VIETNAM  BIKE  TOUR

Day 1: Arrival - Ha Noi
Arrive in Ha Noi. Airport-transfer to the City. Check-in hotel. Assemble bikes followed by a City tour, Ho Chi Ming Mausoleum, Temple of literature and Traditional Water puppet show.

Day 2: Ba Khe - Nghia Lo
Morning drive with Russian Jeeps to Ba Khe (180 km/4 hrs+). Warm up cycling to Nghia Lo (52 km), getting to see H'mong hill tribe and beautiful landscape of northern countryside. Overnight in a basic guesthouse with en suite shower and toilet. 710 m up, 810 m down, 52 km, 4 hours riding time.

Day 3: Nghia Lo - Mu Cang Chai
You start cycling single trails for 2hrs from the hotel (12 km). 4 hours drive to Mu Cang Chai. This is a great day out with full view of mountain ranges, lakes, rivers, jungle, and tiered paddy fields rising and falling as far as the eye can see. Cycle to Than Uyen Today you will see H'mong, Dzao and Tay hill tribe. Overnight in hotel. 315 m up, 640m down, 50 km, 4 hours riding time.

Day 4: Mu Cang Chai - Sapa
Spectacular single trail riding in the morning, visit small villages. Getting closer to the Hoang Lien Son peak, you will be travelling in between 1000 m-3000 m mountains, ending up climbing the great descend to Sapa (1600 m). The deeper in you go, the more hill tribes you see - wearing amazingly elaborate and colourful costumes - with huge earrings. These are people who have been living in the hills for a thousand years and their ways of life have little changed from generation to generation. Overnight in hotel. 1520 m up, 590m down, 63 km, 5.5 hours riding time.

Day 5: Sapa
Bike and steep down hill (1000 m). You will be walking, cycling from one village to another, sometimes the trails running thru a local house's backyard (Don't worry, those blokes don't mind it). If you are the first rider into a village their jaws drop to the ground - but by the time the last rider go through everyone has come out of there houses and are bouncing up and down with excitement... You will meet H'mong, Tay hill tribe. 2-hour single track ride (can be extended to a 6-hour ride). Afternoon free (only for the 2 hours-ride). Overnight in the same hotel. 500 up, 1100 m down, 37 km, 3,5 hours riding time.

Day 6: Sapa – Ban Khoang – Bac Ha
Sapa - Ban Khoang (high country road) - Lao Cai. A high country road with just deep blue skies and fluffy white clouds, winding our way up higher and higher into the mountains. You will be cycling high for half day at 1400-1600 m then comes the big descend down to Lao Cai. Drive to Bac Ha (1400 m). Cycling drive to Bac Ha (2 hours). Overnight in hotel. 900 up, 2250 m down, 79 km, 5.5 hours riding time.

Day 7: Bac Ha
Bac-Ha Sunday market. Great chance to have a good look at local life style, make sure you bring enough film. 10:00 AM, take a 4 hrs trails thru villages with stunning scenery of mountain and bush. Wherever we stopped we became a major focus of attention - even if we pulled up to admire the view seemingly in the middle of nowhere, people would suddenly appear from the hills. Most of the tribe you will see is Flower H'mong, the most colourful one in Vietnam . Overnight in the same hotel. 370 up, 560m down, 25 km, 2.5 hours riding time.

Day 8: Bac Ha – Ha Noi
Bac Ha - Ha Noi. Today is the "Single track day", 1.5 hours in the morning and after lunch a fantastic ride along the hill ridges trough evergreen forest and ancient hill tribes. Pack up bikes. Drive to Lao Cai for night train back to Ha Noi Overnight in First Class sleepers train. Bikes will be sent to Saigon . 900 up, 1600 m down, 54 km, 5.5 hours riding time.

Day 9: Ha Noi – Hai Phong – Ha Long
Leave Ha Noi for Hai Phong by van (5:00 am), stop in Hai Phong for breakfast. Short visit of the City before continue on driving to Ha Long City. Board the sailing boat. Lunch then start kayaking.

Day 10: Ha Long
Whole day paddling exploring the Bay at your own pace, having a closer look at the amazing karsts. There are tons of deserted beaches out there just for you. Overnight in hotel in Ha Long. Explore the night life of Ha Long Bay.

Day 11: Ha Long – Hai Phong – Sai Gon
Take the bus to Hai Phong Airport (3 hrs) to catch the flight to Saigon at 2:20 pm. Assemble bikes, City tour. Overnight in Grand Hotel.

Day 12: Sai Gon – My Tho
Drive to My Tho (2.5 hours) cycle 45 km mostly single tracks. Departure to MyTho. We cycle along Mekong river to Cai Be, lunch break on the way, afternoon ride to Cai Be, ferry crossing Mekong river to island, ride along canals to homestay place. Overnight in guesthouse.

Day 13: My Tho – Vinh Long – Can Tho
Enjoy sun rise on island, great view of morning market by the church and river life. Cycling 1 hour under natural green canopy to the ferry crossing for VinhLong. Then ride to Ba Ke, Tam Binh, Tra On and on to Can Tho. Overnight in hotel. Cycle to Can Tho 70 km.

Day 14: Can Tho – Sai Gon
Early morning boat trip to Cai Rang floating market, then we try a Xe Loi, the local colonial-era cab pulled by motorbike back to CanTho for ferry crossing. Lunch en route..Afternoon bus transfer to Saigon . (4 hours) Depart from Saigon Airport .

Tour Cost includes:
- Support truck
- Inland flight to Saigon
- 13 nights accommodation in twin-sharing room
- Soft sleeper train: 1st class air-con compartment (4 berths only)
- Seakayaking
- All the meals (B, L, D): B= breakfast / L= lunch / D= dinner
- Sightseeing fees and permits
- English/French-speaking guide

Tour Cost excludes:
- Drinks, tips, personal expenses, insurance and other services not specified .