21 Days Vietnam Hiking and Kayaking Adventure Tour from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi

Day 01: Saigon – Dalat (L) (Cycle 40 km)

7:30 Am pick up at your hotel in Saigon. Enjoy 2 hours driving to Dong Nai province. Ride through coffee plantation, and pepper on hilly country roads in the surrounding area of Nam Cat Tien park. Have in Madagui and have another stop at Bao Loc, the homeland of coffee and green tea. Enjoy delicious specialty snacks, coffee and tea. Then have a transfer and cycle to Dalat

Summary

Cycling Distance: 40 km cycling

Meals: Lunch

Accommodation: Dai Loi Hotel

Day 02: Dalat – Nha Trang (B/L/)

Start to ride from your hotel in Dalat. Ride through majestic mountains and valleys. Have a picnic lunch in Khanh Vinh town. In the afternoon, we ride on backroads through villages to Dien Khanh where we get on a van/bus for a short trip to Nha Trang. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Summary

Cycling Distance: 80 km cycling

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hanoi Golden Hotel

Day 03: Nha Trang – Quy Nhon (B/L )

Visit the Po Nagar Cham tower in the city of Nha Trang and have a transfer out of Nha Trang city, pedal on quiet country roads through rice paddies and beautiful village coastal roads. Enjoy lunch on the beach, then continue pedaling on back roads through fishing farms and villages to Tuy Hoa. Transfer 2 hours to Quy Nhon city.

Summary

Cycling Distance: 70 km cycling

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Sao Viet Hotel

Day 04: Quy Nhon – Quang Ngai (B/L/)

Transfer 30 minutes from our busy city of Qui Nhon. Begin with cycling through a rice paddy to mountain areas. Cycle past many little villages to ocean roads. Today you will have the opportunity to admire beautiful coastal roads. In the afternoon, cycle uphill through mountains, rice fields, and coconut plantations. Transfer by bus/van in the late afternoon to Quang Ngai.

Summary

Cycling Distance: 75 km cycling

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: My Tra River Side Hotel

Day 05: Quang Ngai – Hoi An (B/L/)

Have breakfast at the hotel and start to ride to My Lai village from the hotel. Have a short visit and talk to locals about the massacre of more than 504 locals in 1968. Continue riding 35 km on hilly roads to Chau O and transfer to Tam Ky before having lunch in town. After lunch, ride on back roads, passing by white dunes. Cycle on broken track trails along the ocean to fish farms. Then continue biking to Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.

Summary

Cycling Distance: 75 km cycling

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Venus Hotel

Day 06: Hoi An – Free Day (B )

Free day to visit Hoi An on your own. Stay one more night in Hoi An

Summary

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Venus Hotel

Day 07: Hoi An – Hue (B/L/)

Van/bus takes you out of Hoi An, have a little time to warm up your body before pedaling uphill to the peak of Hai Van pass. Then travel by back roads to the ocean, cycling through fishing villages and an ancient burial ground of Hue (called a “ghost city” by the locals), to Hue city. Another option, keep biking on little country roads to Hue city.

Summary

Cycling Distance: 80 km cycling

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Asia Hotel

Day 08: Hue – Phong Nha Cave (B/L/D)

This morning we will visit the forbidden city, the capital of Vietnam from the 17th to 20th centuries, and visit the Thien Mu pagoda before transferring out of Hue to Dong Ha and the afternoon we will cycle on the Ho Chi Minh Trails to Phong Nha National Park

Summary

Cycling Distance: 70 km cycling

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Sai Gon -Phong Nha Hotel

Day 09: Phong Nha Cave – Huong Khe (B/L/D)

Explore Phong Nha Cave in the early morning. Continue riding on the Ho Chi Minh Trail to Huong Khe. Ride nearly 70 km of winding roads up the Truong Son mountain range to Phong Nha. From here, if time permitting–cycle gentle rolling hills to Huong Ke Town.

Summary

Cycling Distance: 70 km cycling

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Duc Tai Hotel

Day 10 : Huong Khe – Vinh City (B/L/D)

In the morning, ride to Dong Loc, the T-junction, which has become unforgettable memorial history in the country from 1964-to 1972, when soldiers, young volunteers, cadres, and workers guaranteed safe transport to the battlefield. Many people from different localities laid down their lives. In particular, the death of 10 young volunteer girls at Dong Loc T-junction has come to symbolize the patriotism of the era. Now, the Dong Loc T-junction relic has become a commemorative area for the national young volunteer force. In the afternoon, ride to Vinh City.

Summary

Cycling Distance: 70 km cycling

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Beijing Hotel

Day 11 : Vinh City – Thai Hoa (B/L/D)

Today, we have a chance to visit Uncle Ho’s house. Nam Dan district, Kiem Lien village is not only the homeland of Ho Chi Minh but also the hometown of many anti-colonist leaders. Ride on the new Ho Chi Minh highway to Kiem Lien village via Tan Ky and Do Luong. Visit Uncle Ho’s house in the afternoon, and have a short drive to Thai Hoa Town. Overnight in Thai Hoa Hotel.

Summary

Cycling Distance: 80 km cycling

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Thaihoa Riverside

Day 12 : Thai Hoa – Ngoc Lac ( B/L/D )

Early morning starts to beat the heat of the day. The route takes us away from the river and appears to contour through the same range of mountains that stretch from Thai Hoa to Ngoc Lac on Ho Chi Minh trails. The road gets more beautiful the closer you ride to Ngoc Lac with looming karst limestone cliffs and lush vegetation. The route is tarmac all the way but quite hard riding due to the undulating terrain. We ride for the first time on the newly built two-lane Ho Chi Minh Highway. It hardly warrants two lanes as there is no traffic! The road makes for smooth fast riding, and for those who prefer there is always the old highway dirt and gravel – that weaves around the new highway allowing for plenty of exploring possibilities along the way. Ride to Muc Son, on the banks of River Song Chu. On the outskirts of this small town are the famous Kan Linh historical relics – a pagoda where the first king of the Ly dynasty, Le Thai To, ruled, in 1428. Continue riding on the trail to Yen Cat. The distance covered today is quite long and there will be the chance to transfer some sections by the backup vehicle to rest weary legs. There are fewer villages today as the route cuts through forests and jungle lunch en route. Overnight in Ngoc Lac.

Summary

Cycling Distance: 90 km cycling

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Gold Time Hotel

Day 13 : Ngoc Lac  – Mai Chau ( B , L , D )

Breakfast at the local restaurant and cycle through the village house before setting off along a spectacularly beautiful river valley towards Hoi Xuan along an undulating tarmac road. The road follows the flow of River Song Ma. This is an old supply route of the HCM Trail that fed the main trail with ammunitions during the American War with Vietnam.. just passing scenes of local village life and rice paddies. . Arrive Mai Chau villages and overnight in the homestay of white Thai ethnic.

Summary

Cycling Distance: 90 km cycling

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Thai Homestay

Day 14 : Mai Chau – Hanoi ( B , L )

Breakfast and short walking around the Thai villages and transfer to Cao Phong’s picturesque landscapes. Start to cycle to Bai Chao village via Kim Boi hot spring and Bai Chao villages. Lunch at a local restaurant. cycling to Luong Son. Transfer by van to the hotel in Hanoi, Today let you explore dinner on your own.

Summary

Cycling Distance: 50 km cycling

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: ATS hotel

Day 15:  Hanoi City Tour and Night train to Lao Cai ( B, L, D )

Breakfast and full day Hanoi city tour,  Visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple to start sampling the delicious street food, or visit the Museum of Ethnology and find out more about the homes and lives of Vietnam’s ethnic communities. Ho Chi Minh complex, Dong Xuan market, and Transfer from your hotel to Hanoi Railway Station for the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight in AC soft sleeper cabin.

Summary

Transfer hotel – railway station:  AC vehicle

Accommodation:   Soft sleeper in AC cabin

Meals:    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16:  Transfer to Sapa – Trek to Lao Chai and Tavan Village ( B, L, D )

Arrive in Lao Cai around 6.00 am. We will take 1hr bus ride uphill to the beautiful town of Sapa. The ride gives you a glimpse of the stunning vistas and impressive rice terraces. Upon arrival in Sapa Town, we have breakfast in a local restaurant and prepare for a great trek down to the picturesque valley of Muong Hoa. We will walk on small paths and trails to reach Tavan Village, where we will have a unique homestay experience among hill tribe people. Picnic lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight in the local house.

Summary

Transfer Lao Cai – Sapa: 45 mins

Trekking:   5-hr trek/dirt paths/downhill

Accommodation:  Home-stay

Meals:    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17: Trek to Ban Ho Village ( B, L, D )

We will have breakfast in the local house before embarking upon another day of adventure. Today we will trek across mountains, bamboo forests, terraces, and streams to reach Ban Ho Village, a beautiful village at a lower altitude. Picnic lunch by the stream before moving on to Ban Ho. Dinner and overnight in n local house.

Summary

Trekking:   5-hr trek/dirt paths/downhill

Accommodation:  Home-stay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18: Trek/drive to Sapa – Night train to Hanoi ( B )

After breakfast, we leave Ban Ho for Sapa. We will trek shortly to the dirt road for a jeep ride back to Sa Pa. Back in the town we can take shower and change clothes in the hotel. Free at leisure in the afternoon. We can explore the town on foot and have a great shopping time in Sapa market. In the late afternoon, we transfer to Lao Cai for our dinner before taking an express night train back to Hanoi.

Summary

Transfer Ban Ho Village – Sapa: 45-min jeep ride

Trekking:    40-min trek/ascent

Accommodation:  Soft sleeper in AC cabin

Meals: Breakfast

Day 19: Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise and Kayaking ( B, L, D )

Train arrival around 6 AM. Pick up at a local restaurant for breakfast and coffee and Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay at 8.00 am. On the way, we will have a short break for refreshment at a handicraft center. Upon arrival in Halong City, we board a luxury junk for a fine seafood lunch and a short cruise to Thien Cung Cave. After a short exploration of the cave, we start our exploration of the bay paddling through an amazing area of limestone islets. We will pass a floating village to reach Luon Cave, which is a tunnel thrusting through a mountain. Paddling through the tunnel to explore a beautiful secluded lagoon. We will meet in front of the cave. Aboard the junk for dinner and overnight in AC, private cabin.

Summary

Transfer Hanoi – Halong Bay: 3.5 hrs

Kayaking: 2.0 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Twin shared cabin

Day 20: Kayaking Halong Bay ( B , L, D )

After breakfast, we start paddling to Van Chai Floating village and then continue paddling to Dark Cave. Tide permitting, we explore this amazing cave by kayak. The cave is a 200m long, dark tunnel thrusting through a limestone mountain. The tunnel is the only entry to a secluded and beautiful lagoon. We can also explore some other caves nearby. Lunch on a support boat in front of the cave. After lunch we paddle to Ba Trai Dao Lagoon, along a stunning and fairly rough sea channel, to explore its beautiful beaches. Continue paddling to Lan Ha Bay, which is smaller than Halong Bay but much more interesting with lots of secluded beaches. Cruise back to Halong Bay for dinner and overnight on the mother boat.

Summary

Kayaking:  6 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:  Twin shared cabin

Day 21: Halong Bay – Hanoi ( B, L, D )

Breakfast on the junk and enjoy the sundeck of the junk while she navigates the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay to get back to Halong City. Lunch on the junk before heading back to Hanoi by bus. End The Tour, Meals: Breakfast and lunch on mother boat.

Summary

Cruising: 3 hrs

Transfer Halong Bay – Hanoi:  3.5 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, FAREWELL DINNER

Accommodation:  Hotel 3*

Note on client safety: We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village, or for any other factor which may influence client safety.