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Vietnam Backroads Bicycle Tours: 10-Day Biking the Remote Northeast Mountains

Gear up and hit the road for a challenging but rewarding Vietnam biking adventure. Head to the rugged north where miles of quiet roads await. Pedal over imposing mountains, passing through vibrant countryside and stay in hilltribe homestays. After the difficult biking days, relax with an overnight Halong Bay cruise.

HIGHLIGHTS

Various activities on sites

  • Cycling through the northeastern mountainous area of Vietnam
  • Walking around to visit the remote villages hidden inside the secret corner of northern Vietnam
  • Cruising the peaceful Ba Be Lake and visit the local village living around the lake
  • Cruising the famous Ha Long Bay, exploring the surrounding area and join various water activities

Unforgettable moments

  • Cycling through the secret mountains of Northeastern Vietnam admiring the colorful hill tribe villages
  • Cruising along the peaceful lake of Ba Be and breathing in the fresh air
  • Admiring the mighty Ban Gioc waterfall in Cao Bang
  • Cruising around the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay

Nature exploration

  • The ever-green mountainous area of the northeastern of Vietnam
  • The nature of the peaceful Ba Be Lake & surrounding area
  • The nature of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay

Culture experience

  • The culture of various ethic groups in northeastern Vietnam
  • The bustling culture of Hanoi with the effect of Western Culture waves

Map

Detailed schedule

Day 1 - Welcome to Hanoi

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, Sonasia’s guide & driver will pick you up and transfer directly to the hotel in the old quarter of Hanoi.

Vietnam's capital races to make up for time lost to the ravages of war and a government that as recently as the 1990s kept the outside world at bay. Its streets surge with scooters vying for right of way amid the din of constantly blaring horns, and all-around layers of history reveal periods of French and Chinese occupation – offering a glimpse into the resilience of ambitious, proud Hanoians.

Enjoy a welcome dinner at one of the best local restaurants in Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Notes

Transfer:45 mins

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Day 2 - Hanoi - Vu Linh

Day 2 begins with a transfer about 2 hours outside the city. Cycle Route 313 up to Ha Hoa Bridge, passing the red river and reaching the homestay, which sits on the border of Thac Ba Lake, the biggest lake in the north. A vehicle will be available throughout the cycle.

Overnight in Vu Linh

Notes
  • The homestay has hot shower, but there is no air-conditioning
  • Transfer: 2 hrs // Cycling distance up to 80km Difficulty: Medium
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Day 3 - Vu Linh - Ba Be

Begin the long day’s cycle from Lavie Vulinh to Tuyen Quang, riding a new tarmac road linking Tuyen Quang about 31 kilometres into the trip. From there, continue cycling toward Chiem Hoa, cruising on quiet, scenic roads toward Bang Lung. The route is comprised of rolling hills and some fairly decent ascents.

Overnight in Ba Be

Notes
  • This area is home of a variety of minorities including the Tay, Red Dao, Coin Dao, and White H’mong.
  • The homestay in Ba Be is a traditional stilt house of the Tay people; it has a hot shower but no air conditioning
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Day 4 - Ba Be - Cao Bang

Depart early from the homestay cycling along Route 257 to Bac Kan, and continuing the route to Phu Thong – Na Phac on National Route 3. The cycle runs along on small, quiet routes with several manageable climbs. Expect beautiful, sweeping views across the mountains in the area of the Nui Pia Oac Nature Reserve. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route.

Overnight in Cao Bang

Notes

Transfer: 30 mins // Cycling distance up to 100 km Difficulty: Hard

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Day 5 - Cao Bang - Ban Gioc Waterfall - Cao Bang

Begin the day with a cycle up the road to the famous Ban Gioc waterfalls, located on the border between Vietnam and China in the province of Cao Bang.
En route to Ban Gioc Waterfall, take note of the many terraced rice paddies dotted with quaint houses creating a peaceful, poetic landscape. Enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the waterfalls, followed by a transfer back Cao Bang.

Overnight in Cao Bang

Notes

Transfer: 2 hrs // Cycling distance up to 90 km Difficulty: Hard

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Day 6 - Cao Bang - Lang Son

Day 6, begin the cycle from Cao Bang along route 4A toward That Khe, riding three mountain passes to Dong Khe. En route, enjoy some beautiful scenery of forested mountain ranges, lush fertile valleys, and traditional minority villages, with the road weaving and twisting through the mountains. The ride heads mostly downhill from Dong Khe to Lang Son.

Overnight in Lang Son

Notes

Transfer: 1.5 hrs // Cycling distance up to 130 km Difficulty: Very Hard

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Day 7 - Lang Son - Ha Long

Take the quieter, old Highway 1 towards Hanoi until reaching the new road. Transfer 4-5 hours to Halong for the overnight stay.

Overnight in Halong.

Notes

Transfer: 4-5 hrs // Cycling distance up to 50 km Difficulty: Medium

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Day 8 - Ha Long Bay Cruise

This morning is free at leisure until the transfer to the pier (around noon) for the cruise check-in. After being welcomed aboard, a lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day, the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations; dinner will be served on board.

Overnight on Halong Bay.

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Day 9 - Ha Long Bay - Hanoi

Soak in the mystical Halong morning with a sun rise over the middle of the Bay. Breakfast is served while the vessels cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards the port. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi

Notes

This tour to Halong Bay may be subject to change depending on weather conditions.

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Day 10 - Hanoi - Departure

Free at leisure until transport (provided) for the departing flight.

Notes

Transfer:45 mins

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NOT READY YET?

We believe you have the right to arm yourselves with as much information as possible before making any decision.

Check below our detailed tips & guide for every places to visit in Vietnam, recommendation regarding the inclusion in each theme you prefer, and what you can do based on the time frame you have.

PLACES TO VISIT IN Vietnam
Hanoi
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Ha Long Bay
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Sapa
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Hoi An
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Hue
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Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
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Vietnam PLANS BY TRAVEL THEME
Must-see
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Check out all the must-see places and things to do & see

Luxury Holiday
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Unique experience combined with top-notch services

Honeymoon Vacation
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Easy excursions combined with unique experience making the long-lasting romantic memories

Wellness & Leisure
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Easy excursion combined with week-long beach break

Cruise
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The combination of some must-see experience and the cruise tour along the mighty rivers

Family Vacation
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The combination of fun and educational activities

Unseen
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Reveal off-the-beatentrack routes, least explored destinations, and unknown tribe groups

Cycling & Biking
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Explore every corners of the destination on two wheels

Trek & Hike
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Explore the least visited destinations and unknown experience on foot

Vietnam PLANS BY TIME FRAME
white-icon About 1 week
yellow-icon About 1 week
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yellow-icon About 2 weeks
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yellow-icon About 3 weeks
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Vietnam TRAVEL TIPS & GUIDE

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WHAT MORE? Choose the country you plan to visit, then search for your nationality below to see our special travel tips & advice for your country. CONTACT US if you cannot find yours.

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Vietnam BLOG ARTICLES

Taking a cruise on the fascinating Mekong River offers a unique and memorable travel experience. The Mekong River, one of the longest rivers in Asia, flows through several countries, including China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Each destination along the river offers its own distinct cultural, historical, and natural attractions. In this article, we will go over what you can expect when cruising the Mekong River. 

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Well, Vietnam and Thailand are the most popular holiday destinations in Southeast Asia. They are similar in climate and food, though obviously different in culture, lifestyle and travel experience.

Below we list 13 major differences between the two countries, to give you a quick overview and help you decide which to visit first. These are based on our own travel experiences, investigations, and partnerships with local operators.

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How long to spend in Vietnam may seem like a ridiculous question to address, but if you have plenty of time and aren’t sure how much to dedicate, this blog will definitely help you out.

You can find here and there that you should spend 10 days, 2 weeks, 20 days, or 1 month to best explore Vietnam. So what is the best Vietnam tour duration for you?

Well, as long as you like! From 10 days to a month, there are various ways you can travel across Vietnam and uncover its secrets. Advising an ideal trip length for Vietnam is a bit of a complex challenge, as it depends on several factors such as the places you wish to visit, the activities you plan to join, or if you want to combine Vietnam with its neighbor countries. 

Stay tuned! We are going to sort all these things out including the step-by-step guide to create the best itinerary in Vietnam.

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Vietnam would scrap the Covid-19 testing requirement for all arrivals starting Sunday, May 15th 2022, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed.

In a document issued Friday, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Health to closely follow the coronavirus situation and provide proper guidance. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should direct Vietnamese authorities outside the country to inform people who wish to enter Vietnam to follow appropriate disease prevention measures, he said.

The latest decision has been made as the number of Covid-19 infections and deaths drops both in Vietnam and around the world. Several countries have been taking steps to relax coronavirus restrictions, including scrapping testing before entry.

Current policies issued by the health ministry require entrants to have negative results from PCR tests done within the previous 72 hours, or a negative result from a rapid test done within the last 24 hours.

Those who don’t have a negative test result must refrain from making contact with others during the first 24 hours after entry. They will be able to move freely once they test negative after arrival.

Children under two don’t need to be tested.

Vietnam stopped requiring medical declarations from those arriving from abroad starting April 27, and for domestic travel starting April 30.

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The “Colorful Hanoi” hot air balloon festival is one of the attractive activities within the framework of the program “Hanoi tourism welcomes 2022” taking place from March 25-27, 2022.

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