Unique Exploration Of Magnificent Northern Vietnam Landscape On Bike - Viet International Travel and Trade Co., Ltd

Upon arrival at Noibai international airport, ViTravel’s tour guide and driver will welcome you and transfer you to the hotel in the city center for check-in. Free at own leisure.
Later in the afternoon, Our guide will come back to your hotel and escort you out for an easy walk around Hoan Kiem Lake – the heart of Hanoi capital to have the first touch into this bustling city then stop at a water puppet theatre to enjoy a traditional performance and continuing to a local restaurant for a warm welcoming dinner. After dinner, our guide will give you a trip briefing about the next activities and what to prepare for the coming days.
Free again to explore the busy Old quarter at night.
Overnight in Hanoi.

This morning you’ll get the chance to explore the Vietnamese capital by bike on a guided ride through the city (approx. 22kms).
Hanoi is made for exploration by bike, so this is the perfect place to get to grips with Vietnamese street life and traffic. You’ll ride through parks, around lakes, and down tree-lined boulevards and visit iconic sights such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, which includes the Buddhist temple One Pillar Pagoda and the former residence of Vietnam’s most famous revolutionary, Ho Chi Minh.
There’s also time to explore the vibrant Old Quarter, an architectural museum where blocks of ochre buildings give off the air of a 1930s provincial French town. In these ancient ’36 Streets’ discover an amazing selection of shops that sell everything from souvenirs to exquisite silk clothing, jewellery, beautifully embroidered tablecloths, wood carvings and lacquerware - it's a bargain hunter's paradise. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. Then back to the hotel.
Free at own leisure.
Riding distance: approx. 22kms/14 miles, mostly flat with approx. 40m/130ft of elevation gain, well-paved roads.
Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast and checking out your hotel, we will saddle up this morning as your cycling adventure kicks into first gear. Leave Hanoi behind and travel by car to Hoa Binh (approx. 2 hrs). When you arrive you’ll jump on your bike and cycle 40 km to Cao Phong, through small ethnic Thai villages, enjoying the tranquillity of the paddy fields and interacting with the local people. Limestone peaks climb in the background and banks of green line the road, and you’ll take random stops to admire the view across the lush valleys. After arriving you’ll take a short 30-minute drive for the next section, stopping for lunch at Man Duc town.
After you are reenergized, our escort driver will take you to the Da River Reservoir. Stretch your legs again cycling along the Da River, passing spectacular karst cliffs, through paddy fields, and admiring the lush panorama of the Mai Chau valley on the way (approx. 20 km).
The peaceful town of Mai Chau is situated in a stunningly beautiful valley surrounded by verdant green mountains and is famed for its breathtaking scenery and friendly hill-tribe peoples. Tonight you’ll enjoy local hospitality in a simple stilt-house homestay in the village. Your amicable hosts will cook up a fabulous meal, and there may even be a chance to sample some of the local rice wine produced in the region.
Riding distances:
Ride 1 - approx. 38kms/24 miles, uphill with approx. 330m/1080ft of elevation gain.
Ride 2 - approx. 19kms/12 miles, mostly downhill with approx. 80m/260ft of elevation gain.
Overnight in Mai Chau.

This morning you farewell your homestay hosts and cycle from Mai Chau to Mai Ha, and then continue to Pu Luong Nature Reserve (approx 46kms). You’ll ride through more paddy fields and test your riding skills (or suspension) with the shallow potholes that can be found on the road. Pass pineapple farms and farmers riding atop their load drawn by lumbering water buffalo. Ride through small towns and wave to friendly locals on your way through picture-perfect Vietnam – lush green fields, towering limestone mountains, tranquil waterways and charming historic sites. This is a wonderful chance to see everyday rural life in action as well as take in the beautiful countryside.
 
Riding distance: approx. 46 km/29 miles, flat for the first 20kms/12 miles then a gradual climb for 17km/10 miles, with approx. 540m/1770ft of elevation gain.
Overnight in Pu Luong.

Today - over 2 rides – you will cycle from Pu Luong to Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam’s first and largest national park, recognised in 1962, one of the most important conservation sites in the country, and home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.
Today’s riding is beautiful as you cycle through some of Vietnam’s most spectacular views, riding in between limestone karst peaks thrusting out of serene rice paddies. If the weather is good there is an option to visit the famed Mua caves and their viewpoint. Cycle approx. 20kms then board the support vehicle to miss the busiest of the traffic before it's back on the bikes for another 28km leg to a well-earned lunch. From there we reboard the support vehicle and cruise all the way to Tam Coc. Today's riding is undulating but definitely worth the effort.
Riding distances:
Ride 1 - approx. 21km/13 miles, downhill for 10kms, then mostly, approx. 70m/230ft of elevation gain.
Ride 2 - approx. 28km/17 miles, flat, approx. 10m/30ft of elevation gain.
Overnight in Tam Coc, Ninh Binh.

Enjoy one final early morning ride through the beautiful green scenery of the Ninh Binh Province, riding (approx. 30kms) through the verdant rice field paddy scenery and along the banks of the duck-filled Hoang Long river to the opulent Bai Ding Buddhist Temple.
Here we bid farewell to our cycling support team and transfer on a drive via high way 10 and 5B to Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay, part of the spectacular World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay. This is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful places, a secluded bay of emerald waters dotted with sandstone islands and caves. As well as being part of Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay has the additional attraction of numerous white-sand beaches. where you'll stay the night in a secluded property right on the water's edge.
Riding distance: approx. 28kms/17 miles, downhill for 5kms then flat with approx. 50m/160ft of elevation gain.
Overnight in Cat Ba island.

This morning, we board a private boat to head into Lan Ha Bay and grab a kayak and drift by towering limestone islands dotted with green foliage, paddling away from other tourists across the turquoise water and through the caves of Lan Ha Bay. Lunch is served on the boat with fresh seafood before we drive back to Hanoi via highway 5B.
Once back in Hanoi, check in at your hotel again. Free at own leisure.
Overnight in Hanoi.

There are no activities planned and you are free until be picked up and transferred back to Noibai airport for your next flight. Trip ends.
ViTravel goodbye and see you again.