Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (D)
Welcome at the airport by your local guide and transfer to the hotel. After check-in, climb into a traditional cyclo (pedicab) for a 90-minute tour of the colonial city’s traditional “36 streets of 36 wares” in the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake vicinity. In the evening enjoy a traditional water puppet show before dinner at one of the finest restaurants in town. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Hanoi city tour - Lao Cai (B, L)
Half-day tour of Vietnam’s capital city, including Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and traditional stilt house, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, and the revered One-Pillar Pagoda. Pay visits to typical Vietnamese places of worship. Just before lunch, tour Vietnam’s first university, the thousand-year-old Temple of Literature. In the afternoon visit to the Ethnology Museum and then time for you to test the bike with assist of our mechanic to make sure you have comfortable and good bike for the big journey. Transfer back to the hotel for shower. After dinner at the restaurant in town, transfer to the Hanoi railway station for the night train up to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train.
Day 3: Lao Cai - Bac Ha (B, L)
Arrive Lao Cai early in the morning. Breakfast at the local restaurant and drive for 20 minutes before getting on your bike for a whole day biking up to Bac Ha through small routes. Arrive Bac Ha in late afternoon, check in hotel. Over night at hotel in Bac Ha.
Day 4: Bac Ha - Can Cau - Bac Ha (B, L, D)
After breakfast, transfer up to Can Cau to visit the market of String H’mong people ( Sartuday only). After market and some shopping, hop on your bike for down hill riding from Can Cau to Ba Ha with stop to visit the Castle of King H’mong near Bac Ha. Lunch will be at the hotel. Afternoon, an easy hike up to the Hmong village and the school for Ethnic Minorities groups in and around Bac Ha. Overnight in Bac Ha.
Day 5: Bac Ha - Lao Cai - Sapa (B, L)
An easy morning to visit Bac Ha market( Sunday only), one of the biggest market of Ethnic Minority people in Northern Vietnam take place every Sunday. Lunch at the hotel or local restaurant. Afternoon, we get on our bikes again for cycling downhill to Bao Nhai for a boat trip to Coc Ly (3 hours). Drive up to Sapa and check in hotel upon on arrival in Sapa. Over night at the hotel in Sapa.
Day 6: Sapa (B, L, D)
Set off on a light and easy cycling down into the lush Sapa Valley to explore the Black H'mong and Red Dzao villages. Return to Sapa at the end of the day. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: Sapa - Tam Duong (B, L)
Strolling through the market early in the morning in Sapa, where you will meet many different ethnic minority communities such as Black H’Mong, Red Dzao, Dzay or even Xa Pho. After the market, you will drive up to Heaven Gate and start riding down hill through most spectacular road to Tam Duong with stops to visit villages of different Ethnic Minorities en route. Arrive in Tam Duong in late afternoon. Free time after check-in until dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8: Tam Duong - Lai Chau (B, L, D)
Depart Tam Duong in the morning and follow a remote road, we bike along the river to the Chinese frontier. You will visit small Red Dzao, Black Dzao, Man (Khmer), Black H'mong and Ha Nhi villages. Picnic lunch en route. Overnight at the hotel in Lai Chau.
Day 9: Lai Chau - Son La (B, L, D)
Today is sure to be one of the highlights and most challenges of the trip as we will travel along one of the most beautiful roads in Vietnam. Cross many mountain passes, including Pha Din—a famous Indochina War site. Drive up on the top of the mountains and cycle down to the other side of mountain rages. We’ll also have a chance for a refreshing swim in the Black River and a stroll through the meadows of Kh'Mu village. Arrive in Son La at the end of the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Son La - Mai Chau (B, L, D)
Morning: after breakfast, you will leave Son La for Mai Chau, the road mostly going down hill. Stop en route to take an easy hike to Co Tang village to visit Black H’Mong group. Lunch en route and from here, start to cycle 35 km through a pristine forest preserve along the road. Arrive Mai Chau in late afternoon. Dinner and over night at Thai Bungalow house.
Day 11: Mai Chau (B, L, D)
Full day cycling to explore Mai Chau valley and villages surround with picnic lunch en route. Return to the village at the end of the day. Evening enjoy traditional folk dance. Dinner and over night at Thai Bungalow house.
Day 12: Mai Chau - Kim Boi - Bai Chao - Hanoi (B, L)
Today, we say goodbye to the family where we spent 2 nights. Drive up to the top of the hill of Thung Khe then cycle down hill to Kim Boi. Lunch at Kim Boi. Continue with our bike again to Bai Chao. Drive back to Hanoi and arrive at the end of the day. Over night at the hotel in Hanoi.
Day 13 : Hanoi - Hai Phong (B, L, D)
Morning, we’ll leave Hanoi and cycle along the top of dike road, rice field and villages of the Red River Delta to Bat Trang ceramic village. This is a village where we can visit to the most famous artist and might have a chance to paint on some productions. Shopping is easy and recommended here, if it is heavy for your hand luggage, shipping is possible. Continue to one of the most beautiful ancient Temple located right on the bank of Red River. Picnic lunch in the garden of the Temple. Afternoon, we will follow the dike again to Hai Phong city. Arrive Hai Phong and check in hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Hai Phong.
Day 14 : Hai Phong - Ha Long kayaking (B, L, D)
Morning after breakfast, we leave Hai Phong for Halong Bay on our bike, crossing 01 ferry boat and arrive around noon. We will leave our bikes behind and board a traditional wooden junk and begin an exploration of magical Halong Bay, one of Southeast Asia’s premier tourist destinations. An excellent, fresh seafood lunch will be served on the boat while cruising to the first point, where is a floating fishermen village. We will have safety instructions before starting with our kayaks, paddling for 2,5 hours through the most dramatically limestone formation, a giant cave, beaches and hidden lagoons. Relax and swim on a small beautiful beach upon on arrival. Dinner and overnight on a comfortable and charming junk.
Day 15 : Halong - Kayaking - Hanoi (B, L)
Wake up early in the morning to enjoy the aquamarine water of the bay at its best. After breakfast and early swim, we will slip on our kayaks again for 2 hours paddling to explore hidden lagoons, isolated beach, floating fishermen village. Meet the Junk at lunch time and motoring back to the harbor in Halong. Transfer back to Hanoi by vehicle. Farewell dinner at the restaurant in town and overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.
Day 16 : Hanoi departure (B)
Free until transfer to the airport for flight out
End of services. Our staff will give you the warmest goodbye and hope to see you again
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