Cycle to
Hilltribe Villages, then kayak in Halong Bay
15
days / 14 nights
Cycling and sea kayaking are
great activities to closely explore remote villages, caves, lagoons,
and beaches. On this fine itinerary you
bike along the river to the northern mountains along the Chinese frontier,
visiting Red Dzao, Black Dzao, Man (Khmer), Black H'mong and Ha
Nhi villages. Your cycling adventure behind you you'll
finish the tour kayaking in Halong Bay, a grand combination
to experience the scenic wonders of Northern Vietnam.
Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVAL HANOI
Welcome at the airport by your local guide and transfer to
the hotel. After check-in, climb into a traditional cyclo (pedicab)
for a 90-minute tour of the colonial city’s traditional “36
streets of 36 wares” in the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake
vicinity. In the evening enjoy a traditional water puppet
show before dinner at one of the finest restaurants in town.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 2: HANOI CITY - LAO CAI [B,L,D]
Half-day tour of Vietnam’s capital city, including Ho Chi
Minh’s mausoleum and traditional stilt house, the Ho Chi
Minh Museum, and the revered One-Pillar Pagoda. Pay visits
to typical Vietnamese places of worship. Just before lunch,
tour Vietnam’s first university, the thousand-year-old
Temple of Literature. In the afternoon visit to the
Ethnology Museum and then time for you to test the bike with
assist of our mechanic to make sure you have comfortable and
good bike for the big journey. Transfer back to the hotel
for shower. After dinner at the restaurant in town, transfer
to the Hanoi railway station for the night train up to Lao
Cai. Overnight on the train.
DAY 3: LAO CAI - BAC HA [B,L,D]
Arrive Lao Cai early in the morning. Breakfast at the local
restaurant and drive for 20 minutes before getting on your
bike for a whole day biking up to Bac Ha through small
routes. Arrive Bac Ha in late afternoon, check in hotel.
Dinner and Over night at Sao Mai hotel in Bac Ha.
DAY 4: BAC HA - CAN CAU - BAC HA [B,L,D]
After breakfast, transfer up to Can Cau to visit the market
of String H’mong people. After market and some shopping, hop
on your bike for down hill riding from Can Cau to Ba Ha with
stop to visit the Castle of King H’mong near Bac Ha. Lunch
will be at the hotel. Afternoon, an easy hike up to the
Hmong village and the school for Ethnic Minorities groups in
and around Bac Ha.
DAY 5: BAC HA - LAO CAI - SA PA [B,L,D]
An easy morning to visit Bac Ha market, one of the biggest
market of Ethnic Minority people in Northern Vietnam take
place every Sunday. Lunch at the hotel or local restaurant.
Afternoon, we get on our bikes again for cycling downhill to
Bao Nhai for a boat trip to Coc Ly (3 hours). Drive up to
Sapa and check in hotel upon on arrival in Sapa. Dinner at
local restaurant and over night at the hotel in Sapa.
DAY 6: SA PA BIKING TO VILLAGE [B,L,D]
Set off on a light and easy cycling down into the lush Sapa
Valley to explore the Black H'mong and Red Dzao villages.
Return to Sapa at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight
at the hotel.
DAY 7: SA PA - TAM DUONG[B,L,D]
Strolling through the market early in the morning in Sapa,
where you will meet many different ethnic minority
communities such as Black H’Mong, Red Dzao, Dzay or even Xa
Pho. After the market, you will drive up to Heaven Gate and
start riding down hill through most spectacular road to Tam
Duong with stops to visit villages of different Ethnic
Minorities en route. Arrive in Tam Duong in late afternoon.
Free time after check-in until dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 8: TAM DUONG - LAI CHAU [B,L,D]
Depart Tam Duong in the morning and follow a remote road, we
bike along the river to the Chinese frontier. You will visit
small Red Dzao, Black Dzao, Man (Khmer), Black H'mong and Ha
Nhi villages. Picnic lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at
the hotel in Lai Chau.
DAY 9: LAI CHAU - SON LA [B,L,D]
Today is sure to be one of the highlights and most
challenges of the trip as we will travel along one of the
most beautiful roads in Vietnam. Cross many mountain passes,
including Pha Din—a famous Indochina War site. Drive up on
the top of the mountains and cycle down to the other side of
mountain rages. We’ll also have a chance for a refreshing
swim in the Black River and a stroll through the meadows of
Kh'Mu village. Arrive in Son La at the end of the afternoon.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 10:SON LA - MAI CHAU [B,L,D]
Morning, after breakfast, you will leave Son La for Mai Chau,
the road mostly going down hill. Stop en route to take an
easy hike to Co Tang village to visit Black H’Mong group.
Lunch en route and from here, start to cycle 35 km through a
pristine forest preserve along the road. Arrive Mai Chau in
late afternoon. Dinner and over night at Thai Bungalow
house.
DAY 11: MAI CHAU [B,L,D]
Full day cycling to explore Mai Chau valley and villages
surround with picnic lunch en route. Return to the village
at the end of the day. Evening enjoy traditional folk dance.
Dinner and over night at Thai Bungalow house.
DAY 12:MAI CHAU - KIM BOI- BAI CHAO - HANOI [B,L,D]
Today, we say goodbye to the family where we spent 2 nights.
Drive up to the top of the hill of Thung Khe then cycle down
hill to Kim Boi. Lunch at Kim Boi. Continue with our bike
again to Bai Chao. Drive back to Hanoi and arrive at the end
of the day. Dinner free and over night at the hotel in
Hanoi.
DAY 13: HANOI - REDRIVER DELTA - HAI PHONG [B,L,D]
Morning, we’ll leave Hanoi and cycle along the top of dike
road, rice field and villages of the Red River Delta to Bat
Trang ceramic village. This is a village where we can visit
to the most famous artist and might have a chance to paint
on some productions. Shopping is easy and recommended here,
if it is heavy for your hand luggage, shipping is possible.
Continue to one of the most beautiful ancient Temple located
right on the bank of Red River. Picnic lunch in the garden
of the Temple. Afternoon, we will follow the dike again to
Hai Phong city. Arrive Hai Phong and check in hotel. Dinner
and overnight at the hotel in Hai Phong.
DAY 14: HAI PHONG - HA LONG - KAYAKING [B,L,D]
Morning after breakfast, we leave Hai Phong for Halong Bay
on our bike, crossing 02 ferries boat and arrive around
noon. We will leave our bikes behind and board a traditional
wooden junk and begin an exploration of magical Halong Bay,
one of Southeast Asia’s premier tourist destinations. An
excellent, fresh seafood lunch will be served on the boat
while cruising to the first point, where is a floating
fishermen village. We will have safety instructions before
starting with our kayaks, paddling for 2,5 hours through the
most dramatically limestone formation, a giant cave, beaches
and hidden lagoons. Relax and swim on a small beautiful
beach upon on arrival. Dinner and overnight on a comfortable
and charming junk.
DAY 15: KAYAKING - HA LONG - HANOI [ B, L]
Wake up early in the morning to enjoy the aquamarine water
of the bay at its best. After breakfast and early swim, we
will slip on our kayaks again for 2 hours paddling to
explore hidden lagoons, isolated beach, floating fishermen
village. Meet the Junk at lunch time and motoring back to
the harbor in Halong. Transfer back to Hanoi by vehicle.
Farewell dinner at the restaurant in town and overnight at
the hotel in Hanoi.
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