North Vietnam Biking Tour

You land in Hanoi and settle into the rhythm of the city. The afternoon is yours to unwind, walk through the Old Quarter, and get a feel for the energy of northern Vietnam. In the evening, you meet your riding team for a bike briefing, route overview, and gear check. It’s a gentle introduction to the journey ahead and a chance to ease into the adventure mindset.

Overnight: Hotel in Hanoi

The day kicks off with narrow forest roads, broken patches, and the occasional stream crossing—exactly the kind of terrain that keeps riders awake and grinning. Villages thin out as the mountains grow sharper. By the time you approach Bao Lac, the road begins twisting into the dramatic karst landscapes of the Dong Van Karst Plateau. Expect switchbacks, high cliffs, and big views all the way into Meo Vac.

Overnight: Hotel in Meo Vac

This is one of the signature riding days in North Vietnam. You climb straight into the famed Ma Pi Leng Pass, riding along a razor-edge road carved into vertical cliffs with the Nho Que River far below. The optional Sky Walk viewpoint adds a bit of adrenaline on foot. As you continue toward Dong Van, the scenery softens into high valleys and Hmong stone villages. Visits to the Vuong Palace and border viewpoints break up the ride before a long, scenic descent into Ha Giang.

Overnight: Guesthouse or hotel in Ha Giang

You leave Ha Giang on a road that mixes smooth tarmac with stretches of rougher mountain sections. The route cuts through Hmong and Dao settlements, terraced hillsides, and quiet forested ridges. Expect steady climbs and long sweeping turns—a pleasant contrast to the tight mountain passes of the previous day. As you reach Bac Ha, the altitude drops slightly and the landscape becomes more open, dotted with plum orchards and wide valleys.

Overnight: Homestay or hotel in Bac Ha

A shorter, punchy riding day. You ease out of Bac Ha through rolling farmland before the road starts climbing toward Lao Cai. Traffic increases a little near the border town, but the ascent to Sapa is pure joy—long, curving mountain roads with mist drifting across the peaks. Sapa itself brings cool weather, lively evening streets, and a great selection of food to refuel after the ride.

Overnight: Hotel in Sa Pa

You cross the Tram Ton Pass, the highest paved pass in Vietnam, with sweeping views of Fansipan and the Hoang Lien Son range. On the descent the climate shifts noticeably—cool Sapa air gives way to warmer valleys lined with bamboo forests. The road toward Mu Cang Chai turns into one of the region’s most scenic sections, passing stepped rice terraces and remote settlements. Expect good tarmac with a few rough corners as you approach Than Uyen.

Overnight: Hotel in Than Uyen

This is a long but beautiful riding day. The route runs through Tu Le, home to some of Vietnam’s most photogenic rice terraces, then continues across quiet rural districts where buffalo graze by the roadside and children wave as you pass. The landscape gradually shifts from rugged northern mountains to gentler green valleys. By mid-afternoon you enter Mai Chau, a peaceful basin surrounded by paddy fields and traditional stilt homes of the White Thai community.

Overnight: Homestay in Pom Coong village

Your final day starts with relaxed valley riding before reaching the Da River ferry, a simple local crossing that adds a nice break from the saddle. After the ferry, the terrain becomes smoother and more populated, eventually merging into wider roads as Hanoi approaches. The last stretch is a return to the capital’s lively rhythm, with the satisfaction of completing a loop through Vietnam’s wild and varied northern terrain.

Upon arrival in Hanoi settle down and celebrate this journey over a farewell dinner with your companions in a local restaurant.

Overnight: Hotel in Hanoi