Ride responsibly

Based on Vietnam's Code of Conduct for Civilised Tourism (Decision 718/QĐ-BVHTTDL) and Tuyên Quang province's April 2026 rules for motorbike tours

The Loop is beautiful because of its people, its cultures and its karst mountains. These few habits keep it safe and fair for visitors, businesses and the families who live here.

1. On the road

• Never drink and ride. Not even "one glass of corn wine to warm up".
• Only ride yourself with a valid licence for the class: a Vietnamese licence, or a 1968 Vienna Convention IDP plus your home licence. Otherwise, take an easy rider. Most travel insurance won't cover unlicensed riders.
• Wear a helmet with the strap fastened, both rider and passenger.
• Ride slowly on the passes and don't overtake on bends. Use your lights and slow down in fog. Stop for photos only where the shoulder is wide.
• Don't set off when official sources warn of heavy rain or landslides.
• At an accident: make the scene safe, call 115 or 113 and 114, and read out the coordinates from the SupArrive SOS screen. Don't post photos of anyone injured.

2. With people and places

• Ask before photographing people, especially elders, children and ceremonies. If they say no, thank them and put the camera away.
• Don't give children money or sweets, and don't pay for hair-braiding or photos with them. It pulls them out of school. To help, give through a school or a local organisation.
• Dress modestly in villages, markets and at heritage sites. If you wear traditional dress, wear it respectfully, never as a joke.
• Don't enter homes, fields or places of worship without an invitation.
• Keep quiet hours in homestays, roughly 22:00–06:00.
• Take your rubbish with you to a collection point. Don't pick buckwheat flowers or rice. Many flower fields are private and charge a small entry fee, so please pay it.
• Bargain politely, and respect posted prices.
• Carry your passport, and a border-area permit if one is required for the border communes you visit.

3. What we ask of our partners

• Posted prices, no touting, no peak-season price gouging.
• Rental shops check your licence before handing over a self-ride bike, and every bike gets a brake, tyre and light check.
• Easy rider groups have no more than 8 guests, ride at 40–50 km/h on passes (30–40 km/h in fog), drivers don't drink at any point during a tour, and they work under a licensed travel company or a commune-managed team.
• No alcohol sold to anyone about to ride.

If a partner breaks these rules, tell us by email. We keep your identity confidential.