Vietnam N.E

redspokes North East Vietnam cycling holiday offers challenging riding through a stunning unexplored area. From Vietnam's buzzing capital, Hanoi, we journey to the remote undiscovered Hà Giang region. Beginning in Lao Cai, the border city to China we cycle through a topography of hilly hairpin bends, slopes, ridges, valleys and limestone karsts; the outstanding natural beauty will take your breath away.

Hà Giang is a mountainous region and one of the poorest provinces of Vietnam with a largely agricultural economy. Much of the terrain is too precipitous to farm and covered by forest with dense undergrowth and tumbling streams, waterfalls and pools.

Ethnic Vietnamese, H'Mông, Tày, Dao, Mán, Nùng, Giấy, Lô Lô and Thổ communities populate the area and continue a vibrant, traditional tribal culture.The majority still practice ancestor and spirit worship. Travel around the province can be difficult so we will encounter little in the way of traffic on our cycling adventure.

We visit Bac Ha the largest town in Lao Cai Province and cycle some of the regions remotest border areas up to Hoang Su Phi, the 'Heaven Gate' pass. We enjoy a rest day in Ha Giang market town where dramatic limestone out karsts soar above the town. We continue over the rocky Dong Van plateau, a registered UNESCO Global Geopark, to Meo Vac. Our route here along the Ma Pi Leng Pass is a winding, undulating road that clings precariously to the mountain with dramatic views of the Nho Que River below and theatrical natural acoustics.  Most of the tribes living here have preserved their traditional way of life from outside influence as travelling to Meo Vac was, until recently, almost impossible. Our cycling ends with a tough day through picturesque valley to Nguyen Binh, a beautiful and dramatic end to our journey. We will transfer from here back to Hanoi.

Our 15 day Vietnam tour includes a 2 day visit to Ha Long Bay.

Following 2 weeks of adventure cycling a visit Ha Long bay is a relaxing, memorable way to end redspokes’ Vietnam cycling holiday.  Dubbed ‘the eighth wonder of the world’, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay (meaning Descending Dragon Bay) is an area of exceptional mystical beauty and biological interest.  The bay is a stunning sea scape featuring thousands of limestone karsts and isles topped by rain forest, rising out of emerald green seas. The evolution of the karst in the bay has occurred during 20 million years of tropical climate. Research has shown the presence of prehistoric humans, tens of thousands of years ago, but most of the islands are uninhabited and rich with numerous species of flora and fauna. Stay on board a wooden junk, modelled on traditional Vietnamese court sailing boats, cruise the bay with time to kayak swim and explore the area.