Cycling in Vietnam, need advice for 4 -5 day trip

I will be visiting Hanoi and Hoi An in April and wanted to add on a 4 - 5 day cycle tour from either of those cities. I need advice if it is better to book something before I leave home or if there is plenty of trips going which I can grab while I am there. What area is best around Hanoi or Hoi An. Obviously I want to get off main roads and out along country back areas. I am no wanting a hard out down hill experience, more a moderate pace taking in the people, land and of course the food. What have been good companies to go with etc.It would be great to hear your experiences and recomendations from either of these cities so my short time there leaves a memorable experience.

Cycling in Vietnam, need advice for 4 -5 day trip

For mountain biking, it is best to do in the Northern part with beautiful scenery and colourful hilltribe people. Sapa and Bac Ha are both great for a few day cycling. Only a few companies offer professional biking tours with good bikes and equipment. Hoian countryside is good explored by bikes. There are many villages outside Hoian.

Cycling in Vietnam, need advice for 4 -5 day trip

Are you dead set on going on an organised tour or would you be open to planning your own? I%26#39;ve been researching a similar side trip in March and I%26#39;ve opted for Ninh Binh, which will serve as a base to visit the many places of interest in the area. It%26#39;s 90 odd kilometres south of Hanoi, flat rather than mountainous, and bikes can be hired there. Have a look on the internet for photos and descriptions, and/or read the Lonely Planet guide.

There are many rural back roads to explore around Hoi An.

Perhaps somebody else may be able to help you with suggestions for organised tours, but if not you will find a number of companies if you Google %26#39;cycling in Vietnam%26#39;.

Thanks for your info. I am researching options and feel you are right about moving out of Hanoi into the surroundings and looking from there.

Cheers

You might like to explore the photos on the following site for ideas. The Ninh Binh page will come up first - it was the small roads through the rice paddies that won me over. Happy researching!

terragalleria.com/vietnam/vietnam.ninh-binh.…

Hi se8,

To support Creaking Bones, I have motorbiked this area of Ninh Binh and particularly its surrounds. Geologically, it has the same formation as Halong Bay, and a lot quieter ---the rice fields here as just beautiful and lots of history and things to see.

Have a look at this website ---the dialogue and photos are superb!!!

The website opens in Ninh Binh ( 25 photos with a running commentary!)

plover

virtourist.com/asia/…index.html

You can do an excellent 4 day trip out of hoi an.

Day 1: start in hoi an and ride south on highway 1 to ha lam, turn on to highway 14E and head for Hiep Duc (Tan An - lots of towns around here have 2 names). Really nice riding through the countryside.

Day 2: Hiep Duc - Phuoc Son (Kham Duc). this is only about 50k%26#39;s but the last 20k%26#39;s is a very hard slog. Beautiful scenery.

Day 3: Phuoc Son - Thanh My. Amazing 40km ride, great road (HCM Trail) and it%26#39;s mostly downhill! It%26#39;s great! There are a few inclines but for the most part it is a breeze. Makes the previous day%26#39;s climb worth it. Just watch out for the dogs.

Day 4: Thanh My - Hoi An. Some nice downhills and some climbs as well but not too bad. About 70-80k%26#39;s from memory.

Happy cycling!