Places for active stuff in Asia

Heaven's Gate is the highest road pass in Vietnam (1949 m) and the easiest starting point for the trek to the top of Fan Si Pan, the highest mountain (3143 m) in Indochina. The road from Heaven's Gate down to Sapa passes Silver Waterfall and winds quite a lot. On the other side, the road down is less winding and is very suitable for some serious downhill riding, either on mountain bike or better (and safer) on motorcycle. Turn off the engine and roll the 26 km down to the intersection of Binh Lu. Further exploration continue to Binh Lu, where there is a chance to meet some of the beautiful people from the Lu minority.

The highest mountain in Indochina (Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) might seem as a easy trekking peak due to the not so impressive height of only 3,143 m, but don't be fooled. The are several routes to the top, but every track is difficult and involves a overnight stay unless you do commando raid (record is around 10 hours up and down from Heavens Gate at 1,949 m). A lot of scrambling on slippery rocks and zigzagging through dense bamboo forest is the norm, and expect bitterly cold and wet nights. To get the full experience, it's highly recommended to descend on the southeast side into the Sapa valley over multiples days. Coming down from the top covered in dense forest and trekking into the farmed valley with rice terraces and villages is a rewarding finish.