VIETNAM OVERALL BIKING

Welcome at Noi Bai International Airport by our English speaking tour guide and private transferred to Hanoi city center for hotel checking-in.

At 16:00, meet your tour guide and drive to Hanoi Old quarter. Have an overall view of the capital by a “electric car” visit, which will go through the fascinating network of narrow alleys and shop houses also known as ‘The 36 Streets’ – each street being named after the merchandise traditionally sold there, ranging from fabrics to crafts and from medicines to tombstones. Drop by at Ngoc Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake. Welcome dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.

Note: Normal check in time at hotel is 14:00 – 15:00, early check in is subject to availability

Cycling data - Total distance of cycling: 30 km - Rural paths and river dyke - Support truck: Yes.

Cycling duration: 2.5 – 3 hours. Hard Level: Easy

Enjoy breakfast in the hotel. At 8:00 am, you check out the hotel and meet our tour guide, then private transfer to Tam Coc. You go on boating in 2 hours across Ngo Dong river with rice fields, rural villages, karst moutains and caves. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant in Tam Coc.

Afternoon you cycle from Tam Coc along the river dyke and rural villages to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam. You will be excited because the offroad route is very typical for rural villages in North Vietnam with lush rice fields, tranquil bamboo trees, communal houses, children jumping onto the river, buffalo swimming in damp.

End at Hoa Lu ancient capital in the 10^th century, home to 3 dynasties and 6 kings. You visit King Dinh temple and Kindg Le temple. Know more about Vietnamese history.

Drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Breakfast at hotel.

At 8.30, head East for 3 hours driving to Halong Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006. The road will pass by the Red River delta with green paddyfields and rural villages, where hard-work farmers are busy with their farming jobs, ploughing buffaloes or planting seedling. Upon arrival in Halong, check in the overnight cruise to discover the magnificent beauty of this “Descending-dragon” bay, created by thousands odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After a lunch on board, we can visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, passing floating houses and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close distance. Back to the cruise, enjoy cooking demonstration before having dinner. Evening attend activities on the boat or relax at your own leisure. Overnight on the cruise.

Please note the program may be little varied upon the cruise you choose.

You should wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese call the "East Sea" by a point-oriented name "Eastern Sea", so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay. After breakfast our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet etc. Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise coming back the pier. Disembark from the cruise, transfer back to Hanoi. Reach Hanoi around 3pm. Have short break at a mini hotel then transfer to Train station for your overnight train to Lao Cai – Sapa. Train departs at 22:00. Overnight on the train (4-berth sleeping cabin).

You will arrival early in the morning in Lao Cai, have breakfast and transfer to Sapa. The drive is approximately 1 hour.

The amazing and challenging mountain biking tour starts from Sapa by a transfer downhill on a windy road running along Muong Hoa valley, which is home to Black H’mong, Giay and Red Dao minorities. From the road you will have many opportunities to enjoy amazing scenery of mountains and rice paddy terraces. Upon arrival in Su Pan, you will get on the bikes and cycle downhill on a paved road, some parts are bumpy. Before noon, your ride will be more challenging with about 10km up and down. The view is still amazing with the Muong Bo River snaking in the bottom of the valley. You will soon reach the Thanh Phu Bridge, where you take a short heartbreaking ascent and arrive at the Thanh Phu village of Tay minority. Here you will have lunch while experience the friendly atmosphere of the Tay people.

The ride in the afternoon is short but almost uphill. You are now in the remote area of Sapa, which hardly visited by tourists. The area is dominant by the Red Dao minorities. Beautiful view of deep valleys, waterfall and paddle rice fields are within your sight. In the mid-afternoon you will arrive at the Topas Riverside Lodge, which is perfectly located by the Muong Bo riverside. It is time to stretch your legs or having a walking visiting the village. Your dinner is served in the sound of nature and your night is spent on the comfortable bed of your own room. Overnight in Sapa.

Cycling data

Distance 25 km

Elevation gain: 490m

Elevation lost: 855m

Highest elevation: 1010m

You wake up in the fresh and beautiful atmosphere of the remote village. Your breakfast is served on the Lodge’s terrace, just a few meters from the river.

During the ride today you will gain less elevation than the previous day, but it is no less challenging and interesting. The ride will require lots of your concentration as it is mostly on hilly off-roads without the support of supporting vehicle. You first cycle uphill to Nam Than village, only where you can experience the daily life of the Blue H’mong. You are deeper in the valley and the local hill tribes have hardly seen tourists visiting their home on the bikes. On the way, you will visit the Red Dao minority villages of Sin Chai and Nam Cum. If it is a school day, you will be welcomed by the small boys and girls with their eyes wide open. They are not yet familiar with tourist yet. You will enjoy your lunch at a nice spot on the way. In early afternoon, you will arrive back the Thanh Phu bridge, where you met again your vehicle and be transferred back to Sapa town. Check in your hotel in Sapa. Your time at leisure to discover the town and the market. Overnight in Sapa.

Cycling data

Distance 24 km

Elevation gain: 306m

Elevation lost: 700m

Highest elevation: 967m

Lowest elevation: 389m

Approx: 10 - 12 km walking/ 5 - 6 hours/ 1.5 hours driving/ 1 hour for lunch. Supported van: yes

9.00 am: The car will drive you heading north of Sapa, along the way you can admire the majestic Fansipan Mountain and the beautiful valley. It is also a famous area for farming vegetables and flowers. Getting closer to Ban Khoang village is the amazing view of the valley, from the high road you can take some great photos and be impressed by how beautiful the landscape is. You will then stop for an easy walk to visit the village of Red Dao ethnic at Ban Khoang. The Red Dao women are very skillful at making their own embroidery as well as how beautiful their traditional costume. For hundreds of years of living in the mountain, the people here still maintain their culture of farming rice using buffalo and keep their own self-sufficient system.

Leave Ban Khoang and process to Ta Phin Village, well known for its pristine and stunning natural beauty and home to Hmong and Red Dao people. Once arriving at the village, the charming H’Mong women in their colorful traditional costumes may capture your heart at first sight. The H’mong ethnic is famous for making their clothes from hemp and dying with indigo plants. Admire the breathtaking scenery of mountains and rice field. The walk here is an opportunity to explore the village and enjoy the valley view. You might see some free-range animals running around or people working in their fields such as planning or harvesting rice.

You will have transfer to Lao Cai station in the late afternoon, have shower time (shower cost included). Dinner at local restaurant before the night train back to Hanoi.

Cycling data - Total distance of cycling: 20 km - Road surfaces: Backroads & Asphalt city road – Support truck: No. Cycling duration: 2.5 – 3 hours. Hard Level: Easy.

Upon arrival in Hanoi. At 8:00am we will begin a fascinating day with visits to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, inclusive of Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside for taking photos only), Ho Chi Minh Museum, the simple but elegant House-on-stilts of Ho Chi Minh, and the One-pillar pagoda since 1049 AD. Reach the Temple of Literature the 1st social university of Vietnam. Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon, let’s warm-up our biking tour by cycling around the West Lake, the largest lake of Hanoi. West Lake is also a religious area of the city with dozens of pagodas, temples and old villages. Our guide and driver will take you to the West Lake, where a truck with your bikes is waiting for you. The first stop is Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest pagoda of North Vietnam founded 1,400 years ago during Kind Ly Nam De empire. Continue riding to West Lake Palace “Phu Tay Ho” worshipping Mother of Goddess, 1 of 4 most legendary characters of Vietnam. Also cycling to Lotus Pond, lotus is the national flower to take photos during sunset (best time from July to October). End the round 18km, have shower & breakfast at a mini hotel in Hanoi. Head to airport for flight to Danang (air ticket excluded). Upon arrival, picked up & transferred to hotel for check in. Overnight in Danang.

Note: This cycling round doesn’t require stamina so you please avoid wearing tight and short clothes like short skirts or short clothes when visiting pagodas/temples. Also don’t make noise when you’re in the pagodas.

Cycling data - Total distance of cycling: 40 km - Backroads & Asphalt road - Support truck: Yes. Cycling duration: 5 – 6 hours. Hard level: Easy/Moderate

Breakfast at hotel then start the biking tour to Son Tra Peninsula.

Son Tra Peninsula is 10km from the center of Da Nang City to the North-east and is 693m high above sea level. It is considered as the gift of God to the Central land. It is famous for its plentiful plants and fauna as well as the attractive scenery. Legend has it that the scenery is so romantic even fairies came from heaven to Son Trafor for singing, dancing and playing chess so Son Tra is also called Tien Sa (Fairies’ landing place).

Start our exciting trip today along the bank of Han River in the cool and fresh air. After a few minutes leisure biking, we across the Han River bridge considered as one of landmarks of Danang City that specially beautiful at night time to reach the palm-shaded beach. En route, we don’t miss the chance for shooting the stunning pictures of landscape and seascape and the fishing village nearby. We enjoy the biking on the zigzag paths with many stunning sights of jungles, waterfalls and beaches. Stop to visit Linh Ung Pagoda, where the huge Goddess of Mercy statue towers over Non Nuoc Beach. From here enjoy the panorama view of Danang and the East Sea. Continue biking along the very beautiful road hugging the shore to Marble mountain or Ngu Hanh Son Mountain (Five Elements Moutains), home to several Buddhist and Hindu grottoes. Spending your time walking to up to a stairway of 156 steps leads to the summit of Thuy Son, the only marble mountain accessible to visitors. It allows a wide panoramic view of the surrounding area and the other marble mountains. From here cycling back to the city center. If time permit, we visit Cham Museum, the marvelous museum which tells us in advance about the Cham Culture, once brightened in Central Vietnam, before we visit the Cham nation holy land in My Son next day. Return to your hotel. Dinner at your own arrangement will give you the great chance to enjoy the local food of Danang. Lunch at local restaurant. Overnight in Danang.

Cycling data - Total distance of cycling: 40km - Backroads &City roads - Support truck: Yes. Cycling duration: 5 – 6 hours. Hard level: Easy

Early breakfast at hotel then transfer to Hoian, 30km from Danang. Hoi An was a bustling international trading port, a meeting place of the trading ships of Japan, China and the West during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Upon arrival, we transfer to a local fishing village. Learn about the daily life of Vietnamese fishermen, their families and their community. Board on boat and commence cruising on the Cua Dai River. Join local fisherman on the river and enjoy hands on experience of round net or cast net. Learn how to paddle the Vietnamese unique bamboo basket boat. Explore the now tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers of both sides. Back on-board, we will take the boat to Tra Que herb village to enjoy a Complimentary Traditional Fisherman’s Lunch prepared by our chef.

After lunch, cycling around the village before continueing to Thanh Ha Pottery Village located by Thu Bon River where you will visit a space of traditional occupational village preserved intact in cultural scenery such as: banian tree, dock, communal house, religious monuments and directly enjoy clever, skillful hands of the potters producing high quality utensils. You will also have chance to do some pottery product with the guide of the locals and of course of can keep it as a gilf of this land. Back to the town to check in hotel. Dinner at your own arrangement. Overnight at hotel in Hoian.

Breakfas at hotel. Your free time today to explore the city by yourselves or relax at beach. Overnight in Hoian.

Suggestion for tour: Today is for Hoian ancient town – when walking over the tile-roofed Japanese Bridge, visit taciturn Chinese Assembly Halls and Trading Houses, Pagodas, and stroll around the market located by Thu Bon river, you may find out the same feelings of the artists, who see the charm of Hoi An a magical old world of Oriental feel and source of inspiration. Overnight in Hoian.

Cycling data: Total distance of cycling: 70 – 100 km – Backroads & City roads - Support truck: Yes. Cycling duration: 6 – 7 hours. Hard level: Easy/Moderate

After breakfast, we ride on a bike to My Son sanctuary via one of the most scenic and tranquil route offering the sights of rural villages with rice paddies, lotus farms, corn fields, rivers, boats, and a bamboo bridge also. Along the way, you have a chance to catch up with the local people, learning their daily life and work. Upon arrival, we can discover the hidden treasure of the Cham culture that once brightfully developed in the area of present Central Vietnam. Thanks to the beauty and secrets of building the Cham Towers hereby, My Son had been also designated by UNESCO as one of the five World Heritages in Vietnam. After the visit, a short drive to the pier where you will embark on a boat back to Hoian town. On the way, stop to visit Kim Bong Carpentry village. Overnight in Hoian.

Breakfast at hotel then transfer to Danang Airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City (old name Saigon) (air ticket excluded). Upon arrival, welcomed by the local tour guide and transfer to the down town. Check in your hotel if the room ready. If not, leave your luggage there then start the sightseeing. (the standard check in time is 14 – 15:00pm).

Afternoon, start city tour at the War Remnants Museum, one of the most famous historical attractions in Saigon. Coming to the War Remnants Museum, you can learn a part of how Vietnamese had struggled and fought for their independence, freedome, and peace of the nation and the locals' perspective of the Vietnam War. The exhibits, such as weapons, ducuments, and photographs, display in the museum are firm evidence of war crimes in Vietnam and speak for the heroic actions of the former Vietnamese generation.

We then visit the Reunification Palace, the witness of the fierce Vietnam War ended in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall of official receptions. Nearby the Palace are the Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside only), built between 1877 and 1883 and colonial-styled Central Post Office, one of the city’s major landmarks.

Late afternoon, visit Ben Thanh market, a symbol of Saigon. Have shopping time there. Dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight in Hochiminh City.

Cycling data: Total distance of cycling: 25 km – Backroads & City roads - Support truck: Yes. Cycling duration: 2– 3hours. Hard level: Easy

Today offers you a short cycling among the rural villages and fruit orchards of Mekong delta “the rice bowl of Vietnam”. Once you get out the heavy traffice of Ho Chi Minh City and the high way, let’s star pedal thru the quiet rural roads passing numerous orchards, rice fields, villages, bridges, canals. You will have chance to witness the colorful daily life and meet friendly people along the country lanes. Arrive at My Tho pier at around noon. Take a boat for a cruise along islets and tropical orchards. Cruise through the canal of Vam Xep to reach a small islet. A relaxing walk along shady and palm fringed trails will take you through the local villages where you see glimpses of daily life. Stop en route to sip special tea with honey and sample fruit with a local family, share their stories of life in the Mekong. Enjoy lunch with local food at the islet (at your own cost) then visit handicraft villages, a coconut candy factory before returning on shore. Leave My Tho to Can Tho via Rach Mieu, My Thuan and Can Tho bridges. Check in upon arrival, the rest of the day will be free for relaxing and exploring the city by yourselves. A nice place to visit in the evening is the night food market which is right next to Ninh Kieu wharf. Dinner is at the local restaurant. Overnight in Can Tho.

Get up early and at 5:00am, meet your tour guide and transfer to the wharf to board a motorboat visiting Cai Rang, the biggest and most colorful floating market in Mekong delta. In the early morning, it is the most busiest and dymanic time for local people come to trade the argriculture products and sell the stuff for traders and tourists like noodle, café, juice,... During this time, the waterway becomes a maze of hundreds of boats packed with fruits, vegetables, plants, foods, etc... Sellers hang a sample of what they have from the top of a long pole so that buyers can see from a distance what they are selling. After that, return to your hotels for breakfast and check out. We then take motorboat along small leafy creeks to local orchard and enjoy tropical seasonal fruits. Get on the small paths in the tranquil village via grape fruits, cocoa gardens and rice fields. Transfer back to Saigon. On the way back, stop at Mekong Rest Top restaurant for lunch.

Arrive in Saigon by late afternoon, transfer to the airport for the departure flight back to your sweet home.

Please note: Normal check-out time at hotel is 11:00/12:00. Late check-in is not included.