Experience The Real Vietnam
Experience The Real Vietnam
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival
Day2: Hanoi – Thai Nguyen – Ba Be(50KM)
Day 3: Boat trip on Ba Be Lake.( No Cycling)
Day 4: Bac Kan – Ban Gioc Waterfall( Cycling 80KM)
Day 5: Cao Bang – Dong Van( Cycling 90KM)
Day 6: Dong Van – Hoang Su Phi (Cycling 60KM)
Day 7: Hoang Su Phi – Bac Ha(Cycling 70KM)
Day 8: Bac Ha Town – Coc Ly market (Cycling 30KM)
Day 9: Coc Ly Market – Sapa (Cycling 60KM)
Day 10: Sapa Free morning -Train to Hanoi
Day 11: Arrival Hanoi
Countryside Adventures is offering Vietnam Mountain Biking Tours, from Vietnam’s buzzing capital, Hanoi, to the remote undiscovered Ha Giang region. We provide you with an experienced rider for the tour as the roads are hilly, and sometimes paved while sometimes a mixture of flat and hilly off roads.
Cycling hilly hairpin bends amongst slopes, ridges, valleys, and limestone karsts the outstanding natural beauty will take your breath away. This is the trip of the lifetime for those who want to challenge themselves with all incredible mountainous areas,but these are great worth for all effort.
Cycling hilly hairpin bends amongst slopes, ridges, valleys, and limestone karsts the outstanding natural beauty will take your breath away. This is the trip of the lifetime for those who want to challenge themselves with all incredible mountainous areas, but these are great worth for all effort.
Day 1: HANOI ARRIVAL
Upon arrival in Hanoi City, Greetings from our team, then transfer to Hanoi city center for check-in hotel. The rest of the day is free on your own. Enjoy Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 2: HANOI – THAI NGUYEN – BA BE LAKE (B/L/D)
We pick you up from the hotel then depart for Ba Be national park via Thai Nguyen, province of tea plantation. Visit some tea hills along the way in Giang Tien town. Then continue the road trip to reach Dinh Hoa for lunch. After that, keep riding to Ba Be lake via Bac Kan province.
Stop in Cho Ra market to see how is rural the market. Arrive in Pac Ngoi hamlet, a traditional village of Tay people, Pac Ngoi village has around 40 traditional houses located right beside fields and the river edge. Staying in the local house, we can listen to the rhythm of the Nang river right beside the house and smell all the fresh air.
ON in Ba Be – Homestay.
DAY 3: KAYAKING & BOAT TRIP ON BA BE LAKE (B/L/D)
It is a good chance for the early riser to enjoy the very fresh atmosphere with a very green forest, river, lake, rice fields… Kayaking and Boating activities on Ba Be lake would be great to explore this beautiful area. We take the boat trip to the Ba Be Lake then reach the Dau Dang waterfall, the 100m, and three-level waterfall makes the scenery even more magnificent.
Have the picnic lunch here with a local family. Then continue the boating trip along the Nang River to get to “Dong Puong” cave. Visit the villages & schools of the Tay ethnic people located along the river then back to Pac Ngoi hamlet for relaxation and dinner. Overnight at Local homestay.
DAY 4: BAC KAN – BAN GIOC WATERFALL (B/L/D)
Wake up early to visit the local market to see how the local people trading. After breakfast, we will cycle to Ban Gioc, visit the waterfall. On this day you’ll take a scenic insightful day trip north of Cao Bang to the beautiful Ban Gioc waterfall on the Chinese border. This picturesque, cascading waterfall is 53 meters high and has an impressive span of 300 meters.
The waterfall falls thirty meters. It is separated into three falls by rocks and trees, and the thundering effect of the water hitting the cliffs can be heard kilometers away from Trung Khanh. The journey offers unique landscapes, limestone karts formations soar from the verdant rice paddies of the surrounding farms of local ethnic minorities. Along the way, you’ll see Tay, Hmong, and Dzao ethnic minority groups. Heading back to Cao Bang, stop to explore the expansive 2,144-meter Nguom Ngao Cavern to discover its brilliant stalactites. ON in Cao Bang.
Cycling distance: 80KM
DAY 5: CAO BANG BIKING TRIPS TO DONG VAN (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we continue our adventure journey to Ha Giang. The scenery is spectacular and the road runs along the sides of the mountains on the way.
The riding today is hard to challenge as we cycle up to few passes on the way to Meo Vac which has most of the terrain in the Rock Plateau of Dong Van and above 1000m above sea level.
The road from Meo Vac Town to Dong Van Town is 23km which is via the sublime beauty of Ma Pi Leng Pass. Meo Vac is inhabited by different ethnic minorities including the Hmong, the King, Tay, Dzao…. You’ll continue your journey onto the nearby village of the Lo Lo minority.
ON in Dong Van Town.
Cycling distance:90KM
DAY 6: DONG VAN BIKING TOUR TO HOANG SU PHI (B/L/D)
A morning trip will take you to the Nam Hong village, home to the Red Dzao ethnic minority group. Your journey will take you through the scenic valleys where you can expect to see views of the faraway mountains and the terrace rice fields. Your guide will prepare lunch for you at a local family. After lunch, you’ll cycle to Pan Hou and embark for Ha Giang, your route will take you through mountainous landscapes and striking scenery. O/N in Hoang Su Phi homestay.
Cycling distance:60KM
DAY 7: HOANG SU PHI CYCLING TOUR TO BAC HA (B/L/D)
Our cycling today will take us to Bac Ha town- which you visit a big market filled with many different hill-tribe peoples. This is the most colorful market in North Vietnam. At the market, you have a chance to enjoy Bac Ha people’s simple but unique kinds of food with special wines made from rice, cassavas, corn and different sorts of fruits such as plumps, apples, peaches… talking to the minorities through the guide’s interpretation.
In the afternoon, after check-in local homestay in Bac Ha, our guide take you for a walk to Thai Giang Pho Village of the Flower Hmong and the Nung, visiting one school, and trekking by the side of the highest mountain in Bac Ha through the beautiful plumb gardens before another visit to the palace of the Hmong King that built-in 1921. It is a unique construction work, which harmonies the Oriental and Western architectural styles.
Its network of walls, bunkers, and battlements was reinforced by a mortar mixed with sugar molasses. In a distance, the white castle jutting out from the valley looks imposing and majestic.
ON in Bac Ha.
Cycling distance:60KM
DAY 8: COC LY MARKET BIKING TOUR (B/L/D)
Today we will ride to visit Coc Ly market, which is around 27KM from Bac Ha Town, a colorful Tuesday market in a mountainous area where ethnic people gather to buy and sell goods, dine and drink, or just wander to enjoy the ambiance of the Montagnard market by the Chay River.
Enjoy the peaceful life of 6 different minority peoples (Flower Hmong, Black Dzao, Tay, Dzay, Ha Nhi, and Nung). The market is the chance for the minorities to meet and share joy and sorrows after the crops, to exchange one another’s experience. Say goodbye to the market and get down onto a boat along Chay River. You are bound to feel great and find yourselves smaller among high rock mountains and to be surprised at white and breathtakingly waterfalls. Overnight in Bac Ha.
Cycling distance:30KM
DAY 9: BAC HA TOWN BIKING TOURS SAPA (B/L/D)
After breakfast, We will enjoy a great riding from Bac Ha to Sapa town with spectacular mountainous views along the way. Afternoon, check-in hotel in Sapa, then, Our guide will take you a short trek to Cat Cat village, the village of Hmong tribe in the valley, which remains very generally uncorrupted outside forces. Excellent views of the valley, the magnificent limestone, and paddy fields of the Hmong village. Enjoy some visits to local families and reach their customs.
After the village down into the valley, the Cat Cat waterfall will be visible. Visitors to Cat Cat Village can discover countless unique features of H’Mong people. A “White curtain” cascade appears, surrounded by flowery valleys and deep-green pines. The rocks near the river and waterfall provide a marvelous place for picturesque photos and sunbathing during good weather…
ON in Sapa.
Cycling distance:60KM
Day 10: FREE MORNING – EVENING TRAIN BACK TO HANOI
Today is free and easy to explore Sapa Town until afternoon transfer to Lao Cai Train station for your overnight train back to Hanoi ends of Wonderful cycling adventures.
O/N on Train.
DAY 11: ARRIVAL HANOI TRAIN STATION
Pick up and transfer to your selected hotel. Ends of services.
Countryside Adventurres
Day 1: HANOI ARRIVAL
Upon arrival in Hanoi City, Greetings from our team, then transfer to Hanoi city center for check-in hotel. The rest of the day is free on your own. Enjoy Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 2: HANOI – THAI NGUYEN – BA BE LAKE (B/L/D)
We pick you up from the hotel then depart for Ba Be national park via Thai Nguyen, province of tea plantation. Visit some tea hills along the way in Giang Tien town. Then continue the road trip to reach Dinh Hoa for lunch. After that, keep riding to Ba Be lake via Bac Kan province.
Stop in Cho Ra market to see how is rural the market. Arrive in Pac Ngoi hamlet, a traditional village of Tay people, Pac Ngoi village has around 40 traditional houses located right beside fields and the river edge. Staying in the local house, we can listen to the rhythm of the Nang river right beside the house and smell all the fresh air.
ON in Ba Be – Homestay.
DAY 3: KAYAKING & BOAT TRIP ON BA BE LAKE (B/L/D)
It is a good chance for the early riser to enjoy the very fresh atmosphere with a very green forest, river, lake, rice fields… Kayaking and Boating activities on Ba Be lake would be great to explore this beautiful area. We take the boat trip to the Ba Be Lake then reach the Dau Dang waterfall, the 100m, and three-level waterfall makes the scenery even more magnificent.
Have the picnic lunch here with a local family. Then continue the boating trip along the Nang River to get to “Dong Puong” cave. Visit the villages & schools of the Tay ethnic people located along the river then back to Pac Ngoi hamlet for relaxation and dinner. Overnight at Local homestay.
DAY 4: BAC KAN – BAN GIOC WATERFALL (B/L/D)
Wake up early to visit the local market to see how the local people trading. After breakfast, we will cycle to Ban Gioc, visit the waterfall. On this day you’ll take a scenic insightful day trip north of Cao Bang to the beautiful Ban Gioc waterfall on the Chinese border. This picturesque, cascading waterfall is 53 meters high and has an impressive span of 300 meters.
The waterfall falls thirty meters. It is separated into three falls by rocks and trees, and the thundering effect of the water hitting the cliffs can be heard kilometers away from Trung Khanh. The journey offers unique landscapes, limestone karts formations soar from the verdant rice paddies of the surrounding farms of local ethnic minorities. Along the way, you’ll see Tay, Hmong, and Dzao ethnic minority groups. Heading back to Cao Bang, stop to explore the expansive 2,144-meter Nguom Ngao Cavern to discover its brilliant stalactites. ON in Cao Bang.
Cycling distance: 80KM
DAY 5: CAO BANG BIKING TRIPS TO DONG VAN (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we continue our adventure journey to Ha Giang. The scenery is spectacular and the road runs along the sides of the mountains on the way.
The riding today is hard to challenge as we cycle up to few passes on the way to Meo Vac which has most of the terrain in the Rock Plateau of Dong Van and above 1000m above sea level.
The road from Meo Vac Town to Dong Van Town is 23km which is via the sublime beauty of Ma Pi Leng Pass. Meo Vac is inhabited by different ethnic minorities including the Hmong, the King, Tay, Dzao…. You’ll continue your journey onto the nearby village of the Lo Lo minority.
ON in Dong Van Town.
Cycling distance:90KM
DAY 6: DONG VAN BIKING TOUR TO HOANG SU PHI (B/L/D)
A morning trip will take you to the Nam Hong village, home to the Red Dzao ethnic minority group. Your journey will take you through the scenic valleys where you can expect to see views of the faraway mountains and the terrace rice fields. Your guide will prepare lunch for you at a local family. After lunch, you’ll cycle to Pan Hou and embark for Ha Giang, your route will take you through mountainous landscapes and striking scenery. O/N in Hoang Su Phi homestay.
Cycling distance:60KM
DAY 7: HOANG SU PHI CYCLING TOUR TO BAC HA (B/L/D)
Our cycling today will take us to Bac Ha town- which you visit a big market filled with many different hill-tribe peoples. This is the most colorful market in North Vietnam. At the market, you have a chance to enjoy Bac Ha people’s simple but unique kinds of food with special wines made from rice, cassavas, corn and different sorts of fruits such as plumps, apples, peaches… talking to the minorities through the guide’s interpretation.
In the afternoon, after check-in local homestay in Bac Ha, our guide take you for a walk to Thai Giang Pho Village of the Flower Hmong and the Nung, visiting one school, and trekking by the side of the highest mountain in Bac Ha through the beautiful plumb gardens before another visit to the palace of the Hmong King that built-in 1921. It is a unique construction work, which harmonies the Oriental and Western architectural styles.
Its network of walls, bunkers, and battlements was reinforced by a mortar mixed with sugar molasses. In a distance, the white castle jutting out from the valley looks imposing and majestic.
ON in Bac Ha.
Cycling distance:60KM
DAY 8: COC LY MARKET BIKING TOUR (B/L/D)
Today we will ride to visit Coc Ly market, which is around 27KM from Bac Ha Town, a colorful Tuesday market in a mountainous area where ethnic people gather to buy and sell goods, dine and drink, or just wander to enjoy the ambiance of the Montagnard market by the Chay River.
Enjoy the peaceful life of 6 different minority peoples (Flower Hmong, Black Dzao, Tay, Dzay, Ha Nhi, and Nung). The market is the chance for the minorities to meet and share joy and sorrows after the crops, to exchange one another’s experience. Say goodbye to the market and get down onto a boat along Chay River. You are bound to feel great and find yourselves smaller among high rock mountains and to be surprised at white and breathtakingly waterfalls. Overnight in Bac Ha.
Cycling distance:30KM
DAY 9: BAC HA TOWN BIKING TOURS SAPA (B/L/D)
After breakfast, We will enjoy a great riding from Bac Ha to Sapa town with spectacular mountainous views along the way. Afternoon, check-in hotel in Sapa, then, Our guide will take you a short trek to Cat Cat village, the village of Hmong tribe in the valley, which remains very generally uncorrupted outside forces. Excellent views of the valley, the magnificent limestone, and paddy fields of the Hmong village. Enjoy some visits to local families and reach their customs.
After the village down into the valley, the Cat Cat waterfall will be visible. Visitors to Cat Cat Village can discover countless unique features of H’Mong people. A “White curtain” cascade appears, surrounded by flowery valleys and deep-green pines. The rocks near the river and waterfall provide a marvelous place for picturesque photos and sunbathing during good weather…
ON in Sapa.
Cycling distance:60KM
Day 10: FREE MORNING – EVENING TRAIN BACK TO HANOI
Today is free and easy to explore Sapa Town until afternoon transfer to Lao Cai Train station for your overnight train back to Hanoi ends of Wonderful cycling adventures.
O/N on Train.
DAY 11: ARRIVAL HANOI TRAIN STATION
Pick up and transfer to your selected hotel. Ends of services.
Countryside Adventurres
Please send us your request for the best prices.
Countryside Adventures
Road conditions: Most of the roads in the Northeast and Northwest of Hanoi city are hilly and passes, mountainous terrain, exposed terrain with steep ascents/descent, and uneven trails.
The total cycling distance for 10 days is around 430 km, as a group size of 02 -05 riders, we will arrange 01 experienced cycle guides setting an even pace and stop often to visit points of interest and sample some of the local food. Our support vehicle follows close behind with plenty of refreshments. For a group size from 06 -12 riders, we will arrange 02 Cycling guides or 01 mechanics.
BIKING GRADE
Challenging Grade means these tours involve active, physically required activities up to 06 – 08 hours per day in a remote area, under variable weather conditions or quick attitude changes. You are going to get into remote areas where the support facilities are not always available or facing passes or river crossing. You should be a very good level of fitness. For that biking or motorcycling adventure, experienced riders with good driving skills may be required.
* Suggested preparation: 45 – 60 minutes of aerobic type exercises, 4-5 times per week for about 04 – 06 weeks before your adventure. Outdoor hill or up/down staircase walking is recommended.
Who suits: Recommended for fit travelers
Activity: 6-8 hours most days
Distances: Cycle 40 – 55 miles (or 65 – 88km) most days
Surfaces: mountainous, exposed terrain with steep ascents/descents and uneven trails
Elevation change: up to 4,000 ft/day (about 1200m)
Altitude: up to 12,000 ft. (about 3600m))
The bikes you will be riding are well-known such as Trek/ Giant or Cannondale makes of hybrid or mountain bikes (depending on the tour) with lightweight alloy frames, 27- 29 speed gearing, Disc-brakes, and Shimano components, and front suspension.
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee to have spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube, and a pump while riding is recommended.
Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is nonnegotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree, you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.
You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture, and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.
THE BIKING DAYS
A typical biking day starts at about 7.30 am after breakfast. Lunchtimes can vary depending on the distance. We aim to reach the next overnight stop by 4.30 or 5:00 pm. During the biking, we will have short breaks for rest, snacks and photographing.
Depending on the distance and the terrain the biking day can be part-drive part-ride or riding the whole way.
WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING WITH?
We recommend that you visit a travel medical doctor and ask about the following vaccinations: typhoid, polio, tetanus, and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days.
The weather in Vietnam is split into two distinct weather patterns Tropical and temperate zone. The average temperature ranges from 22 to 27 degrees all year round but in the South, temperatures can stay almost the same. The Southern part of Vietnam has 2 distinct seasons. The cold season is from November to April and the hot season from May to October. Whilst in the North there is 4 seasons with a distinct difference between them. It can get cool in the winter but very warm in the summer.
Mountainous Far North (Sapa, Ha Giang)
The climate in Sapa and Vietnam’s far north-west is divided into two seasons: the dry season runs from October to late March with the wet season lasting from April to September. It can get very cold in December and January, especially at night.
The best months to travel in the north-east (Ha Giang) is during the dry season, from October to April, although December and January can get very cold. We recommend avoiding traveling in Ha Giang during the rainy season (May to September).
Most meals are included in your trip price apart from non-cycling days and some other exclusions. Please check the itinerary for full details. If you have a special dietary request, please advise us at the time of booking. Most diets can be catered for, but it is always important to advise us in advance.
Rice is the staple food in Vietnam. Soup with rice noodles is a national dish. Recipes for main meals make use of vegetables, meat and fish. Herbs and spices used in food preparation include basil, coriander, lemon grass, mint and black pepper. Other ingredients are garlic, onions, ginger and lime juice. There are a numerous types of noodles eaten at all times of the day and noodle and rice based snacks wrapped in rice paper or leaves are available. Desserts include a variety of cakes and fresh fruit (bananas, durians, guavas, jackfruit, mangoes, oranges, persimmons and pineapples). Popular drinks are tea, coffee and beer. The local spirit is rice wine.
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Coldwater, some energy-restoring local fruit, and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere but is NOT included in the price.
Countryside Adventures does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
NIGHT TRAIN, HOTELS AND HOMESTAY
In big towns we use the finest 3-star with center location. Please contact us if you prefer higher hotel category. In remote areas we use the best hotels or guest houses available.
Homestay in villages is basic in term of bedding condition and amenities. We will sleep on bed or floor with mattress, clean sheet, pillows and mosquito nets. Toilet is usually western style.
Cabin on night train from Lao Cai (Sapa) to Hanoi is 4 soft berth sharing cabin with air conditioning, lockable door, and comfortable beds. If you want more privacy, you can request us to take charter cabin booking.
If this is the tour for you here’s what you need to do to confirm your place: Read our Booking Conditions.
When booking your tour, you’ll be required to pay a deposit to guarantee your place. For tours less than 7 days, the deposit amount is 100% of the tour price, per rider. For tours 7 days or longer, the deposit amount is 30% of the tour price, per rider.
Day tours and tours shorter than 7 days require full payment at the time of booking. For tours 7 days or longer, full payment must be paid 45 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s), and extra hotel nights. Our confirmation will include personal details you provided us (including your flight information), visa application advice, a packing suggestion list, and a detailed tour itinerary. It will also include a checklist to ensure you get everything ready for your holiday.
On the rare occasions when we, Countryside Adventures, must cancel a trip, all payments received to date will be 100% refunded, which constitutes full settlement. There will be absolutely no deductions. If you, the client, must cancel your reservation, your cancellation fee will be determined according to when you cancel. For full details, please read our cancellation policy.
Countryside Adventures Team