and windy, very good fun to Bac Son.

B,L,D
People Community Guesthouse

Day 13 : Feb 6^th '09: Bac Son - Ha Long, 230km ~6h
This is a long day but we ride through countryside back road, no traffic and easy. Enjoying daily life of farmer working on their fields with water buffalos…

B,L,D
Standard Hotel

Day 14/15 : Feb 7^th/8^th '09: Ha Long - Boat trip - Hanoi,
Private traditional junk to cruise in Ha Long Bay. We don’t have to follow other tourist boat (traffic), we make our own way to relax and enjoying beautiful World Heritage site.

2 B, 2L, 1D,
1 night on boat, Hotel in Hanoi is not included

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PRICE
Voyage Vietnam organizes only full package tours which are all inclusive. The only exception is at the request of the travellers when they want to upgrade their accommodation for something more luxurious.

* Including:
- Motorbike Minsk, all fuel;
- Tour guide / Translator;
- Motorbiking protective pants, jacket, gloves, helmet, rain gear, and other safety equipments;
- Sleeping bags, mosquito nets, sheets, pillows and accommodations;
- Third party motorbike insurance;
- All food;
- All entrance fees, permits, tickets, boat trips, ferries, bamboo rafts, etc...
- Voyage Vietnam assistance throughout your trip;
- We also love to celebrate our guests' birthday...Well anything for a celebration on the open road.

* Personal expense (such as souvenirs), personal insurance, drinks, food and accommodation in Hanoi, and tips are not included in our fee.

The price in EUR (Expiry date of Jan 1^st,2009):

Tour code	TET109	TET209
Price/person(minimum 3 riders more)	€786	€926
Price/pillion	€642	€791

* Note: All our tariff rates are net and in Euro based on twin-share or triple-share accommodation unless stated otherwise. For single occupancy, an extra charge will apply.

Contact us now to book one of these tours or to know about different possibilities.

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