Northern Vietnam is large and mountainous. Distances can look modest on the map, but the winding roads, mountain passes and height differences mean you are regularly on the road longer. With 19 days there is enough time to link different regions and still leave room along the way for landscape, culture and encounters.
You travel with your own guide and driver. The programme on this page is the starting point but is matched to your cycling experience, your fitness and your interests. That gives you a trip in which you are active without every day being only about kilometres.
On the bike you see northern Vietnam at close range. You smell what is being cooked at the roadside, hear the sounds from the villages and see farmers at work on the rice terraces. The landscape does not pass behind a bus window: you ride through the middle of it.
The route consists of tarmac roads, small village roads and unsurfaced sections. The surface can vary and some roads have steep gradients. The guide knows the route and discusses with you what is possible that day.
Your luggage is carried and the support vehicle stays close by where possible. Would you like to shorten a stage or skip a hard climb? Then you agree with the guide and driver where you can get in safely. That way the bike is the thread running through the trip while you decide how much of a challenge you are after.
The rice terraces are among the best-known landscapes of northern Vietnam. Generations of farmers have turned the steep mountainsides into farmland that holds water and allows rice to be grown.
How the terraces look depends on the season and the region. When the fields are under water, they reflect the sky. They then turn steadily greener, and around the harvest parts of the landscape become golden steps. On the bike you also see how much work goes on there. You pass farmers working the fields, maintaining irrigation channels or planting and harvesting rice.
Northern Vietnam has long climbs, deep valleys and mountain roads with countless hairpin bends. Which passes you ride and how much climbing you do is matched to your experience and preference.
If you enjoy climbing, you can choose longer mountain stages. If you want less climbing, we can adjust a stage or cover part of the route in the support vehicle. With an e-mountain bike or e-gravel bike the longer climbs in particular become considerably lighter.
One of the best-known mountain roads is around the Mã Pí Lèng pass in Hà Giang. The road runs high through the limestone mountains, with views over deep gorges and the Nho Quế river. Whether this pass becomes part of your trip depends on the route chosen.
Various communities live in the north of Vietnam, including the Hmong, Dao, Tày and Nùng. Each has its own traditions, dress, building styles and customs.
The local guide tells you more about these communities and helps you understand what you see along the way. The guide can also translate when a conversation starts during a stop. That contact cannot be planned in advance. Sometimes it is a wave or an enthusiastic “Xin chào!”, at other times there is room for a longer exchange.
Your 19-day trip begins in Hanoi, where scooters, street food and daily life together make the street scene. After getting to know the capital you leave the bustle behind and travel further into the mountainous north.
Along the way you ride past rice fields and terraces, through green valleys and over mountain passes with wide views. Small villages and local markets introduce you to daily life in northern Vietnam.
If this trip appeals to you, we arrange a call. We discuss how much you want to ride, which activities you want to do, how long you want to travel and what standard of accommodation suits you. On that basis we develop the existing route into a personal proposal for you and your party.
Which bike suits this trip best depends on your experience, your riding style and the support you want. A gravel bike rides well on tarmac and on gravel roads in good condition. A mountain bike gives extra grip and comfort on the rougher sections.
Would you like electric support on the climbs? You can hire an e-mountain bike or e-gravel bike through CvA travel from our local partner. State which bike you prefer in your enquiry. We check availability and make sure the hire bike is set up for your height as well as possible. You can of course also travel with your own bike.
Not every day has to have the same rhythm. We can alternate longer stages with a shorter ride, a rest day or an activity off the bike. You may want to stay somewhere longer to walk, visit a market or simply take in the surroundings.
That way we put together an individual cycling holiday in which riding, rest and other experiences come together naturally.
This individual cycling trip through northern Vietnam is bookable on request. You choose your own departure date and travel with your own guide and driver. The suggested day-by-day programme is the basis for your trip.
Would you like to travel for a shorter or longer time, add an extra rest day, do other activities or change the standard of accommodation? Then request a travel proposal. We then arrange a call in which we discuss your wishes, your cycling experience and how much of a challenge you are after. Together with our local partner we look at what is possible within the route and the period chosen.
On that basis you receive a personal travel proposal for you and your party, so the trip matches your pace, your interests and your way of travelling.
What your individual cycling trip looks like depends on your wishes, your cycling experience and the period you choose. The programme below is an example route and forms the starting point for your personal proposal. We can adjust the length, the riding stages, the rest, the activities and the accommodation by arrangement.
The trip begins in Hanoi. After arriving you have time to recover from the flight and get to know the Vietnamese capital. The first riding stage starts outside the bustle of the city, where smaller roads take you through rice fields, valleys and villages.
As the trip goes on, the landscape becomes more mountainous. Around Sa Pa you ride through the foothills of the Hoàng Liên Sơn range, which includes Fansipan, the highest mountain in Vietnam. Further north-east the rugged limestone formations of Hà Giang and the Đồng Văn Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark are waiting.
The riding days take you over tarmac, small village roads and unsurfaced sections. Long climbs alternate with descents, green valleys and views over rice terraces and mountain villages. Your guide and driver accompany you along the way and the support vehicle can be used when you want to shorten a stage.
After the riding days the trip can be finished with a few quieter days. Depending on your route and wishes, a stay in Hạ Long Bay or Lan Hạ Bay can be added, for example. Here you swap the bike for a boat trip among the limestone islands. There is time to kayak, swim or take in the landscape from the deck.
Below you can read how the example trip is built up from day to day. If the route appeals to you, we use it as the basis for a trip that suits you and your party.
After arriving in Hanoi you are met at the airport by your guide and driver. They take you to the Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel in the middle of the Old Quarter.
Because the hotel is so central, you can see something of Hanoi as soon as you have checked in. Walk at your own pace through the old streets, past local shops, food stalls and small temples. If you would rather not walk too much after the flight, you can take a cyclo and be pedalled around the city.
You can also stay at the hotel and take a seat at the Ignite Sky Bar. From the roof terrace you have a wide view over Hanoi and see the bustle of the city from above. It is a good place to recover from the journey with a drink.
Nothing else is fixed, so you can spend this first day exactly as you wish.
Meals: dinner
Accommodation: Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel
With your guide you set out to get to know Hanoi better. At West Lake you visit the Trấn Quốc pagoda. This Buddhist pagoda stands on a small peninsula and is a quiet spot in a busy capital. You then go to the Ho Chi Minh complex, which includes the mausoleum, the presidential palace and the simple stilt house where Ho Chi Minh lived for part of his life. Your guide tells you more about his significance for Vietnam and the history of the country.
Close to the complex stands the One Pillar Pagoda. This wooden pagoda rests on a single stone pillar and is designed as a lotus flower rising out of the water. You also visit the Temple of Literature, founded in 1070. This former centre of learning consists of several courtyards, gardens and traditional buildings.
In the afternoon it is time for the practical preparation for the riding days. You assemble your own bike or take delivery of the hire bike. With the guide you check the size and set-up and take a short test ride. You also go through the route, the different surfaces and how the support vehicle is used during the trip.
After dinner a visit to Train Street is planned. The railway line runs right past the houses here. When a train comes, everything beside the track is moved aside to make room. Because access can be restricted for safety reasons, your guide checks on the spot whether a visit is possible.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel
After breakfast the support vehicle takes you and the bike to Sơn Tây, outside the busy centre of Hanoi. The first riding stage of the trip begins here. You ride quiet, largely flat roads through the Red River basin. Along the way you pass farmland, small villages and houses standing right beside the road. The few light rises make this a comfortable stage in which to get used to the bike and the rhythm of the trip.
Your guide rides with you and there is all the time you need to stop along the way. This first day is not about speed but about getting going quietly and taking in the landscape. After around 55 kilometres you get back into the support vehicle for the last part to Yên Bái. Yên Bái lies at the edge of the mountainous north. From here the broad river valleys give way more and more to higher ranges and longer climbs.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Nhu Nguyet Hotel
Distance: 55 kilometres – 208 m up – 183 m down
The mountains come into view properly today. From Yên Bái you first travel by support vehicle towards Lào Cai. Together with your guide you decide where to get on the bike. If you want to cover more kilometres, you start earlier. If you would rather save energy for the long climb to Sa Pa, the starting point is adjusted accordingly.
You first ride through the lower valley of the Red River to Lào Cai. This border town lies opposite Hekou in China. You make a short stop at the border crossing and look out at the Chinese town on the other side.
After Lào Cai the hardest part of the stage begins. From the warm lowland you climb over some 35 kilometres to Sa Pa. The road rises almost continuously and winds up the mountainsides. The temperature and the landscape change noticeably along the way. Buildings become scarcer and the views over the valleys and the Hoàng Liên Sơn range become steadily wider.
You ride at your own pace and can stop whenever you want. The guide stays with you and the support vehicle follows the route, so you can decide along the way to cover part of it by vehicle. The climb is demanding, but you do not have to ride every kilometre at all costs. Sa Pa lies at around 1,500 metres. On arrival you check in at your small-scale accommodation and can recover from the first real mountain stage.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Sapa Garden Bed and Breakfast Hotel
Distance: 65 kilometres – 2,375 m up – 916 m down
After the mountain stage to Sa Pa you decide how to spend this day. You can recover quietly and take in the surroundings, or choose a ride through the Muong Hoa valley.
The ride starts at your hotel in Sa Pa. You descend around twelve kilometres on surfaced roads to Lao Chải and Tả Van. Along the way you look out over the terraced rice fields and ride through villages where the Hmong, Dao and Giáy live, among others. There is all the time you need for photographs and to hear more about daily life in the valley.
After the villages you ride back uphill to Sa Pa. The support vehicle stays close by. If you cannot or would rather not ride the whole climb, you can cover part of the way back by vehicle. Lunch is taken at a local restaurant.
You can fill the afternoon as you wish. Relax at the hotel, walk through the centre of Sa Pa or visit Ham Rong Mountain. This viewpoint lies right beside the centre. From its paths and lookouts you look out over the mountain town and the surrounding valleys.
Another option is a visit to Fansipan. At 3,143 metres this is the highest mountain in Vietnam and in the whole of Indochina. The cable car takes you through the mountain landscape to the temple complex higher up. From there you can climb around six hundred steps to the summit. If you would rather avoid the steps, you can use the mountain train for the last section. Bear in mind that cloud and mist can limit the view, though they also give the mountain an atmosphere of its own. In the evening you dine at a local restaurant in Sa Pa.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Sapa Garden Bed & Breakfast Hotel
Distance: around 28 kilometres, of which around 12 kilometres downhill
Depending on the weather and how many kilometres you want to ride, you descend from Sa Pa to Lào Cai by bike or the support vehicle takes you to a starting point in the valley. From here you ride along the Chảy river towards Cốc Ly and then on to Bắc Hà. Fields and small villages set the landscape along the way.
Cốc Ly is known for its weekly market, where the Flower Hmong, Dao, Nùng and Tày from the surrounding mountains come together. Farm produce, handicrafts, clothing and animals are sold there, but the market is also an important meeting place. Because the market is only held on Tuesdays, we plan your individual trip so that you visit Cốc Ly on a market day. If that does not fit your travel plans, you still ride through the area but the market visit falls away.
After Cốc Ly the route becomes harder. In the last fifteen kilometres to Bắc Hà you gain around 800 metres. Part of this section runs on a rough unsurfaced road. Your guide rides with you and the support vehicle stays close by, so you can take the climb at your own pace or skip part of it. Bắc Hà lies high in the mountains and is known for the plum orchards on the surrounding slopes. What you see of them depends on the season: in spring the trees turn white with blossom, and later in the year the plums the area is known for are harvested.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: La Beauté Bắc Hà
Distance: 70 km – 1,441 m up – 2,028 m down
From Bắc Hà you ride further into the remote mountains of northern Vietnam. The route runs to Xín Mần, a border district with around thirty kilometres of border with China. Various communities live here, including the Hmong, Dao, Nùng, Tày and La Chí.
After Xín Mần you cross the Chảy river and ride quiet, rolling roads to Hoàng Su Phì. Forest, fields and small mountain villages follow one another. As you approach Hoàng Su Phì, more and more rice terraces appear on the steep slopes.
These terraces were built by the Dao, Nùng and La Chí, among others, and have been worked for generations. Part of them was recognised as national heritage in 2012. After around 55 kilometres you reach Hoang Su Phi Lodge.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Hoang Su Phi Lodge
Distance: 55 km – 1,370 m up – 1,810 m down
A demanding mountain stage is waiting, through a landscape of rice terraces, forest and deep valleys. Depending on the season the terraces are full of water, turning green or ready for harvest.
One of the main climbs runs along provincial road 177 to Heaven Gate 2. This pass is often shrouded in mist and, in clear weather, gives a wide view over the surrounding ranges and valleys.
After the pass a long descent follows past villages, rice fields and maize terraces. Lower down the landscape changes and you ride along the Lô river to Hà Giang, the capital of the province of the same name. Because of the amount of climbing this is one of the hardest days of the trip. If you want to ride less, the guide and driver adjust the start or end point.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: The Palm Ha Giang Ecolodge & Tour
Distance: maximum 75 km – 2,222 m up – 2,591 m down
After the demanding mountain stages you decide how to spend this day. You can relax at the ecolodge or see the area around Hà Giang with a local guide.
One quiet option is a walk to Nà Thác, around ten kilometres from the town. In this traditional Tày village you walk past rice fields, vegetable gardens and wooden stilt houses and get a picture of daily life in the valley.
If you would like to walk longer, you can take a route through the foothills of the Tây Côn Lĩnh range. Along the way you pass mountain villages, forest and old Shan Tuyết tea trees. The young leaves of these trees are used to make a distinctive tea with a slightly sweet aftertaste. The exact route is matched to your fitness and the weather.
The summit of Tây Côn Lĩnh lies at 2,428 metres and requires a multi-day trek. That climb is therefore not part of the rest day, but can be added to your trip as a separate extension.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: The Palm Ha Giang Ecolodge & Tour
From Hà Giang you first ride through a green valley with rice fields and small villages. Slowly the landscape becomes rougher and the rounded slopes give way to steep limestone peaks. The main climb runs to Quản Bạ Heaven Gate at the edge of the Đồng Văn Karst Plateau. At the top you look out over the Tam Sơn valley and the almost symmetrical Twin Mountains.
According to a local Hmong legend, the fairy Hoa Đào fell in love with a man from the valley. They had a child together, but the gods forced her to return to the heavens. So that she could keep feeding her child, she left her breasts behind in the valley. These became the two hills. Her magical milk is said to have made the soil fertile and to explain why the area is so green.
After the pass the road keeps rising and falling between rock walls, fields and small mountain villages. You ride at your own pace and can stop whenever you want. Over the last fifteen kilometres you descend to Yên Minh.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Aka Homestay
Distance: maximum 75 km – 1,869 m up – 1,528 m down
From Yên Minh you climb further onto the Đồng Văn Karst Plateau. Limestone peaks, deep valleys and fields laid out among the rocks set the landscape. By way of mountain villages and long hairpins you reach Đồng Văn, the most northerly place on the route.
The most striking part of the day follows: the Mã Pí Lèng pass. Here you ride the so-called Happiness Road, built between 1959 and 1965 through the rocky mountains by thousands of young workers from various communities.
The pass, around twenty kilometres long, links Đồng Văn with Mèo Vạc. The road runs along steep rock walls and high above the Nho Quế river, which winds through the deep Tú Sản gorge. It is a route to ride slowly and to stop on often. In clear weather you look out over an almost unreal landscape of grey limestone peaks, green mountainsides and the river far below.
After the pass you descend to Mèo Vạc. At the end of the afternoon you reach Mã Pì Lèng EcoLodge, where you stay for two nights.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mã Pì Lèng EcoLodge
Distance: maximum 75 km – 2,180 m up – 1,523 m down
After the ride over the Mã Pí Lèng pass an easy day in Mèo Vạc follows. You decide whether you want to recover quietly or see the surrounding mountain villages on foot.
If you want to walk, you can set off with the guide to Na Trao and Ban Tong. These villages are home mainly to Giáy and Tày. Along the way you see traditional houses, fields and daily life in one of the most remote parts of northern Vietnam. The walk is adjusted to the distance you are comfortable with.
If this rest day falls on a Sunday, you can visit the Mèo Vạc weekly market. This large highland market draws Hmong, Dao, Giáy, Tày and Lô Lô from the surrounding mountain villages. They come not only to trade vegetables, maize, clothing and livestock but also to eat together and meet people they know. The market is above all an important part of local social life.
Whether you can visit the Mèo Vạc Sunday market depends on the departure date chosen and on any market visit in Cốc Ly. If you would like to see one of these markets, we discuss when putting the trip together which fits the programme best.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mã Pì Lèng EcoLodge
Activity: rest day with an optional walk or market visit
The route to Bảo Lạc takes you to another part of northern Vietnam. You leave the rocky landscape around Mèo Vạc and ride east into the province of Cao Bằng. Along the way the valleys become gradually greener and more rice fields, maize fields and small settlements appear between the mountains.
Shortly after setting off, a first climb asks for your attention. A varied mountain ride follows, with long descents and several new climbs. The quiet road winds past limestone peaks and through valleys with hardly any traffic. At almost 1,700 metres of ascent it remains a demanding stage, but the many descents give this day a different rhythm from the previous mountain stages. The route can be shortened if you wish.
You finish in the area around Bảo Lạc. Here you can stay in Khuổi Khon, a mountain village with traditional wooden stilt houses and rice terraces. The village is largely home to Lô Lô families, who are known for their colourfully decorated clothing and textile work. A stay in the homestay brings you closer to daily life in this remote mountain area.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Homestay Khuổi Khon
Distance: maximum 75 km – 1,697 m up – 2,552 m down
One of the most remarkable mountain roads in Cao Bằng lies on the route to Pác Bó. From the area around Bảo Lạc you ride through sparsely populated country of wooded mountains, narrow valleys and small villages. After around eighteen kilometres the Khau Cốc Chà pass appears.
The pass is only around 2.5 kilometres long but climbs the mountainside through fourteen sharp hairpin bends in fifteen levels. From the bike you see only part of this road at a time. The full pattern is visible only from a higher viewpoint, which you reach by a footpath. From above the road looks like a ribbon stuck against the steep slope.
After the pass the route is matched to the conditions. In dry weather you can choose a more adventurous unsurfaced section; otherwise you continue on more manageable village roads. Because Pác Bó is further than the planned riding distance, you also cover part of the way in the support vehicle.
The landscape changes again along the way. The rugged slopes gradually give way to the green surroundings of Pác Bó, close to the Chinese border.
Pác Bó plays an important part in the modern history of Vietnam. It was here that Hồ Chí Minh returned to his country in 1941 after around thirty years abroad. He lived and worked for a time in the Cốc Bó cave and gave the nearby stream and mountain the names Lenin Stream and Karl Marx Mountain. Pác Bó is also the northern starting point of the long Hồ Chí Minh Road. You stay at Me Homestay. The historic sites of Pác Bó and the route towards the Bản Giốc waterfalls are on tomorrow’s programme.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Me Homestay
Distance: 50 to a maximum of 75 km – 2,145 m up – 2,045 m down
Before you leave Pác Bó, you visit the place where Hồ Chí Minh settled in 1941 after thirty years abroad. Along the clear blue Lenin Stream you walk to the small Cốc Bó cave, where he worked on his plans for the Vietnamese independence movement.
You then travel on through the Non Nước Cao Bằng UNESCO Global Geopark. Millions of years of erosion have formed a landscape of limestone peaks, caves and river valleys. You ride through rural country with fields, bamboo forest and villages of the Tày and Nùng, among others. Because the full route is too long for one riding day, the best parts are combined with a transfer.
Closer to the Chinese border the Quây Sơn river comes increasingly into view. Between green karst mountains it leads you to Bản Giốc. Here the water drops in three levels over wide limestone terraces. The whole waterfall system is around 300 metres wide and is divided between Vietnam and China by the border.
You stay close to the falls, so at the end of the afternoon, when many day visitors have left, you can still take in this setting quietly.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Saigon – Ban Gioc Resort
Distance: 50 to a maximum of 75 km – 1,282 m up – 1,230 m down
You travel south to a very different part of northern Vietnam. Because of the distance you combine the transfer with a last riding section. That way you close the active part of the trip gently, without the day being mainly about covering kilometres. Which kilometres you ride is matched to the route and the conditions on the day.
Along the way the open valleys of Cao Bằng gradually give way to the densely wooded mountains of Bắc Kạn province. Small farming villages, rice fields and wooded limestone slopes set the view.
Your destination is Ba Bể National Park. The heart of this protected area is Ba Bể Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam. The name Ba Bể means “three lakes” and refers to the three connected parts Pé Lầm, Pé Lù and Pé Lèng. Limestone walls, caves and evergreen forest surround the water. Since 2011 the park has also been recognised as an internationally protected Ramsar site.
After arriving you can take a short walk or relax at your accommodation. You stay close to the lake: a fine setting in which to close the riding days through northern Vietnam and let all the impressions settle.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Ba Be Jungle Houses or, with a larger group, Ba Be Lake Resort
Distance: to be determined, depending on the section chosen
The landscape you saw from the shore yesterday you now see from the water. On a local boat you travel across Ba Bể Lake and follow the Năng river through the densely wooded karst mountains.
The river takes you straight through the Puông cave, a natural tunnel cut through the limestone over thousands of years. The cave is around 300 metres long and in places more than 30 metres high. From the boat you see rock walls and jagged formations above the water. Large colonies of bats live in the darker parts.
Further downstream you reach the Đầu Đẳng waterfall. Here the Năng river is forced between large boulders and the water flows down through the forest in several sections. A local lunch is served nearby.
The rest of the afternoon is yours to fill. Depending on the conditions you can swim, walk along the lake or relax at the accommodation.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Ba Be Jungle Houses or, with a larger group, Ba Be Lake Resort
The morning at Ba Bể Lake is entirely yours. Sleep in, walk along the water once more or take in the view of the wooded limestone mountains. Around 11.00 you leave the national park.
You stop in Bắc Kạn for lunch. You then travel on through Phủ Thông to Thái Nguyên. Along the way the mountains gradually become lower and the traffic busier. After the quiet of Ba Bể, this lively provincial city is a clear contrast to the remote areas you have travelled through over the past days.
Before arriving at the hotel you visit the Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups. The museum was founded in 1960 and shows, through clothing, everyday objects, crafts and traditional houses, how the 54 officially recognised communities of Vietnam live. Many of the cultures you came across during your trip through northern Vietnam are given extra context here.
In the evening you close the trip with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, a good moment to look back together on everything you have seen along the way.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and farewell dinner
Accommodation: The King Hotel
After breakfast you are taken to Hanoi airport. Here you say goodbye to your guide and driver and start your journey home, with plenty of memories of your cycling trip through northern Vietnam.
Meals: breakfast
The 19-day programme is a full example route through northern Vietnam, but it is not fixed. You may want to follow this route largely as it is, add extra rest days, shorten certain stages or include other areas. The total length can be adjusted as well.
When you request a travel proposal, we first arrange a personal telephone conversation. We discuss how many days you want to travel, your cycling experience, the number of riding days you want and which activities out of doors and in the culture appeal to you. Only then do we put together a tailor-made proposal.
The options below show how we can enrich or adapt the example programme. The days mentioned indicate where an extension fits logically into the existing route. With a different structure, of course, the arrangement can change.
Would you like more time in the mountains around Sa Pa? Then we can extend the programme after day 5 with a visit to the Rong May Glass Bridge, a walk to Cat Cat Village and a night in the valley.
A transfer of around forty minutes takes you to the Ô Quy Hồ pass. A glass exterior lift takes you up to the panoramic viewing platform of Rong May. From the glass skywalk you look out over the peaks and deep valleys of the Hoàng Liên Sơn range. In clear weather the view reaches for kilometres; when there is cloud, the landscape takes on an atmosphere of its own.
You then walk on stone paths to Cat Cat Village, a Hmong village in the green valley below Sa Pa. Along the way you pass wooden houses, old watermills and the Tiên Sa waterfall. At the end of the afternoon you check in at a homestay. You have a traditional dinner and spend the night among the mountains.
The next morning you return to Sa Pa. You walk on through the Muong Hoa valley. Narrow paths take you past rice terraces, mountain streams and small fields to Sin Chai. After a local lunch you follow an old mountain path back to Sa Pa. The walk ends at the church square in the centre.
From Hà Giang a two-day trek on Tây Côn Lĩnh can be added to the trip. You walk past old Shan Tuyết tea trees and through dense, often misty mountain forest. The last section to the 2,428-metre summit is steep and rocky. You spend the night on the way in a simple camp. This trek is only possible with a local guide and in suitable weather. Logical place in the example programme: after day 9 in Hà Giang.
With an extra night at Bản Giốc you have more time to see the falls and the surrounding area. You can take a bamboo raft close to the falling water, visit the Ngườm Ngao cave and look out over the border landscape from the Trúc Lâm pagoda. Logical place in the example programme: between day 15 and day 16.
Instead of travelling straight to the airport, you can continue from Thái Nguyên to the coast. On a cruise of two or three days you travel among the limestone islands of Hạ Long Bay or the quieter Lan Hạ Bay. Depending on the cruise chosen you can kayak, visit caves and spend one or two nights on board. Afterwards you are taken to Hanoi or the airport. Logical place in the example programme: after day 18.
The trip can begin or end with one or more extra nights in Hanoi. That gives you more time to see the Old Quarter, take a street food tour, visit museums or simply take in the city after the trip. Logical place in the example programme: before day 1 or at the end of the trip.
These are only a few of the options. It is your trip, and we therefore decide only after the personal conversation which route, length and activities suit you best.
This 19-day example programme shows what your cycling trip through northern Vietnam can look like. The trip is based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin room, but both the route and the length can be adjusted. You can make the trip shorter, add extra rest days, ride fewer kilometres, stay longer in Sa Pa or extend the programme with a trek, Hạ Long Bay or extra days in Hanoi. The accommodation, the daily structure and how demanding the riding stages are can be matched to your wishes as well.
If you request a travel proposal, we first arrange a personal call. We discuss how many days you want to travel, which bike you use, how much experience you have with climbing and descending and how many kilometres you want to ride on average. Your travel period, the comfort you want and the activities that appeal to you are also covered.
On the basis of that conversation we put together your tailor-made proposal. So there is no standard tour but an individual cycling holiday that suits your fitness, your interests and your way of travelling. Are you travelling alone, with more people, or would you like separate rooms? We take that into account in the programme and the price. The final price depends on the travel period, the accommodation chosen, any bike hire and the adjustments or extensions you want.
Along the way you travel with a Vietnamese private guide, a driver and a support vehicle. That means the trip can also respond to the weather, the state of the roads and your energy on the day. Whether you like to climb long mountain passes or would rather ride quietly past rice terraces and mountain villages, together we look for the right balance between effort, rest and experience.
On this trip you sleep one night in a five-star hotel with a rooftop bar and the next in a small homestay among the mountains. Comfort alternates with personal encounters and daily life in northern Vietnam.
Where possible we choose places with a notable setting, personal hospitality or a story that suits the area. In the remote mountain areas, though, the choice is limited. In some places there is only one suitable place to stay along the route, and it is simple. Do not expect luxury there, but it is exactly these nights that bring you close to daily life and the hospitality of northern Vietnam.
Worth knowing: beds in Vietnam are often firmer than you are used to at home. Which accommodation is available also depends on your travel period.
Below we highlight a few of the more distinctive places to stay.
The five-star Peridot Grand stands in the middle of the historic Old Quarter. Despite its central position it is a quiet place to recover after your flight and get used to Vietnam. On the roof are an infinity pool and the Ignite Sky Bar, from which you look out over the rooftops of the old city. It is a good place to take in your first impressions of Hanoi with a drink. The hotel also has restaurants, a spa and wellness facilities.
✔️ Five-star hotel in the Old Quarter
✔️ Infinity pool and Ignite Sky Bar on the roof
✔️ Spa and wellness facilities
Just outside the busy centre of Sa Pa you stay in a small villa surrounded by a large garden with native plants. After a stage through the mountains you can leave the bustle behind and relax among the greenery. The homely atmosphere and personal hospitality make this a distinctive stay. A full breakfast is ready in the morning, so you start the next riding day with fresh energy.
✔️ A small bed and breakfast
✔️ Set in a large, green garden
✔️ A personal, homely atmosphere
Hoang Su Phi Lodge stands in the middle of the mountain landscape of Hoàng Su Phì. The bungalows are spread over a green slope and look out over the surrounding mountains and, depending on the season, the rice terraces.
After a good day’s riding you can relax by the outdoor pool or choose a massage, sauna or traditional herbal bath. From the lodge you can also easily set off on foot to see the villages and landscapes of Hoàng Su Phì.
✔️ Detached bungalows surrounded by nature
✔️ Views over mountains and rice terraces
✔️ Outdoor pool with a view
The Palm Ha Giang Ecolodge stands against the slopes of the Tây Côn Lĩnh massif, outside the bustle of Hà Giang. Around the lodge you mainly hear birds, running water and the sounds of the countryside. The natural stone swimming pool stands out: it is filled with cool spring water from the mountains and maintained without chlorine. From the pool and the bar above it you look out over the green surroundings. Some of the vegetables for the restaurant come from the lodge’s own garden.
✔️ A quiet setting in the mountains
✔️ Natural stone pool with spring water
✔️ Panoramic views
It is the setting that makes this ecolodge stand out. You stay in the middle of the rocky landscape around the Mã Pí Lèng pass, with views of the mountains and deep valleys of the Đồng Văn Karst Plateau. The rooms are simple but well kept, each with a private bathroom. From your room or the shared spaces you see the light change over the rock walls through the day. Because of its position against the slope, the last stretch up to the lodge can be steep, but the view makes up for a great deal.
✔️ A distinctive setting at the Mã Pí Lèng pass
✔️ Well-kept rooms with private bathrooms
Ba Be Jungle Houses lies in Cốc Tộc in the middle of Ba Bể National Park. The buildings are inspired by the traditional stilt houses of the Tày and fit well among the forest, mountains and lake. After the day’s riding you can relax by the outdoor pool or on the terrace. The restaurant serves Vietnamese dishes and specialities from the Tày kitchen. Ba Be Jungle Houses is also a good base for boat trips, walks and kayaking in the national park.
✔️ In the middle of Ba Bể National Park
✔️ Inspired by traditional Tày architecture
✔️ Outdoor pool and restaurant
La Beauté Bắc Hà is a small homestay in the countryside around Bắc Hà. Its rural setting, the terrace and the simple but pleasant furnishing make for a very different experience from a hotel. Here you get to know the hospitality of the region in a relaxed way. The rooms look out over the garden or the surrounding mountains. Some room types have a private bathroom, while others share facilities. We go through this in advance when putting your trip together.
✔️ A small homestay in the countryside
✔️ Views of the garden and the surrounding mountains
✔️ Personal hospitality
Do you ride all the distances and climbing entirely under your own power on a gravel bike or mountain bike? Then this trip is level 4. The combination of long climbs, several riding days in a row and changing surfaces asks for good fitness and experience of climbing and descending.
With an e-mountain bike or e-gravel bike the long climbs in particular become lighter. You can also shorten a stage by arrangement with the guide and cover part of the route in the support vehicle. With these adjustments the trip is accessible from level 3.
With an e-bike you keep more energy to take in the landscape and the encounters along the way. The support helps you on the long climbs while you decide how much effort you put in. Would you rather not have to watch the battery, or do you expect to use a higher level of support often? Then you can hire an extra battery for an additional charge. It is carried in the support vehicle. An extra battery must be reserved in advance and is subject to availability.
During the personal call we discuss your cycling experience and choose together the bike, the battery option and the daily structure that suit you best.
The surface varies from good tarmac to damaged village roads, gravel and unsurfaced sections. Rain and roadworks can change the state of a stretch quickly. The Vietnamese private guide rides with you. The support vehicle carries your luggage, drinking water, snacks and technical equipment. Is the full route longer than the planned riding distance, do you want to ride fewer kilometres, or are the conditions unfavourable? Then the start or end point can be adjusted. Not every narrow or unsurfaced section can be reached by vehicle. The guide therefore goes through the route each day, along with the options for skipping a section.
Because of the altitude the weather in northern Vietnam can change quickly. Spring and autumn are generally the most comfortable periods for this trip.
March to May: temperatures rise, the landscape is in bloom and the new rice season begins.
September to November: it becomes milder and many rice terraces turn golden in September and early October.
From May to September the rainy season brings green landscapes, full rivers and powerful waterfalls. July and August are usually warm and humid and a tropical shower can fall. The guide and driver follow the conditions and adjust the route when needed. From December to February it is often drier, but it can be cold and misty in the mountains. Around Sa Pa the temperature can drop towards freezing at night.
April to June: the water and planting season; the terraces reflect the sky and the mountains.
June to August: the rice grows and the slopes turn green.
September to early October: many fields turn golden and are harvested.
After the harvest: the terraces are browner, but the lines remain visible.
The timing differs by region, altitude and year. Would you particularly like to see green or golden terraces? We take that into account in the proposal, although we cannot guarantee the exact moment.
The mountains, the rice terraces and the passes make this trip what it is, but it is often the people along the way who stay with you longest. On the bike you travel through the middle of daily life. You see farmers at work, pass children on their way to school and ride through villages where few foreign travellers come.
A cheerful “Xin chào!” is heard regularly along the road. Sometimes it is a smile or a wave, another time you get off for a chat, a cup of tea or perhaps a small glass of rice wine. Such encounters are not in the daily programme and cannot be organised. That is exactly why they matter. Your Vietnamese private guide speaks the language, knows local customs and helps that contact happen naturally. So you get to know northern Vietnam not only through what you see but through the people who live there.
Vietnam has 54 officially recognised communities. A large number of them live in the mountains of the north. Along this route you pass through areas where the Hmong, Dao, Tày, Nùng, Giáy and La Chí live, among others. Each group has its own languages, building styles, crafts and traditions. There are also regional differences and subgroups within one community. Traditional dress is still worn, but not by everyone and not every day.
You stay in a homestay several times during the trip. That can be a traditional family house or a small place run by a local family.
In remote areas the stay can be genuinely simple. Think of small rooms, firm mattresses, limited facilities and sometimes shared bathrooms. In some places a homestay or local hotel is the only suitable place to stay along the route.
Bike hire is not included in the price as standard. In the travel proposal you can choose a Trek mountain bike, an e-mountain bike or an e-gravel bike. A helmet is included with the hire. The model available, the right frame size and the current hire price are set out in the proposal. Would you like to use your own pedals, saddle and cycling shoes? Let us know in advance so that we can check whether they fit the hire bike.
If you bring your own bike, you are responsible for suitable transport packaging. We advise bringing specific spare parts. Parts for particular makes and models are usually not available in the remote areas.
Basic tools, a pump and common repair materials are carried on the riding stages. A technical problem is solved along the way where possible. With more serious damage it may be necessary to cover a section in the support vehicle.
Your luggage is carried. On the bike you take only what you need during the stage. A small cycling rucksack, frame bag or bar bag is enough for that.
Work with layers, because the difference in temperature between a warm valley and a high pass can be considerable.
Bring at least:
* Several pairs of cycling shorts with a good pad
* Breathable, quick-drying cycling jerseys
* A windproof jacket for long descents
* A light, breathable rain jacket
* Arm and leg warmers
* A warm fleece or jumper for cool evenings
* Cycling gloves and sports glasses
* Sturdy shoes for walks and unsurfaced paths
* Sun cream and lip balm with UV protection
* A small day rucksack, frame bag or bar bag
* Personal medication
* Your own pedals, saddle and cycling shoes if you wish
Cotton clothing dries slowly in a humid climate, so quick-drying material is more practical. Before departure you receive a fuller packing list.
On the riding stages we provide drinking water, local fruit, snacks and refreshing towels. The meals consist mainly of Vietnamese dishes. In remote areas the choice is more limited than in Hanoi or Sa Pa.
Do you have an allergy, an intolerance or a specific dietary requirement? Discuss it when you enquire and confirm it in writing again before departure. Vegetarian food is usually possible. Vegan, gluten-free or medically necessary diets need extra preparation.
Are you travelling on a Dutch or Belgian passport and staying no more than 45 days in Vietnam? Then you currently do not need a visa. This temporary visa exemption applies from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028. Your passport must be valid for at least six months on arrival.
Are you staying longer than 45 days, do you have another nationality, or does your trip fall outside the exemption? Then an electronic visa may be needed. The official Vietnamese e-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days and is available for single or multiple entry.
Visa rules can change, so always check the current conditions before departure. You remain responsible for a valid passport and the correct travel documents.
Ask for personal vaccination advice well before departure from the GGD or another recognised travel health service. Which vaccinations or precautions are advised depends on your health, the length of your trip, earlier vaccinations and your exact route.
Take out travel and cancellation insurance suited to a multi-day cycling holiday.
Do you use medication? Bring enough for the whole trip plus a small reserve. Keep medicines in their original packaging and check whether you need a medication declaration for particular items.
A basic first aid kit is carried in the support vehicle.
The currency is the Vietnamese đồng (VND). In Hanoi and other larger places you will find cash machines and can pay by credit card at many hotels and restaurants. Outside the cities, cash is often necessary. Small restaurants, market stalls and homestays usually do not accept foreign cards.
Withdraw enough cash in a larger place before travelling further into the mountains. Cash machines can charge withdrawal fees, have a low limit or be temporarily out of order.
The mountain roads of northern Vietnam ask for attention. Traffic, loose animals, roadworks, mist, mud and sudden potholes can create unexpected situations. Always wear your helmet, follow the guide’s instructions and keep enough distance on descents.
The daily programme is a carefully put-together starting point. Weather, road damage, local measures and availability can all be reason to adjust the route. The guide and driver make decisions along the way with safety and feasibility in mind.
Would you like to know what this cycling trip could look like for you? You can request a travel proposal using the button alongside. In the form you tell us your preferred travel period, the number of travellers and any first wishes.
We then contact you for a personal call. We discuss, among other things:
* how many days you want to travel;
* your cycling experience and fitness;
* whether you want to ride an ordinary bike or an e-bike;
* the number of kilometres and the amount of climbing you want;
* the balance between riding days, rest days and other activities;
* your preference for accommodation and comfort;
* any extensions or parts you want to leave out.
So you do not need to know exactly what the trip should look like yet. The 19-day programme is a starting point and can be made shorter, longer or arranged differently. After the conversation we put together a personal proposal with a suitable route, accommodation and price.
Itching to set off on an extraordinary ride? Can’t wait to hop on the saddle and explore your dream destination at your own pace? Take a look at all our cycling journeys below – or get in touch to request a tailor-made adventure designed just for you.
We hope to see you soon.
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