The single most important thing on this list. Book a riding school now — a Group A licence takes 2–4 months at a casual pace. If you're under 24, start with A2 and upgrade to A after 2 years. Without a valid licence, your travel insurance will not cover you in the event of an accident on a motorbike.

Once you have the licence, actually ride. A few weekend trips in the mountains (Beskydy, Jeseniky, or an Alpine trip) will teach you engine braking on descents, wet roads, and riding for 4–6 h in a day — all of which are relevant on the Ha Giang Loop. The Ha Giang Loop is not technically hard, but it is long and tiring. Going in with zero experience is unwise.

Prague → Hanoi return. Check Qatar Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, and Etihad — prices jump sharply for summer departures. Aim for $800–900/person (~16,800–18,900 Kč) if you book early enough. Use Skyscanner or Google Flights and set a price alert. The Short Trip person should book a separate Prague↔Hanoi return, not an open-jaw.

Some vaccines need 2–3 doses spread over weeks, so start early. Essential: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Tetanus (check your booster is current). Consider: Rabies if you're spending time in rural areas or near animals — the Ha Giang villages qualify. Malaria prophylaxis is generally not needed for this itinerary (no deep jungle), but confirm with your doctor. Budget $65–175/person (~1,400–3,700 Kč) depending on which you already have.

Email Ha Giang rental shops directly — Cuong's Motorbikes and Mr. Duc's are the most well-known. For a group of 6 you need 3 bikes. Ask about semi-automatic Honda 110–125cc models. Expect ~$10–15/bike/day (~210–320 Kč) + $10 (~210 Kč) loop permit per person. Confirm their insurance policy and what happens if you break down.

Three flights for the Extended Trip (HAN→DAD, DAD→SGN, SGN→HAN) and two for the Short Trip (HAN→DAD, DAD→HAN). Book on VietJet or Bamboo Airways — prices are ~$35–60 each if you book in advance, but they can double for last-minute seats. Book all domestic flights at the same time.

Standard travel insurance often excludes motorbikes entirely, or only covers scooters under 50cc. You need a policy that explicitly covers riding a motorbike with a valid licence. Check AXA Assistance, ERV, or Allianz. Make sure you have at least $1M in medical evacuation cover — hospitals in rural northern Vietnam are basic, and medical evacuation to Bangkok or back to Europe is expensive. Cost: ~$40–70 (~800–1,500 Kč) for 14 days.

Apply at evisa.gov.vn — $25 (~500 Kč), takes 3–5 working days, valid 90 days. All group members apply individually. Print a copy and keep a digital backup. Czech passport holders are eligible; double-check the current conditions closer to the date.

For a group of 5–6, you want to lock in Hanoi (nights 1–2), Hoi An (nights 7–8), and Saigon (Extended, nights 10–12) at minimum. Ha Giang and Hue are easier to book last-minute. Look for places that can accommodate the full group — a private apartment or whole guesthouse is often cheaper and more fun than individual dorms.

Vietnam is largely cash-based, especially in rural areas. Bring a mix: USD for large payments (some guesthouses and tours quote in USD and prefer it), and Vietnamese Dong (VND) for everything else — street food, local buses, market stalls. Get VND from ATMs on arrival (Vietcombank and Techcombank have the lowest fees). Revolut or Wise works well for ATM withdrawals. Don't rely on cards in Ha Giang — take enough cash for the full 4-day loop before you leave Hanoi.

Grab (taxi and food across all cities), Maps.me with Vietnam downloaded offline (critical for Ha Giang where there's no signal), Google Translate with Vietnamese downloaded offline, Zello (push-to-talk walkie-talkie app — useful when riding in a group), XE Currency, and Splitwise or Settle Up for splitting group costs.

You're riding a motorbike with your luggage. A large backpack strapped to your back for 4 days of mountain riding is brutal — a small 20–30 L daypack is the right size. Everything else can go in a locker or left at a guesthouse. Key items: rain poncho (buy one in Vietnam for $2, but have one ready), quick-dry clothes, flip-flops, long trousers and sleeves for temple visits, reef-safe sunscreen, DEET repellent, and a basic first-aid kit.

Passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date), e-visa printout, international driving permit (issued on top of your Czech licence — get it from AutoKlub, takes a few days), travel insurance documents with the emergency number saved in your phone. Upload digital copies to Google Drive or iCloud so they're accessible even if your phone is stolen or lost.

Available at Noi Bai Airport arrivals. Viettel is the best network for rural coverage in northern Vietnam — important for Ha Giang. A 30-day SIM with 20–30 GB of data costs around $3–5 (~60–100 Kč). Everyone in the group should get one. Note: there will be patchy to no signal on parts of the Ha Giang Loop — download offline maps before you leave Hanoi.

Use a Vietcombank ATM inside the terminal — lowest fees, most reliable. Withdraw enough for the first few days plus the full Ha Giang Loop (budget ~$200–250 (~4,200–5,200 Kč) in VND per person for the 4-day loop including food and accommodation). The exchange rate at airport ATMs is fair; avoid cash exchange desks at the airport.