This 5-day mountain bike trip takes us through beautiful countryside and intriguing villages. We will have the opportunity to observe the local minority communities at work, tending their fields in the shadow of the Chay river massif. The overnight stays in Bac Ha will give us the chance to explore the villages and visit the local market. We will also be able to visit the Can Cau market as well as enjoy a boat cruise on the Chay River.
General Information
Duration: 5 Days
Tour Type: Vietnam Biking Tours
Starts/ Ends: Hanoi/ Hanoi
Tour Route: Hanoi – Sa Pa – Bac Ha – Can Cau Market – Sapa – Hanoi
Tour Level: Moderate
Group Size: Private only – 1 person and above
Tour Highlights
- Immerse yourself in the daily life of local minority communities near the Chay River massif.
- Explore Bac Ha, a lively town renowned for its villages, markets, and unique culture.
- Experience the bustling Can Cau Market, where you can engage with various minority groups.
- Wrap up your adventure with a serene boat cruise on the Chay River.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi – Lao Cai
Day 2: Sapa – Ta Phin – Sapa
Day 3: Sapa – Bac Ha
Day 4: Bac Ha – Can Cau – Bac Ha
Day 5: Bac Ha – Coc Ly – Hanoi
Day 6: Hanoi
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi – Lao Cai by night Train (Wed)
We will be met at the lobby of the hotel and transferred to the Hanoi Railway station. The train will depart Hanoi at around 22:00. We spend a night on a 4 soft sleeper berth cabin.
Day 2: Sapa – Ta Phin village – Sapa (Thu) (B, L)
Up on arrival in Lao Cai Railway station early in the morning, we will be met by a local guide who will escort us to Sapa town. After checking in hotel, we enjoy our breakfast at the hotel restaurant and take a quick shower before going out to visit the town. Firstly in the morning we climb up the Ham Rong mountain for the overview of Sapa town and villages where will visit after that. After lunch we will take a car to the village where we can visit the Red Dzao people, chatting with them as well as see how they live to share culture with families here. The rest of the day, we walk back to the town to join the local market. Overnight in Sapa.
Trekking distance 5 km
Approx: 1,5 hours driving/ grade 2 of 5/ 2,5 hours walking.
Day 3: Sapa – Bac Ha (Fri) (B, L, D)
After having breakfast, we will start cycling downhill to Lao Cai town and also on good flat road leading towards Bac Ngam. We pass by peaceful countryside of the Red River valley. Villages and rice fields are all along the way. We arrive in Bac Ngam by noon, where we stop for a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, we will keep cycling uphill to Bac Ha town. We will check in a hotel in the late afternoon, where we will stay for the next two nights. A cold drink, a shower and a tasteful dinner will complete this day, and make it one to remember.
Approx: 6 hours cycling/ 1- hour lunch.
Day 4: Bac Ha – Can Cau Market – Bac Ha (Sat) (B, L, D)
Today is time for a special market experience: the Can Cau market. The road between Bac Ha and Can Cau is hilly but extremely beautiful. The ride will take us around 1 and half hours. The products on the market are interesting, as well as the groups of ethnic minority people represented make the market an unforgettable experience. We will spend all the morning to walk around the market, exploring its magnificent chaos. We will have picnic lunch on the way. In the afternoon, we head back to Bac Ha. We will be able to take a nice ride to Ban Pho village of Flower Hmong and Nung minorities, which is nearby Bac Ha. The villagers grow vegetables and fruit trees. One of the most famous fruit of the area is plum. We will be able to visit a local house, where we might have chance to taste a cup of corn wine, another famous product of the village. We will spend another night in the hotel.
Approx: 4 hours cycling/ 1-hour lunch.
Day 5: Bac Ha – Coc Ly Market – Hanoi (Sun) (B, L)
After having a morning coffee, we take a short walk to visit the old castle of the former Hmong King. From there we can have a view over the town. We will then visit this huge market with its colorful array of ethnic minority people such as Flower Hmong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, and Nung who gather to buy and sell. After spending the whole morning exploring the market, our lunch will be served in a local restaurant. We will then start out from Bac Ha by cycling downhill to Bao Nhai, where we get on a boat to have a cruise on the Chay river. It is a perfect way to finish your trip by sitting in the boat exploring the life at the riverbank. Our jeep will wait for us in Coc Ly and take us to Lao Cai Railways Station to reach the train back to Hanoi. Another possibility is to return to Sapa for more adventures holiday experiences in the mountains of Vietnam.
Approx: 1.5 hours cycling/ 3-hour boat cruising/ 1-hour walking/ 1-hour lunch.
Day 6: Hanoi (Mon)
Up on arrival in Hanoi very early morning, we transfer back to our hotel.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.