Remote Vietnam and Laos by Bike

Day 1 Meet in Hanoi

We meet in Vietnam's elegant capital of Hanoi. You have time to explore the many interesting districts of the city on your own before we gather for dinner and a trip briefing.

Le Jardin Hotel Haute Couture
Dinner

Day 2 Hanoi - Tam Coc

With our first day on the bike, we explore the countryside and local artisans. We have a short transfer out of the city to avoid traffic and start with a lovely ride on a dyke along the Red River, a perfect quiet place to get used to cycling in Vietnam. Our first stop will be Bat Trang, known for its handmade ceramics, with its varied and interesting pottery. We then cycle south into the heart of the delta, passing through many traditional villages and rice fields. We have a two-hour transfer to lunch in Tam Coc. In the afternoon, we board a boat for a leisurely cruise on the Ngo Dong River and float through three natural caves, the largest of which is 125 m long. Sit back, relax, and see rural Vietnam from a different perspective, taking in the dramatic limestone karsts jutting out from the green rice fields. After our scenic boat ride, we disembark and transfer back to our hotel.

Tam Coc Rice Fields Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 59km
+143m
-148m

Day 3 Tam Coc - Cuc Phuong

We start cycling from our hotel in Tam Coc for a flat ride to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of the Dinh and Ly dynasties 1,000 years ago. The route is stunning as you pass green rice fields amongst surreal karst mountains. After a stop to visit Dinh Le Temple, built in the shape of a Chinese character in the 17th century, we continue pedalling along the Hoang Long River through some impressive landscape. The first 35 km are flat and then we'll have some small climbs up to the park, but they are all short. Upon arrival at Cuc Phuong, Vietnam's largest national park, we visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre, where a wide variety of native monkeys and gibbons, including critically endangered langurs, were saved from wildlife smugglers and are being rehabilitated to return to the wild.

Vedana Ninh Binh Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 69km
+218m
-139m

Day 4 Cuc Phuong National Park - Mai Chau

After breakfast, we transfer into Cuc Phuong Park for a look at the awe-inspiring natural beauty preserved here. We then cycle out of the park under a cathedral of great trees, emerging into the local farm country. After lunch, we transfer to Lanh An, where we continue cycling on a small tarmac road with dramatic mountain scenery along the Buoi River. We cycle past local villages of Muong people and their fields of rice, corn, cassava, and sugarcane. Arrive in the hushed valley town of Mai Chau with plenty of time to enjoy a dip in the pool or the sunset view from your balcony at our elegant lodge. In addition to the majority Viet ethnic group, this region is also home to Hmong, Thai, Tay, Muong, Dao and Hoa people, and you will see their distinctive architecture, costumes, and handicrafts throughout.

Mai Chau Eco Lodge
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 94km
+723m
-926m

Day 5 Mai Chau - Quan Son

After breakfast, take a guided stroll around Mai Chau Valley, where we can admire the superb panorama surrounded by a green valley and rustic villages, and perhaps mingle with some of the local farmers. Back at the hotel, we check out, hop on the bikes, and cycle along the valley floor beside the fast-flowing waters of a tributary of Song Ma (Horse River). Reaching the main river, we continue on rolling terrain until Dong Tam. We have a picnic lunch en route at a stilt house of ethnic Thai people. Once we reach Dong Tam, we will load up the bikes and transfer 35 km to our hotel in Quan Son.

Mien Tay Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 60km
+726m
-826m

Day 6 Quan Son- Na Meo Border - Vieng Xai

This morning, we will transfer 53 km to the border, where we'll be met by our Laos guides to prepare for the portion of our bicycle tour in Laos. We acquaint ourselves with our new bikes and start our ride to Vieng Xay. This is our biggest day of climbing, as we will reach an elevation of 1,000 m over several sustained climbs. The scenery is fabulous on these roads that pass along streams and through karst landscapes interspersed with rice paddies. Our destination today is historic Vieng Xai, once the war-time headquarters of Laos’ communists, famous for its remarkable landscape of karst limestones honeycombed with caves that were used as shelter during the relentless bombing raids. Along the way, we’ll see a number of historic caves, including the Lao-Cuban Hospital Cave.

Local Guesthouse
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 58km
+2170m
-1631m

Day 7 Vieng Xai - Xam Neua

After breakfast, we head to the Vieng Xai Caves Visitor Centre to learn about the geology of the region and embark on an audio tour. The Vieng Xai Caves are an extensive network of caves in limestone mountains. Four hundred and eighty of these caves were used by the Communist Party army to shelter from American air raids during the Second Indochina War, also known as the Vietnam War or the American War, depending on who is recounting the history. We use our bikes to get from cave to cave and then walk through caves while listening to the commentary and audio effects. After lunch, we get back on the saddle and cycle to Xam Neua, Houaphanh’s provincial capital, through a number of traditional ethnic villages.

Xayphasouk Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 35km
+927m
-852m

Day 8 Transfer to Bankhoua & Nam Nern Night Safari

We take a break from the bicycles and go on a different type of adventure: a safari within the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area. The area is known for its forest, high level of biodiversity, and endangered species, including tiger, gaur, Sambar deer, and white-cheeked gibbon. We transfer from Xam Neua to the starting point of this adventure in Ban Sonkhoua. Along the way, we stop to see the 100-m long cascade over rock slabs of Saleuy Waterfall. When dusk comes, we head out for wildlife-spotlighting down the Nam Nern River on long-tail boats that drift downriver for the best chances of spotting wild animals. We overnight at simple but well-appointed bamboo huts with the sounds of the jungle surrounding us.

Nam Nern Eco Lodge
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Ban Sonkhoua - Meuang Kham

After breakfast, boats will float us back to Ban Sonkhoua, where we get on our bikes to start riding again. Today is all about magnificent downhills (though of course there is some significant climbing included, as well)! Our first spectacular descent will bring us to lunch on the Nam Nern riverbank in Ban Sop Lao. After lunch, we transfer to Ban Souanmon, from which we’ll cycle through the mountains towards our second outstanding descent onto the Xieng Khouang Plateau. The day ends at Ban Xang Hot Springs, where we’ll be staying the night in hotel perfectly placed beside the springs in this scenic jungle landscape.

Asa Hot Spring Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 68km
+2116m
-2893m

Day 10 Meuang Kham - Phonsavanh

After a hot spring bath and breakfast, we start our traverse of the plateau, which is home to the mysterious Plain of Jars, a World Heritage site. We ride through numerous villages and have an overall gradual climb for the first part of the day as we end up at 1200 m from our start point of 500 m. We stop along the way to cool off at the pretty Tad Ka Waterfall and its surrounding trails. Once we reach the plateau, the landscape changes from jungle to grassy plains. This area was one of the most heavily bombed in Laos and evidence of unexploded ordinances (UXO) is everywhere. Resourceful locals use bomb casings and other remnants, putting them to use as fences, tools, vegetable planters, decorations, and barbecues.

Vansana Plain of Jars Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 80km
+1781m
-1151m

Day 11 Plain of Jars

We cycle to visit the mysterious prehistoric Plain of Jars and learn the many theories as to their origins. We start with a visit to Site 1, where there are also many visible bomb craters, and continue to Site 2, where the jars are set up on a hillside. We have lunch at Site 2, and then you have the option of cycling the 20 km back to town or taking the bus. You have the afternoon free to visit the MAG Office-UXO Visitor Information Centre to watch their movie for a fascinating insight into the legacy of the war that devastated this remote region. There are numerous restaurants in town, and you can choose which you prefer as dinner is on your own tonight.

Vansana Plain of Jars Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch
Ride 38km
+423m
-436m

Day 12 Phonsavanh - Phou Khoun

Today is a satisfying but relatively flat ride east across rolling terrain to Nongtang, a large natural lake surrounded by high limestone cliffs and rings of a temple, where we stop and walk around this body of water in its strange surroundings. Local legend has it that at the bottom of the lake, there is a village that was submerged by the gods as retribution for the killing of a forbidden deer. After lunch along the Nam Chat River, we have a gradual climb to finish off the ride. We then transfer the final 70 km to Phou Khoun. We arrive in time for you to enjoy the sunset and the stunning view from your guesthouse.

Sala Phou Khoun
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 63km
+928m
-642m

Day 13 Phou Khoun - Luang Prabang

We have an overall descent to Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the banks of the Mekong River. For those that want to cycle more, they can leave early from the guesthouse and be picked up 32 km along the route. We then all transfer up 20 km to our starting point. Soon after, we have a glorious 18-km descent to Ban Khoua Nam Ming. Here we have lunch and prepare for a less intense 14-km gradual post-lunch ascent. We have one more swooping downhill before we are down on the rolling flats, gliding into charming Luang Prabang. After freshening up at our riverside guesthouse, we head out to this serene, temple-filled town to have our last dinner together.

Sala Prabang
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 48km
+1311m
-1850m

Day 14 Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Loop

The final day of the tour in Laos consists of a leisurely bike ride to Pak Ou for a visit to the striking limestone Tham Ting and Tham Teung Caves, set in a cliff at the confluence of the Ou and Mekong rivers. The sacred caves are packed with thousands of Buddha images. On the cycle there, we stop at Ban Xang Hai, where you get to watch Lao rice wine production and do some sampling too! After lunch at Ban Pak Ou, we’ll be returning to Luang Prabang by boat. We return to town around 3 pm so you can prepare for your onward journey. Those looking to extend their trip can explore northern Laos, or head back to Vietnam to spend some time beachside at Nha Trang or riverside at Vang Vieng!

Breakfast, Lunch
Ride 30km
+293m
-368m

Disclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.