Vietnam N.W
A World Apart…

Overview

redspokes' North West Vietnam bicycle holidays offer some of the country's best cycling terrain. Our cycling itinerary sees virtually no tourists and avoids Vietnam's notorious highways. We journey through a stunning landscape of amazing karst rock formations, stilted houses with thatched roofs and mountains nestled between limestone outcrops.

This region is home to the highest concentration of hill-tribe people in Vietnam. We visit H'mong, Tay, Dao and Xa Pho villages. Vietnam has the richest and most complex ethnic make-up in the whole of South East Asia; their markets and festivals add colour and character to the areas we cycle through. The French colonial rulers dubbed these minorities the "montagnards" meaning high-landers or mountain people. Despite decades of isolation from "outsiders" these traditional hill tribes show a warm, respectful curiosity to strangers.

Now is the perfect time to visit Vietnam; some areas opened to tourism in the late 1980's but it was only in the late 1990s that a lot of the red tape and travel restrictions were removed from Vietnam. The redspokes Vietnam cycling holiday offers challenging mountain biking and a wonderful opportunity to experience the traditional and varied lifestyles of the Vietnamese people.

Our 16 day Vietnam tour includes a 2 day visit to Ha Long Bay.

Following 2 weeks of bicycle cycling a visit to Ha Long bay is a rewarding and unforgettable end to your Vietnam cycling holiday.  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay's exceptional mystical beauty and its biological interest have led to it being described as the eighth wonder of the world. A unique and outstanding seascape featuring thousands of limestone karsts and isles rises out of emerald green seas. The evolution of the Karst in the bay has occurred over 20 million years of tropical climate. Whilst research has shown the presence of prehistoric humans, tens of thousands of years ago, most of the islands are uninhabited and rich with numerous species of flora and fauna.