Cycle Northern Vietnam

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins in the capital city of Hanoi, with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, you might like to stretch your legs with a walk around the shaded boulevards, or squat on a street-corner stool and tuck into a bia hoi (freshly brewed draught beer) in the Old Quarter – in these ancient ’36 Streets’, you can discover an amazing selection of shops that sell everything from souvenirs to silk clothing, jewellery, embroidered tablecloths, wood carvings and lacquerware. If you are bringing your own bicycle with you, you’ll need to assemble it today to check for any damage. After your meeting, maybe head out with your local leader and group for a welcome dinner and try some of Vietnam’s famed cuisine.

This morning, you’ll get the chance to explore the Vietnamese capital by bike on a guided ride near the city. Hanoi is the perfect city to explore on two wheels, so this is the ideal place to get to grips with Vietnamese street life and traffic. Explore the vibrant colours of the Old Quarter, then make the most of your free afternoon. You could walk around Hoan Kiem Lake or dive into local culture at the Vietnam Fine Art Museum. Top off the day with a steaming bowl of fresh pho from a hole-the-wall eatery – the street food in Hanoi is not to be missed!

Leave the Delta behind as you transfer into the rugged heart of Northeast Vietnam. Today’s cycling route takes you to the mountainous district of Bach Thong with a true road-less-travelled ride. Boulevards and big road give way to winding backroads used by the local Tay and Nung communities. Soak up the peacefulness of the quiet backroads as you wind through rolling green hills dotted with banana trees and rice paddies.

Prepare for the most spectacular day of scenery today. You’ll take the coach over the Ma Phuc Pass, famous for its seven steep bends and panoramic views over the karst-studded valley. Enter the Trung Khanh district, renowned for its lush chestnut forests, then start the ride deep into the UNESCO Global Geopark, passing karst formations and traditional villages to the thundering Ban Gioc Waterfalls. This cascade is known as the largest waterfall in South East Asia and has been shortlisted for World Nature Heritage. After having lunch and a break at the falls, your route will follow the turquoise waters of Quay Son River, which snakes along the border of China. Cycle into the ethereal Phong Nam Valley – a photographer’s dream, where jagged peaks rise like columns from brilliant green rice paddies.

Today is your last cycling day of the trip, starting with a transfer to Binh Gia in Lang Son province, where the terrain is a dramatic mix of upland roads and cultivated valleys. Wind your way into the hearts of beautiful karst-studded valleys to get to Quynh Son, which was crowned a UN Best Tourism Village in 2025. This living museum is home to over 400 traditional Tay stilt houses with distinctive yin-yang tile roofs. Have lunch here, then cycle the rugged hills of Huu Lung, passing the historic Bac Son Valley, where the patchwork of rice fields creates a geometric pattern against the peaky backdrop. From there, you’ll take the coach to Bac Ninh – one of the first cradles of ancient Tonkin culture.

After a good night’s sleep, you’ll transfer to the UNESCO World Nature Heritage site of Halong Bay. Climb aboard your boat and glide along the emerald waters, past limestone peaks that jut dramatically out of the water. The area was created over thousands of years by waves and wind, and you’ll explore the best of it, both by boat and on your own two feet. You’ll also have the opportunity to swim and kayak in the East Sea and explore caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites before spending the night aboard beneath the starry sky.

After a night beneath the stars on the still waters of Halong Bay, you’ll cruise back to the mainland, taking in all the scenery one last time. Head back to Hanoi, arriving in the early evening. When you get to the bustling capital, maybe head down to the markets for some last-minute souvenir shopping or a visit to one of the city’s many museums, like the Fine Art Museum, the Women’s Museum or the Museum of Ethnology. Toast the end of an epic adventure with an optional farewell dinner with your group.