Some vaccines need 2–3 doses spread over weeks or months (a standard Hepatitis B course takes 6 months), so start now. 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 Cao Bang 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.

Decide how each person will do the Loop — self-drive motorbike, Easy Rider (a local driver takes you as a passenger), or a booked multi-day tour — then email Cao Bang providers directly (e.g. IRTouring, Cao Bang Motorbike Tours, Cao Bang Green Riders, Easy Riders Vietnam). For a group of 6 self-driving, you need 3 bikes. Ask about semi-automatic Honda 110–125cc models. Expect ~$10–15/bike/day (~210–320 Kč), whichever option you choose. Ask the provider to arrange the border-area permit for everyone travelling on a foreign passport: it is issued by the Cao Bang provincial police (official fee 10 USD per person, processing up to 5 working days) and a Ha Giang permit is not valid in Cao Bang. Entrance fees also apply at Ban Gioc, Nguom Ngao, and Pac Bo. Confirm the insurance policy and what happens if you break down.

Two domestic flights: HAN→SGN (Day 8) and Can Tho (VCA)→HAN (Day 13). Flying back from Can Tho saves the drive back to Saigon. Book on VietJet or Vietnam Airlines (Bamboo Airways has cut its domestic schedule) — prices are ~$35–65 each if booked in advance, but they can more than double for last-minute seats. Book both together.

Standard travel insurance often excludes motorbikes entirely, or only covers scooters under 50cc. If you're self-driving, you need a policy that explicitly covers riding a motorbike with a valid licence; if you're going Easy Rider or tour as a passenger, check that riding pillion is covered too. 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.

For a group of 5–6, you want to lock in Hanoi (nights 1–2, plus the rest-day night 7) and Saigon (nights 8 and 9) at minimum, plus the Mekong stays (Ben Tre homestay night 10, Can Tho nights 11–12). Also book the sleeper bus Cao Bang → Hanoi for the night of 1 May as early as possible, as it falls on a public holiday. Cao Bang city and Tra Linh (night 4) are easier to book last-minute, but book the Ban Gioc night (30 April, public holiday) ahead. 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 on the Cao Bang Loop — take enough cash for the full 4-day loop before you leave Hanoi; there are no ATMs along the route itself.

Grab (taxi and food across all cities), Maps.me with Vietnam downloaded offline (critical for Cao Bang 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.

Whether you're self-driving or riding pillion with an Easy Rider or tour, you'll have your luggage with you on the bike. 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, with at least 2 blank pages; no visa needed for Czech citizens, visa-free stay up to 45 days, valid until 14 Aug 2028; other passports check their own rules), international driving permit (issued on top of your Czech licence at any obecní úřad obce s rozšířenou působností, 200 Kč, usually issued on the spot; ask for the Vienna 1968 version, valid 3 years, and bring a 35 × 45 mm photo), 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 Cao Bang. 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 Cao Bang 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 Cao Bang Loop (budget ~$180–230 (~3,800–4,800 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.