Explore Red River Delta By Bike: Fulfill Adventure Desire
We, who have not yet felt the incredible beauty of Vietnam, planned a long trip around the country. Eleven days to explore the Red River Delta by bike was our first leg. Great memories became the greatest impetus for subsequent discoveries. We experienced many good things, but the first milestones are always worth celebrating.
Explore Red River Delta By Bike
Red River Delta By Bike: Discover Cultural And Natural Heritage Sites
Day 1: Start Of Vietnam Biking Tours From Hanoi
We moved to the heart of Vietnam by plane in about 1 hour. Mr. Tuan, a young and enthusiastic tour guide, brought us back to the hotel. He did check in, discussed the itinerary, and suggested an afternoon cyclo ride.
We started a random tour around the city during rush hour. Similar to Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi is a modern and dynamic city. It suddenly switched to a distinctive vibe once we stopped by the Old Quarter. Old houses and lifestyles exude ancient charm.
Day 2: Hanoi – Bat Trang Ceramic – Van Giang – Khoai Chau – Phu Ly Cycle Tour
The shuttle bus took us to Long Bien. We picked up the vehicle at the cycling point on the left bank of the Red River. Along the predetermined direction, we activated the pedal away from the bustling center. The further into the suburbs, the more fruit gardens appear.
The first stop of the biking Vietnam tour is Bat Trang ceramics village. We have heard about it a lot before. However, it was the first time we got to see the skillful hands creating exquisite crafts.
Our biking north Vietnam continued to pass through villages such as Kim Lan, Van Giang, Khoai Chau, and Hung Yen. Each region possesses a few specific types of flora. We stopped to rest at Phu Ly when our energy ran out completely.
Day 3: Phu Ly – Chi Ne – Van Long – Cuc Phuong Bike Route
We spent that day in the sanctuaries. Through the ample hills, we reached the Van Long Nature Reserve. The extraordinary limestone forest and wetland ecosystem entered our sight and remained in our hearts.
After lunch, we rode to Cuc Phuong National Park. The scenery on both sides was truly a masterpiece. We cycled through small villages, rice fields, and lotus ponds at their most beautiful.
Day 4: Cuc Phuong – Tam Coc – Trang An – Ninh Binh Bicycle Tour
Our morning activities mostly took place in National Park. We declined the offer to travel by bus but accompanied our bicycle to every corner. Honestly, it would be a pity to miss the Endangered Primates Rescued Center. A staff member introduced us to rare species and called for people’s sense of protection.
We left on a corridor route dotted with pineapple farms. At Tam Diep, the support vehicle transferred us to Tam Coc. We had lunch at a local restaurant with a great view of the vast rice fields.
Our cycle route then headed to Trang An – a natural world heritage site. Labeled as “Ha Long on land”, this magical land contains a system of fantastic grottoes. The boat trip brought us close to the wild. We cycled to Ninh Binh and called it a day.
Day 5: Ninh Binh – Phat Diem – Keo Pagoda Cycling Trip
The single track welcomed us with charming scenes adorned with colorful sedge mats. It led to Phat Diem Cathedral. We took several artistic photos of the combined architecture of Vietnam and Europe in the 20th century.
Our cycling north Vietnam proceeded as planned to Nam Dinh. To satisfy our curiosity about ancient relics, we stopped by Keo Pagoda. The collection of statues, lampstands, altars and some ceramics from the 16th century distracted us from the intended timeline. Hence we reached Thai Binh late at night.
Day 6: Thai Binh – Vinh Bao – Hai Phong Bike Path
The differences between the city and the countryside became clear following our footsteps. Peace calmed our impulsive souls and relieved stress. From alleys to village roads, we’ve lived our best days.
We paid our respects at the communal house of the founder of water puppetry. Admiration then overtook us after a traditional show at one of the oldest theaters. The veteran artist expressed regret when national art seemed to sink into oblivion. His inspirational words occupied our thoughts all along the cycling trip to Hai Phong.
Day 7: Hai Phong – Ha Long Bicycle Route
To the Northeast, our Vietnam bike tours were filled with bridges, orchards, and rustic villages. We loaded our bikes onto the public ferry. A new province on the other side of the Red River – Quang Ninh, appeared on our tourist map.
A long ride took from the Bieu Nghi T junction to Highway 18. The destination was Halong Bay, where we boarded the cruise and stayed overnight. At first sight, the picturesque scene reflected in the jade green water stole our souls.
Day 8: Ha Long – Cat Ba Bike Tour
A local merchant paved the way to Sung Sot cave. In the first compartment, the ceiling is covered with glittering stalactite chandeliers. The second one opens to a vast cave with images associated with Saint Giong.
After kayaking at Luon cave, we got off at the harbor and transferred to a smaller boat. It drifted to Gia Luan, where we took out our bicycle again. The mountain bike tours Vietnam conquered incredible passes and watched soaring mountains from above. Before sunset, we arrived in Cat Ba town. Our stomachs rumbled after an exhausting route.
Day 9: Cycling Around Cat Ba and Trekking
From the hotel, we climbed three passes to reach Cat Ba National Park. This area is one of the largest special-use forests in Vietnam and a biosphere reserve in the world. It preserves a lot of marine ecosystems, terrestrial forests, mangroves, and rare species of flora and fauna. We left our bicycles at the entrance and trekked deep into the jungle.
Our group walked through many landscapes, such as soaring bamboo forests, moss-covered steps, sharp cliffs, guise fields, etc. We occasionally encountered rare animals, mainly the yellow-headed langur swinging on the old trees. Our feet struggled a long way to reach the peak. We were rewarded with a panoramic view of Cat Ba and Halong Bay.
The Vietnam bike tour drove back to town for lunch on another route. There was no schedule in the afternoon, but we were too tired to go out.
Day 10: Cat Ba – Thanh Mien – Ha Noi Cycle Trip
Our bicycle rolled on the hilly roads. We slowed down along the coast and let the sea breeze blow out our hair.
In Viet Hai fishing village, we rested at a cafe on the sand and watched the fishermen come in and out of the sea. It seemed to be a victorious season. Most of the boats returned with baskets full of seafood.
Cycling trips continued to explore a new land. We boarded two ferries to Dinh Vu port, Hai Phong. After lunch, we moved back to Hanoi and prepared for a farewell party.
Day 11: Ending
We woke up early and became one of the first customers of a famous Pho restaurant in Hanoi. We witnessed the flag-raising ceremony at Uncle Ho’s mausoleum and walked around Hoan Kiem Lake. All activities took place quickly to catch up with the flight schedule.
So our bike tours Vietnam came to an end on the 11th day. Though there are many schedules ahead, we still feel regretful about kissing goodbye.
Final Thoughts
We made the right decision to explore the Red River Delta by bike. Our eyes were mesmerized by Mother Nature’s masterpieces while our hearts were filled with love for Vietnam. Believe it or not, our country contains indescribable beauty. Get out of your house, get on the pedals and find something new.
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