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Vietnam: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: TVXA
Overview
Destination:
Vietnam,
Start:Hanoi, Vietnam
Finish:Hanoi, Vietnam
Finish:Hanoi, Vietnam
Duration:11 days
Type:Group tour (max 12)
Travel Period
March 2025 - December 2028
The spectacular valleys and mountains of Vietnam were simply made for active exploration. On this 11-day adventure, you’ll put on your hiking shoes and get ready for an immersive journey that gets away from the bright lights of Hanoi and under the skin of Vietnam's bucolic countryside. In between trekking and cycling through lush landscapes, you’ll stop in at local villages and learn about traditional life, spending the night in rural homestays. After cycling through the valleys of Mai Chau and Ninh Binh and getting your heart rate up on Sapa’s hiking trails, you’ll head to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cat Ba Island and kayak across the turquoise waters of Lan Ha Bay. Spend a night in a waterside resort in the bay and make the most of every sunset, before heading back to Hanoi and indulging in street food.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. It is very important that you provide your height at time of booking so we can ensure that you have the appropriate sized bicycle when your trip starts. If you do not provide your height ahead of arrival we cannot guarantee a suitably sized bike for you.
2. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 2 (Sapa homestay) and Day 6 (Mai Chau homestay) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. Helmets are compulsory and we do not allow anyone to ride without one. You can bring your own to ensure fit and quality, or purchase one that meets international safety standards on the ground. Your leader can assist with this.
2. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 2 (Sapa homestay) and Day 6 (Mai Chau homestay) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. Helmets are compulsory and we do not allow anyone to ride without one. You can bring your own to ensure fit and quality, or purchase one that meets international safety standards on the ground. Your leader can assist with this.
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Standard inclusions
- Meals: Meals: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners.
- Transport: Private minibus, Bicycle, Boat.
- Accommodation: Hotel (5 nights), Homestay (3 nights), Lodge (2 nights).
- Lam Thuong- Community Village Walk.
- Lam Thuong – Waterfall hike.
- Sapa - Lao Chai to Ta Van trek & Homestay.
- Sapa - Ta Van to Su Pan trek.
- Hanoi - Temple of Literature.
- Hanoi - Old Quarter Walking Tour.
- Hanoi - West Lake bike ride.
- Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex.
- Hanoi - Temple of Literature.
- Mai Chau - Pom Coong Village visit & traditional lunch.
- Mai Chau - Cycling.
- Mai Chau to Ninh Binh cycling.
- Cat Ba Island - Kayaking.
- Cat Ba Island - Boat trip on Lan Ha Bay.
Itinerary
Expand all 
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Collapse allDay 1: Hanoi
Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins in Hanoi with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, why not head out and discover Hanoi at your own pace. Take a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and visit Ngoc Son Temple, start sampling the delicious street food or visit the Museum of Ethnology to find out more about the homes and lives of Vietnam’s ethnic communities. After the welcome meeting, you might like to join your group for an optional dinner at one of Hanoi's fantastic restaurants or streetside eateries.
Day 2: Lam Thuong Community Stay
After breakfast this morning, escape the city and board a private minibus to the small village of Lam Thuong – a community-based tourism project designed to empower and bring positive impact for Vietnam’s ethnic minorities. When you arrive, head out on a walk through the village to a traditional 50-year-old Tay home to learn about the Tay people's culture. Then, head straight out on a hike to a waterfall with a local from the community guiding you through the jungle. After the hike, you'll enjoy a home-cooked dinner with your hosts using local ingredients. Tonight you'll stay in one of the village's stilt houses with beautiful views across the valley.
Day 3: Hiking in Sapa/Lao Chai
Start the day early and drive to the town of Sapa, the starting point for today’s trek. You’ll stop for lunch and photo ops along the way before arriving in Lao Chai. From here, join your local guide and start your hike into the heart of the Vuon Quoc via Hoang Lien State Park, trekking through the dramatic landscapes of rural Vietnam on a trek to Ta Van. Along the way, you'll pass by terraced farms ripe with corn and rice, over brooks and through villages. When you arrive in the small village, sit down for a well-earned home-cooked dinner and settle into your local family homestay.
Day 4: Hiking in Su Pan
This morning you’ll trek to Su Pan before taking some time to rest your feet on a bus ride back to Sapa. In the afternoon, the group returns to Hanoi, giving you a chance to rest, take a nap or play some road trip games with your fellow travellers. When you arrive back in Hanoi, maybe seek a bird's eye view of the city from one of the popular rooftop bars or stop street side for dinner and unwind with one of the famed iced coffees.
Day 5: Cycling in Hanoi
Vietnam's capital is best explored on foot, so this morning your group will head out on a city walking tour. See the final resting place of Vietnam's revered revolutionary at Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Museum before stopping by the Temple of Literature. Although the shrine was originally built in the 11th century and is therefore considered to be the city's oldest temple, the current structure and shrine to Confucius date back to the 18th century. This afternoon, jump on a bike for a leisurely cycling trip around Hanoi's West Lake. Tonight you’ll have free time to grab some Bahn Mi or Bun Cha (noodles with grilled meat) for dinner.
Day 6: Cycling in Mai Chau
Leave Hanoi behind this morning and jump on your bike for a cycling trip to the Mai Chau Valley. There are some great photo opportunities along the way, including the viewpoint of Mai Chau – home to a variety of minority groups with their own unique cultures and languages. You’ll also have the opportunity to help local farmers plant rice seeds into the fields! Arrive in Mai Chau and head to the village of Pom Coong, where your local guide will introduce you to your hosts for lunch, and provide information on the region's people, lifestyles, customs and culture. This is a great opportunity to experience the local area, chat with your hosts and gain a real insight into life in this region. After lunch, you’ll have some free time before saddling up for another cycling trip to the nearby villages. Back at the homestay tonight, relax with a cold drink while watching the sun set over the mountains.
Day 7: Cycling in Ninh Binh
After breakfast this morning, you’ll set out again on your bike on a cycling trip from Mai Chau to Ninh Binh – a region well known for its lush green valleys, karst mountains and conservation areas. Ride through more paddy fields, testing your riding skills (or suspension) with shallow potholes and passing farmers drawn by water buffalo. After a day riding through green fields, small villages and waterways, you’ll have a free evening to recharge.
Day 8: Cat Ba Island
Catch a bus this morning from Ninh Binh to Hai Phong, then jump on a ferry to Cat Ba Island. This island sits at the southeastern edge of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay. Lan Ha Bay, where Cat Ba can be found, is part of Ha Long Bay but with the additional attraction of white-sand beaches. When you arrive, check in to your peaceful hilltop accommodation and soak up a free afternoon by taking it easy in a hammock. Alternatively, you can opt to keep your heart rate up with a hike or a trip to the beach.
Day 9: Kayaking around Cat Ba Island
Explore the waters and limestone karsts of Lan Ha Bay on a full-day boat trip today. Get up close to the karsts on a short kayak paddle in the still waters beside the tree-clad outcrops – Ha Long Bay's World Heritage designation was extended to the Cat Ba archipelago due to its similar aesthetic of turquoise water and junk boats that are a quintessential picture of Vietnam – and, there are less tourists here, too! You’ll have lunch aboard the boat, with plenty of opportunities for a cheeky selfie. Spend a second night on Cat Ba Island tonight, with the evening free to visit the local restaurants and bars.
Day 10: Hanoi
Say goodbye to Cat Ba Island this morning and head back to Hanoi. Arrive in the late afternoon and make the most of your free time – maybe head down to the markets for some last-minute souvenir shopping or visit one of the city's many museums or historical sites. The Fine Arts Museum and Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison are good options. In the evening, why not head out for a farewell dinner with your group and toast the end of this amazing active adventure.
Day 11: Hanoi
There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation. There's plenty to see if you'd like to continue exploring Hanoi or further afield – maybe hop onto an Urban Adventure tonight and discover more of Hanoi's street food scene.
Departure dates
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Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.
Important Information
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Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
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