North-Vietnam
Cycling in North Vietnam means cycling through quiet valleys and climbing over steep hills in one of the most beautiful and deserted areas of the country. That means language problems, talking with your hands and feet, occasional primitive overnight stays and above all: experiencing something unique.
Distance:
1210 km
Level:
5
Stages:
16
Travel time:
3 to 4 weeks
Best travel period
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
9 / 10
8 / 10
Highlights:
2 Breathtaking mountain landscapes, strenuous climbing on quiet roads
3 Hanoi, a city with a relaxed atmosphere
Explore the freedom!
North Vietnam is inhabited by countless hill tribes, who still live entirely according to their traditions. You cycle along the border with China, through a breathtakingly beautiful landscape, past jungle, rice fields, and tea plantations. The area you cycle through has age-old traditions and customs.
Halfway you reach the
village of Sapa: here you can talk to other Westerners again! But you have seen
and experienced much more along the way than the tourist who visits Sapa from
Hanoi for one or two days.
Those who don’t have much time can take the comfortable night train to Lao Cai
after 11 cycling stages. If you continue to cycle, you can visit the village of
Bac Ha, which is hardly discovered by tourists.
In this village, there
is a Sunday market that is visited by various hill tribes from all over the
area. Some visitors come all the way from China. The last days you drive on
small dike roads along the Red River.
Your bike tour starts and ends in Hanoi, a fantastically beautiful, cozy and
relaxed city, full of both a Buddhist atmosphere and Chinese characteristics.
There is some roadworks happening in Vietnam, and this can sometimes be very drastic. This means that parts of the route can be difficult to cycle on. Sometimes we advise you to take the bus for a while. You will be immersed in the real adventure, you experience the helpfulness of the population and you will experience things that others can only dream of.