Biking Mai Chau

This trip offers a great opportunity to see the two area of outstanding nature beauty; the North West highlands of Mai Chau and the limestone mountains of Ninh Binh.

This trip offers a great opportunity to see the two area of outstanding nature beauty; the North West highlands of Mai Chau and the limestone mountains of Ninh Binh.

Biking is a great way to see this fascinating and visually stunning part of Vietnam, offering both physical activity and the unique opportunity to observe a way of life that has changed little over the centuries.

As we ride in Mai Chau we encounter Muong and White Thai minorities and are guests in their traditional stilt houses allowing us to see firsthand how these minority peoples live. In Ninh Binh we explore the beauty of “Halong Bay on the rice fields” on bikes.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1: Overland to Mai Chau/bike to Buoc Village

Leave Hanoi at 8am. We drive southwest to Mai Chau, the gateway to the impressive mountainous area of northern Vietnam. The drive is very nice with stunning view of mountains, valleys, sugarcane farms and rice paddies. We would have a stop en route for refreshment. Upon arrival in Mai Chau we have a lunch stop in Pom Coong, a village of Thai ethnic minority. We will have lunch in a local house. After lunch we embark on a biking on village road to Buoc, a village of Thai minority group. We will have dinner and overnight in a traditional stilt-house of a Thai family.

Summary
Biking: 30km
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay

Day 2: Bike on back road to Mai Chau

Breakfast in the home stay and then we start biking on beautiful country road through scenic villages of Thai minority. We will have lunch in a local house in Xo village. After lunch we continue riding to Pom Coong village. Dinner and overnight in Pom Coong Village.

Summary
Biking: 35km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay

Day 3: Bike/drive to Ninh Binh

Breakfast and free at leisure to cycle around in the Mai Chau valley or shopping for Thai handmade fabric. Lunch in Mai Chau. After lunch we drive to Ninh Binh. Stop on the way for a beautiful ride through country side. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Summary
Biking: 30km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 4: Bike/sightseeing of “Halong Bay on the rice field”/Drive back to Hanoi

Biking from the hotel to Hoa Lu, the first capital of Vietnam date back from 8th century. Visit the temples and climb some hundred steps to the top of a mountain for a great view over the “Halong Bay on the rice field”. After here we bike through an amazing area of limestone mountains uprising on rice paddies. After 1hr riding we reach Tam Coc. Lunch in local restaurant and then enjoy an interesting rowing boat trip on river to explore the Halong Bay on the rice paddies. Drive back to Hanoi. Trip concludes.

Summary
Biking: 22km
Boat trip: 2 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village, or for any other factor which may influence client safety.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Homestay in Mai Chau is simple in term of bedding condition and amenities. We will stay overnight in the traditional house-on-stilts of Thai people and, as the locals do, we will sleep on bamboo floor with mattress, clean sheet, pillows and mosquito nets. Toilet is usually western style.