Cycling in Northern Vietnam is an absolutely exhilarating way to immerse yourself in the region's breathtaking landscapes and rich culture! The northern part of Vietnam is world-renowned for its mountainous terrain, featuring rolling hills and rugged mountain ranges that offer both challenging and scenic cycling routes.
Our team has put together these incredible 12-day Northern Vietnam Off Road Bike Tours for all you cycling enthusiasts out there looking for an amazing holiday combining physical and cultural activities in North Vietnam.
Cycling is the perfect way to discover the untouched region, meet friendly people, learn about the unique culture of the hill tribes, immerse yourself in stunning scenery and outstanding landscapes, challenge incredible winding routes with bends among zigzags and twists in towering limestone mountain ranges, and take in the overwhelming panoramic rice terraces and picturesque views around the hills!
You'll never forget the incredible experience of cycling through three of the best sights in far North Vietnam (Ba Be Lake, Bac Me Ha Giang Loop, Thong Nguyen, Hoang Su Phi, and Bac Ha)!

Our incredible bicycle trip starts in the amazing city of Hanoi, the fascinating capital of Vietnam. Get ready for an unforgettable journey! We'll be cycling through the absolutely stunning scenery of the Mid North region, taking in the breathtaking beauty of Ba Be Lake along the way. And we'll conquer one of the most incredible passes on the route, leading us to a charming township!
You'll get to soak up the lively atmosphere of the hill tribes market, where you can learn about their fascinating traditional culture and hunt for some incredible, vibrant pictures in every corner of the market!

Get ready for four incredible days of cycling through the Ha Giang Global Geopark, where you'll be awestruck by the magnificent rocky mountains! Get ready to be amazed by the incredible beauty of the rugged mountains! Get ready to challenge the winding roads, high slopes, deep canyons, and pass through peaceful villages and misty valleys to reach your destination!
We're continuing our cycling adventure further north, passing through an untouched region to the absolutely stunning Hoang Su Phi – the second national beauty site of rice terraces! And we also have the incredible opportunity to challenge the "two heavenly gates" passes on our way to Bac Ha town!

Day 01: Hanoi - Thai Nguyen – Ba Be lake

After a hearty breakfast in the hotel, we set off on our adventure! We leave the hustling and bustling city behind and hop on our shuttle bus for a two-hour transfer on the newly-built highway in Thai Nguyen. Once we arrive at the cycling point, we'll get ready to embark on an incredible journey along a brand-new tarmac road, taking us to an untouched region of ATK (safety zones) – a former Vietminh revolutionary base.  We'll be cycling through a peaceful village and taking in some truly stunning scenery on our way to the far north of Vietnam. And you'll even get the chance to visit a village making paper! Then it's off to Bac Can for lunch! After that, we'll be back on our bikes, cycling from Bang Lung Town to Ba Be. Get ready to enjoy some truly breathtaking scenery and a taste of traditional village life! Upon arrival in Ba Be, you'll have time to check in at your home-stay before enjoying the rest of the day at your leisure. We'll be spending the night in a home-stay right on the river in Ba Be!
Summary:
Activities: Transferring and Warming cycling
Accommodations: Ba Be Lakeside Bungalow
Meals:L/D
Cycling distance: 86 km

Day 02: Ba Be Lake – Boat Trip and Cycle Bac Me

Get up early to experience the daily life of the incredible Tay people, who have been the proud owners of Ba Be Lake for hundreds of years! You'll have the chance to wander around the lake and take in the outstanding scenic beauty!
Then it's time for breakfast with our wonderful hosts! After that, we'll say goodbye and jump on a boat with our bikes to explore the tranquil lake and peaceful village in the morning. 
Ba Be Lake is one of the 28 biggest and most incredible freshwater lakes in the world, situated at the foot of a magnificent limestone mountain! And it's a whopping 8 km wide and 600 m long! Ba Be is the perfect place for tourists to experience and discover the outstanding scenery and emerald-coloured waters of this magnificent lake! We'll spend over an hour on a boat trip, taking in the stunning landscapes and learning about the diverse flora and fauna in Ba Be National Park.  Then it's time for the best part: loading up our bikes and cycling on a concrete road that leads to the stunning Na Hang reservoir. After that, we'll take the second boat trip to the incredible Da Vi section. Then it's back on the bikes for another amazing ride through the stunning, untouched region of Na Hang National Park. Get ready to challenge some steep passes with switchbacks and winding slopes that lead to Bac Me!
Summary:
Activities: Cycling, Boat Trip and Cycling to Hotel
Accommodations: Bac Me Hotel**
Meals:L/D
Cycling distance:  70 Km

Day 03: Cycling tours Bac Me – Bao Lam – Bao Lac

Get ready for another amazing day of cycling! We'll be exploring the stunning Gam River region on two wheels. Buckle up and get ready for an unforgettable adventure! Time to fuel up and hit the road! Breakfast is at your hotel, then it's off you go on your bikes! We're off on another fantastic cycling adventure! We'll be following National Road 34A for the whole morning on old tarmac, which runs in parallel with the Gam River eastwards for 23km. Ly Bon, get ready for an amazing ride! Then it's time for a relatively gentle uphill climb before we descend for the final 30km along flat terrain. We'll even get to see people from the local minority communities along the way, dressed in their vibrant tribal costumes! We'll stop on the side of the road to visit a local market or explore the fascinating daily life of the hill tribal people. And don't forget to have lunch along the way! After lunch, we'll continue our journey along the Gam River, conquering a challenging pass and then descending to the charming town of Bao Lac.
Summary: 
Activities: Cycling from Hotel - Hotel
Accommodation: Thuy Duong Hotel
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling Distance: 75 km.

Day 04: Bao Lac  Bike Tour  Khau Vai  - Meo Vac

Get ready for an amazing day! It's going to be a blast, so make sure you're fully charged and raring to go for breakfast.
We're in for a real treat today! We're cycling in a remote and untouched region on a single track trail and crossing a bamboo raft of the Nho Que River, linking Bao Lac and Meo Vac. Our supported vehicle won't be able to follow and support our group, so we'll have to rely on our own steam to get us across.
To make sure we have the energy to tackle the whole cycling distance today, we highly recommend taking some energy bars and gel drinks with you in your day bag.
Once we've refuelled at the local restaurant, we'll be back on our bikes to tackle the rough and narrow road to Coc Pang – Coc Pung. Here, we'll get to observe the incredible architecture of the Hmong House and experience the daily life in this fascinating village.
And now for something really special! We continue on a concrete road with a rough and tough slope of a hillside, which winds its way around the village and valleys. Then it's down to the bamboo ferry raft in Khau Vai, before you climb up to Khau Vai Stone Maze village where you'll be blown away by the incredible rocky mountains and the sparkling Nho Que emerald water river. Get ready for a single track trail and a dirt road that winds through some seriously rugged mountain scenery and corn fields, as well as past local homes and inhabitants of the villages. Then it's time for the grand finale! We gear up and tackle the last 12km of the local trail, which winds its way along a magnificent valley to Meo Vac town.
Summary: 
Activities: Cycling from hotel - hotel
Accommodation: Hoa Cuong Meo Vac Hotel
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling Distance: 65 km.
Elevation gain: 2,538 M – 1,751 M
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45755405

Day 05: Meo Vac – Dong Van – Yen Minh Bike tour

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, we set off on our bikes to tackle one of the most incredible passes in North East Vietnam – the Ma Phi Lang Pass! The incredible Ma Phi Leng Pass is 20 km long and sits at an impressive 1230 m. It offers unparalleled views of the Nho Que River and the surrounding area, making it a truly breathtaking experience.
As we cycle along the stunning route from the hotel to the summit, we'll be treated to incredible views of the extraordinary landscape and rugged mountain range, as well as the beautiful emerald waters of the Nho Que River.
Then it's time for the descent! We'll be riding for 2 km to Dong Van town, where we'll regroup and enjoy some well-deserved refreshments. We then continue our incredible journey to Ma Le and Xa Phin Valley on a winding route.
We'll stop at the former Palace of the Hmong King, who ruled over the Hmong community and controlled opium trading until 1945. It's a fascinating place! Then, we'll continue biking along the same road for 21km to Sung La valley and then up a steep mountain to Pho Bang ancient trading town. We'll enjoy several stops along the way for sightseeing and paying a visit to Sung Muoi village of the Hmong. Then it's time for a well-deserved lunch break in Pho Bang! After that, it's back on the bikes for a downhill ride from Pho Bang to Yen Minh via Pho Cao Mountain pass. Get ready to be blown away by the incredible scenery of Yen Minh valley! You'll be arriving at the Phuong Dong hotel in mid-afternoon, ready to relax and enjoy the rest of your day. Time to check in and relax!
Summary:
Activities: Cycling from hotel - Hotel
Accommodation: Phuong Dong Hotel
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling Distance: 78 km

Day 06: Yen Minh – Mau Due – Du Gia Cycle Tour

Today is an amazing day for cycling in the incredible Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark! We took a detour onto a minor road that took us on a lovely, rolling route before descending into the valley. Here we have the amazing opportunity to ride through tiny hill-tribe communities and eventually reach a bustling village market where we will find a dazzling array of brightly-costumed villagers trading everything from piglets to bamboo shoots and forest fodder.
After following a river for a short while, we come across the ruins of an ancient defensive wall. Just beyond, we start to climb! A gradient similar to the day before is a fantastic warm-up before the main climb to come after lunch! 
As we enter the Ha Giang Plateau, the scenery is nothing short of mind-blowing – it's even more impressive than before! At each stage, you find yourself wondering how on earth you could possibly continue to climb when you've already climbed so much, but it just goes on and on with an amazing variety of scenery! When you finally descend into Du Gia town, you'll be ready for a beer and a feast! And you'll be thrilled to tell everyone about your epic Ha Giang Plateau climb, which will ensure you get a great night's sleep.
Summary:
Activities: Cycling from hotel - Hotel
Accommodatio: Du Gia Stream Lodge
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling Distance: 59 km

Day 07: Du Gia – Lung Ho – Thai An – Thuan Hoa – Ha Giang Cycling Loop

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at a local Vietnamese restaurant before setting off on a new cycling adventure from the Ecolodge. Get ready to challenge an incredible pass that winds its way along a hillside and up a slope of a mountain to the Lung Ho Summit! You'll be blown away by the incredible panoramic vista with rugged, rocky mountain ranges over Lung Ho Valley. Get ready to be amazed by the sunrise over the mysterious valley and dreamlike landscapes in the villages!
Get ready for an exhilarating challenge as we make our way up a steep pass with a winding route and switchbacks, all the way to the summit. Refreshment with cold water and a snack will be waiting for us before we descend to Lung Ho Commune, where we'll turn off the secondary road and cycle through narrow valleys with corn fields and groundnut plantations.
We quickly hit the second steep hill and are thrilled to take it on, winding our way along the canopy forest and hillsides up to the summit.
Time for a quick refreshment stop before we dive into the mysterious valleys for a picnic lunch! Once we've had a chance to recharge our batteries, we'll gear up our bikes and tackle the steep hilltop to Thai An.
Then it's on to Ha Giang Town for the next stage of our cycling adventure! When you arrive at the hotel, make sure you check in and then treat yourself to a well-deserved rest! Our second day in Ha Giang Town is going to be amazing! We're going to explore the city and try the local beer. Then it's time for dinner and an overnight stay in Ha Giang!
Summary: 
Activity: Cycling  from Hotel – Hotel.
Accommodation: Yen Bien Luxury Hotel
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling distance: 97  Km  + 2,941M – 3,211M
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45638921

Day 08: Ha Giang  Cycle Loop Hoang Su Phi 

What an amazing day it is! We're on another thrilling adventure in the mysterious land of Hoang Su Phi. To make sure we have plenty of energy for the day ahead, we'll be having breakfast at a local restaurant and enjoying a cup of hot milk coffee. 
We're all set to set off from the hotel and embark on an amazing journey! We'll be cycling gently on the main asphalt road for about 2 km, then we'll turn right onto the inter-commune and inter-village road for motorbikes, which winds through the hillsides, mountain slopes, and occasionally crosses the towering mountain ranges or throws us into the deep valleys. This is all just to test your perseverance, courage, and mountain bike cycling experience – and we know you'll absolutely nail it! 
And now for the really exciting bit! We're moving on to the west wing, the farthest and most challenging place on the Tay Con Linh range. And in return, we get to enjoy a vast space of ancient tropical forests covered with moss and full of magic! Take in the incredible sight of meticulously carved terraced fields from the hilltop down to the valley, creating majestic and enchanting natural paintings.
And now for something really special! We'll have lunch along the way. After lunch, we'll keep riding along the hillside before riding down to Hoang Su Phi. Then it's time for dinner and an overnight stay at a local guest house!
Summary:
Activity:Cycling from Hotel - Hotel
Accommodations: Tay Con Linh Hotel
Meals: B/L/D
Cycling distance: 79 Km  + 2,611M -  2,234 M
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45638944

Day 09: Thong Nguyen – Ban Ven – Nam Khoa – Nam Son - Ho Thau

Good morning! I hope you have a wonderful day ahead of you. It's going to be another exciting day, full of wonderful emotions. Make sure you fully charge your phone, camera and memory card so you can take in all the gorgeous scenery here!
Once we'd had a good breakfast and were feeling ready for the day ahead, our group set off on our bikes. We started by cycling downhill to the main road, then continued on the main road to the junction. From there, we turned right onto the village road, ready to conquer the steep slopes and experience the beautiful terraced fields and green roads covered in plants and flowers. Our destination was Nam Hong Village.
We continued following the trail along the top of the mountain to reach Nam Ai village. Here, you can take pictures of the most amazing clouds or watch the misty valley below, weaving through terraced fields and peaceful villages in the early morning, or crossing small streams that lead water for irrigation canals for the golden rice fields under the hills.
Cycling through the core area of the rice fields with fields stretching from the top of the moutain to the valley creates extremely majestic and lyrical natural pictures. And so our lovely cycling journey continues, taking us through more terraced fields and idyllic ethnic villages, until we reach Ho Thau village, where we'll be spending the night.
Summary:
Activities:Cycling from village - Hotel
Accommodation: Eco Village
Meals:B/L/D
Distance:    78.6 km
Elevation:    +2,646+28%/ 2,081m – 28.0%
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48405960

Day 10: Ho Thau  - Quang Nguyen - Na chi  - Ban Lien – Bac Ha

Another fantastic day on our trip! We'll be woken up by the sounds of nature, enjoy a hot cup of coffee or ginger tea before setting off to hunt for clouds, watching them float by or even catching them as they pass by our homestay.
We set off on our bikes from the ecohomestay, cycling up the slope for a few kilometres before descending into the gorgeous Ho Thau valley. We're cycling through the most incredible rice terraces and tea farms on a dirt road and single track trail, and the buffalo pass is the highlight of our trip today!
Today is another absolutely amazing day in our trip! We're cycling through an incredible, untouched region, passing so many beautiful, quaint hill tribe villages, through lush tropical forest and crossing some gorgeous streams along the way.
We also get to enjoy some truly breathtaking scenery and unspoilt nature as we cycle through the best scenery of North Vietnam. Our trip is an amazing challenge! We cycle on small trails and dirt paths, and sometimes we even carry our bikes over streams and waterfalls. However, the whole cycling distance will be an amazing ascent! We're so excited to stay with the hill tribe people at Lung Phin Hmong Ecohome Stay!
Summary:
Activities:Cycling from village - Hotel
Accommodation: Bac Ha Legend Ecolodge
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling distance: 85 Km    
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45638642
Total ascent: + 2641m – 2710 m

Day 11: Bac Ha – Vinh Yen – Xuan Hoa

Start your day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel and then set off on an amazing journey! Wind your way through quaint villages and admire the stunning rice paddy fields as you make your way to Nam Khanh Commune. Get ready for an incredible 20-kilometre (11-mile) adventure! Once we arrive in Nam Khanh, we'll regroup and recharge before tackling the short, steep hill with the winding route to Tan Phuong Commune. We'll be treated to some truly breathtaking scenery and soaring limestone mountain ranges before we descend into rolling hills and reach Trung Do Commune.
Then it's time for lunch! After that, we'll be cycling on a flat and tarmac road that will lead us to our second pass. Get ready for a challenging 5 km on a slope before we descend and ride to Tan Duong Junction! Then it's time for dinner and an overnight stay in Vinh Yen Commune!
Summary:
Activities: Cycling from Hotel - hotel
Accommodation: Cinnamon Ecolodge
Meals:B/l/D
Cycling distance: 74 Km
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42841094
Distance:    73.4 km
Elevation:    + 1410 / - 2182 m

Day 12:  Vinh Yen – Luc Yen – Vu Linh  88km -128 km

After recharging our energy at the ecolodge, we set off on a new exploring day! We cycled on an asphalt road that led to a junction where we turned onto a secondary road. This road took us to the dreamlike Lam Thuong valley and its rugged villages. We're in for a treat! We'll be able to admire the gorgeous scenery and see the mountain ranges shrouded in mist as we cycle through the incredible farms and rice paddy fields and market.
You simply have to see the unique market in the country where people trade only one product – gemstones! The market has a fascinating history spanning 25 years!
The incredible Luc Yen gem market is situated in a stunning location on the banks of a lake in the heart of Yen The town, Luc Yen district. The market is open for just a few hours in the morning, so make sure you get there early! The market is open at 6:30 am, rain or shine!  
The Luc Yen Market is undoubtedly one of the biggest and best gemstone markets in all of northern Vietnam! The market opens every morning bright and early!
Have lunch in local restaurant, after recharging energy, we load up our bike on bus and transfer to Hanoi.
Summary:
Activities: Cycling from Hotel - hotel
Accommodation: C
Meals:B/l/D
Cycling distance: 74 Km

Important Notes:

We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance (covering emergency medical evacuation) for trips to Vietnam.
Tour cost will be valided during 45 days from date of offer. Past this date price and conditions may be readjusted.
The cost of air tickets is subject to change without prior notice by the airlines.
Reservations during peak times (Christmas, New Year, Vietnamese Lunar New Year, National Holidays) may be subject to supplementary charges.
Rooms at hotels are available only from 14:00 P.m on arrival day till 10:00 A.m on departure date. A supplement will be added if early check-in or late check-out is desired.
Please note that all the above services & tours have yet to be booked, they are proposed for your information only and we will not make any reservations before we receive your confirmation to do so. If one or some proposed service(s) is (are) not available at the moment of booking, we will try to find other possibilities/options or other similar service(s) in order to avoid changes to the program.

Meals: if you have any specific food requirements ( vegetarian, vegan, food allergies) please inform us in advance so that we can provide notice to our restaurant, tour guide, our partners so that they can server you better. If you are a food lover, Snail Adventure tours can be your culinary guide and provide you opportunity to savor tempting local food and world famous – dishes

Tour included in:

English speaking cycling guide ( other languages upon requests)
Accommodations are based on double/ twin occupancy
Meals details in itineraries ( 9 breakfast, 10 lunches, 09 dinners)
A/C transfer/ and transportation
Ecohomestay with private mat, share Wc and bathroom.
Van or bus supported during the cycling times.
Truck supported for the group size from 6 and above.
Trek mountain bikes – 4300  with disc brake and  helmets
Sightseeing excursions as outlined itineraries
Bike tour pump, bike tools, spares tubes, spare bikes
First aid kit
Cold water box, small fresh towel.
Mineral water for drinking
Fruit and snack for cycling days
Papers Permission in Ha Giang.

Tour excluded in:

International airfare
Travel insurance
Items of personal nature
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks in meals
Mineral water beyond that supplied
Optional excursions
Additional transport required due to any emergency situation
Personal expenses such as telephone, laundry bills.

Creating Unique Touring Experiences:

All the touring itineraries on this website have been carefully crafted by our in-country management teams and represent a series of experiences we can certainly recommend. However, we understand that every travel experience should be as unique and individual as each traveler. Our consultants are waiting to hear from you so that we can tailor or custom design a Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar tour to your individual specifications