Active recreation

ATVs (Quads)

Drive at limit: conquer sands and jungles

ActiveDry 1–3 hours Dry season (for dunes); year-round (for forest trails) 3 places

What it is and why

Vietnam offers two fundamentally different experiences of ATV control. In Mui Ne it is "sand extreme" on huge white dunes, where need to keep gas to not get stuck in loose sand. This is attraction reminiscent of rally in Sahara: much sun, speed and incredible views of ocean.

Second option is forest and mountain trails, for example, in surroundings of Da Lat or Nha Trang. Here routes pass through coffee plantations, beds of dried rivers and dense thickets. This is more about checking control skills on off-road and exploring hard-to-reach natural locations, where ordinary bike will not pass.

Where to do it in Vietnam

Points on the map are real places where this activity can be done. Numbers in the list match the markers.

White dunes of Mui Ne
Binh Thuan
Classic: wide sand masses, rental right on place.
Mountain trails of Da Lat
Lam Dong
Complex forest trails, mud and height differences.
Nha Trang surroundings
Khanh Hoa
Excursion trips to waterfalls through off-road.

Tips

Always wear closed shoes and clothing with long sleeves — will protect from flying stones, sand and scratches from branches.
Sun on dunes reflects from sand twice stronger — use strong SPF cream and sunglasses.
Before departure necessarily check brakes on specific apparatus that was given to you, and demand helmet even on simple routes.

Caution

Do not ignore safety briefing. Sand dunes are very deceptive and quad bike can overturn at sharp turn on slope.
Do not rent quad bike for independent riding outside parks and special tracks — Vietnamese insurance most often does not cover this.