- Discover lesser-explored corners of Hanoi and Hoi An and venture to the more remote locations of Ninh Binh and Trang An
- Roll up your sleeves for hands-on experiences, including learning to cook
- A carefully curated blend of cycling, activities, tours and downtime

Bun Cha & Biking in Vietnam
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Take to two wheels and explore northern and central Vietnam by bike
This ten-day cycling trip guides you around some of Vietnam’s celebrated locations, including the well-known centres of Hanoi, Hue and Hoi An. You’ll kayak around the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay and row through the sublime scenery of Trang An. But you’ll get away from the tourist trails too, with the chance to cycle through rural Vietnam and its picturesque rice terraces and verdant landscape. And for good measure, you’ll return home knowing how to rustle up a fragrant Vietnamese meal.
Highlights
Key Information
- Eight nights in comfortable resorts and boutique hotels
- One night afloat in twin-share cabins (limited single cabins available)
- Travel by bike and some private air-conditioned mini-bus transfers plus one domestic flight
- Countries visited: Vietnam
What's Included
- All breakfasts, six lunches and five dinners
- All accommodation
- All transport and listed activities
- Tour leader throughout
- Free arrival and departure transfers for everyone
What's Not Included
- Travel insurance
- Visas or vaccinations
- Tips for leaders and staff
- Single accommodation (available on request)
- International flights
25 km / 15.5 miles
70 km / 43.5 miles
70 km / 43.5 miles
20 km / 12.4 miles
25 km / 15.5 miles
90 km / 55.9 miles
24 km / 14.9 miles
People, Places & Planet
We work hard to create trips which improve life for the people and places we visit, and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.
Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:
People
How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
- The use of a local guide means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural and social sensitivities.
- This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally-owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise.
- In Hanoi, the group will have a dinner at KOTO (Know One, Teach One), which is an NGO that provides a two year course in hospitality, English and life skills training to groups of 16-22 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds. Students also receive accommodation, food, medical check-ups and treatment whilst they are being trained. Many of the 400+ graduates have gone on to continue developing their careers at KOTO restaurants or have gained employment elsewhere with their training so this is a great initiative to support.
- Whilst in Hue, groups will visit the Peaceful Bamboo Family, an uplifting community for children with learning disabilities. Groups will have lunch in their biodynamic garden, see their lacquer painting workshop, and have the chance to buy handmade incense and jams.
- In Hoi An, we also stop by a shop called ‘Reaching Out’, which sells gifts handmade by artisans with disabilities – helping them to develop their talent and independence.
- Also whilst in Hoi An, groups will cycle to Tra Que Village, famed for its avenues of herbs. The visit includes stops at a Cao Lau noodle maker, a bean sprout grower’s home and the local market.
Places
How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
- By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment. For example, part of the itinerary spends time in more remote locations of Ninh Binh and Trang An where groups explore by bike and boat.
- Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
- We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for re-usable bottles.
- We provide clients with a re-usable tote bag at the start of the tour (locally made in Hanoi), offering an alternative to single-use plastic bags and a souvenir to take home!
Planet
How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
- Read about Exodus Travels’ Planet Promise here, including our rewilding and carbon compensation commitments for every customer who travels.
- Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally-sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
- Vegetarian and vegan options are available at majority of accommodation and restaurants.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
- Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
- Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own re-usable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.
- Cultural respect:
- Please remember that you will be expected to cover your legs and arms (to the elbow) during visits to temples and sacred sites so packing a sarong or other suitable clothing is recommended. Also remember to remove hats when visiting a sacred site.
- Do not rest your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice as this symbolises the burning of incense (which is usually reserved for times of mourning).
- One should not show the soles of their feet or touch someone’s head, both are considered disrespectful.

Itinerary
Hanoi Hoi An
You’ll arrive in the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi. We love this busy and full-on place, where scooters precariously weave their way through narrow streets to a continual soundtrack of honking horns.
Tonight, you’ll get to know your group at KOTO (Know One, Teach One). This training restaurant for disadvantaged youths serves excellent food and you’ll have the opportunity to try some local flavours as well as dishes from wider south-east Asia.
Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hotel or similar
Meals included: Dinner
At dawn, you’ll head to Hoan Kiem Lake for a Tai Chi and Laughing Yoga session. Feeling revitalised, you’ll feast on pho, a Vietnamese soup, for breakfast. Next, there’s a walk around the labyrinth streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, stopping to sample egg coffee. There’s bun cha for lunch, a local dish of noodles, broth and meat served alongside some greens.
After lunch, you’ll pick up bikes before cycling to Ho Tay, the city’s largest lake, to bike 15 miles around its circumference. The ride provides a glimpse into modern and traditional Vietnamese life as fishermen wait for a catch and luxury rooftop restaurants compete for space. You’ll stop at one of the many cafes to sip on delicious Vietnamese coffee and enjoy the lakeside views.
Dinner tonight is at Tam Vi, a restaurant serving traditional northern cuisine. Then it’s on to a popular cocktail bar, Mojito Bar & Lounge, to try their legendary pho cocktail.
Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hotel or similar
Distance covered: 16mi (25km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today you’ll leave Hanoi behind, heading an hour-or-so outside of the city to Cho Tia railway station. You’ll cycle through pagoda and temple-filled villages, then join the riverside path beside the Chau Giang River and Day River, one of the four longest rivers in North Vietnam. Today’s 43-mile ride finishes at Thanh Nghi, where a bus transfers you to the hotel in Ninh Binh.
Legend Hotel or similar
Distance covered: 44mi (70km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you’ll cycle from the hotel to Trang An in Ninh Binh province for a boating adventure. You’ll spend over two hours journeying through the spectacular scenery along the Sao Khe River, exploring the intriguing limestone caves (and understanding why this area has been granted UNESCO Heritage status).
Afterwards, it’s back in the saddle to cycle along the Day River, following its banks to Hai Hau in Nam Dinh. There’s a stop along the way to visit the covered bridge, Pham Phao Church, and a locally celebrated chap who makes beautiful brass instruments.
With another 40 miles under your belt today, it’s back to Nam Dinh for a rest.
Nam Cuong Hotel or similar
Distance covered: 44mi (70km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
There’s an exhilarating two-hour ride to start the day, cycling 25 miles from the hotel to Thai Binh before a bus takes you to idyllic Ha Long Bay. Easily one of the most beautiful sights in south-east Asia, Ha long Bay is a captivating place where 3000-odd limestone peaks rise directly from the emerald sea. You’ll cruise amongst this phenomenal karst scenery, stopping to swim and kayak, allowing you to explore places inaccessible by your cruise boat. You’ll sleep onboard overnight in twin-share cabins with en suite facilities.
Please be aware that the boat trip on Ha Long Bay can be subject to short notice change if certain adverse weather conditions develop during your trip.
Le Journey Cruise or similar
Distance covered: 12mi (20km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After returning to port, you’ll transfer to Noi Bai airport to board the short flight to Hue. There’ll be time to refresh in the hotel before dinner at a local home where you’ll help prepare the evening meal and chat to your host about Vietnamese life.
Afterwards, you’ll head back to the centre of Hue to experience its colourful nightlife.
Thanh Lich Royal Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Often considered the cultural and historical centre of Vietnam, there is plenty to see in Hue and a full day of activities lies ahead. You’ll take a morning tour of the city and surrounding tombs, including a visit to the Imperial City of Hue. Although much was lost in the French and American wars, the city is undergoing restoration and reconstruction. It’s a fascinating place to visit and admire the atmospheric emperor’s residence, temples and palaces.
After, you’ll explore the Perfume River by boat, passing the renowned Thien Mu Pagoda, an imposing Buddhist temple sitting on a hill. Further on, set among beautiful riverside gardens, lies the Tomb of Tu Doc, an expansive and elaborate royal mausoleum.
Lunch is served at the Peaceful Bamboo Village, a centre that provides vocational training for young people with disabilities. Later in the afternoon, you’ll take a cyclo around Hue for a street food experience. You’ll sample an array of food including Banh Beo, water fern cakes, Bun Bo Hue, a spicy broth and noodles, and salty coffee.
Thanh Lich Royal Boutique Hotel or similar
Distance covered: 16mi (25km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
The calories from yesterday’s food fest will serve you well today as you embark on a 52-mile ride. Leaving Hue, you’ll cycle uphill, conquering the Ocean Cloud Pass, a stretch of highway that winds through the Truong Son mountain range with views across the Bay of Da Nang to the south. There will be plenty of breaks along the way to enjoy the scenery before you reach the atmospheric town of Hoi An with its lantern-lit streets, vibrant markets and artisan shops.
After dinner, you’ll recover from the long cycle by sipping the best craft beer in town at a local small brewery.
Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa or similar
Distance covered: 56mi (90km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning there’s a guided walking tour of Hoi An to explore the historical sights of the Old Town. Alternatively, you can cycle to Cua Dai beach for some downtime, or bike further afield to the Marble Mountains.
In the afternoon, you’ll cycle 15 miles to Tra Que Village, famed for its avenues of herbs, so fragrant that you can smell them before you see them. You’ll stop at a Cao Lau noodle maker, a bean sprout grower’s home and the local market. En route you should see water buffaloes and wonderful birdlife. Later, you’ll visit a chef’s house where there’s a cooking demonstration before having a go yourself, learning all about central Vietnamese cuisine, this time.
Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa or similar
Distance covered: 15mi (24km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, you’ll part with your faithful bike, ready to return home (and rest your weary legs!).
Meals included: Breakfast
Essential Info
Visa
Vietnam
Travellers from the UK normally do not need a visa to enter Vietnam for visits up to 45 days, while US citizens normally do need a visa to enter. Visa requirements for EU citizens vary by country.
Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/vietnam
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/vietnam
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/vietnam
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Vietnam.html
Vaccination
Vietnam
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to speak to your doctor or travel clinic about vaccinations for hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis. The risk of malaria is slight, but you may want to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice.
Similarly, dengue and zika, both viral diseases spread by mosquitoes, are known risks in Vietnam. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so we strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Eating and Drinking
- All breakfast, six lunches and five dinners are included
- Vegetarian food is widely available, however the offering will be similar in most places
- There are plenty of opportunities to try Vietnam’s excellent and distinctive food
Is this trip for you?
This is a busy itinerary that includes some moderate cycling, so experience of biking and moderate fitness is required
Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.
Hotels
Please be advised that the accommodation listed in each location are the standard hotels used.
However, there may be some departures where groups stay at similar hotels of the same standard and quality.
Single supplement is available on request and subject to availability for 8 nights of the tour (hotel nights only).
Please note, single supplement cannot be guaranteed on the 1 night spent on board the boat in Ha Long Bay and you may be required to be in a twin share cabin with a fellow group member of the same sex.
Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hotel, Hanoi
A contemporary boutique hotel with stylish guestrooms located in the heart of Hanoi city.
Legend Hotel, Ninh Binh
A modern hotel with 2 swimming pools, spa & fitness centre and spacious rooms
Nam Cuong Hotel, Nam Dinh Hotel
A modern hotel centrally located with swimming pool and fitness centre. Rooms are well appointed with polished wooden floors.
Le Journey Cruise, Ha Long Bay
A ship styled in Vietnamese hardwood. Each cabin has a large window. There’s a restaurant on board and a sundeck that’s a prime spot for sunset.
Thanh Lich Royal Boutique Hotel, Hue
A smart hotel with lovely rooms, ideally positioned for adventures through Hue. You can see the city skyline from the hotel’s pool.
Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa, Hoi An
A stylish boutique hotel with an array of facilities including a swimming pool and spa.
No departures found.
Would you like to include flights with your booking?
- ATOL protected
- Competitive flight prices
- Full refunds in the event of FCDO cancellations or major disruption at your UK departure airport
- Specialist support to rearrange flights and transfers
- Regional flights available from many UK airports
*Please note any date & price adjustments will be displayed on the next step of booking. You will be able to revert back to booking without flights if the options aren't suitable for you.
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