Bike Northern Vietnam
11-day tour with 7-day biking
Our unique biking trip in northern Vietnam takes place
against a backdrop of endless lush green paddy fields and
irregular tree-covered limestone mountains. Providing a
fleeting insight into the traditional lives, friendly tribes
and exotic landscapes of north-west and north-east Vietnam,
our trip also delivers surprisingly good riding across the
mountainous area of northern Vietnam. There are technical
sections, easy hills, huge flowing descents and some
glorious single tracks.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
Arrive at Hanoi International Airport. Meet your guide at
the airport and transfer to your hotel downtown Hanoi. The
remainder of day is free at leisure to explore Hanoi by
yourself. In the evening we will take a welcome dinner at
local restaurant with Vietnamese delicacies. Overnight in
Hanoi.
Summary:
The transfer: 50min
Overnight: hotel in Hanoi
Meals: welcome dinner with Vietnamese cuisine in local
restaurant
Day 2: Hanoi city tour & Night train to to Lao Cai
After breakfast we will begin our city tour of Hanoi. At
first, we will visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the
?Uncle Ho? house. After that we head to the unique One Stilt
Pagoda, which date from one thousand year ago. Continue to
the Hanoi's famous Temple of Literature, the first
university of Vietnam founded in 1070. The highlight of this
cultural, historical site is the garden of stele where you
find 82 stone stele bearing names, places of birth and
achievements of men who received doctorates in each
triennial examination from 1442; each stele sits on a stone
tortoise. Lunch in local restaurant before heading to the
Old Quarter for a relaxing cyclo tour through the ancient
part of Hanoi.
After the cyclo tour we will drive to the Museum of
Ethnology, which is quite away from the central Hanoi. It
features a fascinating collection of art and everyday
objects gathered from Vietnam and its diverse tribal people.
On our trip we will meet some tribal groups ? now it is time
to learn about them.
Drive back to hotel to take shower. Free time until we get
on the night train to Lao Cai around 10pm.
? Cyclo is three wheeled rickshaws, operated by pedal-power,
with a seat attached to the front.
Summary:
The city tour: full-day guided city tour
Overnight: on the train
Meals: Breakfast & lunch
The night train: Sleeper cabin with 04 soft berths.
Day 3: Lao Cai - Sapa - Ban Ho Village
Once we arrive in Lao Cai we get a transfer around 1hr to
our hotel in Sapa. After checking in, freshening up and a
light breakfast we will get our bikes together with a
wonderful day's biking though the Sapa Valley. At first on a
dirt road but then on narrow paths. We will descent to
Ban Ho village, home to Tay people. We will bike beside the
main river, on a fast undulating route to Nam Toong, a
village of Red Dzao people. Picnic lunch on the way before
continuing to My Son, a village populated by Xafo people,
one of the smallest ethnic group in Vietnam. We return to
Sapa by a jeep ride. Dine at local restaurant and overnight
in hotel.
Summary:
The transfer: 38km from Lao Cai to Sapa
The biking: 32km. 12km of descent and 1km of ascent
Hotel: hotel in Sapa Town
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Support crew: 01 local guide and support vehicle
Day 4: Sapa - Lao Cai - Trung Do Village
After breakfast in the hotel we have few hour in the morning
for shopping. We will begin the ride around 10am, directly
from Sapa and straight away we are flying along on a 38km
stretch involving some small climbs at first and then a
spectacular, fast flowing downhill all the way into Lao Cai
town. Lunch in Lao Cai before we begin our ride in the
afternoon, 55km to Trung Do, a beautiful village of Tay
people located on the bank of Chay River. From Lao Cai to
Trung Do we take a short ride along the Chinese border
before jumping into road 70 for about 2hrs. The last 10km we
ride on beautiful country road and bumpy dirt path to reach
Trung Do Village. Tonight we will stay overnight with a Tay
family. While we enjoy our pre-dinner drink with the family,
our local guide will cook a great dinner for us. Dinner and
overnight in the local house.
Summary:
The biking: 95km. 20km of descent
Hotel: homestay in village
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner & snack
Support crew: 01 local guide and support vehicle
Day 5: Trung Do Village - Coc Ly - Bac Ha
Early rising for breakfast and goodbye the hosts to board a
long boat and transfer for around 1.5 hr along a stunning
Yangtse-style river ride, though a high cliff gorge. The
boat trip takes us to Coc Ly where the Dao, Tay and Hmong
people gather for a market day on Tuesday every week.
We will begin our ride in Coc Ly and we will cover 60km of
remote jeep track and challenging climb. At first we ride on
a bumpy jeep track along the Chay River and then we turn off
the road onto a steep climb up to Bac Ha. There is always an
option to take the support bus if you do not feel like
riding. Late lunch in our hotel in Bac Ha. The remainder of
the day is free at leisure or take a relaxing ride for
around 1.5 hr around the quiet town of Bac Ha through some
tribal villages and a visit to the palace of Hmong King.
Dine in local restaurant and overnight in hotel.
* It would be great if we could plan our trip to get to Coc
Ly market on Tuesday. The market is so primitive and
colorful.
Summary:
Boat trip: 1.5hr
The biking: 65km. 4km of descent and 25km of ascent
Hotel: hotel in Bac Ha
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner & snack
Support crew: 01 local guide and support vehicle
Day 6: Bac Ha - Xin Man
Breakfast in the hotel and begin our ride directly from our
hotel. Today we will bike across one of the most remote
parts of northern Vietnam. At first we tackle a steady climb
of 6km on good paved road but then turn into short section
of jeep track. After around 3-hr riding we will have a
picnic lunch wherever we find good for that. After lunch we
continue riding to Xin Man, a small and busy town near
Chinese border. Xin Man is around 75 km from Bac Ha and the
biking in the afternoon is not less challenging than the one
in the morning. We will climb for the first hour or so up to
a plateau at 2500m, where we have fantastic view before
hitting rough paved road for a steady descent into Xin Man.
During the biking we will have regular stop for break, snack
and taking photo. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Summary:
The biking: 55km. 4km of descent and 15km of ascent
Hotel: hotel in Xin Man
Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner & snack
Support crew: support vehicle
Day 7: Xin Man - Hoang Shu Phi - Ha Giang
Today we take a gentle ride covering 90km from Xin Man to
Viet Quang Town. The ride takes us down to a bridge over the
main river and for the next 40km we ride along a quiet road
that gently climbs and follows the river upstream to Hoang
Shu Phi, a quiet town at 1000m. Have a break in town for
snack and refreshment then continue with downhill quiet road
60km to Viet Quang. We will have a late light lunch in Viet
Quang Town then take a bus transfer to Ha Giang Town, the
capital of Ha Giang Province which is the final frontier in
northern Vietnam, a lunar landscape of limestone pinnacles
and granite outcrops. Dinner and overnight in Ha Giang Town.
Summary:
Transfer: 45km from Bac Quang to Ha Giang
The biking: 90km. 30km of descent and 10km of ascent
Hotel: hotel in Ha Giang
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner & snack
Support crew: support vehicle
Day 8: Ha Giang - Bac Me - Bao Lac
Today the ride is mostly road based. At first we tackle 12
km climbs and then it is an undulating, idyllic route
through friendly villages and paddy fields, surrounded by
jagged limestone hills. Around noon time we will reach Bac
Me Town where we will have lunch in local restaurant. After
lunch we will continue riding to Bao Lac. The long and
gentle section in the afternoon can be done partly by biking
and partly by driving. We may ride around 35km on quiet road
then take a drive to Bao Lac Town where we stay overnight in
a simple guest house. Dinner in town.
Summary:
Transfer: 35km from mid way to Bao Lac
The biking: 95km. 8km of descent and 10km of ascent
Hotel: guesthouse in Bao Lac (no AC but hot water)
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner & snack
Support crew: support vehicle
Day 9: Bao Lac - Tinh Tuc - Ba Be Lake
Having a relaxing breakfast and then we leave the town
around 9am. Today we will enjoy the last ride of our trip.
We start with a climb 6km, followed by an undulating quiet
road though scenic villages. We will have snack break on the
way and have late light lunch in the small town of Nguyen
Binh. After the lunch we will take a relaxing drive to Ba Be
National Park. We will stay overnight in the beautiful
village of Pac Ngoi, which is home to Tay people who live on
Ba Be Lake in stilt house. Our hosts will cook us a great
dinner and we will have a great time talking with the
friendly hosts.
Summary:
Transfer: 90km from Nguyen Binh to Ba Be
The biking: 95km. 8km of descent and 10km of ascent
Hotel: homestay in Ba Be
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner & snack
Support crew: support vehicle
Day 10: Ba Be Lake - Cho Ra - Hanoi
Today we have a relaxing and peaceful day. After the
breakfast we say goodbye to the hosts and take a short walk
through the village. We will board a long boat for a
fantastic boat trip on the stunning Ba Be Lake. This lake is
one of the country's largest natural lake, surrounded by
limestone cliffs, waterfall, caves and an abundance of
wildlife. The interesting boat trip lasts around 1.5hr and
we will ride along the Nang River to reach Cho Ra Town.
Drive 5hr back to Hanoi with a lunch stop on the way.
Overnight in hotel in Hanoi.
Summary:
Boat trip: 1.5hr
Transfer: 190km from Cho Ra to Hanoi
Hotel: hotel in Hanoi
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Day 11: Hanoi
Breakfast in the hotel and you have today free for shopping
or massage. Overnight in Hanoi
Summary:
Hotel: hotel in Hanoi
Meals: breakfast
Day 12: Departure
Breakfast and transfer to the airport for flight home. Trip
ends.
Summary:
Transfer: 50min from hotel to the airport
Hotel: hotel in Hanoi
Meals: breakfast
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