Cycling Hanoi to Halong Bay Tour

Welcome to Vietnam! Your group will meet at the hotel in the afternoon for a briefing from your local Vietnamese guide. Settle into your hotel room then depart for an evening walking tour of Vietnam’s charming capital city. With many alleyways and adorable haunts to admire, you’ll get an excellent introduction to colonial influences blended with native traditions in this lovely city. Take a moment to admire the central Hoan Kiem Lake, which acts as the capital's heart. Return to your hotel for your first night—and be careful crossing the street!

Hanoi is a charming mix of colonial architecture and Vietnamese tradition. Today after breakfast, you’ll discover its highlights like the Temple of Literature inside the country’s oldest universities. Then, wander through the Old Quarter's narrow streets packed with eclectic crafts and goods for sale. Return to the hotel after lunch and pick your trusty bicycle for the rest of the week and hear the details from your guide about the exciting week of riding ahead. Get a good night’s sleep in Hanoi—maybe go out for a drink on one of the many plastic chairs and tables that line the streets at night and feel like a local.

Your first day of cycling will bring a challenge, but the effort is worth the reward. You receive transport to the starting point to avoid cycling on the highway. Start climbing through lush green mountains and over the incredible Thung Khe pass with magical views of Hoa Binh Lake. Stop at a waterfall for a refreshing dip, then continue towards Mai Chau situated in a beautiful green valley. This authentic village is populated with the Vietnamese Thai minority. You’ll spend the night with a homestay family here, allowing you to engage with the locals and learn about their traditions. Get a good night’s sleep after a challenging day of riding.

Fuel up on breakfast and a delicious Vietnamese iced coffee, ca phe sua da. You have the whole day to explore Mai Chau and the small villages in the surrounding valley. Aside from the region’s natural magnificence, it is packed with northern Vietnamese culture and traditions. Stop in one of the many villages to say hello, have a snack, and listen to the locals' stories. The area is breathtaking, and riding a bike around is one of the best ways to admire it. See the vivid green terraced rice paddies, bamboo stilt houses dotting huge grass fields, all while surrounded by karst mountains and lush foliage. Return to your hotel in Mai Chau for the night.

Once you finish breakfast, hop on your bike to descend deeper into the gorgeous Mai Chau Valley. Enjoy the quintessential Vietnamese landscapes as you make your way to Pu Luong National Park. Once here, you’ll witness the phenomenal limestone pillars comprising the landscape before you. Keep watch for the variety of foliage here—over 1000 plant species are listed for the area. Spend the night in a traditional, yet luxurious, stilt house near the park.

Get a short break for your legs in a private transfer to today’s cycling route in Cau Tram. You’ll pedal through fragrant plantations for the morning until stopping for lunch in a local eatery. Visit the serenity of Van Long Nature Reserve in the afternoon and ride into Ninh Binh province. Stunning limestone pillars and rivers abound in this naturally splendid area. Take a boat ride down one of the shallow rivers with a guide who will likely be wearing an iconic triangular hat for sun protection. Enjoy the peaceful journey on the water, admiring the sky's reflection in the water, making the landscapes look as if they were painted. Once the boat ride comes to an end, get on your bike to ride to your hotel in Ninh Binh for the night.

Today, you’ll receive a transfer in the morning to the Dinh Le Temple to start your route. Ride through the picturesque areas of Trang An and Tam Coc, and stop here for lunch. The afternoon will be devoted to exploring the tremendous Cuc Phuong National Park—if you want to immerse yourself in nature, now is your chance! Cycle through truly stunning jungle landscapes replete with cascading waterfalls, rivers, giant trees for a shady exploration, and even some cheeky monkeys. The native Muong people remain living near the park—consider purchasing some souvenirs from them to support their work in preserving their traditions and culture. Once your park tour is complete, take a private transfer to the hotel in Ninh Binh.

Enjoy your breakfast in Ninh Binh, and hop on your bike for a short ride this morning. Riding through the Thai Binh province, you end up at Haiphong, a large port city on Pacific Ocean. Leave your bike behind for a day as you embark on a cruise around the famous Halong Bay. You will be blown away by the splendor of this place. The idyllic location comprises 1,900 limestone islands only accessible by boat and uninhabitable—it’s no wonder it has earned a spot as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the views spending the night on the boat. Lunch and dinner will consist of freshly-caught seafood, the latter accompanied by an unparalleled view of the sunset from the boat’s upper deck. Onboard, you’ll get a chance to watch an evening fishing session before you settle into your cabin for the night.

Don’t miss your chance this morning to witness the sunrise over the vivid waters of Halong Bay. Your guide will navigate through the bay in the morning and return you to a port to disembark. You’ll then enjoy a ride to Hanoi, arriving in the afternoon with free time to shop for final souvenirs before a group farewell dinner.

Indulge in a final ca phe sua da (Vietnamese iced coffee) with breakfast. Make your own way either to the airport or your next destination on your adventure in Vietnam.