18 Oct 2026
Twin share
£1,060pp
Escorted tour
Cycle Northern Vietnam: Mai Chau, Pu Luong & Ha Long Bay – 8 Days
Hanoi, Mai Chau, Pu Luong and Cuc Phuong by bike, with homestays and a night on Ha Long Bay, in a group of up to 16.
8 days
From £896
Tour overview
This 8-day small-group cycling trip explores the mountains, valleys and rice paddies of northern Vietnam by bike, ending with a night on the water among the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay. Groups have up to 16 travellers aged 15 and over, with a leader throughout and a support vehicle carrying luggage and backing up the riders. You stay seven nights: four in hotels, two in traditional stilt-house homestays with shared rooms, separate beds and mosquito nets, and one on an overnight boat in Ha Long Bay. Breakfast is included daily, with several home-cooked lunches and dinners with your host families.
The trip starts in Hanoi, where a guided ride takes you through the capital's streets and around its lakes, an exhilarating introduction to Vietnamese traffic. A bus then takes you to Hoa Binh, where you get on your bike and ride into the valley of Mai Chau, home to the White Thai people, to stay in a stilt house in a village surrounded by rice fields.
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From Mai Chau you cycle through Mai Hai and on into Pu Luong Nature Reserve, a beautiful area of terraced paddies, bamboo forests and limestone peaks, for a second homestay night. Two rides the next day bring you to Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam's first national park, a lush area of primary forest.
A final early morning ride crosses the green countryside of Ninh Binh province, with its limestone karsts rising from the rice fields, before you transfer to Ha Long Bay to board your boat. You cruise among thousands of limestone islands and spend the night on the still waters beneath the stars, before returning to Hanoi for a final free afternoon and farewell evening.
The physical rating is medium, with daily rides on quiet roads and some hills. This trip suits regular cyclists who want to see rural Vietnam at a slower pace and meet local families along the way. Bikes and helmets are provided, and the support vehicle carries luggage and tired riders. You need to be comfortable riding for several hours a day in warm, humid weather. The minimum age is 15.
Trip highlights
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A guided ride around Hanoi (Day 2)
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A stilt-house homestay in Mai Chau (Day 3)
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Riding into Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Day 4)
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Cuc Phuong National Park (Day 5)
-
Ninh Binh's karst countryside (Day 6)
-
A night on a boat in Ha Long Bay (Day 6)
Your route
7 stops from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
- Hanoi Days 1–2 & 7–8
- Hoa Binh Day 3
- Mai Chau Day 3
- Pu Luong Nature Reserve Day 4
- Cuc Phuong National Park Day 5
- Bai Dinh Buddhist Temple Day 6
- Ha Long Bay Day 6
Why choose this tour
Rural northern Vietnam by bike, with two village homestays. A night on Ha Long Bay to finish.
Best suited to
- Regular cyclists
- Travellers short on time
- Active travellers who enjoy local life
- Solo travellers looking for a group
Day-by-day itinerary
8 days from Hanoi, Vietnam to Hanoi, Vietnam
-
Day 1 · Hanoi Arrive in Hanoi
A welcome meeting.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 2 · Hanoi Hanoi by bike
A guided ride around the capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 3 · Hoa Binh, Mai Chau Mai Chau
Bus to Hoa Binh and ride into Mai Chau.
- Hotel
- Stilt-house homestay
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 · Mai Hai, Pu Luong Nature Reserve Pu Luong
Cycle into the nature reserve.
- Hotel
- Stilt-house homestay
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5 · Cuc Phuong National Park Cuc Phuong
Two rides to Vietnam's first national park.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 6 · Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay Ninh Binh to Ha Long Bay
A final ride, then a night on the bay.
- Hotel
- Overnight boat
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 7 · Ha Long Bay, Hanoi Back to Hanoi
Cruise back and return to Hanoi.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 8 · Hanoi Trip ends
The trip ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Hanoi (2 nights) Hotel
- Mai Chau (1 night) Stilt-house homestay
- Pu Luong (1 night) Stilt-house homestay
- Cuc Phuong (1 night) Hotel
- Ha Long Bay (1 night) Overnight boat
- Hanoi (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 4 nights in hotels, 2 in homestays and 1 on a boat
- Meals 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners
- Bike hire and support vehicle
- Guided Hanoi ride
- Homestays in Mai Chau and Pu Luong
- Cuc Phuong National Park and Ninh Binh
- Ha Long Bay overnight cruise
- Leader throughout
Not included
- International flights
- Vietnam visa
- Meals not included 3 lunches and 4 dinners
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You have never cycled — rides include hills
- You want private rooms every night — homestays have shared rooms
- You want luxury — accommodation is simple
- You want international flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–8 · Lunch: Days 3–5 · Dinner: Days 3–4 and 6
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £896 per person, twin share, tour only. 49 upcoming departures.
01 Nov 2026
Twin share
£896pp
22 Nov 2026
Twin share
£1,135pp
27 Dec 2026
Twin share
£990pp
14 Mar 2027
Twin share
£1,000pp
28 Mar 2027
Twin share
£1,000pp
11 Apr 2027
Twin share
£975pp
18 Apr 2027
Twin share
£1,045pp
16 May 2027
Twin share
£945pp
11 Jul 2027
Twin share
£945pp
08 Aug 2027
Twin share
£945pp
05 Sept 2027
Twin share
£945pp
03 Oct 2027
Twin share
£975pp
17 Oct 2027
Twin share
£975pp
31 Oct 2027
Twin share
£1,000pp
21 Nov 2027
Twin share
£1,000pp
26 Dec 2027
Twin share
£975pp
30 Jan 2028
Twin share
£940pp
20 Feb 2028
Twin share
£940pp
12 Mar 2028
Twin share
£1,050pp
26 Mar 2028
Twin share
£1,070pp
16 Apr 2028
Twin share
£1,050pp
14 May 2028
Twin share
£1,025pp
09 Jul 2028
Twin share
£1,025pp
13 Aug 2028
Twin share
£940pp
17 Sept 2028
Twin share
£940pp
08 Oct 2028
Twin share
£940pp
22 Oct 2028
Twin share
£1,025pp
05 Nov 2028
Twin share
£1,050pp
19 Nov 2028
Twin share
£1,070pp
26 Nov 2028
Twin share
£1,070pp
10 Dec 2028
Twin share
£1,050pp
31 Dec 2028
Twin share
£1,025pp
28 Jan 2029
Twin share
£940pp
18 Feb 2029
Twin share
£940pp
11 Mar 2029
Twin share
£940pp
25 Mar 2029
Twin share
£940pp
15 Apr 2029
Twin share
£940pp
13 May 2029
Twin share
£940pp
08 Jul 2029
Twin share
£940pp
12 Aug 2029
Twin share
£940pp
16 Sept 2029
Twin share
£940pp
07 Oct 2029
Twin share
£940pp
21 Oct 2029
Twin share
£940pp
04 Nov 2029
Twin share
£940pp
18 Nov 2029
Twin share
£940pp
25 Nov 2029
Twin share
£940pp
09 Dec 2029
Twin share
£940pp
30 Dec 2029
Twin share
£940pp
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
How hard is the cycling?
Daily rides on quiet roads with some hills. A support vehicle is on hand.
What are the homestays like?
Traditional stilt houses with shared rooms, separate beds, clean linen and mosquito nets.
Are bikes provided?
Yes, bike hire is included.
Do I need a visa?
UK visitors need an e-visa for Vietnam, applied for online.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 15.
How many people travel together?
Up to 16 travellers, with a leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary