Bun Cha & Biking in Vietnam

Expert Local Guides

Award Winning Adventures

Nature First Adventures

Support Local Communities

10 Days from

0 Days from

USD 2,799

incl. Taxes

Cycling

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Cycling

Activity Levels :

3 out of 7 - Moderate

Group Size :

6 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

EMV

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

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

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
Arrival and departure transfers (most be requested before departure)

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Visas or vaccinations
Tips for leaders and staff
Single accommodation (available on request)
International flights

Day 2

25 km / 15.5 miles

Day 3

70 km / 43.5 miles

Day 4

70 km / 43.5 miles

Day 5

20 km / 12.4 miles

Day 7

25 km / 15.5 miles

Day 8

90 km / 55.9 miles

Day 9

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.
We use fairly small, family run and locally staffed establishments which ensures that we are benefiting local communities.
Our activity also benefits the rural village of Copey, which is nestled in the highlands of the Central Mountain Range. By passing through this area, seeing how the locals live and work and having lunch in a typical home, we are encouraging cultural exchange and providing valuable avenues of income here.
There is an option for clients to directly support local schools by packing a gift of educational supplies when we visit Copey area on this tour.
This is a small group tour, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people.
Our local operator is very involved in supporting community projects. On International Tourism Day in 2019 they took part in cleaning a beach at Guacalillo. They collected a total 150 Kg of waste and all the plastic lids collected were donated to the Fundación Proparques, for a project developing walkways to improve accessibility for people with mobility problems in the country's protected wild areas.
In 2017 Exodus Travels introduced the Inspiration Project, where we’ve worked with our partners to take more than 6,000 children in 30 countries on a day of adventure and exploration. Each inspirational day out is designed to introduce young minds to the wonders of our world and their place in it. From visiting cultural heritage sites to natural wonders, each trip has been packed with firsts – their first time leaving their own village, their first time seeing the sea, their first time visiting a busy city. We continue to operate these days out to inspire children to protect and preserve the world as they grow up.

Places - How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
Being a wildlife-based tour, we are very conscious of our effects on the environment and how we can reduce negative impact and aid conservation. We visit national and private parks, including the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the first community-managed reserves in the country. Our entrance fees also directly support conservation efforts in the areas we visit.
Our local operator has a policy of Animal Welfare that requests suppliers to comply with the minimum conditions of animal welfare.
Our local operator has been awarded by the Costa Rican Tourism Board for their sustainable tourism practice & dedication to improving sustainability standards. This means that efforts are made to rationally use water and electricity, provide adequate waste management, and positively impact communities, among many other actions.
Most of the accommodation and restaurants we visit on this trip use locally sourced food such as fruit which is always sourced locally and abundant. Esquinas lodge have their own policy whereby they produce their own organic vegetables and fruit, marmalade, juices, mayonnaise, bread, chocolate and seasoning.
Vegetarian options are available if notice is given which include a variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, and rice.
To reduce our carbon emissions, we use a shared coach at the beginning of the tour to transport clients from San José to Tortuguero rather than an internal flight. During the trip, we travel responsibly using appropriate methods of transport; therefore, depending on group size, a minibus/coach will be used.
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.

Planet - How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
An example of eco-friendly accommodation on this trip is the Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, a model project combining conservation, environmental research and community development in a rural area. The plot is surrounded by approximately 3,000 hectares of untouched rainforest which acts as a carbon sink and the lodge itself is 100 % carbon neutral, meaning it will take action to remove as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they produce.

Itinerary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 15 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.

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

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