Your Vietnam bike tour takes you to the charming ancient cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. You explore the verdant expanse of the Red River Delta and mighty Mekong River Delta, with their fertile banks farmed by generations of peasants. You bike amongst massive limestone mountains adorned with ancient forest, jungle and steep rice terraces, cultivated by hill tribes as they have been for thousands of years. You will experience the best of single track and road riding in these incredible places where a tourist is still a stranger and a curiosity.
The slow unhurried pace of life will seem light years away from the stresses of the modern world. A rejuvenating and enriching adventure into this beautiful, un-spoilt corner of Asia awaits you.
North South Cycling Epic – Vietnam Bike Tour itinerary
Day 01 – Welcome to Hanoi!
Please arrive at Hanoi Airport before 12 noon. After we transfer you to the city (45min) and check you in to your Hanoi Hotel, we take you on a City Tour. Among the various places of interest, we show you the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Mondays) and the Temple of Literature. We have the opportunity to enjoy a traditional water puppet show and in the evening we enjoy our first group dinner together.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Dinner
No cycling
Day 02 – Hanoi – Suoi Giang (near Nghia Lo)
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive north from Hanoi heading to Thu Cuc. At Thanh Son, we stop for a refreshment break before getting on our bikes for the first ride. It is a reasonably easy 40-50km and a good warm up. We stop for lunch in Thu Cuic and in the afternoon we have the option of cycling up to another 60km towards Nghia Lo – a small town in a big valley inhabited by ethnic Thai people. There are no single trail options today, but the guide can take you on quiet dirt roads through some small villages.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Elevation/Cycling: 55 km+/4 hrs+ riding
Day 03 – Suoi Giang – Than Uyen
There are several riding options today which the guide will discuss with you in advance. After breakfast we suggest you start cycling on the winding dirt roads through the villages, before travelling in the backup vehicle to Tu Le. From here, it is 80km to Than Uyen – you can choose to cycle some of the way or ride in the vehicle. This is one of the most beattiful stretches of mountain road in the North of Vietnam with imposing mountains and rice terraces. This are is also the home of he colourful Hmong, Dzao and Tay hill tribes. We will be meeting them all along the way.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Elevation/Cycling: 30 – 50km+/4 hrs+ riding (or variations)
Day 04 – Than Uyen – Sapa
We warm up this morning on a single trail around Than Uyen before hopping in the vehicle to ride to Than Thuoc for lunch. As we get close to the Hoang Lien Son peak, we cycle (or you can choose to ride in the support vehicle) between 1000m – 3000m mountains, to finally reach the highest pass in vietnam (at 1900m). We then descent to Sapa (at 1600m). The deeper into the mountains we go, the more hill tribes we will see, wearing amazingly elaborate and colourful costumes with huge earrings. These people have been living in the hills for a thousand years and their way of life has hardly changed from generation to generation. Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Elevation/Cycling: 1520m up, 590m down, 87km/ 5-7 hrs riding
Day 05 – Sapa – Muong Bo – Sapa
A half day trip combining dirt roads, single trails, and a steep downhill (1000m). You will be walking and/or cycling from village to village, (meeting Hmong and Tay hill tribes) – trails sometimes passing through a local’s backyard. (Don’t worry, they don’t mind! If you are the first rider into a village their jaws just drop with amazement, but as the last rider passes, everyone will be outside and showing great excitement). The late afternoon and evening is free (although the 3 hour single trail ride can be extended to a 6 hour ride) to explore.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Elevation/Cycling: 500m up, 1100m down, 37 km / 4 hours riding
Day 06 – Sapa – Bac Ha
A high country road with just deep blue skies and fluffy white clouds all around, as we wind our way up higher and higher into the mountains. You will be cycling HIGH for half a day at 1400-1600m, followed by the big descent to Lao Cai. Then we drive to Bac Ha (1400m) which takes approximately 2 hours.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Elevation/Cycling: 900m up, 2250m down, 79 km / 5.5 hours riding
Day 07 – Around Bac Ha
The Sunday market is a great opportunity to view local life-styles, just make sure you bring enough film! From late morning, we cycle for up to 4 hrs on trails through villages, admiring stunning scenery of mountains and forest. Wherever you stop you will become a major focus of attention. Stopping to admire the view seemingly in the middle of nowhere, people will suddenly appear from the hills. The main tribe you will see today is the Flower HMong, the most colourful tribe in Vietnam.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Elevation/Cycling: 370m up, 560m down, 25 km / 2.5 hours riding
Day 08 – Bac Ha – Lao Cai – Hanoi
Today is a single trail day! We have a fantastic ride along the hill ridges through evergreen forests and these ancient tribal areas of the hill people. Lunch is en route plus we can have snacks and we will celebrate with a cold beer at the end of the ride! We then pack up the bikes and drive to Lao Cai in time for a shower before we board the night train back to Hanoi. Our bikes will be sent to Ho Chi Minh City where we meet them tomorrow.
Accommodation: Overnight train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Elevation/Cycling: 600m up, 1600m down, 54 km / 5.5 hours riding
Day 09 – Hanoi via Saigon to DaLat
This morning we take a scenic flight down to Saigon (HoChiMinh City), where we embark on a short city tour before lunch. This afternoon we have a short flight to DaLat, the homeland of flowers, coffee plantations and mountain lakes!
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
No Cycling
Day 10 – Around DaLat
Today we cycle right from DaLat out to the east through old French villas for about 8 kms before skirting the eastern side of Victory Lake. The next 20kms is single track farmland and forest – the best that Vietnam has to offer and a great challenge! Lunch today is an on the road picnic at the most convenient hilltop before we continue up Tiger Falls and wind our way back to DaLat for a well earned evening meal!
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Elevation/Cycling: Majority up/down very little flat riding today, 45 km
Day 11 – Around DaLat
Today we ride the best single track downhill in the DaLat area with outstanding views of the lakes and surrounding farmlands. Our first climb takes us up to 1750mtrs. We take a break before a couple of steep climbs and then we plunge down dirt roads and pine forest to TaNung. We drop 1000mtrs over 20kms – a great thrill for speed junkies! We either transfer or ride the 20kms (uphill) back to DaLat.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling: Hills! 52kms
Day 12 – DaLat – DiLinh – MuiNe
After an early start we descend 20km from DaLat to TaNung village and onto DucTrong district (+950m). We get a 35km downhill ride that you cannot miss! Back on the road we transfer 45km to DiLinh. We pass numerous coffee, tea, banana and rubber plantations this region – the Vietnamese highlands are renowned for producing the finest tea and coffee. We stop and taste before getting back on our bikes and enjoying an undulating 18kms before flying downhill 50km on a narrow route through GiaBac tribal village to MaLam Town. We have an easy 40km of flat road on to MuiNe Beach or transfer if preferred.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling: Total Ride 112kms
Day 13 – MuiNe
Today we can have some well earnt time out to relax by the pool at the resort and soak up some sun or if you choose we can cycle to some of the local fishing villages through the sand dunes. This is a 30km round trip.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling: Optional 30km
Day 14 – MuiNe – Ho Chi Minh City
This morning we transfer back to HoChiMinh city by van (4hrs), where we will box up our bikes and bid farewell before the trip home.
Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: none
A truly epic journey! The Roof of the World on a bike – what better way to explore Tibet and Nepal, meet the locals, experience the amazing culture and stunning scenery!
