Northern Vietnam: bike, hike, kayak
14 days
From US $3,195
Overview
Northern Vietnam’s dramatic karst mountain landscape makes it look like something out of a dream. And at the heart of this dream lie some of Vietnam’s most picturesque destinations such as Sa Pa and Ha Long Bay.
Bike through rice paddies, kayak through secluded lagoons and coral reefs on the La Han Bay, and hike with enchanting views of terraced rice fields, tea plantations, and innumerable streams in the shadow of Vietnam’s highest mountains in Sa Pa on this exciting Vietnam multi-sport trip.
This is an excellent way to experience life in Northern Vietnam.
Please note, that the hiking is through minority villages and hence we stay at basic homestays, clean and well-kept.
Hanoi | 13:00hrs
Hanoi
casual
easy to moderate
50km or 30mi
Min. 2, Max. 14
HAN
HAN
Highlights
Itinerary
Brief Itinerary
Day | Place | casual Inns or similar | Meals | Distance | Activity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DAY 1 | Hanoi | Silk Path Boutique Hotel | D | walking | |
DAY 2 | Halong City | Halong Plaza Hotel | B,L,D | 50km / 30mi | cycling |
DAY 3 | Cat Ba Island | Blue Lagoon | B,L,D | 25km / 15mi | cycling |
DAY 4 | Kayak & Shuttle to Ninh Binh | Trang An Retreat | B,L,D | 20km / 12mi | kayaking, cycling |
DAY 5 | Ninh Binh | Trang An Retreat | B,L | 40km / 24mi | cycling |
DAY 6 | Pu Luong | Pu Luong Home | B,L,D | 60km / 36mi | cycling |
DAY 7 | Pu Luong | Pu Luong Home | B,L | hiking | |
DAY 8 | Mai Chau | Mai Chau Lodge | B,L,D | 50km / 30mi | cycling |
DAY 9 | Hanoi | Silk Path Boutique Hotel | B,L | 50km / 30mi | cycling |
DAY 10 | Sapa | Eden Boutique | B,L,D | ||
DAY 11 | Sapa | Eden Boutique | B,L | hiking | |
DAY 12 | Ta Van | Homestay | B,L,D | hiking | |
DAY 13 | Ban Ho | Homestay | B,L,D | hiking | |
DAY 14 | Hanoi | B,L | hiking |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi
Our guide meets you at your hotel at 13:00hrs for a bike fit.
Post that, walk the busy streets of Hanoi visiting some of the cultural and historical highlights of Hanoi. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, which was constructed nearly a millennium ago, and is delicately elevated in a pond. Also visit the Temple of Literature, dating back close to a thousand years, is a wonderfully preserved piece of ancient Vietnamese architecture and stands to honor the scholarly achievements of the country’s academics and philosophers. Continue exploring the area around Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake, the old quarter including Ngoc Son Temple, which sits perched on a little island in the lake. In the evening, we convene over dinner.
Day 2: Halong City
Ride past the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta before taking a shuttle to Halong City. The river rises in Yunnan province, and flows across the Tonkin region, through Hanoi, and enters the Gulf of Tonkin. We criss-cross the rivers and ride over a multitude of bridges.
Day 3: Cat Ba Island
A quick ferry journey amidst spectacular limestone mountain scenery brings us to Cat Ba Island. After lunch, get on the bike for a loop around the island. Enjoy the stunning sunset over the limestone mountains.
Day 4: Kayak & Shuttle to Ninh Binh
After a hearty breakfast, get on board a smaller boat and take a journey to the more remote and secluded parts of the Lan Ha Bay waters and islands. Trade your boat with a kayak and explore the lagoons, the coral reef, beaches, and limestone peaks. Ferry back to Hai Phong and journey towards Ninh Binh.
The distance from Halong to Ninh Binh is approximately 170km. We spend around 3 hours in transit, and if time permits, unload the bikes for a cycling journey on backroads, along the dike, covering approximately 20-25km to reach the hotel. Anticipated arrival time at the hotel is between 16:00 and 17:00.
Day 5: Ninh Binh
A short cycling ride along the river brings us to Trang An, known as Halong Bay on land. The landscape is largely dominated by limestone mountains, rivers, caves, and pagodas. Here we take a boat ride and get to experience the magical scenery dotted with natural and cultural wonders.
We take a break at the ancient city of Hoa Lu for a quick temple tour and then loop back through the stunning landscape.
Day 6: Pu Luong
It’s a long day interspersed with transfers and rides. We start with a transfer of about 90min to the starting point for our cycling. Unload the bikes and cycle on largely undulating paths. We continue cycling past acacia plantations, sugarcane fields, and corn farms dotted with Thai and Muong Tribes' villages. Last leg is covered by shuttle transfer of about 90min. Arrive in Pu Luong, and check in at a family lodge located in the heart of Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
Day 7: Pu Luong
Pu Luong is a beautiful region located in northern Vietnam and known for its stunning natural landscapes, lush green rice terraces, ethnic minority villages, and pristine forests. The area is characterized by its tranquil and picturesque scenery and offers a variety of trekking and hiking opportunities. There are numerous trails through the terraced rice fields, across suspension bridges, and into the heart of the forested hills.
Today we go hiking in Pu Luong, promising an immersive journey through the picturesque terrains of Don Village, Hieu Village, and culminating at the breathtaking Hieu Waterfall.
For those seeking a leisurely day, feel free to opt for a rest day and enjoy the tranquil surroundings. Whether hiking or relaxing, Pu Luong invites you to savor the richness of its landscapes and culture at your own pace.
Hiking: 10-15km
Day 8: Mai Chau
Another day of the undulating ride. Cycle past a spectacular mountain range with karst cliffs, terraced rice fields, and a typical agricultural landscape, ending at the beautiful valleys of Mai Chau. The experience is truly unique as we get to experience a good change in landscape.
Mai Chau is a collection of villages and offers a true rural cycling experience. Do enjoy the evening walking around the valley and admiring simple rural life amidst spectacular scenery.
Day 9: Hanoi
Today enjoy a thrilling loop around the gorgeous valley and experience Mai Chau village life at close quarters. It’s an off-beat trail and some sections are over a gravel road. We pass by many bucolic villages where children come to greet us and through tumbling steams. The region is mainly inhabited by White Thai people.
Later we take a transfer and stop for lunch along the Da reservoir and then make a transfer to Ky Son to cycle further along rivers and lakes. The cycling is up to yen Trung and then take a shuttle transfer to Hanoi.
Day 10: Sapa
Today get transferred to Sapa a breathtaking hill station approximately 5 hours away. Sapa is renowned for its stunning landscapes and is inhabited by the largest ethnic groups in the region, namely the H’mong and Dao people. After arrival, take the opportunity to enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, soaking in the beauty and atmosphere of this remarkable destination.
Day 11: Sapa
Today's hike is rewarded with enchanting views of terraced rice fields, tea plantations, and innumerable streams. After lunch, take a short shuttle of 2 km through the lush Binh Lu Valley to Pa Pe village of the Lu ethnic people who wear beautiful traditional costumes and still dye their teeth black. The rest of the afternoon is for exploring villages of the tribal peoples in the countryside including the Black Zao and Zao Tien (Zao with coins) and enjoying a peaceful walk to see a tea farm in the suburb of Lai Chau. Later we return to Sapa.
Day 12: Ta Van
Today enjoy a full-day hike of about 12km (7mi) exploring the spectacular Muong Hoa towards the Lao Chai village of Black H’mong ethnic people. Here, we get to learn about their fascinating culture and daily chores and how they make traditional clothes, and handicrafts. Visit the biggest valley which provides the best views of golden rice terrace fields in Vietnam. After Lao Chai, we walk to Ta Van village of Giay people. It is a small group of ethnic people in Vietnam with a rich culture and beautiful houses located on rice paddy fields. The scenery is spectacular throughout the day and gives an opportunity for plenty of landscape photos. Dinner and overnight at homestay with a local family in Ta Van village.
Day 13: Ban Ho
Today hike past terraced rice fields, and a typical agricultural landscape, ending at the beautiful valleys of Ban Ho village. Enjoy the pristine Lavie Stream, the Ca Nhay Waterfalls, and the tranquility of Ban Ho.
Day 14: Hanoi
Today we go for another short hike in the surroundings. The scenery is again typical of mountain villages, with stilt houses, streams, waterfalls, terraced fields, and ethnic villages. Post-lunch, we shuttle back to Hanoi. The transfer takes about 5 hours and we aim to reach Hanoi by 7 pm.
You may plan to choose your own hotel today in Hanoi or depart directly from the airport.
Ready to plan your adventure? Download a print-ready detailed itinerary.
Map
Dates and Prices
Single Supplement
From US $500
E-Bike Upgrade
From US $150
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Essential Info
Inclusions
LODGING
All hotels as mentioned in the tour details or similar (subject to availability).
trip leader
Expert Trip Leader(s) who look after your every need and add meaning to your vacation.
bike
Immaculately maintained bike with helmet, suited to a terrain.
shuttle
A Van support follows the group of riders and carries all belongings.
meals
Meals as per itinerary. Guests are given the opportunity to dine on their own so that they discover a location independently.
refreshments
Refreshments and mineral water while cycling.
entrance
Entrance fees to most of the monuments and temples.
E-bikes
E-bikes are available (subject to availability) on this trip at a surcharge.
Exclusions
Airport pickup and drop
We recommend to book direclty from airport or hotel.
Beverages
Beverages such as alcohol, tea, coffee, juice at a hotel or restaurant.
Gratuity
Gratuities for your guide team are not included in the trip price.
Bikes
When you have a road and the thrill of a journey ahead of you, it’s imperative to have a good bike to enjoy it. Our fleet majorly consist of the below bikes as a part of this tour. However, sometimes due to height or availability constraints, we may provide a different but similar quality bike.
Trek Marlin 7 or similar
Included in your trip price
Burchda or similar
Available at a surcharge
Weather
Like most tropical regions, Vietnam has hot summers, mild pleasant winters, and an extremely wet rainy season. Being located in the northern hemisphere, the best season for cycling in Vietnam is generally from September to May, with regional variations as described below:
Northern Mountains – Sapa, Ha Giang: The cycling season in the northwestern mountains of Vietnam runs from September to June. December and January are cold with light showers, and travelers need to prepare accordingly. July and August are a no-go in this region as the floods season in Sapa often coincides with the rainy season of the North. The peak is in July and August, and the rains appear with storms causing floods.
North Vietnam – Hanoi and Halong Bay: The cycling tour season in this region runs from October to May. December and January can be cold with occasional rainfall. May to October is hot, with heavy rain in the months of August and September.
January
Good
February
Best
March
Best
April
Best
May
Good
June
Good
July
Mixed
August
Mixed
September
Mixed
October
Mixed
November
Good
December
Good
Best
Good
Mixed
Offseason
Visa
Residents from a number of countries have visa exemption status for tourist visits to Vietnam. For a full list of up-to-date visa-exempt countries, see the Vietnam Foreign Affairs website.
Starting August 15, 2023, the Vietnam government will start offering an e-visa valid for up to 90 days with multiple entries, replacing the current 30-day, single-entry option. Furthermore, passport holders from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom will benefit from an extended visa exemption period of 45 days, up from the current 15 days. Eligible foreign nationals will either benefit from a longer duration of stay and greater flexibility with the extended e-visa validity of up to 90 days and multiple entries, or enjoy an extended visa exemption period of 45 days.
e-Visa – You can apply for an e-visa through the government website, then, once approved, simply print it out and present it upon arrival in Vietnam. The additional benefit of the e-visa is that it's valid at land borders, not just airports. The processing time ranges from 2 to 7 working days. We recommend applying 2 weeks in advance to avoid unexpected delays. Read more about tourist e-visas for Vietnam at the Vietnam Immigration portal and apply there.
While applying online for an approval letter, please ensure that you have the following documents:
- Passport scanned copy: A scanned copy of your passport - front (main) page. It shouldn't be a mobile photo or a photo taken from a laptop. Strictly scanned copy done through a computer scanner.
- Passport size photo: portrait photo (4*6 size, colored photo, white background, straight looking without glasses). A photo taken from a mobile or laptop may or may not work, so I would strictly advise getting one made through a nearby photo studio (retail shop) that specializes in taking photos for visas.
Here is an excellent resource on Vietnam visas that may be worth looking at.