Vietnam cycling adventures: Travel Lao Cai Sapa Lai Chau Dien Bien Phu Son La Mai Chau Hanoi (7 days)

This 7-day mountain biking tour is arranged in the north western Vietnam taking to such places as Lao Cai, Sapa, Lai Chau, Muong Lay, Phong Tho, Binh Lu, Tam Duong, Dien Bien Phu, Tuan Giao, Son La, Moc Mai, Mai Chau, Hoa Binh province. Begin the tour with an overnight train trip from hanoi to Lao cai, and then uphill to Sapa. You start biking from Sapa to the Tram Ton, Heaven gate, then Binh Lu, Lai Chau. You mostly cycle on paved roads with many up and downhill ride. Sometimes you get off the main, paved roads taking small, single dirt track biking trails leading to remote hill tribe villages. Taking this 7-day mountain biking tour, you enjoy the beautiful scenery, the wild nature of the less travelled north western Vietnam. You meet up with lots of ethnic groups during your bicycle tours including the Tay, the Dzao , the Xa Pho, the H’mong…The tour is provded with experience English-speaking tour guide, support vehicle and good mountain bikes, trek bikes.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Hanoi - Sapa – Lai Chau (L,D).

Depart for Lai Chau.

Enjoy nice mountain view along the way. We first bike for about 3 hours up hill, with a stop over Silver waterfalls for relax and take photos before we conquer the highest mountain pass Oquiho. From there you can see stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the lush forests belonging to Hoang Lien National Park.

Continue traveling by car uphill to Heaven's Gate,  the highest stretch of road in Vietnam as well as the provincial border of Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces. Here you will have the opportunity to view the magnificent scenery.

Lunch will be provided en route.

Stop en route to visit some villages of H’mong and “coins” Dao near BinhLu before we arrive in Lai Chau where we will spend the night.

Day 2: Lai Chau – Muong Lay (B,L,D).

Today we will cycle downhill to Chan Nua and up to Lai Chau.

We will have a couple of pretty big climbs and then follow the picturesque Nam Na river into Muang Say (aka "Old Lai Chau"). Some part of the road is bad, but we will have great view along the Nam Na river.

Lunch will be provided en route.

After lunch, we will have some rest before continue cycling towards Muong Lay. We will pass overther the scenic Da river from Hang Tom suspension bridge before arriving in Muong Lay townlet.

Check in to Muong Lay guesthouse for dinner and overnight.


Day 3: Muong Lay – Dien Bien Phu (B,L,D)

Following breakfast we will have a nice day with stop over the red H’mong village then cycle up to Mathiho pass.

Lunch en route.

In the late afternoon we arrive in Dien Bien town and check into our guesthouse for the night.

Overnight in Dien Bien Phu.


Day 4: Dien Bien Phu – Tuan Giao (B,L,D)

After breakfast we will cycle for the whole morning to visit some war sites such as the A1 hill, De Castries bunker, Dien Bien museum.

Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant in town.

After lunch we will have easy ride through many Thai villages before we arrive in Tuan Giao around late afternoon.

Overnight in Tuan Giao.

Day 5: Tuan Giao –Son La (B,L,D)

Leave Tuan Giao for Son La.

Son La is located in a scenic valley, inhabited by Thai, Muong and H'mong minority people. This area is historically important for its involvement in the Vietnamese struggle for independence from France during the first half the 20th century.

Challenge 20 km winding climb up hill and 15 km down hill. Nice landscape of green rice fields and karst valley. Light traffic, wandering water buffaloes, Thai and Hmong kids.

Overnight in Son La.


Day 6: Son La – Moc Chau – Mai Chau (B,L,D).

After breakfast, leaving Son La for Mai Chau.

Along the road we can stop the trip in Moc Chau for taking photos and enjoy the fresh air. The road passes beneath spectacular karst cliffs with the valley floor visible far below.

Arrive Mai Chau late afternoon. Check into a local stilt houser for dinner and overnight.


Day 7: Mai Chau – Hanoi (B,L).

After breakfast, we have a cycling trip about 15km out of Mai Chau is up Thung Nhuoi pass, then we go 17km down to Man Duc and two more gentle hill to Doc Cun.

We take a small route to Bai Chao onto Luong Son. Our bus pick us up and travel back to Hanoi.

You will be dropped off at your hotel in Hanoi. The end of Lotussia Travel service.


Contact Lotussia Travel for more details