9 Days Northern Vietnam Mountain Cycling Tour from Hanoi to Sapa and Hi Giang

Whilst this cycling tour is graded ‘active’ with some climbs and longer distances, we are happy to cater to some riders wanting shorter daily rides, and nonriders. Cycling through the country’s West-East gives travelers an unparalleled opportunity to discover a hidden corner of Vietnam. Mixing pedal through spectacular sceneries with visits to markets of mountain tribes, villages, and historic sites, you will enjoy and experience the region’s unique culture…
TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi city tour & Night train to Lao Cai ( L, D )
You should arrive a day before. After breakfast at your hotel, we will begin our city tour of Hanoi. At first, we will visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum ( closed on Monday and Friday and Oct to Dec ) ) and the ‘ Uncle Ho’ house. After that, we head to the unique One Stilt Pagoda, which dates from one thousand years ago. Continue to Hanoi’s famous Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam founded in 1070. The highlight of this cultural, and historical site is the garden of stelae where you find 82 stone stelae bearing names, places of birth, and achievements of men who received doctorates in each triennial examination from 1442; each stela sits on a stone tortoise. Lunch in a 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 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 the hotel to take shower. dinner and free time until we get on the night train to Lao Cai around 8:30 pm.
Summary:
The city tour: full-day guided city tour
Overnight: on the express train ( 4 persons/cabin)
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

The night train: Sleeper cabin with 04 soft berths.

Day 2 : Lao Cai – Sapa – Ban Ho Village ( B ,L,D )
Once we arrive in Lao Cai we get a transfer of around 1hr to our hotel in Sapa. After checking in, freshening up, and having a light breakfast we will get our bikes together for a wonderful day’s biking through the Sapa Valley. At first on a dirt road but then on singletrack paths. We will descend to Ban Ho village, home to the Tay people. We will bike beside the main river, on a fast undulating route to Nam Toong, a village of the Red Dzao people. Picnic lunch on the way before continuing to My Son, a village populated by Xafo people, one of the smallest ethnic groups in Vietnam. We return to Sapa by a jeep ride. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in a hotel.

Summary:
The transfer: 38km from Lao Cai to Sapa
The biking: 32km. 12km of descent and 20km of ascent
Hotel: Hotel in Sapa Town
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Support crew: 01 local guides and support vehicle

Day 3: Sapa – Ban Khoan – Lao Cai ( B, L,D )
After breakfast in the hotel – at 8:30 Am pick up from your hotel in Sapa. Spend your full day biking to the secluded region of Bat Xat, and visit Nam tay mountain and a beautiful village of Hmong people in the foothill. Continue to visit the Red Dzao tribe in Ban Khoang. The landscapes open widely as you pedal to the rocky road of Bat Xat. Continue your trails until you reach the new Chinese border gate. Have a break by the riverside then head to Lao Cai hotel for check-in.

Summary:
The biking: 75km. 20km of descent
Hotel: In Cao Cai city
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner & snack
Support crew: 01 local guides and support vehicle

Day 4: Lao Cai – Coc Ly – Bac Ha ( B, L, D )
Early rising for breakfast and goodbye to the hosts to board a longboat and transfer for around hr along a stunning Yangtse-style river ride, through a high cliff gorge. then cycling to Coc Ly where the Dao, Tay, and Hmong people gather for a market day on Tuesday every week.

We will begin our ride to 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 the Hmong King. Dine-in a local restaurant and overnight in a 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:
The biking: 65km. 4km of descent and 25km of ascent
Hotel: hotel in Bac Ha
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner & snack
Support crew: 01 local guides and support vehicle

Day 5: Bac Ha – Xin Man ( B, L, D )
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 a good paved road but then turn into a 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 the Chinese border. Xin Man is around 75 km from Bac Ha and biking in the afternoon is no less challenging than one in the morning. We will climb for the first hour or so up to a plateau at 2500m, where we have a fantastic view before hitting a roughly paved road for a steady descent into Xin Man. During the biking, we will have regular stops for breaks, snacks, and taking photos. 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 6: Xin Man – Hoang Shu Phi – Ha Giang ( B, L,D )
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 a snack and refreshment then continue with a 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 7: Ha Giang – Bac Me – Bao Lac ( B, L,D )
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 a 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 a 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 midway to Bao Lac
The biking: 95km. 8km of descent and 10km of ascent
Hotel: in Bao Lac
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner & snack
Support crew: support vehicle

Day 8: Bao Lac – Tinh Tuc – Ba Be Lake ( B, L, D )
Having a relaxing breakfast and then we leave the town around 9 am. Today we will enjoy the last ride of our trip. We start with a climb of 6km, followed by an undulating quiet road through scenic villages. We will have a snack break on the way and have late light lunch in the small town of Nguyen Binh. After 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 a 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 9: Ba Be Lake – Cho Ra – Hanoi ( B, L )
Today we have a relaxing and peaceful day. After breakfast, we say goodbye to the hosts and take a short walk through the village. We will board a longboat for a fantastic boat trip on the stunning Ba Be Lake. This lake is one of the country’s largest natural lakes, surrounded by limestone cliffs, waterfalls, 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 your hotel in Hanoi. End The Tour

Summary:
Transfer: 250km from Ba Be to Hanoi
The biking: 35 km
Hotel: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Boat: Visiting Ba Be lake
Support crew: support vehicle

End The Tour