Cycling in northern Vietnam is an absolutely amazing way to immerse yourself in the region's breathtaking landscapes and rich culture. The northern part of Vietnam is absolutely amazing for cycling! It's got rolling hills and rugged mountain ranges that offer both challenging and scenic routes.

You'll absolutely love our 14-day Epic Bicycle tours in Northern Vietnam – they're some of the most amazing in South East Asia! Every day is a new adventure! We'll be climbing and descending the various altitudes of the Ha Giang Plateau, Bao Lac and Cao Bang Geopark, so you'll get to experience a different terrain, gradient, vista and climate each day. This is a ride you'll never forget! Even if the memory of burning leg muscles doesn't stick with you, your amazing photos will definitely do the trick.

Our Northern Vietnam Bicycle tours will kick off in Ha Giang, the final frontier province of northern Vietnam. It's renowned for its amazing landscape of limestone pinnacles and granite outcrops, and some of the most spectacular scenery in the country! Then, we'll head from Yen Minh to Dong Van, and then across the Mai Pi Leng Pass to Meo Vac – it's quite mind-blowing! 

 As we cycle along Happiness Road, we get to explore some amazing places, including the Dong Van Plateau, the Khau Vai Love Market, the Quan Ba Sky Gate and some really beautiful, winding passes. Down in the valley, hidden away in the clouds, you'll find some lovely little villages full of friendly H'mong people.

The amazing Bao Lac route connecting Ha Giang and Cao Bang is absolutely stunning and well worth the challenge!
Cao Bang is a truly special place, located in the northeast of Vietnam. It's home to some of the most incredible natural beauty in the world, including the magnificent Ban Gioc waterfall, a range of stunning limestone mountains, and colourful ethnic minority villages. The vibrant traditional culture of the ethnic minority is also a highlight.

We'll also be cycling to Ba Be Lake, which is Vietnam's largest natural lake. It's home to  Ba Be Lake, the country's largest national park, which is a real treat for the senses with its beautiful limestone and tropical forest.
The lake is nestled in a gorgeous setting, surrounded by rolling hills and lush forests. It's a breathtaking sight to behold! At 7km long, up to 30m deep, and a kilometre wide in parts, it's a true natural wonder. And if you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of some islands dotting its surface.
As you embark on a cycling adventure on the tarmac road through the serene countryside of Bac Can to Thai Nguyen, you'll be treated to some truly magical moments. You'll get to soak in the beauty of nature at its finest, admiring the pristine landscapes and taking in the incredible views of the limestone mountains. It's a journey you'll never forget!

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival Transferring to  – Ha Giang Cycling Loop

Vietnam's absolutely gorgeous and peaceful capital is nestled right in the heart of the northern Red River Delta. Hanoi is a city of lakes and leafy boulevards that still has that lovely French colonial elegance. Hanoi is known as the 'Paris of the East' thanks to its delicious coffee and perfect baguettes, but the city has a rich history dating back to 1010 AD. 
When you arrive in Hanoi, we'll be waiting to greet you and take you to Ha Giang city for a four-hour trip. You'll get to explore and enjoy the absolutely gorgeous, pristine nature of northern Vietnam. We'll have lunch in a lovely local restaurant.
Once we've had a chance to recharge our batteries, we'll fix our bikes and set off on a lovely, scenic road along the Gam River, heading upward to Ha Giang city. We'll be blown away by the incredible scenery and the charming, rustic way of life in Northern Vietnam.  
And then, our lovely trip continues on a beautiful village road, which will take us closer to Ha Giang city. We'll challenge you with a few short passes before descending into the city for an overnight stay.
Summary: 
Activity: Picking up and Transferring 
Accommodation: Ha Giang Wing Bungalow
Meals:L/D
Transferring distance:180 Km
Cyling distance: 65 Km
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43078292
Elevation:    + 949 / - 893 m

Day 02: Ha Giang  Bicycle Tour Quang Ba – Yen Minh

We set off this morning, excited to explore the beautiful countryside. We'll be cycling for the first 25km through the stunning landscape of terraced rice paddy fields. As we cycle through minority villages, we're treated to a lovely 25km route up winding roads into the vast limestone mountain range with its perpendicular walls of rock. We'll climb 800m towards the mountain road pass, aptly named "Heaven Gate 1". As we pass through mountain villages sometimes covered by cloud, we'll be greeted with a friendly smile by the lovely local communities. From the pass, we can enjoy some truly breathtaking views, including the famous vista of the Tam Son valley with the 'Twin Hills'. We can even see Quan Ba town! We'll have lunch on the summit and soak up the gorgeous scenery. After a lovely lunch, we'll set off on our bikes to descend to the river and ride along to the Gam river until we meet another pass again. We'll start off with a few km of climbing, then it's downhill for about 10 km, and then it's pretty flat for another 10 km. It's a bit of a rollercoaster up and down in altitude, reaching 1,025 m, before we make a final descent for the last 15 km into Yenh Minh. Along the way, we'll get to see the traditional homes of the local hill tribes. The communities in this area are Chinese.
Summary: 
Activity;Cycling and Transferring
Accommodation: Phuong Dong  Hotel*** 
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling distance: 93 Km

Day 03: Yen Minh  Bike Tour Mau Due – Lung Phin - Dong Van

What a wonderful day it is for us as we cycle through the heart of the incredible Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark! We've taken a little detour onto a minor road that takes us on a gentle, rolling road before descending into the bottom of the valley. Here we get to ride through some tiny hill-tribe communities, which is really special. Eventually, we reach a bustling village market where we see a dazzling array of brightly-costumed villagers trading everything from piglets to bamboo shoots and forest fodder.
After following a river for a little while, we come across the ruins of an old defensive wall. It's hard to tell exactly how old it is, but it's definitely a fascinating sight! After that, we start to climb. It's great to have a similar gradient to the day before as a warm-up before the main climb after lunch. As we enter the Ha Giang Plateau, the scenery is already pretty impressive, but it's nothing short of mind-blowing! At each stage, you find yourself wondering how on earth you can 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 get to Dong Van, you'll be so happy to sit down with a beer and a feast! And you'll be able to sleep like a baby, safe in the knowledge that you've just conquered the epic Ha Giang Plateau climb!
Summary: 
Activity: cycling and Visiting
Accommodation: Hoa  Cuong Dong Van Hotel***
http://kshoacuong.vn/
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling distance: 64 Km
Elevation gain at: + 2,271m + 23.4% - 1,631m-23.0
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45857804

Day 04 : Dong Van  Cycle route  Lung Cu Plag Pole – Dong Van – Ma Pi Leng – Meo Vac

We're so excited for you to join us on this incredible day of cycling in the heart of the world-listed Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark! Start your day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel, then take a quick visit to the vibrant hill tribe market nearby. After that, we'll set off on the amazing Happiness Road to Dong Van. As you cycle up to the summit, you'll be rewarded with some truly stunning views of the pristine nature and magnificent karst plateau scenery. We'll stop by the lovely Hmong King Palace (Vuong Chi Sinh Palace) for a visit and then we'll continue our cycling adventure to the Lung Cu Pole Flag Tower. 
As we cycle along the lovely, modest road from Dong Van to Meo Vac, we're treated to some truly spectacular views of a vast gorge. This road is so lovely, it winds and undulates, and you can see the Nho Que River below. From the Ma Phi Leng Pass, we get to enjoy a lovely view of the valley from around 1500m up! We'll be staying in the lovely little town of Meo Vac tonight. It's so lovely that most of the tribes here have managed to keep their way of life free from outside influence. It's only recently that they've been able to travel to Meo Vac, as it was almost impossible to get here until the new roads were built.
Summary: 
Activity: cycling and Visiting
Accommodation: Hoa  Cuong Dong Van Hotel***
http://kshoacuong.vn/
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling distance: 56 Km

Day 05: Meo Vac  Bike Ride  Mau Due  - Du Gia

What a wonderful day it is for discovering and conquering the Dong Van geological plateau! Make sure you recharge your batteries fully so you're ready for the epic exploring ahead in Du Gia!
We're off on our cycling adventure today! We'll be setting off from the lovely border town of Meo Vac, where we'll cycle out of town and start our endurance test. We'll be climbing a slope of more than 5 km with an altitude of more than 200 meters on a gravel road, and then we'll take some concrete zigzags through the cliffs to reach the Sa Phin village. And now, we're in for a treat! The long slope begins to pass through the towering cat-eared rocky mountains, or weaves through a forest of high sharp rocks to create a scene that is as majestic, mysterious and poetic as contemplative rock paintings. It's a truly magnificent sight, boasting the vastness of heaven and earth.
Our journey quickly takes us down to the valley, where we'll meet the second pass, the M-pass. This lovely little road crosses the two sides of the mountain range, taking us to Mau Due valley for lunch.
Once we've had a chance to recharge for the next part of our journey, we'll conquer the remaining two passes: Mau Due Lung Ho Summit before plunging into Du Gia Valley. The gorgeous scenery along the way always fills us with joy and excitement, and gives us the extra energy we need to power through the last stretch!
Summary: 
Activity: Cycling from Hotel - Hotel
Accommodation: Du Gia Stream Lodge
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling distance: 72 Km

Day 06: Du Gia – Lung Ho – Thai An – Thuan Hoa – Ha Giang Cycling Loop Tour

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 the hillside and slope of a mountain to the Lung Ho Summit! You'll be blown away by the incredible views of the rugged, rocky mountain ranges over Lung Ho Valley. You'll love immersing yourself in the sunrise over the mysterious valley and dreamlike landscapes in the villages.
The route to the summit is quite challenging, with lots of winding and switchbacks, but it's so worth it! We'll take a quick break to refresh ourselves with some cold water and a snack before descending to Lung Ho Commune. From there, we'll turn off the main road and cycle through some lovely narrow valleys, with corn fields and groundnut plantations along the way.
We quickly hit the second steep hill, which was a real challenge! But it was so worth it, as we wound our way along the canopy forest and hillsides up to the summits.
Time for a quick refreshment stop before we dive into the mysterious valleys for a picnic lunch! Once we've recharged our batteries, we'll gear up our bikes and challenge the steep hilltop to Thai An.
We'll then start our cycling trip to Ha Giang Town. When we arrive at the hotel, we'll check in and relax. Exploring the city and trying the local beer is a highlight of our second day in Ha Giang Town. We'll have dinner and stay overnight in Ha Giang.
Summary: 
Activity: Cycling  from Hotel – Hotel.
Accommodation: Ha Giang Wing
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling distance: 97  Km  + 2,941M – 3,211M
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45638921

Day 07: Ha Giang  Bicycle Tour –Ngoc Minh – Yen Hoa -  Lam Binh  

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel and bidding farewell to the lively city, we set off on our way to the lovely Lam Binh Eco Tourist Community today. We're off on another lovely cycling adventure today! We'll be leaving the hotel and zipping through the countryside on a scenic route lined with quaint villages. We're so excited to show you the beautiful scenery and rural landscapes of the lowlands and river views! We're in for a real treat today! We'll be cycling through some absolutely stunning farmland, replanting forests and lush rice paddy fields. We'll get to see the lovely, peaceful village life along the hillside.
We'll have lunch along the way, and then it'll be back on the bikes for a lovely, leisurely cycle along a rolling, undulating road. We'll even have the chance to challenge ourselves with a few steep hills before descending into the gorgeous Tuyen Quang Reservoir Lake. We'll be cycling on a lovely new gravel road, passing many quaint little villages on the way to Khuon Ha Village, Thuong Lam Commune, where our cosy eco-homestay is waiting for us!
Summary: 
Activity: Cycling  from Hotel - Hotel
Accommodation: Hai Linh Ecohomestay
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling distance: 82 Km
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30740688

Day 08: Lam Binh Boat Trip – Na Hang – Ba Be Mountain Bike

Guess what! Today is going to be a fantastic day on our trip. We're spending the morning exploring a gorgeous lake by boat, then we're cycling to Ba Lake for the night.
We had a lovely breakfast with our wonderful hosts before saying goodbye. Then it was time to set off on our bikes! We cycled from our homestay to the boat dock, where we started our boat trip to explore the beautiful scenery and sparkling water over the lake. We'll make a little stop along the way to admire some unique islets and a breathtaking waterfall. Then it's time for lunch on the boat! After a lovely lunch, our boat reached the Na Hang boat dock. And then, our wonderful boat trip comes to an end, and we start our cycling trip to Ba Be Lake! Get ready for an amazing challenge! We'll be riding over an incredible 20 km pass on the summit. We'll make sure you're nice and refreshed before we start the descent to Cho Ra town. Keep on cycling for 13 km through the lovely village and national park to the wonderful Pak Ngoi ecovillage. 
We've got another great option for you! If you'd prefer to relax on the boat today, we'll connect you with the second boat trip from Dau Dang Waterfall, then take you on a boat trip to explore the emerald-water lake to Ngoi Thia Ecohomestay.
Summary: 
Activity: Cycling  from Hotel – Hotel 
Accommodation: Ba Be Lakeside Bungalow
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling distance: 65 Km

Day  09: Ba Be – Son Lo - Bao Lac Cycling Trip

Ba Be is an absolutely amazing freshwater lake in Vietnam! It's one of the largest lakes in the country and is listed as one of the 28th biggest freshwater lakes on a slope of limestone mountains in the world. UNESCO has even listed Ba Be Lake as a World Heritage Site! Cruising around Ba Be is an incredible experience that we're really looking forward to on our trip.
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel, then get ready for an amazing day as we set off on a scenic route to Ba Be Lake! Cycling on tarmac road, passing many hill tribe villages, and experiencing some incredible passes along the way is the highlight of our trip! We'll start from the hotel and cycle up the hillside, which is dotted with quaint hill tribes and rice terraces, all the way to the Son Lo intersection (75 km). We'll stop for lunch on the summit, and then we'll kick off our pedals to cycle up and down rolling hills and slopes of mountains to Bao Lac. After that, we'll take the rest transfer back to the hotel.
Summary: 
Activity: Cycling  from Hotel – Hotel 
Accommodation: Thuy Duong Hotel
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling distance:113 Km
2,695m30.3%  2,656m-20.6%
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48175274

Day 10: Bao Lac – Me Pia – Na Tenh – Pac Po Bike Tour

Today is going to be an amazing cycling day on our trip! We'll be rewarded with outstanding scenery and breathtaking sights along the way.
Start your day with a delicious breakfast of Vietnamese cuisine at a local restaurant. Then, it's time to hop on your bikes and embark on an exhilarating 12-kilometre cycling adventure! Winding through the slopes and rugged mountains, this challenging route offers breathtaking views of deep valleys and rice terraces along the hillsides. Capture the beauty of these scenes with your camera as you ride to the pinnacle of the mountain and into a peaceful village.
Get ready for more adventures as you tackle long and steep hills. Winding through rugged mountains, these routes vary in height from three to 15 storeys. But don't worry, the descent into the dreamlike valley for a picnic lunch will make it all worth it!
Once we've had a chance to recharge our energy, we're ready to take on the last pass before we descend to Thong Nong town! We'll be turning on to a secondary road and riding on an undulating road that will lead us to Cao Bang city.
Summary: 
Activity: Cycling and Transferring
Accommodation: Muong Thanh Hotel
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43078401
Distance:    71.2 km
Elevation:    + 2300 / - 2189 m

Day 11: Pac Po  Bicycle Tour  Magic Eyes – Nam Tra - Tra Linh

Welcome to the first day of the Cao Bang Cycling Loop! We're so excited to be setting off on our bikes from the hotel after recharging our energy. Let's get those pedals moving! We'll be cycling on tarmac roads, winding our way along rugged limestone mountains and lush tobacco farms to Pac Po. Just a gentle challenge up to the Pac Po monument, nothing too strenuous!
The lovely Pac Po is nestled between high mountain ranges and a stream, river, and border with China at the 108th kilometre mark. The wonderful Hochiminh decided to set up this area for the initial Vietnam Revolutionary.  Visiting this historical relic is a great way to learn more about the post-Vietnamese Revolution and Hochiminh's life as well!
Once we've paid our respects to the predecessors and Ho Chi Minh, we hop back on our bikes for a lovely cycle through a traditional hill tribal village and along the border to Nam Nhung commune, where we'll enjoy a well-deserved break.
Our lovely cycling trip continues on mixed terrain, with gravel roads, off the beaten track and village roads leading us to Luu Ngoc Commune for a delicious picnic lunch.
 Once we've had a chance to recharge our batteries, we hop back on our bikes to explore the gorgeous scenery along the route. We wind our way through magnificent limestone mountains, lush rice paddy fields, and idyllic rivers, eventually reaching Nam Tra village and the magical Eyes Mountain.
You'll love spending time in this fairyland, marvelling at the majestic mountain scenery and watching the sunset hover over the peaks. It's truly magical!
Then, it's time to leave the tranquil setting behind and set off on a single track trail, winding its way amongst rugged limestone mountains and streams to Cao Chuong village. From there, we'll turn onto a tarmac road that will lead us to Tra Linh town.
Summary:
Activities: Transferring and cycling to Hotel
Accommodations: Duc Long Hotel**
Meals:B/L/D
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46969875
Distance:    67 km
Elevation:    + 1741 / - 1394 m

Day 12: Tra Linh  Bike Ride Ban Gioc

Get ready for an amazing day! On the second day, we'll embark on our Cao Bang cycling loop. Make sure you fuel up with a hearty breakfast because we're going to have an incredible day of exploring!
Get ready to embark on an amazing cycling adventure from the hotel! We'll be riding on a smooth tarmac road through the town, all the way to an intersection where we'll turn off onto a lovely secondary road. Then, it's off to explore a gorgeous hill road through a lush canopy forest and enjoy the serene atmosphere. Get ready to be blown away by the incredible scenery and breathtaking landscapes as we venture into the heart of Vietnam's Global Geopark!
Before arriving in Trung Khanh Town, we turn off on a dirt road and single track trail, weaving amongst rustic villages, majestic limestone mountains, breathtaking vistas, lush rice fields and green corn fields, all the way to the stunning Jade Quay Son River.
Get ready to be blown away by the incredible sights and lush rice paddy fields as we ride along the border, cross a bamboo bridge, and cycle through some truly charming villages and rice paddy fields.
We'll be having lunch at an amazing eco homestay, and after that, we'll cycle along the river to the breathtaking Ban Gioc waterfall or go kayaking along the Quay Son river. We'll be having dinner and staying overnight at the incredible Ban Gioc Resort.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42097080
Summary:
Activities: Cycling from hotel - Hotel
Accommodations: Lan Rung Ecolodge
Meals:B/L/D
Cycling distances: 72 Km
Elevation:    + 1060 / - 1326 m

Day 13: Ban Gioc  Ride  Quang Uyen

Get up early to catch a glimpse of the absolutely spectacular Ban Gioc Waterfall! Ban Gioc is an absolute must-see! It's the world's fourth biggest border-crossing waterfall and is absolutely stunning. The blue sky, the great limestone mountains and the stunning rice fields are a sight to behold, and you can even see the daily life going on.  After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, we're ready to hit the road again! We'll be following the border to Hanh Lang town.
Today is another fantastic day for us! We'll conquer some hilly passes and sharp turns on the way. But the best is yet to come! We'll be treated to some truly spectacular sights and landscapes.
The first stage is an amazing undulating route along the river and rice paddies, through peaceful villages. The second stage is really challenging but so rewarding when we conquer three steep passes! And now for something really special! We'll be stopping for a picnic lunch at the third stop. After lunch, we'll cycle down a newly paved road that leads to Quang Uyen Town. When you arrive, make sure you check in and then relax for dinner time!

Summary:
Activities: Cycling 
Accommodations: Hung Dung Hotel**
Meals: B/L/D
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42097118
Distance:    75. km
Elevation:    + 1569 / - 1515 m

Day 14: Quang Uyen -  Phia Thap –  Hanoi Cycling Tours

After a delicious breakfast, we set off on our next adventure to Cao Bang city! Next, we'll hop on our bikes for a short spin on the main road. Then, we'll turn off onto a smaller road that leads to a fascinating paper-making village. Here, you'll have the chance to try your hand at making your own paper using a traditional process that the locals have been using for generations. It's a truly unique experience! As we ride through the villages, we soak up the peaceful atmosphere and take in the wonderful landscapes. We then continue our journey on a single track that leads to Phia Thap, then Tu Do Commune, Ha Tri and Trung Vuong Commune. You'll get to experience the incredible, colourful hill tribes villages along the way. You'll also have the chance to meet and chat with the friendly locals to learn more about their fascinating way of life.
And now, we'll meet our support vehicle, which will be on hand to fill up our water bottles and provide some refreshing drinks! And now for the next part of our adventure! We'll be cycling on a tarmac road that will take us straight to Cao Bang city. And now for something really special! You'll be having dinner and staying overnight in Cao Bang city.
Summary:
Activities: Cycling and Visiting
Accommodations: MuongThanh Hotel*****
Meals:B/L/D
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43078495
Distance:    59.2 km
Elevation:    + 1036 / - 1300 m

Note: Hotels  are subject to change due to availability. In that case we will choose equivalent  accommodation.
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 include in

English speaking hiking guide ( other languages upon requests)
Accommodations are based on double/ twin occupancy
Private ecohomestay with mats, blankets and sleeping bags ( Wc sharing and bathroom)
Meals details in itineraries ( 14 breakfast,  14 Lunches, 14 dinners)
A/C transfer/ and transportation
Van or bus supported during the hiking times.
Boat trip in Ba Be lake
Sightseeing excursions as outlined itineraries
First aid kit
Cold water box, small fresh towel.
Mineral water for drinking

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.
Visa fee
Visa fee in Vietnam ( 25 USD per person upon arrival + 02 passport pictures
Departure  tax
Tip for team and guide