Cycling from Hanoi to Luang Prabang Tour 15 Days

Overview
Though you may already feel somewhat familiar with the hilltribes of Northern Vietnam because they have become so iconic and have been photographed so often, the truth is that these tribes, who continue to live according to their traditional ways, are only found in the most remote parts of South East Asia, and Ha Giang Province, which has only recently opened to tourists, is unquestionably one of the best places left to experience their culture.
There is an incredible diversity of hilltribes living in this pristine, scarcely inhabited area, many of whom follow their ancient subsistence farming practices and don't even speak the national language.
In South East Asia, the riding is among the best. As we ascend and descend the numerous elevations of the Ha Giang Plateau, each day presents a unique topography, gradient, view, and climate. This is an experience that will stick in your memory, and if the pain in your legs isn't enough to remind you of it, then your stunning photos most definitely will.
The 15-day Alluring North East Vietnam and North East Laos Bicycle Challenge is a fantastic way to discover Ba Be Lake's hidden charms. Explore Ba Be Lake's crystalline waters.
 Discover unusual islands on lakes and go to Ha Giang on bicycle on a meandering path. Discover the rugged Dong Van plateau. With 80% of the land covered in rock and thought to hold fossils from 400–600 million years ago, this area is officially recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark. The remote town of Dong Van is tucked away in a valley in the center of the Rock Plateau, near the Chinese border, encircled by a forest of mountains and vibrant orchids. Dong Van, which means "sharing culture," is home to H'mong, Tay, Kinh, and Chinese Hoa. The homes have a Chinese architectural design.
Cycling on Happines road to challenge some  incredible passes enroute to Ha Giang is highlight in our trip. We also cycle on scenic route lead to Hoang Su Phi and Bac Ha where opens every Sunday morning market. 
Our bicycle challenge vacation continues as we pedal through Vietnam's northwest, stopping at some of the most beautiful scenery and colorful hill tribal settlements along the way. Riding and testing our endurance with a few hard steep passes along the route. At the Tay Trang Border, bid our Vietnam team farewell and welcome the Laos squad. We set off on our bicycle journey to Luang Prabang, passing through beautiful landscapes and unspoiled areas.

Tailor-made trip
As a trusted local bike tour operator, Vietnam Cycling Tours boasts a dedicated team of experienced biking guides, skilled bike mechanics, reliable drivers, knowledgeable cycling tour consultants, and passionate bicycle specialists. We understand that each traveler has unique preferences and requirements. That’s why we offer tailor-made trips that cater to your specific needs, whether you’re traveling solo, with family and friends, or as a group.

The provided itinerary serves as a sample, which can be further customized to align perfectly with your preferences and budget. We welcome your input and can make additions or exclusions to create a selected itinerary or design a completely new program exclusively for you. Click Contact Us to share your requirements and begin planning your unforgettable biking adventure in Vietnam with us.

Tour included in:
Cycling guide who speaks English (additional languages upon request)
The basis for accommodations is double or twin occupancy.
Meal information (14 breakfasts, 15 lunches, and 15 dinners) in itineraries
Transportation and A/C transfer
Bus or van assistance is provided during cycling hours.
Truck supported for groups larger than six.
Trek FX 3 Hybrid Bicycles: Equipped with helmets and disc brakes
Tours of the sights as described in itineraries
Bike tour pump, bicycle tools, tubes spares, and extra bicyclesBoat Ride in Nongkhiaw and Ba Be Lake
first aid package
Snacks and fruit on bike days
Box of cold water, little towel.
Drinkable mineral water

Tour excluded in:
international travel
Insurance for travel
Personal belongings Meals that include soft drinks and alcohol
Beyond what is offered, mineral water
optional travel
Extra transportation is needed in case of an emergency.
Personal costs include phone and laundry bills.
Visa charge
departure tax
Laotian visa fees are 35 USD per person upon arrival plus two passport photos.
Advice for the group and mentor

Availability
Tours and services may not be available on public holidays, or may be available at an additional surcharge.

Pick-up location
Most of our trips begin from our bike garage (both private and group tours), so transportation from your hotel to our bike shop (or v.v) is not included in the quote. We can arrange the service (with extra charge), and reservation needs to be made in advance.

Itinerary
Occasionally our tour itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements stemming from past travelers’ comments and our own research. The information given in this itinerary may be slightly different to that in the service proposal. It’s very important that you print and review a final copy of your itinerary prior to travel. If you have any queries, please contact us.

Please note that while we operate successful cycling holidays in Vietnam throughout the year, some changes may occur in our itineraries due to inclement weather and common seasonal changes to timetables and transport routes. This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary from time to time.

Price
Negotiating prices is a common practice in Vietnam, particularly in open-air markets, street shops, and rural areas. However, we are not good at bargaining and do not prefer this practice. Instead, we focus our time and efforts on tour arrangements, and our prices are fixed.

Safety
Wearing a helmet is compulsory on all our biking adventures. Our tour guide often carry first aid kit while riding. Please follow your guide while biking, and much attention is required while you cross streets.

Difficulty levels
To assist you visualize how our bike trip is difficult, we have graded our Vietnam cycling tours into three categories, easy, moderate, and challenging. We group many factors into consideration into this grading, including distant covered, terrain, altitude, and vehicle support.

Easy
Involves cycling for up to two to three hours a day at easy pace and usually, less than 3 days in duration. The cycling distances is around 15 – 30 km per day. There are likely to be no steep and sustained descents as well as demand for technical riding. We will normally ride on flat roads. Suitable for bikers who enjoy occasional weekend riding on trails at home. Push bikes are sometimes used for these itineraries.

Moderate
Involves biking for up to six hours a day at a steady pace and are usually between three to five days in duration. The cycling distance is about 35 – 55 km per day. Sometimes it can be long flat rides or medium ride with few up and downhill climbs. The support vehicle will not always be available. We will need a good level of fitness. We use either mountain bikes or road bikes for these itineraries.

Challenging
Involves biking in mountainous areas with big climbs for up to seven or eight hours a day and usually more than a week in duration. Cycling distance is about 60 – 80 km per day. There will be steep and sustained ascents and descents. The support vehicle will not always be available. These trips will provide a real sustained workout even for fit and experienced mountain bikers.

Accommodation
When cycling we mostly stay in small hotel, guesthouse or homestay. Some are more basic than others! Bear in mind that some of the places we overnight in are not on the standard tourist trail. In larger cities and towns, our hotels are generally more western style and are three or four star hotels (price option).

Camping is not available on cycling tours in Vietnam unless it is required and this should be booked months in advance. Camping is only available in a limited number of places such as Cat Ba island beach, Cuc Phuong national park…Please see the details on the quote.

Tour guide
Most of our tour guides speak English. Some other speak French. Few speak other language such as German, Russian, Spanish. All our guides have great knowledge of history, local culture, and religions of the area where you are cycling. Our guides have been trained in this field and is fully licensed in tour guiding.

Bike mechanic
We arrange a bike mechanic only for large groups or when it is required (with surcharge). When there is no mechanic, our guide will take care of problem which may occur during the bike ride.

Transportation
Depending on the nature of the tour, our cycle journeys will be accompanied by an air-conditioned car/minibus cover the larger overland sections. We often use mini bus or bus for transfer and back up (guided tours).
1 – 2 travelers: we use minivan to support and carry bikes. Sometimes we use a car for passengers and a truck for transport of the bikes.
3 – 6 people: we use one minivan for passengers and one truck for the bikes.
7 – 12 people: we use one bus (coach) for passengers and one truck for the bikes.
We provide bike rental and truck for self-guided bike tours.

We sometimes use local push-bikes (single-speed bicycles) where possible or when it is required. In this case, our cars will be arranged as follows.
1 – 2 passengers (with a tour guide): 4 seat car.
3 – 6 passengers (with a tour guide): 15/16 seat minivan.
7 – 12 passengers (with a tour guide): 29 seat coach/bus.

Bikes repairs
Basic spares and tools kit are generally carried by our guide or bike mechanic or on the support vehicle, although we can not guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem.

Food and drinks
All the meals which, are mentioned in itinerary (B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner), are included in the tour price. Most of meals are Vietnamese local food. Vegetarians are certainly welcome and are always accommodated, please let us know of any dietary concerns at time of booking. Beverage and alcoholic drinks are not included at mealtime or in restaurants.

Snacks and water
When we transfer, ride by minibus (no cycling day), our bottled waters are always available for you in the car/van. When we have cycling days, we will offer cold water (summer) plus fresh tropical fruits, soft drinks are also available in the car/van. Please take a look at the “Inclusions” section on our our service proposal to see whether the service is included in the price. Please note drinks are not included at mealtime or in restaurant.

Packing
Comfortable lightweight clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton is most suitable for traveling in Vietnam. The dress code is fairly casual as in most parts of the tropics but it is advisable to cover arms and legs in the evenings against biting insects. A lightweight raincoat is a good idea in the rainy season. During the winter months warm clothing is needed for visiting the north of Vietnam. Visitors should not wear shorts, short skirts or other skimpy clothing when visiting religious buildings such as pagoda, temple and shoes should be removed before entering a private home.
What you take will naturally depend upon where you are traveling and the style of journey you are undertaking, and it can often be difficult to decide what to pack. Nevertheless, the following should act as a useful checklist of essential items worth thinking about taking.

Clothing
2 pairs of riding shorts
2 riding jerseys (quick-dry)
2 pairs of quick dry socks for cycling
Comfortable shoes for biking and walking
Riding gloves
2-3 t-shirts or casual shirts
Trousers or jeans
1-2 pairs of casual socks for non-cycling activities
3-5 sets of underwear (quick-dry)
Cool-weather jacket or rain jacket
Extra layers and gloves for cooler season or climate (thin, thermal, water-wicking)
Bathing suit
Sandals

Toiletries
Tooth brush and tooth paste
Razor
Hair brush
Shampoo
Deodorant
Hand sanitizer

Miscellaneous
Passport, wallet and ID
Health insurance card
Travel insurance card
Cash and/or credit cards
Camera (with spare battery)
Plastic bags (for dirty laundry, wet clothes)
Electronic chargers (for camera, e-reader, cell phone)
Adaptors or convertors

Tipping
Tipping for good services is always appreciated. It is customary, though not compulsory, to tip tour guides and drivers at the end of the tour. Hotels and station porters should also be tipped a small amount for.
We recommend about 4-6 USD/traveler/day for the tour guide, about 2-3 USD/traveler/day for the driver (or the mechanic). Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality, the length and the difficulty of your trip.

Community
Prior to our tours, we contact and work with local community leaders to make sure we are welcome and in a manner that minimizes negative social and cultural impacts. We visit local development and community projects specific to the region, encouraging customers to donate and assist such a projects in appropriate and sustainable manner.
Where make sure that where and whenever possible our tours positively benefit the local community. We stayed at locally owned accommodation and visit cottage industries for local handicraft souvenir, generating income for local business. We often employ, hire support team such as local guide, motor-taxi drivers, cook assistants on all trips to ensure that the local community benefit not only short term but with increased employment opportunities for the future.

Need further information? Check our FAQ page here or contact us.