Border Guard News – After breakfast, six cheerful foreign tourists – men and women alike – rolled their suitcases toward a row of motorbikes. Vietnamese riders were busy checking fuel tanks, toolkits, and medical supplies before strapping the luggage on for the upcoming journey. With everything in place, each local rider set off with one foreign traveler seated behind them, weaving along the scenic 706B route. This is what defines the Easy Rider experience.
Exploration and Connection
Trần Văn Bình, the robust 37-year-old leader of the Easy Rider group in Hàm Tiến (Phan Thiết), explains: “To do this job, you need to be in top physical shape. Each rider carries a guest weighing around 70kg plus 20kg of luggage for multi-day trips.”
Beyond riding skills and English proficiency, Easy Riders must know nature, local customs, and how to handle real-world travel situations. On a ride from Mũi Né to Lâm Đồng via Gia Bắc Pass, for example, tourists breathed in fresh mountain air, stopped among lush coffee plantations, and asked, “What tree is this?” Bình patiently explained the coffee-growing and brewing process in Vietnam.
Later, they shopped together at a local market for lunch supplies. At a riverside in Gia Bắc, Bình grilled fish and cooked sticky rice in bamboo over an open fire. They ate beneath the forest canopy and relaxed in hammocks beside a murmuring stream. “We truly feel immersed in nature,” the travelers said with glowing eyes and broad smiles.
Where Did the Name Come From?
In the 1990s, some Da Lat motorbike taxi drivers fluent in English and French noticed a growing interest from foreign tourists. They formed a tour group, taking visitors to scenic sites.
In 2000, American tourists, after an immersive ride through Vietnam’s hidden villages, suggested naming the tour after the film Easy Rider – a story of two bikers roaming across the American Southwest. The term stuck and spread online. Since then, “Easy Rider” has become a recognized travel brand in Vietnam.
A Unique, Hands-On Travel Experience
Although Da Lat became the birthplace of Easy Rider tours, Bình saw untapped demand in Hàm Tiến – Mũi Né and launched his own group there three years ago. His longest tour stretched 22 days from Saigon to Hanoi, while shorter one-day routes include famous sites like the Sand Dunes, Dục Thanh School, Kê Gà Cape, and dragon fruit orchards.
His six-person team includes university and tourism college graduates. Bình himself started after high school, working in hotels, restaurants, and learning motorbike repair. All of this built his skills and confidence as a professional tour guide.
Trust and Safety Above All
“Safety is our top priority. We never let guests drive, even if they offer more money. That’s why our group has never received a complaint on Tripadvisor,” Bình says.
British traveler Traviz remarked: “I came to Vietnam with many questions. After 1,000km with Bình, I had answers – and memories of a country full of culture, warmth, and kindness.”
Even when tourists confused his group with a less reliable one, Bình went out of his way to help them find lodging during a crowded flower festival in Đà Lạt. “Thank you very much,” they said after he arranged a place within 30 minutes – even though it wasn’t his responsibility.
Easy Rider – See Vietnam Through a Different Lens
Through dedication, knowledge, and heart, Easy Riders offer not just tours, but meaningful cultural connections. They help bring Vietnam closer to the world – one journey at a time.