A Great Biking North Vietnam Tour With A 15-Day Itinerary
A 15-day biking North Vietnam tour helps you discover the stunning landscapes, meet friendly locals, and understand the ethnic minorities’ unique culture.
This cycling itinerary will guide you to experience the best sights, such as Sapa Valley, Mu Cang Chai, and Mai Chau Scenic Valley in North Vietnam.
View down the Nho Que river from Ma Pi Leng pass
You will also take bike trips through the misty zones of the Moc Chau Plateau to admire the vast and scenic green tea plantations.
This cycling tour will offer an unforgettable experience and an in-depth look at the pristine beauty of Northern Vietnam. Let’s read on for details.
Biking North Vietnam Tour-A 15-Day Itinerary
Day 1 – Hanoi – Arrival
Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, begin your first day of Vietnam bike tours from Hanoi and enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel.
Take a cycling tour of Hanoi and enjoy Vietnam’s capital’s dynamic and ancient atmosphere. You may also explore some of Asia’s most impressive colonial architecture and unique old-world charm.
Continue discovering the modern and ancient beauty of the Old Quarter on an exhilarating cyclo ride through the busy streets of Hanoi.
After this trip, enjoy a hot dinner at a famous Vietnamese restaurant. Relax and prepare for the next bike trip day by checking into your hotel in Hanoi.
Amazing view of train passing through a narrow street of the Hanoi Old Quarter. Tourists taking pictures of the train. The Hanoi Train Street is a popular attraction.
Day 2- Hanoi – Sapa Cycle Tour
After leaving the hotel in Hanoi, continue your cycling tour to Sapa, located in the mountains of northwestern Vietnam at 1500 meters. It is a picturesque town in the Hoang Lien Son Mountains in northwest Vietnam near the Chinese border.
When visiting Sapa, you will get a chance to learn about its rich cultural diversity and beautiful rugged landscape.
Besides, you can meet and talk with various ethnic minorities and conquer Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest peak.
Then, we will head to Lao Cai through the new highway to enjoy beautiful views of North Vietnam. After lunch, visit the city and take photos for a short break before climbing to Sapa Hill Station. Have dinner at a local restaurant and check-in and overnight at Sapa Charm Hotel.
Cycling northwest Vietnam
Day 3 – Sapa – Y Ty Bike Tour
On the third day, you will have a memorable experience in Y Ty with your biking tour.
Let’s gather at the T-junction, follow the paved road to O Quy Ho, and continue the long climb to Ban Khoang. Pedal to Muong Hum and enjoy the breathtaking scenery, dense forests, and quaint hilltop villages.
When we ride through Ngai Tro, Den Sang, Nhieu Co San, and Y Ty, admire the pristine nature and enjoy the fresh air.
You can also follow the clouds to see the scenic rice terraces of the hills. Upon arrival at Y Ty, mingle with curious locals along the way. Enjoy a hot tea with honey while watching the clouds hang overhead. Finally, we stay in a guest house or host family.
Admire the beautiful terraced fields in Y Ty commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province northwest Vietnam on the day of ripe rice harvest. Rural landscape of Vietnam
Day 4 – Y Ty – Lao Cai Biking Tour
After a hearty breakfast with pancakes with your host family, take a Vietnam cycling tour from the guest house, wander around the city, and go down Ngai Thau – A lu Ngai Tro – A Mu Sung, Lung Po.
Keep on your biking tour along the Vietnam-China border to view the spectacular landscapes with rustic rice terraces.
You may also visit Lung Po, where the Red River runs into our country’s territory. Transfer along the Red River to the Trinh Tuong commune to admire the traditional architecture of the Ha Nhi hill tribe.
After a tasty lunch at Lung Pho commune, it’s time to take your biking tour along the river to Bat Xat and Lao Cai city.
New friends in Ta Phin village, Sapa, Lao Cai
Day 5 – Lao Cai – Bac Ha Cycling Trip
After a delicious meal, continue your biking tour to Coc Ly on the scenic paved road. Discover stunning nature and exotic sights on the road. You will come to Coc Ly at 10 am and attend the local market every Tuesday.
Take in unique products and exchange ideas at the colorful Hill Tribe Market, or visit the Animal Corner to take photos of dogs, cats, and cows.
Follow the single track to Bao Nhai Bridge and head to Bach Ha town. Check into your hotel and relax. You will then have a hearty dinner and stay overnight at Sao Mai Hotel.
Instead of taking a bike Vietnam tour from Coc Ly to join the Tuesday market, you can directly pedal to Bac Ha Sunday Market upon arrival at Lao Cai on Sunday morning.
Flower H’mong ladies in Bac Ha Sunday market
Day 6 – Bac Ha – Coc Pai – Hoang Su Phi – Thong Nguyen Bike Tour
Depart your hotel in the early morning and transfer to Lung Phing, off the beaten path to Sin Man, for the sixth day of your bike tour.
Stop on the way for a perfect picnic lunch before discovering and conquering downhill Coc Pai Town. Continue discovering the “Heaven Gate Pass2” before heading down the hill to Hoang Su Phi Town.
You can contemplate magnificent natural scenery and vast rice terraces in Hoang Su Phi. This town is famous for the most picturesque terrace paddies, Thong Nguyen. It is on the left bank of the river with spectacular scenery and a peaceful atmosphere.
This day is amazing to feel the rustic beauty of Dao Phu La, Flowers H’Mong, Tay, and Nung villages. After a tasty dinner, you will spend a night at Panhou villages.
Biking Hoang Su Phi, Ha Giang
Day 7 – Hoang Su Phi – Ha Giang Cycle Tour
Let’s kick start the day with a cycle tour from Hoang Su Phi to visit Ha Giang, Vietnam’s northernmost province that shares the border with China’s Yunnan province.
An exciting bike tour between Hoang Su Phi and Ha Giang allows you to enjoy stunning rice terrace views and the most beautiful limestone mountains.
You also explore the scenic beauty of the Mu Cang Chai National Rice Terraced Fields Heritage, one of Hoang Su Phi’s most impressive landscapes.
Visit the back road tribal villages with ease, conquer spectacular hills before descending to Viet Quang, and move to your hotel in Ha Giang. After checking-in, you will enjoy dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.
Rice fields on terraced. Fields are prepared for planting rice. Ban Phung. Ha Giang. Huyen Hoang Su Phi. Northern Vietnam
Day 8 – Ha Giang – Quang Ba – Yen Minh Bike Tour
This morning, you will leave Ha Giang city and take a 25-km cycle tour on the flat road through stunning rice terraces. After passing ethnic minority villages, pedal the next 25km winding road to a huge limestone mountain range with vertical cliffs and climb 800m to the mountain pass “Heaven Gate 1”.
Continue cycling through hilltop villages shrouded in clouds and interacting with the locals. You can enjoy breathtaking views from the pass, such as Tam Son Valley’s famous views and Twin Hills.
After lunch at the top, dismount the bikes, descend into the river, and ride along the Gam River until you see another pass. You will have the chance to explore the local hill tribes’ traditional houses.
View from Ma Pi Leng pass, Ha Giang, Vietnam.
Day 9 – Yen Minh – Lung Cu – Dong Van Cycling Tour
This day is an amazing day of the biking tour in Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark.
After enjoying a delicious breakfast at the hotel, start your cycling tour to visit the colorful and vibrant hill tribe market near the hotel. Then pedal to Dong Van on the road of Happiness. Get a great biking trip to the top and behold the magnificent nature and spectacular views of the Karsk Plateau.
Visit and discover the Vuong Chi Sinh Palace or Hmong King Palace before heading to the Lung Cu Pole Flag Tower. Have lunch on the way. After lunch, cycle down the back roads to Dong Van Town. Upon arrival, check-in and relax.
Amazing mountain landscape at Ha Giang province. Ha Giang is a northernmost province in Vietnam.
Day 10 – Dong Van – Meo Vac – Bao Lac Biking Tour
From Dong Van, carry on your bike tour to Meo Vac town center to join the colorful daily markets of Tay, white Hmong, and Lo Lo people. You can see women wearing traditional costumes and carrying woven bamboo baskets of vegetables and corn going to the town.
Today, you will take a remote mountain road to Niem Son and pedal downhill along the Gam River.
Along the way, remember to stop to explore local markets and learn more about the hill tribes’ daily life.
After lunch, continue your cycling ride along the banks of the Gam River and descend to Bao Lac over a difficult pass.
Nho Que River and Tu San Canyon. Ha Giang, Vietnam
Day 11 – Bao Lac – Cao Bang Cycle Tour
You will start your Vietnam mountain bike tour to Cao Bang city on this day. Take a 38 km bicycle trip and go up Pia Hoac’s summit.
After conquering Pia Hoac, continue your biking trip to descend the hill to Cao Bang city on the tarmac. You can capture the fresh air and explore the spectacular limestone mountain range.
Having lunch on your road. After lunch, you keep going through Cao Bang City to discover the bustling life of local people. Besides, you also understand the great changes of Cao Bang in recent years. Upon arrival at the Sunny Hotel, check-in and rest.
Rice and rice field in Trung Khanh, Cao Bang, Vietnam. Landscape of area Trung Khanh, Cao Bang, Vietnam.
Day 12- Cao Bang – Tra Linh Biking Tour
On this day, set off your way to Pac Po to admire the pure nature and fabulous scenery on tarmac roads through peaceful villages. Talk with hill tribe people on the way or school children.
Continue your bike tour to Pac Po, situated between high mountain ranges and rivers, sharing a border with China.
When visiting this historical relic, you will learn more about Ho Chi Minh’s life and the post-Vietnamese Revolution.
Next, your cycling tour will ascend to the Gate of Heaven. Enjoy a perfect picnic lunch on the peak.
After this tasty lunch, you may challenge yourself to the top before going down the ride to Tra Linh Township.
CAO BANG, VIETNAM! Pac Bo famous historical vestige where president Ho Chi Minh was living and working to lead the Vietnam’s revolution
Day 13 – Tra Linh – Ban Gioc Cycling Trip
Start your new bike tours in Vietnam from your hotel and take the dirt roads to Ban Gioc. Today is a wonderful day with various fascinating sights and landscapes to explore.
You will first take your biking trip to Trung Khanh town on 35 km of dirt roads through picturesque villages, rustic rice fields, streams, and rivers.
Refresh and regroup for a while after Trung Khanh’s arrival. Follow the single track and continue your Vietnam cycling tour towards Quay Son River.
This is time to take in the beauty of lush rice paddies and stunning landscapes as you pedal along rice paddies, bamboo bridges, and quaint villages.
After lunch at a homestay, cycle along the river to visit Ban Gioc Waterfall or try kayaking along the Quay Son River. Have a tasty dinner and stay overnight at a resort.
Aerial view of “ Ban Gioc “ waterfall, Cao Bang, Vietnam. “ Ban Gioc “ waterfall is one of the top 10 waterfalls in the world
Day 14 – Ban Gioc – Quang Uyen Bike Tour
Wake up early in the morning to enjoy beautiful nature, then descend to explore the spectacular Ban Gioc Waterfalls. After that, you will return to the hotel to have a hearty breakfast.
Next, depart from your hotel on the new Frontier Road to Quang Uyen Town through Nung and Tay villages to see the scenic limestone mountains and pass.
Interact with local villagers to learn about their customs and unique cultures. After lunch on the way, take your bike trip through undulating and village roads to Quang Uyen Town.
Check in and relax upon arrival at your hotel. Have a great dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
Beautiful step of rice terrace paddle field in sunset and dawn at Trung Khanh, Cao Bang.
Day 15 – Quang Uyen – Hanoi Cycle Tour
After breakfast at the hotel, start the last day of biking Vietnam tour from your hotel to Lang Son on the historic National Road 4D via the towns of Dong Khe and That Khe.
While cycling, you can experience the former Dong Khe and That Khe battlefield against the 1950 French army.
Besides, you may enjoy exotic landscapes, towering mountains, and beautiful rice terraces. Take a shuttle bus back to Hanoi after lunch on the way.
You will arrive in Hanoi at midnight after 4 hours on the bus and enjoy the farewell dinner with your team. Your Vietnam cycling tour ends after dinner. Hopefully, you will have a nice bike tour through Northern Vietnam.
Biking in Lang Son, Northeast Vietnam
Conclusion
We have introduced you to 15 amazing days of biking North Vietnam. This bike tour is an exciting way to experience and discover the unique traditional customs and culture of ethnic minorities in Northern Vietnam.
Plus, you’ll have more opportunities to enjoy the stunning views of North Vietnam’s scenic limestone mountains and the peaceful beauty of the terraced fields.
You can also conquer one of the great passes along the way and participate in a colorful hill tribe market to better understand their lifestyle. We hope this article has provided useful information to complete your cycling trip in North Vietnam.
Let’s see what cyclists say about MTB Vietnam on Tripadvisor!
