Not many people spend the night unless they are running behind schedule and can'y make it to Dien Bien Phu, though if you are taking your time through the north-west it is a logical place to bed down for the night.

Tuan Giao is a small town between Son La and Lai Chau which is unremarkable, however, the surrounding area is very rural and populated by many hill tribes, amongst them the most noticeable are the Dzao that wear headdresses adorned with bright orange garnments.

From Son La, your road will pass over Thuan Chau and starts climbing to cross Pha Din Pass at 1,300m before reaching Tuan Giao, which breaks the distance of 180km from Son La to Dien Dien. If your destination is Lai Chau, you can skip the turn to the west heading to Dien Bien and carry straight. White Thai villages lie along the route between Tuan Giao and Lai Chau, with pretty women wearing white blouses with silver jewelry.