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 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 stelae 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 - Biking Ban Ho Village - Sapa
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 then on
single-track path. 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
Transfer: 38 km from Lao Cai to Sapa
Biking: 32 km/descend 12 km/ascend 1 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Sapa - Suoi Ho Village - Ban
Khoang Village - Ta Giang Phin Village - Ban
Seo Village - Lao Cai
After breakfast in the hotel we will begin
the ride around 8.30am, directly from Sapa
and straight away we are flying along on a
38km stretch involving a challenging climb
at first and then a spectacular, fast
flowing downhill to join a remote jeep
track. We will meet up for picnic lunch at
lower downhill. The jeep track climbs at
first then provide a fast descent before we
hit a short section of paved road that leads
to Lao Cai Town. This is a long and
challenging day with one short section where
we might have to carry our bikes. Dinner in
local restaurant and overnight in hotel.
Summary
Biking: 85 km/descend 28 km/ascend 8 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Lao Cai Town
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Support vehicle: Jeep
Day 5: 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
Lao Cai 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 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 6: 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 H?mong 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
H?mong 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 7: 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 8: 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 9: 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 10: 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 11: 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 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
