Photos of Dien Bien province
Tuan Giao to Muong Lay
Few travelers have the guts to travel the shortcut from Tuan Giao to Muong Lay although the distance is just 100 km. Known on the map as the old highway 6, this stretch of road used to be the only way from Son La to Dien Bien. The rugged road costs you up to 5 hours for the 100 km drive. Since the new road was built only motorbikers and 4WD drivers travel by this route, however in return travelers will enjoy one of the most spectacular place in the northwest with winding mountain passes, hill tribe villages perched on mountain sides, rice terraces and especially if you go in spring the whole valley is deep in the white color of Ban flower.
Note: The old highway No6 from Tuan Giao to Muong Lay is about 100 km, the road is rugged, rocky and muddy, very difficult to drive, there are only a few parts of road are still in good condition, average speed on this route is only 15 - 20 km/hours and travelers should not go in the evening, especially it is very dangerous if it rains as you may have landslides. About 30 km from Muong Lay the road is very bumpy with big rocks, road is very dangerous.
- Make sure that your car/bike is in good working condition, bring along raincoat in case it rains, if you travel by bike remember to have repair equipments with you.
- Do not go this road in rainy seasons, best time is November and December, check weather forecast before you go. The road is extremely bad in the rain
- There is no restaurant to eat along the way, if you start from Tuan Giao you can eat before the trip, travelers usually have lunch at Hoang Quat restaurant before going on in the afternoon.
source: http://northwestvietnamtours.com/blog/tuan-giao-to-muong-lay.php
Few travelers have the guts to travel the shortcut from Tuan Giao to Muong Lay although the distance is just 100 km. Known on the map as the old highway 6, this stretch of road used to be the only way from Son La to Dien Bien. The rugged road costs you up to 5 hours for the 100 km drive. Since the new road was built only motorbikers and 4WD drivers travel by this route, however in return travelers will enjoy one of the most spectacular place in the northwest with winding mountain passes, hill tribe villages perched on mountain sides, rice terraces and especially if you go in spring the whole valley is deep in the white color of Ban flower.
Note: The old highway No6 from Tuan Giao to Muong Lay is about 100 km, the road is rugged, rocky and muddy, very difficult to drive, there are only a few parts of road are still in good condition, average speed on this route is only 15 - 20 km/hours and travelers should not go in the evening, especially it is very dangerous if it rains as you may have landslides. About 30 km from Muong Lay the road is very bumpy with big rocks, road is very dangerous.
- Make sure that your car/bike is in good working condition, bring along raincoat in case it rains, if you travel by bike remember to have repair equipments with you.
- Do not go this road in rainy seasons, best time is November and December, check weather forecast before you go. The road is extremely bad in the rain
- There is no restaurant to eat along the way, if you start from Tuan Giao you can eat before the trip, travelers usually have lunch at Hoang Quat restaurant before going on in the afternoon.
source: http://northwestvietnamtours.com/blog/tuan-giao-to-muong-lay.php