Yen Minh pine forest

Between Quan Ba and Yen Minh the road passes through several kilometres of pine forest. After the grey karst of the first pass and the exposed rock of the plateau edge, the trees come as a surprise — tall, straight pines on both sides of the road, filtering the light and dropping the temperature a few degrees.

It is not a destination in itself, but a pleasant stretch to ride slowly and take in. The air smells different here — resin and damp earth instead of dust and exhaust. If you have been riding for a while, it is a natural place to pull over, stretch your legs and sit for a few minutes before the road climbs again toward Yen Minh.

Use proper pull-outs to stop. The road winds through the forest and visibility is limited on the bends, so don't park on the carriageway or stand in the road for photos. There are a few spots with enough room to pull a motorbike off safely.

The forest is at its best on a misty morning, when the light comes through the branches in shafts and everything is quiet. In the dry season the pines are bright green against a blue sky. Either way, it is a small, welcome change of scenery on what can be a long riding day.