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Vietnam: Hike, Bike & Kayak

11 Days
From CAD $2,135

Best Rate
Guarantee

Trip Type
Small Group

Activity Level
Average

Rating

(20 reviews)

Experience Overview

The spectacular valleys and mountains of Vietnam were simply made for active exploration. On this 11-day adventure, you’ll put on your hiking shoes and get ready for an immersive journey that gets away from the bright lights of Hanoi and under the skin of Vietnam's bucolic countryside. In between trekking and cycling through lush landscapes, you’ll stop in at local villages and learn about traditional life, spending the night in rural homestays. After cycling through the valleys of Mai Chau and Ninh Binh and getting your heart rate up on Sapa’s hiking trails, you’ll head to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cat Ba Island and kayak across the turquoise waters of Lan Ha Bay. Spend a night in a waterside resort in the bay and make the most of every sunset, before heading back to Hanoi and indulging in street food.

Highlights

Kayak around limestone karsts and explore the secluded lagoons and caves of Lan Ha Bay – the lesser visited but just as beautiful sister of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay.
Hike through the picturesque valleys surrounding Sapa and visit local communities on a full-day active adventure – the best way to get to know a place is on two feet, after all!
Cycle out to Mai Chau and on through the world-renowned karst landscapes to Ninh Binh. This area is known for its lush valleys and natural beauty.
Explore Hanoi with ample free time to indulge in street food, get to know the locals at streetside eateries and hunt down one of the famed Vietnamese iced coffees.
Spend some time in homestays, relaxing after full day cycling and hiking trips with traditional home-cooked meals and time to soak up the sunset form a hammock – this is the best chance to get to know the locals!
By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, World Bicycle Relief. Donations provide school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas with bicycles that provide access to education, healthcare, and income.

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Trip Details

Product Code: 2863

Tour Type: Small Group

Accommodation: Moderate

Transport: Private minibus,Bicycle,Boat

Guide Language: English

Supplier Code: TVXA

Starts: Hanoi, Vietnam

Finishes: Hanoi, Vietnam

Duration: 11 days

Departures: Guaranteed

Physical rating: Average

Includes

Meals: Breakfasts (10), Lunch (5), Dinner (3)
Accommodation: Hotel (5 nights),Homestay (3 nights),Lodge (2 nights)

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2135 (CAD $194 /day)

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins in Hanoi with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, why not head out and discover Hanoi at your own pace. Take a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and visit Ngoc Son Temple, start sampling the delicious street food or visit the Museum of Ethnology to find out more about the homes and lives of Vietnam’s ethnic communities. After the welcome meeting, you might like to join your group for an optional dinner at one of Hanoi's fantastic restaurants or streetside eateries.

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 2: Lam Thuong Community Stay

After breakfast this morning, escape the city and board a private minibus to the small village of Lam Thuong – a community-based tourism project designed to empower and bring positive impact for Vietnam’s ethnic minorities. When you arrive, head out on a walk through the village to a traditional 50-year-old Tay home to learn about the Tay people's culture. Then, head straight out on a hike to a waterfall with a local from the community guiding you through the jungle. After the hike, you'll enjoy a home-cooked dinner with your hosts using local ingredients. Tonight you'll stay in one of the village's stilt houses with beautiful views across the valley.

Included Activities:

Lam Thuong- Community Village Walk
Lam Thuong – Waterfall hike

Accommodation:

Homestay (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 3: Hiking in Sapa/Lao Chai

Start the day early and drive to the town of Sapa, the starting point for today’s trek. You’ll stop for lunch and photo ops along the way before arriving in Lao Chai. From here, join your local guide and start your hike into the heart of the Vuon Quoc via Hoang Lien State Park, trekking through the dramatic landscapes of rural Vietnam on a trek to Ta Van. Along the way, you'll pass by terraced farms ripe with corn and rice, over brooks and through villages. When you arrive in the small village, sit down for a well-earned home-cooked dinner and settle into your local family homestay.

Included Activities:

Sapa - Lao Chai to Ta Van trek & Homestay

Accommodation:

Homestay (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 4: Hiking in Su Pan

This morning you’ll trek to Su Pan before taking some time to rest your feet on a bus ride back to Sapa. In the afternoon, the group returns to Hanoi, giving you a chance to rest, take a nap or play some road trip games with your fellow travellers. When you arrive back in Hanoi, maybe seek a bird's eye view of the city from one of the popular rooftop bars or stop street side for dinner and unwind with one of the famed iced coffees.

Included Activities:

Sapa - Ta Van to Su Pan trek
Hanoi - Temple of Literature

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 5: Cycling in Hanoi

Vietnam's capital is best explored on foot, so this morning your group will head out on a city walking tour. See the final resting place of Vietnam's revered revolutionary at Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Museum before stopping by the Temple of Literature. Although the shrine was originally built in the 11th century and is therefore considered to be the city's oldest temple, the current structure and shrine to Confucius date back to the 18th century. This afternoon, jump on a bike for a leisurely cycling trip around Hanoi's West Lake. Tonight you’ll have free time to grab some Bahn Mi or Bun Cha (noodles with grilled meat) for dinner.

Included Activities:

Hanoi - Old Quarter Walking Tour
Hanoi - West Lake bike ride
Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex
Hanoi - Temple of Literature

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 6: Cycling in Mai Chau

Leave Hanoi behind this morning and jump on your bike for a cycling trip to the Mai Chau Valley. There are some great photo opportunities along the way, including the viewpoint of Mai Chau – home to a variety of minority groups with their own unique cultures and languages. You’ll also have the opportunity to help local farmers plant rice seeds into the fields! Arrive in Mai Chau and head to the village of Pom Coong, where your local guide will introduce you to your hosts for lunch, and provide information on the region's people, lifestyles, customs and culture. This is a great opportunity to experience the local area, chat with your hosts and gain a real insight into life in this region. After lunch, you’ll have some free time before saddling up for another cycling trip to the nearby villages. Back at the homestay tonight, relax with a cold drink while watching the sun set over the mountains.

Included Activities:

Mai Chau - Pom Coong Village visit & traditional lunch
Mai Chau - Cycling

Accommodation:

Homestay (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 7: Cycling in Ninh Binh

After breakfast this morning, you’ll set out again on your bike on a cycling trip from Mai Chau to Ninh Binh – a region well known for its lush green valleys, karst mountains and conservation areas. Ride through more paddy fields, testing your riding skills (or suspension) with shallow potholes and passing farmers drawn by water buffalo. After a day riding through green fields, small villages and waterways, you’ll have a free evening to recharge.

Included Activities:

Mai Chau to Ninh Binh cycling

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 8: Cat Ba Island

Catch a bus this morning from Ninh Binh to Hai Phong, then jump on a ferry to Cat Ba Island. This island sits at the southeastern edge of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay. Lan Ha Bay, where Cat Ba can be found, is part of Ha Long Bay but with the additional attraction of white-sand beaches. When you arrive, check in to your peaceful hilltop accommodation and soak up a free afternoon by taking it easy in a hammock. Alternatively, you can opt to keep your heart rate up with a hike or a trip to the beach.

Accommodation:

Lodge (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 9: Kayaking around Cat Ba Island

Explore the waters and limestone karsts of Lan Ha Bay on a full-day boat trip today. Get up close to the karsts on a short kayak paddle in the still waters beside the tree-clad outcrops – Ha Long Bay's World Heritage designation was extended to the Cat Ba archipelago due to its similar aesthetic of turquoise water and junk boats that are a quintessential picture of Vietnam – and, there are less tourists here, too! You’ll have lunch aboard the boat, with plenty of opportunities for a cheeky selfie. Spend a second night on Cat Ba Island tonight, with the evening free to visit the local restaurants and bars.

Included Activities:

Cat Ba Island - Kayaking
Cat Ba Island - Boat trip on Lan Ha Bay

Accommodation:

Lodge (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 10: Hanoi

Say goodbye to Cat Ba Island this morning and head back to Hanoi. Arrive in the late afternoon and make the most of your free time – maybe head down to the markets for some last-minute souvenir shopping or visit one of the city's many museums or historical sites. The Fine Arts Museum and Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison are good options. In the evening, why not head out for a farewell dinner with your group and toast the end of this amazing active adventure.

Optional Activities:

Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison (50000 VND)
Hanoi - Fine Arts Museum (30000 VND)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 11: Hanoi

There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation. There's plenty to see if you'd like to continue exploring Hanoi or further afield – maybe hop onto an Urban Adventure tonight and discover more of Hanoi's street food scene.

Optional Activities:

Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure (29 USD)
Hanoi - Crowd-free Morning Highlights of the City (89 USD)

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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Reviews

Kirsty - Traveled, April 2024

A lovely trip but not as physical as I had hoped it there again it’s more about the people you meet along the way! Our group was lovely and are leader was professional and a great source of knowledge. We saw a lot of and learnt a lot about Vietnam - Sapa was beautiful as were the people, the cycling and the villages we stayed at and went through were awesome and the kayaking off Cat Ba was so worthwhile.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/16/2024

John - Traveled, March 2024

Great holiday saw awesome places. Good food, great company great experience for myself as solo traveller