Northern Cycling- Trekking Combination
Hanoi - Kim Boi - Perfume Pagoda - Ninh Binh - Hai Phong - Cat ba - Halong Bay - Sapa
Trip duration: 15 days/14 nights
Level: Moderate
Group size: Private only -1 person and above
Description
Cycling and trekking through many untouched villages is the desire of a thousand visitors who would like to explore Vietnam. In this way the visitors can chat and joke with the locals and gain an insight into the cultures of the different regions of Vietnam.
BRIEF ITINERARY: 
Day 1 Arrival in Hanoi
Day 2 Hanoi - City tour
Day 3 Hanoi - Kim Boi
Day 4 Kim Boi - Perfume pagoda
Day 5 Perfume pagoda - Ninh Binh
Day 6 Ninh Binh
Day 7 Ninh Binh - Hai Phong
Day 8 Hai Phong – Cat Ba
Day 9 Cat Ba
Day 10 Cat Ba - Halong Bay
Day 11 Halong-Hanoi - Sapa
Day 12 Lao Cai - Sapa
Day 13 Sapa - Ta Van valley
Day 14 Ta Van valley - Sapa
Day 15 Departure
Included
English Speaking tour leader and group medical kit.
Accommodation on a twin-share and breakfast basis.
One night at home stay
One night on junk in Halong bay
Two nights on train
Meals detailed in the itinerary (14 Breakfast, 10 Lunches, 8 Dinners)
A/C transfers and transportation
Use of mountain bicycle (trek bike)
Sightseeing excursions as outlined in itinerary
Excluded
International airfares
Travel insurance and bike helmet (compulsory)
Items of a personal nature
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
Mineral water beyond that supplied
Optional excursions
Additional transport required due to any emergency situation
Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills
TRIP PRICE BASED ON 1– 4 STAR HOTEL and RESORT
Hanoi: Sunny 3*hotel
Kim Boi: Vresort 4*resort
Perfume: guesthouse
Ninh Binh: Thuy Anh 2* Hotel
Hai Phong: Huu Nghi 4* Hotel
Cat Ba: Holiday view 3* Hotel
Ha Long: Bien Ngoc Junk
Sapa: Bamboo 3*hotel
Sapa: Home stay
Hanoi-Sapa by train: 4 soft sleeper a/c berths cabin
Note: Hotels are subject to change due to availability. In that case we will choose equivalent accommodation.
Prices & Detail Itinerary
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Day 1 Arrival in Hanoi
Upon arrival we will be welcomed and transferred to the hotel. At 05:00PM we have a briefing with our Tour Leader who will give you the necessary information you need before taking the trip. In the evening we will have dinner in a local restaurant with the opportunity to sample some of the specialty dishes of Hanoi. Afterwards we will see the famous Water Puppet show at The Water Puppet Theater the banks of Hoan Kiem. (Dinner included)
Day 2 Hanoi - City tour
Hanoi is sometimes called the Paris of the Orient with its shaded boulevards, verdant parks and ochre buildings that retain an old worldly charm. This morning we will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum which has become a popular pilgrimage place for the Vietnamese, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's House on stilts and the One Pillar pagoda. Following this we will visit the Temple of Literature, built in 1076 and the first Vietnamese University. After lunch we will visit the fine Ethnology Museum followed by an hour's drive on a cyclo (a pedal rickshaw) to visit the old quarter of Hanoi. (Breakfast, Lunch included)
Day 3 Hanoi - Kim Boi (cycling around 60km)
Today, after breakfast, we drive out of Hanoi. We will then gear up for our first day of riding. We will also meet our additional crew who will be driving the support vehicles. One vehicle is our bus, which will act as a support vehicle and carry our luggage. The other is a truck for carrying the bikes. We are also introduced to our bicycles, each designated bike then being adjusted and fitted with our own equipment as required. We will receive a briefing on how to ride the bikes and how to handle the traffic in Vietnam.
We will then set out for our first ride in Vietnam through the valley of sugarcane and rice fields along Highway 6 until we reach the biggest hydropower station in Vietnam. After lunch we keep riding on Highway 6 and the first challenge is up to the top of Doc Kun. The pass is open to Hoa Binh town and the Black River. Tonight we stay in one of the best resorts in the northwest with its own hot spring. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)
Day 4 Kim Boi - Perfume pagoda (cycling around 60km)
Today's part - cycle is on an excellent road through many Muong and Viet villages with rice fields and children who will no doubt try to do hi-fives with you. Stay in guesthouse. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)
Day 5 Perfume pagoda - Ninh Binh (cycling around 60km)
Following breakfast we cycle through more superb mountain country en route to Phu Ly. Along the way we pass through several different villages and are able to see at close quarters how people go about their daily lives. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)
Day 6 Ninh Binh (cycling around 40km)
After early breakfast we transfer to Dong Dao plantation, where we start cycling. Today we cycle about 30 km on the panoramic road to Cuc Phuong National Park. We will go through the pineapple plantations, valleys, villages, and meet friendly locals along the way. We arrive at Cuc Phuong National Park at around noon, and enjoy our packed lunch here. Afterwards, we cycle about 2 hours through the National Park and make a couple of stops to visit the Cave of Ancient Men, and take a walk before heading back to Ninh Binh. (Breakfast & Lunch included)
Day 7 Ninh Binh - Hai Phong (cycling around 80km)
Leaving Ninh Binh after breakfast, we head northeast by bus and bike through the spectacular villages and landscapes to Hai Phong on Highway 10. Overnight in Hai Phong. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)
Day 8 Hai Phong – Cat Ba (cycling around 40km)
Leaving Hai Phong on bike for the final day’s riding, we board 2 ferries which take about 3 hours to get to Cat Ba, which looks toward the the largest seaport in North Vietnam. After a picnic lunch at the entrance of the National Park, we will trek through the Park to the top of the mountain, where you can see the excellent view. We continue on biking to Cat Ba town where the view is so beautiful and the road is open to the ocean. Overnight stay in Cat Ba. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)
Day 9 Cat Ba
Free day at your leisure (Breakfast included)
Day 10 Cat Ba - Halong Bay
Today is a free day during which you can relax completely on the boat to Halong bay. There is nothing to do but enjoy the World Natural Heritage site and the seafood dishes served on board. If the weather is nice we will have time to kayak and explore the tranquil Bay with its open caves. Tonight we stay on board and at anchor in the bay. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)
Day 11 Halong-Hanoi - Sapa
As the sun rises, another wonderful day starts. After breakfast, we will continue on kayaking or take a bamboo boat to visit a floating village on HaLong bay, and see how the people live between a thousand islands and ocean. After one hour we return to our boat to cruise to Bai Tu Long bay, where we will see Turtle islet, Human Head islet, Teapot Islet, Bai Tho Mountain as well as the other side of Halong city. At 11:00AM we have our last lunch on board before taking the bus back to Hanoi. Tonight we go by overnight train to Sapa. (Breakfast & Lunch included)
Day 12 Lao Cai - Sapa
Upon arriving at Lao Cai in the early morning, we will go to the Chinese border gate to see the start of early morning trade between the two countries before driving 35km to the former French hill station of Sapa. In the afternoon we walk to the nearby Cat Cat valley, visiting the waterfall and some H'Mong villages along the way. Later we drive the short distance to the Red Dao village of Ta Phin to visit the old French monastery which is nestled in a picturesque valley. We spend tonight in Sapa town. (Breakfast included)
Day 13 Sapa - Ta Van valley
Today we descend into one of the most picturesque valleys in the region. On the way we can see the terraced rice paddies, rose plantations, streams, schools, and the many minority ethnic groups who live there. We arrive at the small villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van inhabited by the Zay, and H'Mong minorities. Here we will be their guests in a traditional home stay. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)
Day 14 Ta Van valley - Sapa
Bidding farewell to the local home-stay, we continue our trek through the stunning landscapes visiting several ethnic villages along the way. Later we meet up with our support vehicle for the drive back to Sapa and a shower before our overnight train back to Hanoi. (Breakfast included)
Day 15 Departure
Free day until we take the flight to home. (Breakfast included)
Highlights
Explore Hanoi with its charming architecture and exquisite food.
Cycle through the beautiful countryside of northern Vietnam, visiting ancient villages about to be buried under the reservoir behind a new dam, and the new towns being built on higher ground.
Spend two hours hiking in Cat Ba national park, Cuc Phuong national park, relaxing in hot spring, Share the road with water buffalo, and meet members of several ethnic groups in off-the-beaten-track villages.
Extend your stay and relax for one night on a chartered Chinese "junk" in Halong Bay, with one additional night in Hanoi.
See a part of Vietnam that tourists rarely visit.
Trekking to the villages of difference minority group
Note
This itinerary allows for seven field days on the cycling section, a cycling distance of around 400km. You will be able to decide for yourself at any time during each of these days how far you want to cycle. Average daily cycling distances are approximately 60 -100 km. These distances may vary according to weather, road conditions and group fitness and preferences. This is a sightseeing cycle tour, not a marathon or time trial.
Please be aware that flight times, hotels and all other services and days of travel are subject to availability. Where flights are cancelled or delayed, Viet Vision Travel will endeavor to secure alternative arrangements of similar value as noted in our booking conditions.
This quotation for all year round. Any bookings made after this date are subject to change, as local economic conditions require.
The overnight sleeper trains used on this trip, although comfortable, they cannot be compared to those of European standard. Please note that while we always endeavor to secure soft sleeper berths on overnight trains there may be occasions when we are unable to do this due to circumstances beyond our control. In these situations we will secure the best available class.
The traveling times mentioned within this dossier are approximations only. These times will vary according to weather, road, traffic or any other prevailing conditions.
This itinerary and supplementary information has been complied in good faith and was accurate at the time of writing. However it DOES NOT form part of a contract between the client and Viet Vision Travel.
The Bicycles:
For this trip we use the Trek bike performance bicycles made by English. The bicycles have 24 speeds and a lightweight steel alloy frame designed for road cycling. Other features include LRS (Low Ratio Suspension) and excellent damping capacity, both of which help to absorb vibration and shocks for a smoother, more comfortable and enjoyable ride. The bicycles are available in a number of sizes.
Further information please contact us : mailto:info@indochinatravelonline.com
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