North Vietnam Family Explorer

No. Children are very welcome on this family-oriented tour; there is no minimum age and various riding options are available for children of all ages.

Bike hire is included in the tour, and child bikes are available. You are provided with hardtail mountain bikes from well-known brands. Child carriers (typically for ages 1–4) and trailers (typically for ages 5–11) are also available, but supplies are limited and weight limits apply. Please let us know as early as possible if you'll require a carrier or trailer, and every effort will be made to secure one for you. E-bikes are available for hire for adults only.

You ride a total of 110 km over 4 cycling days. This tour is ideal for families who want to introduce the young ones to bicycle touring while packing in a whole lot of North Vietnam's cultural and natural highlights. The riding takes place on mixed-surface roads through flat and rolling terrain amidst scenic rural areas, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Vehicle transfers at the beginning and/or end of each ride allow you to avoid busy main roads, keep the distances manageable, and focus on the most enjoyable routes.

Beyond the cycling, highlights include painting water puppets in the Red River Delta, taking a rowboat through the Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve, and visiting a wildlife rescue centre dedicated to endangered primates and pangolins in Cuc Phuong National Park. In the highlands of Pu Luong, you trek among the terraced rice fields, cool off at Hieu Waterfall, and cook sticky rice in a bamboo tube.

The trip is fully supported, and your guide’s expert knowledge of the area and terrain means that you always know what to expect in terms of distance and difficulty. This makes a tremendous difference, as does the constant supply of water and refreshments along the way.

Suitability: This trip is designed for and suitable for families with children of any age. Besides a few inclines here and there, there are no sustained climbs, and the rides are predominantly flat throughout. One exception is the ride in Pu Luong on Day 4, which has some tougher climbs, but these are optional. Navigating narrow lanes and occasional gravel, sand, or cratered country roads requires some handling skills but does not involve technical manoeuvring. The main challenge of the tour is maintaining stamina over back-to-back riding days and cycling in the tropical heat. The pace is leisurely, with plenty of refreshment stops, so riders with less experience are more than welcome to join. The support vehicle is always nearby to offer refuge to any weary cyclists.

Biking Conditions: Your rides include a mix of paved roads in varying conditions. You can expect smooth tarmac and concrete interspersed with narrow village roads and country lanes containing potholes, road debris, or loose gravel. Although much of the route follows quiet countryside roads with minimal traffic, you regularly share the roads with cars, motorbikes, and buses. There are a few unavoidable sections along main roads, particularly when entering or leaving towns and near popular sites. You generally ride rain or shine, but route modifications can be made at your guide’s discretion and based on your family's comfort level. It is all part of the adventure!

A helmet is required to be worn on all biking activities and is non-negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you won't be allowed to cycle.

The tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree, riders must be responsible for their own safety during the tour. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a cycling tour.

The tour starts at your hotel in Hanoi. The tour operator will collect you from your chosen accommodation. The closest airport is Noi Bai International Airport (HAN).

The tour ends at your hotel in Hanoi, the tour operator will drop you there or you can speak to them about alternative travel arrangements. If departing from Hanoi the closest airport is Noi Bai International Airport (HAN).

There is a support vehicle that follows the tour at all times. You are most welcome to use it at any time should you, or any of your family, wish to take a break from the cycling. You can then still enjoy the wonderful vistas and activities and be safe in the knowledge there are other options available if the biking becomes too much.

Alternatively, you may want to consider hiring an E-bike for the trip, to have that extra boost sometimes needed.

Yes, if you're hiring a bike from the operator, a complimentary helmet is provided, although you are welcome to bring your own if you wish.