MOUNTAINS FROM HANOI
The right tour for you
Just 2 or 3 days is enough to get into the grand hills that are within reach of the capital, but feel a million miles way. In fact, some of our favourite riding is within a day of Hanoi.
We’ve laid out a few options for your inspiration whether you want to ride easier, hard, or extreme. As with all Velo Vietnam tours, we can work with your group to ensure the experience is right for you. We don’t have set date departures - you tell us what you/your group wants and we make it happen.
Want to bring your gravel bike and make things a little rougher? Get in contact and tell us how rough and we can tailor the our for you.
Option 1: ‘EXTREME’
Please note, if you would like to make this extreme PLUS by adding in some rough stuff for gravel bikes, we are very happy to do that - just ask when you contact us.
Day 1 To the hills
180km | 3000m
. We’ll start with a transfer out of Hanoi to get you onto the back roads, then we have a relatively easy first 40km before the fun begins.
A series of back country climbs and a mountain pass bring us to a beautiful, little used ferry crossing. After disembarking we will take on a magnificent extended uphill on which you’re unlikely to see a car or even a motorbike for km after km.
Yet more mind blowing landscapes await on the lead in to our home for the night, where we will enjoy some excellent Thai minority food.
Day 2 To Nature
120km | 1,000m
Today begins with a series of small rises before an ear-to-ear grin inducing 30k descent on smooth as silk tarmac.
We’ll then hit a 9km 5% pass, before turning back to head into a nature reserve area where time stands still.
A winding, narrow road takes us deep into the reserve, affording some of the very best rice terrace and limestone mountain views in all of Vietnam.
Day 3 Back to Hanoi
150km | 1,500m
After an easy roll through the nature reserve we will face a ridiculously hard climb up a veritable wall. The van will be there for anyone who can’t face it, but this tour is classed as ‘extreme’, so we presume most who choose this option will be giving it a go.
Once the climb is done we ride through some seriously remote villages before briefly hitting a major road and then again turning off again to enjoy more back road magic.
We’ll then weave through villages back into the capital of Hanoi - how far you choose to ride in depends on how much fun you find the traffic….
Option 2: ‘HARD’
Day 1 To the hills
100km | 700m
After a transfer from Hanoi, the tour kicks off with some relatively easy riding to a pristine nature reserve. The quiet back roads here will lead you to a serene and impossibly pretty valley dotted with ethnic minority villages and farmer’s huts. Water wheels turn in the river flowing through the paddy fields - a magical scene to welcome you to your first night’s accommodation.
Day 2 To the highlands
110km | 1000m
Today begins with some small but challenging climbs on a small back road road that cuts through the heart of the nature reserve.
After this, the major test of the tour comes with a sustained climb of around 30km up onto a plateau famous for its dairy, tea and fruit farms.
Day 3 Back to Hanoi
100km | 800m
After an initial descent to a river crossing we will enjoy some flat riding along a river bank, before taking on a series of small climbs through small minority villages - expect to hear plenty of ‘hellos’ from the road side, as few venture through this part of Vietnam.
Option 3: ‘EASIER’
As with all our tours, we can make this easier still if you’re looking for something less testing - just let us know when you book
Day 1 To the jungle
90km | 500m
We take the flattest way out to the hills to warm you up for the climbing to come.
The destination today is a serene nature reserve filled with towering limestone peaks and verdant rice paddy valleys which are home to small ethnic minority communities. Among all this, small roads snake creating a playground for cyclists.
Day 2 To the valley
60km | 700m
After an optional morning wander, we will ride a peaceful backroad climbing up to enjoy incredible vistas across the mountains. A snaking descent then brings us into a broad river valley and some easier riding through small towns and villages to our home for the night.
If you’re legs want more, we can tag on some extra miles, otherwise enjoy an afternoon surrounded by endless rice paddies.
Day 3 Back to Hanoi
100km | 900m
Today we have a climb to test your legs, but at 5% it’s one you can take at your own pace, stopping to enjoy some of the knockout views back to where you’ve spent the last two days.
After a 9km downhill we will soon take a turn off to another smaller backroad through magnificent karst mountain landscapes before we get in the Velo Vietvan for the final run in to the capital for a farewell drink.
What’s Included
Basics
Breakfasts
Lunches
Dinners
Accommodation
Support
Bicycle guide
Mechanic support
Motorbike mounted ‘soigneur’
Van support
On the road
Velo Vietvan espressos
Water
Electrolytes
Fresh fruits
Other nutrition
Extras
Photography
Daily ride note stickers
Digital Ride Guide
GPX files
Cap
T Shirt
Want to book a short mountains tour from Hanoi? Great!
To start your booking, either send us a mail to ride@velovietnam.cc, or use the form below to let us know what kind of ride you want and when.