NORTHERN FRONTIER 2024

EXTREME BEAUTY AWAITS

THIRD EDITION | 4 - 9 Oct 2024 - WAIT LIST ONLY (SOLD OUT)

4 STAGES | 533km | 8,800m

THE FOUR STAGES

168km | 2,200m

125km | 2,200m

95km | 2,250m

145km | 2,200m

17 SEGMENTS

Uphill segments to test yourself against

In between the segments, we enjoy the grand views, roadside ‘hellos!’, and the company of fellow riders

PRO SUPPORT

Ride guides

Moto soigneurs

Van back up

Mechanics (2 Cycling)

Pro Photography

NORTHERN FRONTIER - FORMAT AND PHILOSOPHY

Love riding big mountain roads with a sense of adventure? Then you will love this ride. Vietnam is full of amazing mountain road riding, but if you like your climbs big and your scenery to match, this is a bucket list road cycling experience.

The ride format is ideal for those who want to ride long, hard, beautiful days.

The four days include 17 designated road climb segments, including some of the best roads in Vietnam. Some riders will be happy to just complete the climbs, while others ride the segments to try and get their best possible times and perhaps compete against a fellow riders. While this is not a race, we will total up the overall GC climb segment times for those interested in that aspect of the ride - you’ll have the option to sign up for this or not. How you ride the climbs is up to you.

For the majority of the ride, we roll together, enjoying the landscapes and the good company. Every year we have had a great bunch of riders who make the experience about more than just the riding.

Please get in touch with us if you would like more details or you have any questions.

HOW IT WORKS

On day one (Friday 4 October) all riders will stay at our central Hanoi hotel. We will have our mechanic available to make sure your bikes are ready for the mountains.

On Sat Oct 5 we begin with a short vehicle transfer out of Hanoi to where the good roads begin.

We then ride 4 beautiful stages. The Velo Vietnam team will take care of everything for you. You focus on the riding, we take care of the rest. We have guides on bicycles, guides on motorbikes, back up vans, a mechanic and a photographer. On ride days, all meals are included - expect quite simple, but good mountain food once we hit the road.

The last ride finishes in the mountains on Tuesday Oct 8. Here, you can choose to either stay up in the mountains at a traditional village and transfer back to Hanoi on Oct 9. Or you can choose to transfer back to Hanoi, arriving late evening on Oct 8. Accommodation for Oct 8 is included, no matter which option you choose.

RIDE 1 - Oct 5

168km | 2,200m | 5 Segments

Today we ride straight into big mountain territory after a transfer out of the capital, Hanoi.

The day has five passes of varying difficulty, but no extreme gradients. These are excellent ‘warm up’ climbs to get you set up for the days ahead.

The stage goes through beautiful and little visited Bac Kan province on the way to Cao Bang border province, land of infinite greens, outrageously scenic mountain landscapes and some of the best noodle soup in the land.

SEGMENTS

1.75km at 5% | 3.8km at 6% | 9.36km at 6% | 4.73km at 4% | 6.28km at 5% | 2.43km at 6%

RIDE 2 - OCT 6

125km | 2,200m | 4 Segments

Today we roll out of Cao Bang onto a quiet road and our first segment.

It’s almost a shame to ride it hard as there are some cracking morning views to be had, but as you’ll discover on this ride, more of the same is around every corner. In this case it’s an amazing downhill, complete with one of the prettiest valleys on this whole tour, where we’ll re-group for a photo.

After passing a grand war memorial, we hit one of our favourite climbs, at almost 9km and 4%. More amazing vistas lead to a finish section of switchbacks. We’ll make sure our photographer is here to get some shots for you because getting your phone out might not be so easy if you are pushing hard.

The final sustained climb of the day is another beauty. It leads onto an overall (but of course, not all) downhill 40k to the finish.

This one is spiked with one final segment test - a little 800m 8% kicker!

SEGMENTS

2.3k at 4.7% | 8.77k at 4% | 7.4k at 5% | 0.86k at 8%

At an average gradient of around 6% this road bike climb is one of our favourites with its switchback finish and awesome views all the way up the ascent

Ha Giang magic as seen from the road bike on our northern frontier cycling tour

RIDE 3 - OCT 7

95km | 2,250m | 3 Segments

Velo_Vietnam_Northern_Frontier_Stage_3_Profile_2021.png

Today we head into the real Frontier Area of Ha Giang province.

For the initial 50k, we can ride easy as a bunch and enjoy the scenery as we prepare for a GC climb of over 17km at 5%.

This is the stuff Grand Tours are made of in terms of climb length and mind blowing visuals.

It’s hard to not use a torrent of superlatives to describe both this climb and the magical climb that follows it on the brilliantly named Happiness Road.

This is a cycling bucket list day.

We love to ride it and we love to see others knocked out by it. Welcome to the Northern Frontier proper!

SEGMENTS

2.15k at 10% | 17.4km at 5% | 4.15km at 8%

It may not look real, but this mountain pass is one of the best cycling roads in all Vietnam - the Happiness Road

Switchback heaven on the happiness road in Ha Giang Vietnam

RIDE 4 - OCT 8

145km | 2,200m | 4 Segments

Velo Vietnam Northern Frontier Stage 4.png

After an initial steep climb out of town, we hit a pine forested stretch before entering into the other worldly territory of the UNESCO Dong Van Karst Landscape.

We don’t like to throw the word epic around here at Velo Vietnam, but this is one occasion when it can definitely be used.

Every kilometer of today’s ride is spectacular until you reach our destination - a small village just outside Ha Giang town.

We finish at a traditional ethnic minority house.

Here, we will get cleaned up before enjoying a big feast and a few drinks together.