A new type of tourism for the pandemic and beyond

After parking his car on the side of the road, 51-year-old Lưu Văn Thanh from Hà Nội knows it’s time for a photoshoot.

His wife and friends are ready, posing on the mountainside with spectacular views of rice field terraces in the background.

Perfect pictures for their social media pages and to share with friends, capturing the breath-taking moments at the push of a button.

Thanh isn’t the only one who has had the same idea. Camera phones are clicking away all around but there isn’t a tour bus in sight.

He is among of group of 150 people taking part in the first ‘self-driving holiday hosted by Hà Nội Travel Agents’ Association and VGreen Sustainable Tourism Club along with the National Museum of Vietnamese History.

The tour called “Northwestern Region – Season of Orchid Flowers” sees a convoy of cars leave the capital city before stopping at various locations in the northwest of Việt Nam.

These include: Ngọc Chiến (Sơn La Province), Mù Cang Chải (Yên Bái Province), Tam Đường (Lai Châu Province), Lai Châu Town,  Điện Biên City, Quỳnh Nhai (Sơn La Province) and Hòa Bình Province.

The member cars, which all have the logo of the club on the doors, follow one another on the route. They are all equipped with walkie-talkie radios and take rests, eat meals and spend the night at the same location.