Cycle Northern Vietnam

About this trip

Exactly what you do each day, where you sleep, and how it flows — written by us, from the real itinerary.

1. 1
   Day 1 · HanoiHanoi

   

   You'll arrive in Hanoi and have a welcome meeting at 6 pm. Before that, explore the Old Quarter's 36 Streets on foot or grab a bia hoi from a street-corner stool, browsing shops selling silk, jewellery, wood carvings and lacquerware. If you've brought your own bike, assemble it today to check for damage.

2. 2
   Day 2 · HanoiHanoi city ride

   Guided bike ride through Hanoi's Old Quarter to get a feel for Vietnamese traffic and street life. Spend your free afternoon walking Hoan Kiem Lake or visiting the Vietnam Fine Art Museum. End the day with pho from a hole-in-the-wall eatery.

3. 3
   Day 3 · HanoiMai Chau Cycling

   

   Bus to Hoa Binh, then cycle through ethnic Thai villages and paddy fields to Cao Phong, with limestone peaks in the distance. Lunch at Man Duc, then bus to Da River Reservoir. Cycle along the Da River past karst cliffs into Mai Chau valley, surrounded by green mountains.

4. 4
   Day 4 · Mai ChauPu Luong National Park Cycling

   Say goodbye to your homestay and cycle from Mai Chau through Mai Hai to Pu Luong National Park. Pass pineapple farms, water buffalo, small towns and limestone mountains, watching everyday rural life unfold alongside paddy fields and historic sites.

5. 5
   Day 5 · Cuc Phuong National ParkCuc Phuong National Park/Tam Coc Cycling

   

   Two separate rides today: cycle from Pu Luong to Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam's first and largest national park opened by Ho Chi Minh. Ride between limestone peaks emerging from rice paddies, with optional visits to Hang Mua caves if weather allows. Use the support vehicle for busy traffic sections.

6. 6
   Day 6 · Ninh BinhHalong Bay & Ninh Binh Cycling

   

   Early morning ride through Ninh Binh's green scenery along the duck-filled Hoang Long River to Bai Dinh Buddhist Temple. Leave your cycling support team and head by minivan to Ha Long Bay. Board a boat and explore the UNESCO site's emerald waters, limestone peaks and misty scenery, with swimming and kayaking options.

7. 7
   Day 7 · Halong BayHalong Bay & Hanoi

   Cruise Ha Long Bay one last time taking in the limestone formations and scenery before heading back to mainland Hanoi by early evening. Explore markets for souvenirs or visit the Fine Art Museum, Women's Museum or Museum of Ethnology. Optional farewell group dinner available.

8. 8
   Day 8 · HanoiHanoi

   No activities planned after breakfast. You're free to check out and leave at any time. You can extend your Hanoi stay by arranging additional accommodation with your booking agent in advance.

What's included

• Guide: All Intrepid cycling group trips are accompanied by one of our cycling leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Our cycling leaders are all passionate cyclists, as you’d expect, but they also go through some pretty rigorous cycle-trip specific training. Each one has undergone on-road training and supervision and knows how to do safety checks, basic repairs and emergency first-aid. And at the end of the day they’re still regular Intrepid leaders, which means they will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
• Meals: 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
• Activities: Bike Hire Included Guided Hanoi city bike ride Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison Guided bike ride in Hanoi Guided & vehicle-supported cycling in Mai Chau Guided & vehicle-supported cycling in Pu Luong National Park Guided & vehicle-supported cycling in Cuc Phuong National Park Guided & vehicle-supported cycling near Ninh Binh Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise Kayaking in Ha Long Bay
• Transport: While there are occasions when we use local public transport such as trains, buses or taxis to cover long distances or attend non-cycling activities, we predominantly use the bicycle as our main form of transport. On most of our trips we also have a support vehicle as secondary transport for travelling longer distances, avoiding hazardous areas to cycle, as a backup should we have any incidents and of course as an option for those that would prefer not to cycle for an hour or a day. In most regions, the support vehicle will be a minivan, but may range in size up to a full-sized coach or overland vehicle. Your main piece of luggage is transported in the support vehicle. Our bikes do not have panniers or bags on them, so we recommend a small backpack or a cycling jersey with rear pockets to carry any essentials you’ll need with you., OUR BIKES: In Vietnam we use a mixture of Giant Rincon Disc 1 and Giant Rincon 2 Disc bikes for sizes Small to Large. For size Extra Small we use the Giant Talon 4. These bikes are mountain bike-style with flat bars, front suspension, 24 gears and hydraulic disk brakes. For more specific information please see https://www.giant-bicycles.com/int/rincon-disc--gi--2019 , BIKE SECURITY: All personal and hired bikes are stored in our support vehicle overnight, it is not necessary to bring a lock. We recommend bringing your own lock if you bring your own bike and wish to ride outside of leader accompanied rides. It is not possible to use our hired bikes outside of the included leader accompanied rides. DECLARING YOUR BIKE: On arrival in Vietnam you shouldn't need to declare your bicycle. If asked you will need to explain to the authorities that your bike is used, and that you will be taking it with you when you leave., E-BIKE OPTION: An e-bike option (at additional cost) may be available on this trip. We have limited numbers of these bikes available and they are an 'on request' basis only. A request does not guarantee an e-bike, only a confirmed booking. Please ask your agent for more details at the time of booking., RENTAL E-BIKES: Our rental e-bikes are the Giant Explore E+, available in Small & Medium sizes (up to 175cm) only – please provide your height at time of booking so that we can reserve the correct size. These bikes have an Aluminum frame, flat bars, 100mm front suspension, disc brakes, a 500w battery, and Shimano 9 speed gears. Please note the maximum speed for the ‘electronic assist’ is 25kph/15mph – once you reach that speed the motor assistance cuts out (although you can still go faster if your legs can do it!), BRINGING YOUR OWN BIKE: While we’re confident in the quality and suitability of the bikes we include, we do recognise that sometimes you just need the comfort of your own bike to enjoy the ride. If you are thinking of bringing your own bike on this trip, please advise us at time of booking and take note of the below information. If you do choose to bring your own bike, please note that we will not being carrying a spare bike for you. SUITABLE TYPE OF BIKE: Although the surfaces of the roads we travel on are generally good there are occasionally gravel or potholed sections of road/track. As such, we recommend a 'mountain' or 'hybrid' style bike with plenty of gear selections for easy cruising. For more details on the type of roads we’ll be riding on see the ‘Physical Rating’ section of your Essential Trip Information. Please contact your booking agent if you have any questions about the suitability of your bike. We usually cannot accept tandem bikes on our trips as they are often too large for our transport. In some destinations we can make an exception. Please ask your booking agent if you are interested in bringing a tandem bike. BEFORE THE TRIP: We recommend that you have a full service of your bike performed by a trained mechanic to help minimise any issues you may have during the trip. Please also ensure that you have specific and adequate cover for loss, damage or theft for your bike under your travel, home and contents or specialist insurance policy. DURING THE TRIP: Your bike will be transported in the same way as our included bikes, usually in the support vehicle or on the bike trailer. While we endeavour to take the best care we can, you should recognise that transported bikes do get the occasional bump or scratch along the way. The same applies when we take other forms of transport, such as a train, where we are unable to pack the bikes ourselves. Your bike will be secured in the same way as our included bikes. This can occasionally be outside the vehicle (where the bikes are locked together). In order to reach our destination, it is necessary for us to travel via various modes of transportation, including planes and trains. Any extra costs involved with transporting personal bikes are your responsibility. This includes (but is not limited to) additional transport costs and customs/import fees. While our mechanics can usually assist with minor repairs, you are responsible for the safety and upkeep of your own bicycle. This includes conducting regular safety checks of your bike during the trip and cleaning your bike. In addition, any parts that require replacing are your responsibility. Most destinations have access to only limited spares along the way and access to bike shops can be days apart. Therefore, please ensure you bring any spare parts that you may require (especially specialist parts). TRANSPORTING YOUR BIKE TO/FROM THE DESTINATION: Your preferred airline should have no problem carrying your bike, but many will charge an extra fee. Contact them before departing to discuss their arrangements for transporting bikes. A well-padded bike box (obtainable from a bike shop) is usually the best method of plane transportation. We recommend that you accompany your bicycle on the flight. Unaccompanied bicycles have been known to spend some extra days in the hands of customs authorities. Many taxis are not large enough to transport a bike box/bag so you may be delayed waiting for a suitably sized vehicle. INCLUDED OR HIRE BIKES: CONDITIONS OF USE: You must not mistreat the bicycle and must return it in the same condition as when you received it (excepting ordinary wear and tear). You should immediately inform the supplier in the case of breakdown or loss. The provider is entitled to charge for any damage caused to the bicycle during the period of hire. You must also make sure that the bicycle is secured when not in use. If the equipment is lost or stolen you may be liable for the replacement value of the bicycle. The bicycle remains the property of the supplier and you may not sell, rent out or part possession with the bicycle. You must not use the bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. , INCLUDED OR HIRE BIKES: CONDITIONS OF USE: You must not mistreat the bicycle and must return it in the same condition as when you received it (excepting ordinary wear and tear). You should immediately inform the supplier in the case of breakdown or loss. The provider is entitled to charge for any damage caused to the bicycle during the period of hire. You must also make sure that the bicycle is secured when not in use. If the equipment is lost or stolen you may be liable for the replacement value of the bicycle. The bicycle remains the property of the supplier and you may not sell, rent out or part possession with the bicycle. You must not use the bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Bicycle (e-bike option available), Support vehicle, Boat, Kayak, Taxi
• Accommodation: The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available., The homestays on this trip feature shared accommodation, where the group will be together in one room. There are separate beds with clean linen, blankets and mosquito nets provided., WINDOWLESS ROOMS: Some hotels in South East Asia have windowless rooms, or windows that don't necessarily have a view. This is often due to high population density in large cities, however local building standards also do not require rooms to have windows. We do request rooms with windows, however they aren't always available. Hotel (4 nights), homestay (2 nights), overnight boat (1 night)

How travellers rate it

Your free day in Hanoi

Landing early, staying on, or filling free time? The best-rated day experiences in Hanoi — you book on Viator (we may earn a commission).

5Young crowd

Hanoi Street Food Tour By Motorbike + Sightseeing SAFE & FUN

4hfrom £35

5Young crowd

Hanoi Motorbike Tour: Hanoi HIGHTLIGHTS & HIDDEN GEMS

5hfrom £44

5Young crowd

Hanoi Vespa Tours: Hanoi After Dark Vespa Food Tours

5hfrom £53

5Young crowd

Hanoi Sightseeing & Food Tour by Scooter with Train Street

4hfrom £42

Common questions