Cycling Trip To Northeast Vietnam

Itinerary

• Day 1 -

  Meet at Ha Noi

  On arrival in Hanoi, you will be transferred to the hotel in the old quarter.

  This afternoon you have time to look around the city before a group meeting with your guide.

  Only dinner included.

• Day 2 -

  Night train to Lao Cai

  Today you have time to enjoy the sights of Hanoi’s old quarter. This is a charming place to either unwind or visit some of the many attractions, the most popular being the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

  After dinner, take the night train to Lao Cai, the border city to China.

  All meals provided.

• Day 3 -

  Lao Cai - Bac Ha

  This is the principal town in Lao Cai Province in North Eastern Vietnam, bordering Yunnan province, China.

  The town is now a popular destination for those journeying between Hanoi or Sapa and Kunming in China, and a key trading post.

  Arrive at around 6.30 am and have breakfast in a local restaurant. The cycling begins with 45km on gently inclining sealed road towards an uphill route over the mountain pass to Bac Ha. As you cycle up to the pass the final 15km are a tough 800m climb on unsealed road as the terrain becomes more challenging.

  Your efforts are rewarded with panoramic views of surrounding mountains.

  All meals included.

• Day 4 -

  Bac Ha - Xin Man - Hoang Su Phi

  Cycle to Xin Man. The route takes you into some of the remotest areas of Northeast Vietnam.

  The ride begins with a 10km climb of around 400m on newly sealed road before you turn off onto unsealed rough track for the next 15 km heading into rural tribal areas. Then it’s a massive descent of 1000 m to Xin Man.

  After lunch cross over the river Cahy for 40 km of cycling along quiet road; there is a gentle incline as you approach Hoang Su Phi.

  All meals provided.

• Day 5 -

  Hoang Su Phi - “Heaven Gate” pass to Tan Quang and along the Lo River to Ha Giang

  Hoang Su Phi is one of the most untouched regions of Vietnam and communities have lived in total isolation from mainstream society until very recently.

  Today you will undertake the challenge of cycling over the ‘Heaven Gate 2’ mountain pass 895 m, en route to Tan Quang. The pass offers stunning views beneath a wide open sky.

  This afternoon you will make your descent cycling past villages, rice and maize terraces cultivated by the Red Dao and Tay tribes.

  For the final stretch of this long day’s cycling take it easy with a leisurely cycle of 46km along the Lo river bank through unspoiled countryside to Ha Giang the sleepy capital of Ha Giang Province and approx 215 miles (350 km) Northwest of Hanoi. This is the old Silk Road.

  All meals provided.

• Day 6 -

  Rest Day Ha Giang

  Ha Giang is situated on the banks of the Lo River just below its confluence with the Mien River and in between the Mo Neo and Cam Mountains.

  You have a day off the bikes today to relax after the exertion the previous day.

  All meals provided.

• Day 7 -

  Ha Giang to Quan Ba

  Setting off this morning, you head out of town cycling for the first 25 km on relatively flat road through the landscape of terraced rice paddy fields.

  Passing through minority villages cycle the next 25 km up through winding roads into the vast limestone mountain range with its perpendicular walls of rock, climbing 800m towards the mountain road pass “Heaven gate 1”.

  From the pass you can look down at amazing views, including the famous vista of the Tam Son valley with the ‘Twin Hills and can spy Quan Ba town, the destination, in its beautiful location. It’s mainly downhill for the last 15 km into Quan Ba.

  All meals provided.

• Day 8 -

  Cycle Quan Ba to Yen Minh

  You will want to take your time today as the beautiful surroundings offer numerous photo opportunities and the rocky limestone and karst terrain is as diverse as it is beautiful.

  Cycle uphill for the first few km before a descent of around 10km and then relatively flat terrain for the next 10km. It’s a challenging up and down terrain to an altitude of 1.025m before you make a final descent for the last 15km into Yenh Minh.

  All meals provided.

• Day 9 -

  Yen Minh to Dong Van, and Meo Vac.

  Today cycle on semi-surfaced quiet roads as you undertake a challenging uphill ride out of dense cedar forest onto the rocky Dong Van plateau.

  As you cycle on the modest road from Dong Van to Meo Vac alongside a vast gorge, the views are spectacular.

  Stay tonight in the small town of Meo Vac

• Day 10 -

  Meo Vac to Bao Lac

  Today follow a remote mountain road to Bao Lac.

  After a 5 km uphill cycle make a 20 km descent the follow a fairly flat road for the next 10 km.

  The surrounding landscape with predominantly limestone formations is a surreal vista of peaks, troughs, towers and caves.

  All meals included.

• Day 11 -

  Bao Lac to Nguyen Binh

  Cycle through a pretty valley to the tin-mining town Tinh Tuc, heading on to Nguyen Binh.

  You will continue along challenging terrain, but the unparalleled beauty of the surroundings more than compensates for the challenges of the cycling.

  All meals provided.

• Day 12 -

  Nguyen Binh to Hanoi

  Pack up your bikes and transfer back to Hanoi.

  You can relax this afternoon and enjoy the bustle and lively pace of Hanoi after your journey through the remote mountains.

  All meals provided.

• Day 13 -

  Hanoi to Ha Long Bay

  Transfer this morning to beautiful Ha Long Bay. This spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site is the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape.

  You can swim, fish and take a walk up hill for an unforgettable view over the bay.

  You will also have the opportunity to travel into some sea level caves in a small sampon.

  All meals will be provided on board.

• Day 14 -

  Ha Long Bay to Hanoi

  Cruise Ha Long Bay, and enjoy a late brunch.

  The boat trip finishes around midday and you will be transferred back to Hanoi to arrive late afternoon.

• Day 15 -

  Hanoi-departure back home

  You will be dropped at Hanoi International Airport for your flight home.