Night 1
See Tripadvisor ReviewsHanoi Boutique Hotel in Hanoi
Centrally located hotel in the heart of the old town with Wi-Fi, air-conditioned rooms, laundry facilities, restaurant, spa, and health club.
Discover the heart of Vietnam on this adventurous 13-day guided mountain biking tour
Northern Vietnam is thought to be one of the best destinations in the world for adventurous cyclists. This tour has you cycling in Northern Vietnam on a mountain bike. Expect this tour to take you away from the tourist trail into the heart of rural Vietnam. Cycle along winding roads high up in the clouds and through tiny villages in the foothills of forest-covered mountains. Marvel at the famous rice terraces which create beautiful patterns in the landscape.
On this tour you can challenge yourself to bike some challenging routes, on a mixture of asphalt, single-track and dirt roads. But it isn't all about cycling. There is ample time to explore Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city too.
And what trip to Northern Vietnam would be complete without seeing the stunning Ha Long Bay. Reward yourself at the end of the tour with a relaxing and restful overnight cruise in beautiful Ha Long Bay.
Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your flight time, there will be some free time to explore the city.
You will spend today discovering Hanoi. Begin by visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum followed by the Temple of Literature where you will hear a music performance. At lunch, you will have the chance to try Pho, one of Vietnam's iconic dishes. In the afternoon, see more of Hanoi, visiting museums, temples, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Old Quarter. There is time to have dinner in the city before boarding the night train to Lao Cai.
You will wake up this morning in the mountains of Northern Vietnam. First things first – sit down to a hearty breakfast! The first ride of the trip is a straightforward one, along paved and dirt roads for around 50 km. En route, you will pedal through scenery of rice terraces and high mountains and see local people going about their daily life. The ride finishes at Coc Ly. Have a look around the colorful market where the hill tribes of this region meet to sell livestock, produce, textiles and handicrafts. You will continuer along a single-track trail to the village of Bac Ha.
Today, you will begin to see why people come to Northern Vietnam for bicycle touring – the steep rice terraces that create beautiful swirling patterns in the landscape. After breakfast, there is a short transfer to Lung Phinh. From there you will ride to Xin Man, around 40 km along winding roads through rice and cornfields. Many hill tribes live in this area including the Flower H’mong, the Tay and the Ha Nhi people. In the afternoon, you will follow a quiet road to Hoang Su Phi. Arrive and settle into your accommodation in an eco-lodge hidden among lush gardens.
Today the scenery becomes more and more spectacular as you follow winding roads through the mountains to Ha Giang. In the morning, you will cycle over Heaven’s Gate, the highest mountain pass in Vietnam. Follow roads that seem to ascend and descend through the clouds, with otherworldly views of limestone mountains and forests. In the afternoon you will cycle along the Lo River through countryside and tea plantations to Ha Giang.
You are deep in the mountains of North Vietnam now, and the views are simply spectacular. Today's ride from Lung Tam to Yenh Minh is the most challenging so far. You will ride along roads cut into the sides of the limestone hills and tackle plenty of ascents and descents, winding turns and hairpin bends. There is a tough climb to an elevation of 1000 m before the final descent into Yen Minh. In the village, you will be able to see inside the homes of local tribes, who are known for beautiful textiles, handicrafts, and folk music.
You are well off the tourist trail now, in the heart of rural Vietnam and if you thought the scenery couldn’t get any more spectacular, well – it does! Cycling to Lung Ho, you will stop for a picnic lunch at a viewpoint with dramatic views of the forest-covered limestone peaks. Then, you will descend to the village of Du Gia, and finally to the village of Bac Me in the afternoon.
Today you ride to Ba Be National Park, 23,000 hectares of protected lakes, rivers and limestone peaks covered in lush vegetation. The journey takes you through remote tribal villages which are home to the Dao and Hmong tribes. You will arrive in the late afternoon. Ba Be is home to many different ethnic groups, as well as Vietnam’s largest lake. Your accommodation this evening is in a traditional homestay. Dinner will be prepared by your hosts.
Make sure to get up early this morning to take some photos in this beautiful national park. After breakfast, you cycle to a nearby tea plantation, learn how the local tea is picked and grown and try some for yourself. The rest of the day is spent on the road as you head back to Hanoi. In the evening there will be free time to rest, have dinner, and to see more of the city if you wish.
This morning you transfer to UNESCO-protected Ha Long Bay for your cruise. En route, you will stop to watch a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show in a local village. At around 1.30 PM your boat will head out into the bay, sailing among the famed limestone islands. Bai Tu Long Bay is some distance from the port and therefore sees fewer tourists.
One of the best parts is exploring a local floating fishing village by kayak. The boat will moor in the bay overnight.
Wake up early to see the sunrise over the bay. This morning, you cruise to one of the most unspoiled parts of the bay, Cong Dam, and learn about its unique geology. A BBQ lunch will be served on the boat or a nearby beach. Depending on the water level you may be able to explore nearby caves. The rest of the day is yours to spend enjoying this amazing location. Swim, kayak or simply relax onboard the boat with a drink in hand and take in the view!
This morning, you can explore the bay by sampan (traditional bamboo rowing boat). Visit the floating village of Vung Vieng and see how the residents manage to go about all their daily activities on the water. Lunch will be served on board as you head back to the port. In the afternoon you will be driven back to Hanoi, in time for one final special evening in the city.
After breakfast, there may be time to squeeze in some shopping in Hanoi depending on the time of your flight. Then, it is time to say your farewells as the tour ends.
This guided biking tour in Northern Vietnam Tour is always run as a custom tour for your group only and the price always depends on the number of people in your group.
Prices below are per person sharing a double or a triple room:
This tour includes a good balance between comfortable 2-3* hotels, homestay, boat and sleeper train. Hotels are well located, with comfortable amenities.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other, comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement of $550USD to have a private room in a hotel. Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible.
Centrally located hotel in the heart of the old town with Wi-Fi, air-conditioned rooms, laundry facilities, restaurant, spa, and health club.
Spending a night on a sleeper train is a must-do while in Vietnam. It saves time and lets you taste an important part of Vietnamese life.
Hotel with clean basic rooms and home-style cooking.
Eco-friendly hotel with Wi-Fi, restaurant, and bar.
Basic hotel with Wi-Fi and air conditioning
Staying in authentic local homestays is the best way to learn about local culture and is one of the highlights of the trip!
Centrally located hotel in the heart of the old town with Wi-Fi, air-conditioned rooms, laundry facilities, restaurant, spa, and health club.
Ha Long Bay cruise boat with comfortable air-conditioned rooms will take you to the most beautiful hidden corners of Ha Long Bay.
Centrally located hotel in the heart of the old town with Wi-Fi, air-conditioned rooms, laundry facilities, restaurant, spa, and health club.
10 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 8 dinners are included. Snacks during the biking days are included too.
Accommodations for 12 nights along the tour.
Transportation is included for you and your luggage. Airport transfers are included too.
How hard is the Biking in Northern Vietnam Tour?
We rate this tour as 4/5. You will be riding up to 80 km daily on rough terrain.
What is the minimum age for this tour?
This is a challenging tour, and we don’t recommend this for children younger than 16. If you have younger children, the tour can be customized for shorter length rides.
Do I need a visa to travel to Vietnam?
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
Can I rent a bike?
The bike rental (Trek 4500) is included in the tour package.
What should I bring to the trip?
Here is a list of what recommended items to bring with you:
Are meals included on the Biking in Northern Vietnam Tour?
9 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 8 dinners are included.
Do I need insurance?
Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.
How do I get to Hanoi to start this tour?
You can get to Hanoi by bus or train from most major Vietnam cities. The closest airport is Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, located 45 km from central Hanoi.
Is the Biking in Northern Vietnam Tour in English?
Yes, the tour guide speaks English.
Where does the Biking in Northern Vietnam Tour end?
The tour ends in Hanoi.
Do I need special vaccines to travel to Vietnam?
Check with your family doctor.
Are there any travel restrictions for Vietnam?
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
When is the best time to travel to Vietnam for this tour?
The best time to travel to Vietnam for hiking and biking is from October to March, as well as April and May (hot season), and June to August (green season with occasional rains).
All tours on 10Adventures are operated by highly vetted local tour operators and guides.
Having local tour operators and guides means you get a more authentic experience, and your booking creates jobs in the local communities you visit.
Details of the local tour operator will be listed on your booking invoice. If you have questions about the local operator prior to booking, please click the “Ask a Question” button below.
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54 total ratings, 0 with reviewsStephen L.
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We rate this tour as 4/5. You will be riding up to 80 km daily on rough terrain.
Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.
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