Vietnam trails of mountain bike

TRAILS OF TONKIN ALPES  MOUNTAIN BIKE VIETNAM ( 75% off road)     TRIP HIGHLIGHTS This extreme 10 days trip takes you to the very heart of the north Vietnam mountain . You will discover some of the finest cycling trails in Vietnam has to offer. Beginning in  Hanoi , we will cycle and climb five major passes from 1,500m to 1,800m.   This allows you to reach one of the most delightful parts of the Northern Top in Vietnam where you'll find big rolling hills, great views and speedy open descents with good sight lines. A single track  in the middle reminds you what real mountain biking is all about.  At its end, it lands you on a steady climb that takes you over some grand hill tops and more amazing views for some excellent descending . With enough left in the legs the day can be rounded off by dragging yourself up and ripping down trails.  By that stage in the day they are usually are pretty empty. The images below were taken on a series of visits.They say more than I could about the type of riding and atmosphere on the route.  There's no doubt I'll be returning just as many times.  We are supported by a sturdy transit van on the main road , motorbike  is perfectly equipped support for the terrain . Some day we not riding from hotel to hotel  but not an entirely comfortable passenger vehicle and participants should sign up expecting to ride as much of the tour as they can. This trip is 8/10 difficult mountain bike with off road ,terrain, dirt trails , single track, tough.... That is  REAL mountain bike Vietnam  trip.

Itinerary Day 1   Hanoi- Yen Bai : (L,D) ( riding 90km) Meet in hotel ( 7: 00AM), driving out of Hanoi city. Start riding ,It’s a fascinating ride past many minority villages as we climb onto a higher plateau. We ride pass of rice field and tea plantations before arriving in the Doan Hung for lunch, continue biking to Yen Bai city. Dinner and  overnight in Hotel in Yen bai. Day 2 Day2: (B,L,D) YenBai-LaoCai ( riding 85 km) After breakfast we start riding on bank of Red river o Lao Cai. About 40 km off road track (pretty wide) start climbing on the left. After many villages and a beautiful narrow suspension bridge, we enjoy a long single track section, starting on terraces by long climb, leading to an off road pass (about 300m of elevation) and finishing on a long downhill through waterfalls and rain forest. Lunch with noodle soup and breads, fruits, tea coffee.Then we get to the asphalt where the minibus is waiting at BaoHa , take  long transfer (35’) to LaoCai. Night in Hotel in Lao Cai Day 3 Laocai-Bac Ha. Distance ride : +- 42 Km. D+: 1250m   D -: 500m, 80% off road, dirt road, trails, single track uphill Overnight in CongFu hotel or same standard. Day 4 Bac ha-  XinMan - Hoang Su Phi. Distance ride : +- 50 Km. D+: 1100m   D-: 1600m, 80% off road, dirt road, single track.. clients start biking directly from hotel, climb above Bac Ha through Di Thau. Then ride off road in the mountain on a wide track to a mountain pass and long asphalt downhill to Xin man. People motivated and very feet can ride all the stage long to Suphi (35 Km).. Overnight in HoangSuPhi.   Day 5 Hoang Su phi - Ha Giang. Distance ride : +- 50Km. D+: 1100m   D-: 1230m, single track, 100% off road. About 5 Km, an off road track (pretty wide) start climbing on the left. After many villages and a beautiful narrow suspension bridge, we enjoy a long single track section, starting on terraces by long climb, leading to an off road pass (about 1300m of elevation) and finishing on a long downhill through waterfalls and rain forest. Lunch with noodle soup and breads, fruits, tea coffee.Then we get to the asphalt where the minibus is waiting at Vang Luong , take  short transfer (35’) to HaGiang. Night in Hotel in HaGiang Day 6 Hagiang - Quan Ba. Distance: +-80Km. D+: 1500m   D-: 1330m, 10 % off road After breakfast, We cycle up to the Quan BA, after 21 km on the asphalt road, We start with a relatively hard of 27km off road with 7 km  ride uphill, then we stat climb some mountain pass until we get on the top of Quan Ba pass, 1,230 m . Before we hit the first of two major down hill. As we start the down hill, we slowly start to witness the beauty of Quan Ba highland . Night in very basic hotel in Quan Ba. Day 7   Quan ba - BacMe. Distance: 55 Km .  D+: 1500m.  D-: 1600m. 90% off road  Today we head for Bac Me , Van will transfer biker to Mau due  and we stat  biking an off road, the road is car track, broken road, some part are very bad but we are biking in the most of beautiful track in South East Asia, that is truly off road . Final transfer (25 or 30Km) in minibus to Bac Me. Night in very basic hotel in Bac Me. Day 8 Bac Me- Babe lake: Distance : 55 km. D + 600m, D - 600m, 40% off road   Day9 Ba Be - Vinh Loc( Chiem hoa ). Distance: 53 Km (73 Km if start riding in Ba Be Guest House). D+: 450m.   D-: 300m. 20 km off road, 20 km single track  Night at hotel and dinner at restaurant.   Day10 Vinh Loc -  Tuyen Quang- Hanoi Distance: 45 Km.  D+: 300 m.   D-: 350m. 100% off road , single track. Pm driving back to Hanoi. Overnight in hotel in Hanoi. End of service. Extension tour , 2 days sleep in wooden boat in Halong bay = from 190 to 450 USD one cabin for 2 people with  lunch, dinner , breakfast , Shuttle bus around trip . Hotel recommend before and after trip in Rising Drangon Place hotel : http://risingdragonhotel.com  price from 25 USD up to 50USD/room ( including breakfast , tax )  for twin, single, double room. Email us for details itinerary: info@bikingvietnam.com: bikingvietnam@mail.com

Tour overview Tour Cost Group Size  2 group tour Price /person 1,485 USD 1,200 USD Note: Prices are based per person, double occupancy, with a separate cost for solo travelers. If you are traveling in a group but prefer single accommodations, a single supplement fee applies. Triple accommodations are not available in many of the destinations we visit. Best time to go Start End Prices in US$ 6/Dec/2013 14/Dec/2012 1,199 20/Dec/2013 29/Dec/2012 1,249 12/Jan/2014 21/Jan/2013 1,249 21/Jan/2014 29/Jan/2013 1,259 29/Jan/2014 8/Feb/2013 1,259 10/Feb/2014 19/Feb/2013 1,259 20/Feb/2014 01/Mar/2013 1,259 4/Mar/2014 13/Mar/2013 1,259 20/Oct/2013 28/Oct/2012 1,199 1/Dec/2013 10/Dec/2012 1,199  WHAT'S INCLUDED English speaking local guide Accommodations in  home stays and  local hotel around trip as mention ( some hotel very basic standard ) Meals as noted : B= breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner Drink as water, coffee, tea, energy drink by nutritional gel, juice  for cycling tour. Sightseeing and activities as noted in the itinerary Ground transportation with 100% stand by Additional guides where necessary Entrance fees and permits Basic medical WHAT NOT International airfare; meals not noted on itinerary; Vietnam visa; insurance other than basic medical ; optional tipping to leader, guides and local staff; excess baggage charges; international airport taxes; cost of medical immunizations; items of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.). Bike Hire Cannondale F2 lefty pay 180 USD whole trip Cannondale F3 Fatty pay 140USD whole trip    Full suspension Cannondale RZ one twenty 3 pay 200USD for whole trip   Bikes suggest :  XC Race, Freeride , All mountain  If you bring your bike please ensure that you bike is in good working order before you leave on tour. If you are not the most mechanically minded we suggest that you get your bike looked at by a professional bike mechanic. In particularly we would suggest looking and adjusting all wheel spokes, greasing all your bearings, checking your brakes/gears cable, tighten all nuts and bolts, check chain, quick release clamps, tires and put in new inner tubes and check wheel rims are not worn. In addition make sure the bike is well serviced and ride it with as much care and attention as possible.