Cycle through the rice terraces of Northern Vietnam
Meander the road less traveled of Northern Vietnam
Encounter the daily rhythms of life in Northern Vietnam on foot and two wheels
Wind through the mountains of Northern Vietnam on a cycling expedition
Have fun and create memories that last a lifetime
Be mesmerized by Vietnam's unique and natural beauty

Northern Vietnam Cycling: Mai Chau to Pu Luong

Duration
5 days
Site savings
$19
From
$913 USD
3 Reviews

Explore the diverse landscapes of Vietnam on an exhilarating 5-day mountain biking tour, offering a unique cultural immersion with the local hill tribes. Perfect for avid cyclists seeking a challenge, yet also wanting to relax and soak up the local ambience.

  • Category
    Mountain Biking
  • Type
    Fully Guided
  • Duration
    5 days
  • Culture Level
    Adventurous
  • Skill Level
    4 - Advanced
  • Activity Level
    4 - Challenging
  • Elevation
    2 - Moderate
  • Terrain
    Hilly
  • Distance
    127.4 miles
  • Avg. Daily Distance
    37.3 miles
Best Price Guarantee
No booking or payment fees
Save $18 on your next booking
Book Nowfrom $913 USD
Loading tour details...

Quick Stats

  • Duration
    5 days
  • Main Destination
    Northern Vietnam
  • Distance
    127.4 miles
  • Avg. Daily Distance
    37.3 miles
  • Elevation
    2 - Moderate
  • Terrain
    Hilly

Route Map (click to view larger image)

Itinerary Details

  1. Day 1Hanoi - Mai Chau

    In the morning, you'll be transferred outside of town by van where you'll enjoy a hearty breakfast and get fitted for your bike.

    Your adventure begins with a climb through the remote villages of the Muong people, passing terraced rice paddies. The route offers both challenging cross-country paths and quiet paved mountain roads, with stunning views of misty green karst formations and the massive Hoa Binh Reservoir. After several climbs and fast downhills, you'll enter the enchanting valley of Mai Chau, surrounded by steep mountains and expansive, electric green rice fields. Relax with a fabulous home-cooked meal.

    • 37.3 - 43.5 miles
    • 1,640.4 ft
      1,640.4 ft
    • Mai Chau Eco Lodge
    • Lunch and Dinner
  2. Day 2Mai Chau - Pu Luong Nature Reserve

    Today's ride includes two challenging climbs, offering stunning vistas, visits to remote traditional villages, and views of some of the most beautiful rice terraces in Southeast Asia.

    The first climb is a long uphill stretch, leading you out of Mai Chau Valley and onto an elevated plateau in the mountainous region. Following shaded paths alongside crystal clear streams, you'll enter the Pu Luong Nature Reserve and enjoy a traditional lunch overlooking the village's rice terraces.

    After a 10 km flat cycling stretch through green fields and ethnic minority villages, you'll face another short but steep climb to reach the Pu Luong homestay. Here, you can relax with a beer in the cool waters of the natural spring before indulging in a fantastic BBQ dinner outdoors.

    • 37.3 - 43.5 miles
    • 1,640.4 ft
      1,640.4 ft
    • Pu Luong Treehouse
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
  3. Day 3Pu Luong - NInh Binh

    Your day starts with an exhilarating downhill ride through the village's steep rice terraces. Once safely in the valley, you'll embark on a wonderfully scenic and remote cross-country track for 15 km. Riverside bamboo forests will provide shade as you cycle, surrounded by nature.

    Afterward, there's an hour-long van transfer before you continue cycling towards Ninh Binh, an area known as "Ha Long Bay on land" for its magical riverine landscape, with sheer limestone mountains rising from the paddies. You'll pass by limestone formations on the way, finally reaching the Ninh Binh Hotel in the evening.

    • 37.3 miles
    • 1,640.4 ft
      1,640.4 ft
    • Ninh Binh Hidden Charm
    • Breakfast and Lunch
  4. Day 4Ninh Binh - Ha Noi

    After enjoying a hearty buffet breakfast, you'll embark on a leisurely ride through the stunning natural beauty and historic sites of Ninh Binh, with plenty of stops for stories and photos. Trading bikes for boats, you'll be paddled by a local guide on a 3-hour tour through pitch-black river caves and hidden lagoons, learning more about Vietnam's history along the way.

    Following lunch, you'll transfer to Hanoi and arrive in the capital before 6 pm. Check-in at your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter and dress up for the farewell dinner!

    • 15.5 miles
    • Le Jardin Hotel Haute Couture or Similar
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
  5. Day 5Hanoi Departure

    Breakfast will be provided, but you'll also have the opportunity to explore new culinary and cultural delights on your own in Hanoi.

    • Breakfast