West to East Biking Exploration

Our unique biking trip in northern Vietnam takes place against a backdrop of endless lush green paddy fields and irregular tree-covered limestone mountains. Providing a fleeting insight into the traditional lives, friendly tribes and exotic landscapes of north-west and north-east Vietnam, our trip also delivers surprisingly good riding across the mountainous area of northern Vietnam. There are technical sections, easy hills, huge flowing descents and some glorious single-tracks.

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Duration: 11 days/10 nights

Tour Code: MVAT13

Tour Valid: Until December 30th, 2013

Highlights: Colorful tribes - Stunning scenery - Glorious single tracks of Sapa and Bac Ha - Homestay among friendly tribesmen: Hanoi - Sapa - Ban Ho - Trung Do - Bac Ha - Xi Man - Ha Giang - Bac Me - Ba Be - Hanoi: A 11-day tour with 7-day biking.

• Day 1 - Arrival in Hanoi

  Place Transport: Airplane
  Meals: Dinner

  Arrive at Hanoi International Airport. You'll meet your guide at the airport and will be transferred to your hotel in downtown of Hanoi. The remainder of day is free at leisure to explore Hanoi by yourself. In the evening, please enjoy a welcome dinner at local restaurant with Vietnamese delicacies. Stay overnight in Hanoi.

  Day 2 - Hanoi city tour & Night train to Lao Cai

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  After breakfast, we will begin our city tour of Hanoi. At first, we will visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the “Uncle Ho” house. After that, we head to the unique One Stilt Pagoda which date from one thousand year ago. Continue go to the Hanoi’s famous Temple of Literature- the first university of Vietnam founded in 1070. The highlight of this cultural, historical site is the garden of stelae where you find 82 stone stelae bearing names, places of birth and achievements of men who received doctorates in each triennial examination from 1442; each stelae sits on a stone tortoise. Have lunch in local restaurant before heading to the Old Quarter for a relaxing cyclo tour through the ancient part of Hanoi.
  After the cyclo tour we will drive to the Museum of Ethnology which is quite away from the central Hanoi. It features a fascinating collection of art and everyday objects gathered from Vietnam and its diverse tribal people. On our trip, we will meet some tribal groups – now it is time to learn about their culture.
  Drive back to hotel to take shower. Free time until we get on the night train to Lao Cai around 10pm.
  
  * Cyclo is three wheeled rickshaws, operated by pedal-power, with a seat attached in the front.

  Day 3 - Lao Cai - Sapa - Biking Ban Ho Village - Sapa

  Place Transport: Bicycle
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  Once we arrive in Lao Cai, we get a transfer around 1hr to our hotel in Sapa. After checking in, freshening up and having breakfast, we will get our bikes together with a wonderful day’s biking though the Sapa Valley. We will begin on a dirt road then on single-track path. We will descent to Ban Ho village - home to Tay people. We will bike beside the main river, on a fast undulating route to Nam Toong- a village of Red Dzao people. Picnic lunch on the way before continuing to My Son- a village populated by Xafo people, one of the smallest ethnic group in Vietnam. We return to Sapa by a jeep ride. Dinner at local restaurant and stay overnight in the hotel.

  Day 4 - Sapa - Suoi Ho Village - Ban Khoang Village - Ta Giang Phin Village - Ban Seo Village - Lao Cai

  Place Transport: Bicycle
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  After breakfast in the hotel, we will begin the ride around 8.30am, directly from Sapa and straight away we are flying along on a 38km stretch involving a challenging climb at first and then a spectacular, fast flowing downhill to join a remote jeep track. We will meet up for picnic lunch at lower downhill. The jeep track climbs at first then provide a fast descent before we hit a short section of paved road that leads to Lao Cai Town. This is a long and challenging day with one short section where we might have to carry our bikes. Dinner in local restaurant and stay overnight in the hotel.

  Day 5 - Lao Cai - Phong Hai - Coc Ly - Bac Ha

  Place Transport: Bicycle
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  Have breakfast and load our bikes on support vehicle for 1-hr transfer to the village of Phong Hai. Our ridding begins on a good hardpack track along the side of a quiet road. Climb gently then descending steeply to the small village of Coc Ly. Take a boat trip on Chay River- a beautiful river with stunning mountain gorge. The boat trip is followed by a ride on riverbank single-track and an alpine road climb to the quiet town of Bac Ha. Picnic lunch on the way. Have dinner and stay overnight in Bac Ha.

  Day 6 - Bac Ha - Lung Phin - Xin Man - Hoang Su Phi

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  After breakfast in hotel, we drive 10 km west to Lung Phin where we start climbing toward Xin Man. Today, we will bike across one of the most remote parts of northern Vietnam. At first, we tackle a steady climb for 1 hr and then hitting the tarmac for a fast descent into the quiet town of Xin Man. Lunch in Xin Man before starting the afternoon ride. The riding in the afternoon takes us down to a bridge over the upstream of Chay River and for the next 40 km, we experience a quiet road that follows the river to the town of Hoang Su Phi. We will stay overnight in the only hotel in town

  Day 7 - Hoang Su Phi - Cao Banh - Vi Xuyen - Ha Giang

  Place Transport: Bicycle
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  This is one of the most challenging biking days of the trip. Leaving Hoang Su Phi in the early morning, there are 6 km downhill before we turn off onto a remote track leading though mountains. On this part, our support vehicle will not be able to follow us, so we'll continue ride to the main mountain road to get to Viet Lam where we will meet up later this day. However, we still have the emergency back up for water, lunch and first-aid as we ride through the mountains. The ride highlight today is a long descent punctuated with waterfall and switchbacks which flows seamlessly into some sinuous riverside single track making for fantastic riding. Eventually, we emerge onto rough tarmac and climb before finally dropping down again to the hot springs of Viet Lam where we can ease our aching muscles. Then we transfer the final 20 miles along Highway 2 to the busy district capital of Ha Giang. Dinner in local restaurant and overnight in hotel.

  Day 8 - Ha Giang - Bac Me

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  Today, the ride is mostly road based. At first, we tackle 12 km gentle climbs and then, it is an undulating and idyllic route through friendly villages and paddy fields, surrounded by jagged limestone hills. Light lunch en route and we will reach the small town of Bac Me in the early afternoon. As for the rest of the day, we can explore this litter town and its surroundings or relax with a cold beer in local bars. Dinner and overnight in Bac Me.

  Day 9 - Bac Me - Duong An - Yen Hoa - Da Vi - Dau Dang - Boat trip to Ba Be National Park

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  Just outside Bac Me, we cross the Gam River and leave the main road to follow a small track cross-country off-road all the way to Ba Be. Our support vehicle will not be able to follow us on this route and travel along way to meet us in Ba Be National Park. Depending to the condition of the track, we will have an emergency jeep or motorbike for water, food and first-aid. The ride involves three climbs and cross a succession of river valleys. At the village of Dan Dong, we will be transferred into traditional long boats for a relaxing 1.5-hr ride along the beautiful Nang River and cross the lake into the stunning Ba Be National Park. The park is centered on the country’s largest natural lake which is surrounded by limestone cliffs, waterfalls, caves and abundant of wildlife. We will have dinner and spend our night in a traditional house of Tay minority.

  Day 10 - Ba Be - Cho Ra - Hanoi

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Today, we have a relaxing and peaceful day. After the breakfast, we say goodbye to the hosts and take a short walk through the village. We will board a long boat for a fantastic boat trip on the stunning Ba Be Lake. After 1.5-hr interesting boat trip, we will head  to Cho Ra Town for lunch. Drive 5 hrs back to Hanoi with a lunch stop on the way. Stay overnight in Hanoi.

  Day 11 - Departure

  Place Transport: Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast

  Breakfast and transfer to the airport for flight home. The tour ends. Thanks a lot for traveling with Minmax.

Place Transport: Airplane

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast and transfer to the airport for flight home. The tour ends. Thanks a lot for traveling with Minmax.

The Tour Inclusion:

- 10 Nights Accommodation with daily BKF.

- Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above (Please note: pick-ups will be by a guide and driver or, where a guide is not necessary, a driver only. All unaccompanied drivers will be briefed in advance, and will carry a mobile phone to ensure smooth transfer arrangements)

- The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary (please note: guides will be on hand from pick-up until guests' return to their hotel or reaching their destination). Free days or part days will not include the services of a guide unless requested and included in the final itinerary.

- Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the program

- Meals (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available.

The Tour Exclusion:

- International flight tickets and airport tax.Visas

- Dinners, except as specified above.

- Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.

- Surcharge for peak season (if any) & Other not mentioned in the above detail program.

Additional Information

Importance note

- The itinerary is just a sample of our Vietnam tours; we'll be pleased to design similar programs with dates and itinerary customized to your personal preferences in Tailor Made Tours section. Rates may vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs.

What to bring ?

- Sun Block, Wide brim hat, Camera + Film, Comfortable shoes, Rain gear, Warm clothes, original Passport...

How to start ?

- MinMax Travel is a fully escorted tour and best-available all year round; the only thing you need to prepare in advance is the international air-ticket from/to your country.

- If you don’t have enough time to complete visa before your departure, we will help you to obtain Vietnam Visa on arrival easily (getting visa at the airport, on your arrival).