TOURS STYLE

Highlights: A well combination of mountain biking, sightseeing and walking. Stunning landscapes of Ma Cha and Ta Phin valleys. Meeting Black Hmong and Red Zao people for discovery of traditional culture and way of life

Tour highlights:

Northern Vietnam has long attracted adventurers in awe of its vistas, but vastly improved roads have caught the attention of the cycling adventurers. And it's not hard to see why road cycling in Asia is developing: an endless green expanse of climbs and descents, ribbon roads through forests, rice paddies to peaks and cloud-skimming mountain passes. Our road cycling Northern Vietnam trip from Hanoi to the Northeast takes riders through the very best of Southeast Asia's next cycling paradise, for a truly unforgettable cycle tour.

Highlight:

Hue originally as the capital of the Nguyễn Lords, a feudal dynasty which dominated much of southern Vietnam from the 17th to the 19th century. In 1775 when Trinh Sam captured it, it was known as Phú Xuân. In 1802, Nguyễn Phúc Ánh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam, thereby making Hue the national capital.

Hue was the national capital until 1945, when Emperor Bảo Đại abdicated and a Communist government was established in Hà Nội (Hanoi), in the north. While Bảo Đại was briefly proclaimed "Head of State" with the help of the returning French colonialists in 1949 although not with recognition from the Communists and the full acceptance of the Vietnamese people, his new capital was Sài Gòn Ho Chi Minh City, in the south.

Highlight:

Cycling tours in Hanoi- Ninh Binh – Tam Cong - Hoa Lu is an ideal base, surrounded by mountains and national parks, natural reserve , all trails with off-road adventure and dirt road . Each of these mountain biking tours have been specially selected to cater for all levels, whether you are an advanced rider , or just a beginner.

Ar too few travellers make it to Ninh Binh, a mesmerizing area known locally as ‘Ha Long Bay on Land’ thanks to its magical riverine landscape, with sheer limestone mountains rising up from the paddies. The best way to get a sense of this UNESCO-protected site is by taking a paddleboat tour along its shimmering rivers, and climbing to the top of its fabled peaks.

Highlight:

Mai Chau is located in Hoa Binh province, approximately 135 km from Hanoi and 60 km from Hoa Binh.

From the top of Cun Mountain, one can admire the superb panorama of Mai Chau surrounded by a green valley and stilt houses. Area: 4,596.4 km2 Population: 854,131 people; Ethnicity: According to statistics, there are 6 main ethnic groups living together in the province, the largest being the Muong ethnic group accounting for 63.3%; the Viet (Kinh) ethnic group accounting for 27.73%; the Thai ethnic group accounting for 3.9%; the Dao ethnic group accounting for 1.7%; the Tay ethnic group accounting for 2.7%; the Mong ethnic group accounting for 0.52%; other ethnic groups accounting for 1.

Stilt houses border both sides of the roads. The houses are quite large with palm leaf roofs and polished bamboo-slat floors. The kitchen is located in the center of the house; the cooking as well as the making of the colorful tho cam, the material used by Thai minority to make their clothes, takes place in the kitchen. The windows are large and decorated with patterns. Each house also has a pond to breed fish.

The Sunday market brings a lot of people into town. People from different minorities living in the mountains come to Mai Chau market to sell their specific products: honey, bananas, corn, and tho cam made by skilled Thai women. The Sunday market is also an occasion to enjoy traditional Thai dishes and to participate in traditional dances

You can get a good run off the top of the dam, hammer it down the road and up the steep runaway truck sidings. A word of warning here, dropping your bike at the top of these steep inclines is a sure way to lose all your gas, and its virtually impossible to pick your bike up again, as the incline means your are practically underneath it.  

With the flood gates in full swing, the torrent of water creates a very damp wind tunnel, as the air is sucked under the thousands of cubic metres of water rushing pas each second. It’s inspiring stuff, standing on the viewing platform just beside the wall of water.

Highlights:

- Challenge yourself on this amazing cycle tour through a distinctive corner of SE Asia
- Meet the colourful people of the Dao, Tay, Hmong, Lolo and Nung hill tribes
- Enjoy an overnight cruise on Bai Tu Long, a pristine part of world-renowned Halong Bay
- Experience the 'real' Northern Vietnam with 3 nights' traditional homestay accommodation
- From Hanoi’s Old Quarter to the stunning  Ma Pi Leng Pass and tranquil Ba Be Lake

Highlights:

- Hanoi: Old Quarter and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

- Dong Van: UNESCO Geopark Dong Van plateau.

- Ha Giang Province: the old Silk Rd, Heaven Gate 2 Mountain pass: ‘on top of the world’.

- Meo Vac: White Hmong, Tay, Lo Lo minorities.

- Cao Bang Visit tribes, caves, waterfalls, majestic mountains forests

- Ba Be Lake UNESCO-recognized natural wonder provides

- Ha Long Bay: marine limestone 'karst' landscape.