Vietnam Mountain Cycling To Tribal Trails – 12 days

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer/cycle to Cao Bang

Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi at 07:30 depart for the 3-hour drive to Lang Son City, if time permits, visit the towns bustling market. From here it’s a two-hour drive to That Khe on the road to Cao Bang. After lunch, start cycling from That Khe as the road weaves and twists through the mountains. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of forested mountain ranges, lush fertile valleys and traditional minority villages. Arrive in Cao Bang in the late afternoon, if you have spare time cycle around the town.  Overnight in Cao Bang.

Summary

Accommodation : Thanh Loan Hotel

Cycling distance : 50 km

Meals :Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 : Cycle to Ban Gioc waterfalls- vehicle transfer to Quang Uyen

8AM depart for Ban Gioc Waterfall; You will see perhaps some of the most beautiful scenery in Vietnam. Ban Gioc is one of the biggest and possibly the most impressive waterfalls in the country. If you wish take a swim in the cool emerald waters, see China on the other side of the riverbank and simply enjoy the pleasant surroundings. A transfer will be required to Quang Uyen. From here cycle to Trung Khanh and then onto the border with China to see the famous waterfalls. Loop back on very remote country roads toward Quang Uyen for overnight. A long but very rewarding day.

Summary

Accommodation : Home-Stay 

Cycling distance : 90 km

Meals : Breakfast ,Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Tra Linh and Cycle to Pac Po cave – Cao Bang

Breakfast and vehicle transfer to Tra Linh town and start cycling to the beautiful ride up & down to Pac Po cave is about 30 square metres dotted with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. President Ho Chi Minh made a statue of Karl Marx out of one of the stalagmites, and named the spring running in front of the grotto entrance after Lenin and the highest mountain peak after Karl Marx again. In this grotto, President Ho presided over many important meetings to discuss ways to bring the Vietnamese revolution to final victory.Picnic lunch .late afternoon transfer back to Cao Bang for overnight.

Summary

Accommodation : Thanh Loan Hotel 

Cycling distance : 70 km

Meals : Breakfast ,Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 : Vehicle transfer/Cycle to Bao Lac

Beautiful ride up & down to Bao Lac Town. Few passes from where you can dominate the area. The road is easy but there are many blind curves. We can stop very often for photos. Altogether, stop for drinks and food. Stay in a hotel.

Summary

Accommodation : Duc Tai  Hotel 

Cycling distance : 90 km

Meals : Breakfast ,Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Bao Lac – Bao Lam – Ly Bon – Niem Son – Meo Vac

Today you will enjoy a full day biking through the beautiful region along the mighty Gam River. Breakfast and start biking from your hotel. Following national road 34A for the whole morning on old tarmac which runs in parallel with Gam River eastwards for 23km Turn right at Ly Bon, cross the Gam River by newly built bridge to the northern bank and then having picnic lunch break. Afternoon cycle is challenging uphill towards Meo Vac town let near the Chinese border. The road winds its way on steep mountain sides for 50km, You may cycle as far as you can and then supporting vehicle will transfer the last portion of the road to Meo Vac.Arriving to hotel at about 16.30. Check in and free to explore the town.

Summary

Accommodation : Home-stay

Cycling distance : 70 km

Meals : Breakfast ,Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Meo Vac – Dong Van

Today you will enjoy the most spectacular mountain scenery of Vietnam. Breakfast and then spend 2 hours in the morning to visit market if Sunday ( Meo Vac, Dong Van Sunday Market )

Option: If on the date of the Tiger or Monkey, morning will be for paying visit to Lung Phin Market, which located in a remote commune 17km from Meo Vac.Then challenging up steep mountain pass of Ma Pi Leng 28km to Dong Van Town .Check in hotel and relax for the rest of the day or walking 2 hours to explore the valley near by.

Summary

Accommodation : Hoang Ngoc Hotel.

Cycling distance : 28 km

Meals : Breakfast ,Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Dong Van – Sung La – Yen Minh

Leave Dong Van at 08,30 and follow road 4C, getting though valleys after valley to Xa Phin valley. Stop for paying visit the former Palace of the Hmong King who ruled over the Hmong community and control opium trading until 1945.Continue biking along the same road 21km to Sung La valley and then up steep mountain to Pho Bang ancient trading town, enjoy several stops along the way for sightseeing and paying visiting Sung Muoi village of the Hmong. Lunch break in Pho Bang.Continue cycling downhill from Pho Bang to Yen Minh via Pho Cao Mountain pass which offers stunning scenery of Yen Minh valley. Arriving at the Thao Nguyen hotel in mid afternoon. Check in and relax.

Summary

Accommodation : Thao Nguyen Hotel 

Cycling distance :45 km

Meals : Breakfast ,Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Yen Minh – Quan Ba – Ha Giang

Breakfast, check out hotel and get ready for great challenging today. We shall conquer two high mountain pass: Yen Minh and Quan Ba.Depart at 08.30 with biking 2 km flat road from hotel and then challenging 19km uphill to the top of Yen Minh pass. The road is steep with many sharp bends but offers great view of marvellous valley below. Enjoy a tea beak at the top before getting downhill 18km to Can Ty commune and then cycle through the valley along the Nho Que River for 6km. Take another break for recharging energy before biking uphill 13km to Quan Ba town let. Paying visit to Nam Dam village of the Zao people before lunch break.Afternoon challenge is conquering Quan Ba Pass, The 8km uphill to the Haven Gate at the top is really steep with many sharp bends. Then getting down steep mountain 20km to the bottom of the valley. Picked up in mid afternoon for 25km transfer to Ha Giang. Check in hotel and free to explore this charming city.

Summary

Accommodation : Huy Hoan Hotel 

Cycling distance : 75 km

Meals : Breakfast ,Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Ha Giang – Tan Quang – Hoang Su Phi

The cycle today is easy. Leave Ha Giang at 08.00 and cycle 3 km to Ban Me village of the Tay. Cycle around the valley, stop to pay visiting to homes of the Tay people. Then continuing along national road 2 on good tarmac 45km to Tan Quang junction. Transfer up steep mountain pass 17km to the top of Hoang Su Phi pass, enjoy picnic lunch at the top.Continue cycling along to Hoang Su Phi town. Check in and relax or take a walk to explore the village near by.

Summary

Accommodation : Tay Con Linh Hotel 

Cycling distance : 75 km

Meals : Breakfast ,Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Cycle Hoang Su Phi to Xi man

After breakfast we cycle from Hoang Su Phi Town cycle up 10km right outside the town, then continue 45km along the Chay river to XinMan, quite easy flat road. Please keep up with the main route, can take photos along the way, but do not turn into any village along this route. At the point 11km before Xin Man. Overnight in Xin Man town

Summary

Accommodation : Hoang Gia Hotel 

Cycling distance : 65 km

Meals : Breakfast ,Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Cycle Xin Man to Bac Ha

After breakfast we climb up 18km to summit of alt.+1,460m, then continue 43km up and down hill to Bac Ha. Picnic lunch on the way.  This is totally a new road  built on the former trail of the flower Hmong tribes. O/N Sao Mai hotel in Bac  Ha (alt.+920m )

Summary

Accommodation : Saturday Hotel 

Cycling distance : 65 km

Meals : Breakfast ,Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Bac Ha - Hanoi

We will free this morning to explore market if Sunday market before transfer back to Hanoi. If not is Sunday we will cycling downhill to Bac Ngam and reach to Xuan Giao for loading bike to Hanoi via new highway . Late arrival Hanoi for check in your hotel . End The Tour .

Summary

Accommodation : None

Cycling distance : 45 km

Meals : Breakfast , Lunch