9 Days Bike North Vietnam

Day 1: Hanoi - Lao Cai by Night Train

In the evening, after dinner by your own and relax until meet-up with our guide and test your bike to make sure that you got right one. Then our van will transfer you to Hanoi Train Station to take a night train to Lao Cai.
Overnight in Train (Soft sleeper in sharing A/C cabin)

Day 2: Lao Cai - Sapa - Pedal up to Heavens Gate

The train stops at Lao Cai Station in early morning. Transfer 1 hour by van to Sapa Town. Upon arrival Sapa, Check in, breakfast and relax until 9.00 am, our support vehicle (Russian Uaz) will take you and bikes uphill to the Silver Waterfall, where we will start wonderful day pedalling up to Heavens Gate (Tram Ton Pass), the highest stretch of road in Vietnam.

At first we will bike hard (3km climbing) over the stunning Tram Ton Pass to experience the great views of the Hoang Lien Valley before a free-wheeling 26km downhill to visit the Black Hmong village of Chu Va, where you can enjoy a swim in the river & walk around in the village and explore the local way of living before lunch.

Afternoon, you will continue descent to Binh Lu Junction to visit the local market. From Binh Lu we continue cycling 1 hour to a remote village inhabited by the Coin Dao minority. Back to Sapa by provided Russian Uaz.

Evening, have a welcome dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Sapa.

Activities:

• 46km biking.
• Free swimming in the river & visit villages on foot.

Day 3: Sapa Villages - Transfer to Lao Cai by Russian Uaz

Morning, after breakfast, we will cycle directly from your hotel in Sapa and downhill 20km into Muong Hoa Valley, one of the most beautiful valleys of the area. Pedaling on a dirt trail which sneaks through rice paddy terraces and villages, we arrive at Lao Chai Village of Black H'mong people and stop by a local house as well as enjoy excellent views over huge rice paddy terraces. Then continue downhill to visit Ta Van Village of Dzay people. Back to Sapa by vehicle for lunch.

Afternoon, check out & gear up for our bike ride out of Sapa town towards the Ta Phin valley, winding our way through another Black Hmong hill tribe village in Ma Tra. This is a small village nested in Ta Phin Valley, which was once the most famous opium poppy field in the area. Now the area is famous for vegetable and rice fields. We continue cycling on winding village roads amidst rice terraces to a village of the Red Dzao ethnic minority. Visit the Ta Phin cave. Then vehicle will take us to Lao Cai Town for check in & dinner.

Overnight in Lao Cai.

Activity:45km biking.

Day 4: Lao Cai - Phong Hai - Coc Ly - Bac Ha

Early rising for breakfast and load our bikes on support vehicle for 1-hr transfer to the village of Phong Hai. Our ridding begins on a good hard-pack track along the side of a quiet road. Climbing gently then descending steeply to the small village of Coc Ly, where you start a boat cruise downstream Chay River, a beautiful river with stunning mountain gorge. Disembark and continue riding along the riverbank where we can enjoy magnificent sight of the beautiful caves and local life. Stop at Trung Do village of Tay minority for lunch and a cup of tea.

Then keep cycling on the dirt trail through the village and cross a narrow stream and an alpine road uphill to the quiet town of Bac Ha.

Arrival Bac Ha, check in, dinner and overnight in Bac Ha.

Activities:

• 41km biking
• 1.5 hrs boat trip

Day 5: Bac Ha - Xin Man - Hoang Su Phi

Morning, after breakfast in hotel & check out, transfer 10 km by van westward to Lung Phin Market where we start climbing toward Xin Man. Today we will bike across one of the most remote parts of northern Vietnam. At first we tackle a steady climb for 1 hr in a single-track road then hitting the paved road for a fast descent into the quiet town of Xin Man, a small and busy town near Chinese border. Lunch in Xin Man before starting the afternoon ride. The riding in the afternoon will not be too challenging. It takes us down to a bridge over the upstream of Chay River and for the next 40 km we cycle along a quiet road that gently climbs and follow the river to the town of Hoang Su Phi. Check in the only hotel in town

Overnight in Hoang Su Phi.

Activity: 88km biking.

Day 6: Hoang Su Phi - Vi Xuyen - Ha Giang

This is one of the most challenging biking days of the trip. Leaving Hoang Su Phi early morning, there are 6 km downhill before we turn off onto a remote track leading though mountains.

On this part our support vehicle will not be able to follow us and continue on the main mountain road to Viet Lam, where we will meet up later this day. However, we still have the emergency back up for water, lunch and first-aid, as we ride through the mountains. The ride highlight today is a long descent punctuated with waterfall and switchbacks, which flows seamlessly into some sinuous riverside single track making for fantastic riding.

Eventually we emerge onto rough tarmac and climb before finally dropping down again to the hot springs of Viet Nam, where we can ease our aching muscles. Refreshed, we pack the bikes into van and transfer the final 20 miles along Highway 2 to the busy district capital of Ha Giang.

Dinner in local restaurant and overnight in Ha Giang

Activities:

• 58km biking.
• Visit & short relax at hot springs.

Day 7: Ha Giang - Bac Me

Today the ride is mostly road based. At first we tackle 12 km gentle climbs over To Vo Pass and then it is an undulating, idyllic route through friendly villages and paddy fields, surrounded by jagged limestone hills. Light lunch en route and we will reach the small town of Bac Me early afternoon. The rest of the day, we can explore this little town and its surroundings or relax with a cold beer in local bars.

Dinner and overnight in Bac Me.

Activity: 55km biking.

Day 8: Bac Me - Yen Hoa - Dau Dang Waterfall - Boat trip to Ba Be National Park

Just outside Bac Me, we cross the Gam River and leave the main road to follow a small track cross-country off-road all the way to Ba Be through forest and tribal villages, up and down hill all day long. Our support vehicle will not be able to follow us on this route and travel along way to meet us in Ba Be National Park. Depending to the condition of the track we will have an emergency vehicle or motorbike for water, food and first-aid. The ride involves three climbs, crossing a succession of river valleys, but is rideable all the way. At the village of Dan Dong, we will be transferred into traditional long boats for a relaxing 1.5-hr ride along the beautiful Nang River and cross the lake into the stunning Ba Be National Park. The park is centered on the country's largest natural lake which is surrounded by limestone cliffs, waterfalls, caves and abundant of wildlife. We will have dinner and spend our night in a traditional house of Tay minority.

Activities:

• 82km biking.
• 1.5 hrs boat trip.
• Culture Exchange at Tay traditional house.

Day 9: Ba Be - 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. After 1.5-hr interesting boat trip reach Cho Ra Town. Drive 5 hrs back to Hanoi with a lunch stop on the way. The tour concludes at your hotel in Hanoi.

Activities:

• 1.5 hrs boat trip.
• Kayaking (optional)