After enjoying breakfast at the homestay, we say goodbye to our hosts and continue riding deeper into the highlands toward Son La. The scenery becomes increasingly dramatic as the road winds through river valleys, terraced fields, and quiet villages home to Thai, H’Mong, and Dao communities.
We stop for lunch at a small local eatery before carrying on. This entire region sits within the greater area of Pha Din Pass — one of the Four Great Mountain Passes of Northern Vietnam (Tứ Đại Đỉnh Đèo) — a route we’ll conquer tomorrow.
By mid-afternoon, we arrive in Son La City and check into our hotel. Travelers interested in history can visit Son La Prison, a former French colonial prison turned museum that offers a sobering look into Vietnam’s fight for independence.
We spend the night in a comfortable hotel in Son La, resting up for the mountain day ahead.