On two wheels around northern Vietnam. You enjoy the beautiful landscape and cycle to cozy and charming villages where the minority population lives in the same way as they have for many years. The trip ends with plenty of time on your own in delicious Hanoi.
We have put together a proposal for a challenging and interesting bike ride that will take you through beautiful nature and small villages in northwestern Vietnam. On the way you get the opportunity to meet the different ethnic minority groups who live in some of the small villages. Flower Hmong, Black Dao, Phu La, Nung and Tay are all among these minorities. In addition, you will have plenty of time to explore Hanoi on your own, one of Asia’s most charming and romantic cities.
Detailed itinerary
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Day 1: Departure from Scandinavia
You fly from Scandinavia to Vietnam, where you arrive the next day.
Day 2: Arrival in Hanoi
Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be picked up at the airport and driven to the hotel which is centrally located in Hanoi. Hanoi is one of Asia’s most charming and romantic cities. It is a cozy and green city, filled with large lush trees, many small and large parks as well as beautiful French mansions. Especially the old town is charming, with the lake Hoan Kiem, the narrow alleys and the smell of freshly baked baguettes.
Day 3: Hanoi and night train to Lao Cai
You can do whatever you want in Hanoi until the train north departs in the evening. Go exploring in Hanoi where lots of exciting experiences await. For example, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Peaceful Temple of Literature, or the One Column Pagoda – one of the city’s most famous pagodas – or the Ethnological Museum. The Hanoi War Museum contains information on Vietnam’s top victories, with particular emphasis on the victory over the Chinese at Bach Dang, over the French at Bien Phu and in the war against the Americans during the Vietnam War. You can also relax and enjoy the city’s green oases. About an hour before the train leaves, you will be picked up at the hotel and driven to the station. From here, take the night train (Soft Sleeper and air conditioning) to Lao Cai.
Day 4: Lao Cai – Bac Ha
Early in the morning you arrive at Lau Cai where you are met by your guide. After breakfast, all participants are assigned a bike, after which the tour goes through small villages towards Bac Ha, where we will spend the night in a hotel. In the afternoon, a visit to Ban Pho, Ta Chai awaits. Today we travel about 55 km by car and 35 km by bike.
Day 5: Bac Ha – Can Cau – Nam Mom – Bac Ha
We have breakfast at the hotel before we travel on to Can Cau. If you come to Can Cau on a Saturday, you can take the opportunity to visit the area’s local minority market. In the afternoon we visit Nam Mom before returning to Bac Ha. The night is spent in the same hotel as yesterday. Today we travel about 47 km by car and 30 km by bike.
Day 6: Bac Ha – Trung Do – Bac Ha – Sapa
After breakfast, cycle towards Trung Do. If it’s Sunday, you can visit the Bac Ha Market. Then you get a ride to Sapa where you check in at a hotel. Today we travel about 92 km by car and 16 km by bike.
Day 7: Sapa – Cat Cat village – Lao Cai. Night train to Hanoi
After breakfast at the hotel, a visit to the local market and the surrounding areas awaits. In the afternoon, take a walk to the minority village of Cat Cat before returning to Sapa. Here you get the opportunity to relax before taking the bus to the train station in Lao Cai from where the train to Hanoi departs.
Day 8: Arrival in Hanoi
You will arrive at Hanoi Train Station early the next morning. From here you take yourself to the hotel, where you can leave your luggage until it’s time to check in. Now that you are still up early, you can take the opportunity to see when the Vietnamese do morning gymnastics and Tai Chi next to Hoan Kiem Lake. There is a lot of activity here between five and seven in the morning. After a little rest in the hotel, you can stroll around and enjoy the atmosphere of the city’s old quarter at your own pace. Locals call the Pho Puong neighborhood “the 36 streets.” The name comes from the time when the streets were divided according to the type of product / craft sold on each street. e.g. skogatan, kugghjulsgatan, silkesgatan etc.
Day 9: Hanoi on your own – departure from Vietnam
After an exciting holiday, it’s off to home. If you have some time left before your flight departs, you can take a walk along Hoan Kiem Lake or take the opportunity to buy the last souvenirs. You take a taxi to the airport yourself. When you leave depends on when your flight departs.
Day 10: Arrival in Scandinavia
Arrival time to Scandinavia depends on which airline you travel with.
Overnight stays
Two nights in Hanoi
Two nights by train (soft sleeper) from Hanoi to Lao Cai and return to Hanoi.
Three nights at a hotel in the area around Bac Ha
