Cycling Vietnam Tour: Discover the Hill Tribes of the Northeast

Groups can be from 2 to 16. For groups of 9 or more a second guide joins the tour.

Yes. Riders must be 18 years old by the time the tour starts.

Yes, you can hire one from the tour operator. The bikes they provide are well-known makes of mountain bikes with lightweight alloy frames, 24- to 27-speed gearing, v-brakes, and Shimano components and front suspension.

You are welcome to bring your own bike if you prefer but please make sure it is a mountain bike, preferably with front suspension, in good mechanical order.

Alternatively, there is the option on this tour to hire an electric bike (or an E-Bike) .

The cycling is challenging and follows quiet mountain roads through stunning scenery punctuated by local farming communities and sculpted landscapes. This relatively untouched region incorporates rainforests, bamboo forests, lush cultivated valleys, meandering rivers, lakes, national parks, and one of the most beautiful islands in Halong Bay.

You will ride up to 660 km through spectacular mountain scenery. The roads are a mixture of good asphalt, broken or potholed roads, and some off-road cycling tracks. Although there are a few challenges, it is very enjoyable and anyone who enjoys hill riding will love this tour. The scenery really is fantastic, and the people are extraordinarily colourful and friendly.

Suitability: This trip will have some challenging hill sections as it is a very mountainous region, and you will have to cross many valleys and mountains. Fitness, of course, will be a huge asset on those hills.

Biking Conditions: This tour is mainly on good quality tarmac road. The tour is fully supported, and the bus is always close at hand for those that find the riding too difficult.

A helmet is required to be worn on all biking activities and is non-negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you won't be allowed to cycle.

The tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue. But to a large degree, riders must be responsible for their own safety during the tour. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover  you for a cycling tour.

The tour starts and ends in Hanoi. The closest airport is Noi Bai International Airport (HAN).

You are not required to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. The tour operator will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender. If you cannot be matched, they will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share, a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room.

Updated: July 24, 2020

Due to the ongoing global impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) and with many international borders remaining closed for an extended period, Spiceroads has decided to suspend the majority of tours until at least 30 October 2020.

While this is extremely disappointing for all of us, the safety and security of our travelers, along with that of our staff and partners, has always been the most important factor.

If you were booked on a tour that has been suspended due to the pandemic, you will automatically receive a credit of 100% of monies paid (of your deposit or full payment) which can be redeemed as follows:

1. You can re-book a tour now for a future travel date before 30 September 2022.
2. You can hold on to your travel credit until you are ready to re-book on any future departure before 30 September 2022.
   

We apologize for the inconvenience and sincerely hope you will understand and support us during this unprecedented crisis. Spiceroads is a small company with a big heart and we are doing everything we can to work through this crisis and plan to start operating tours again as soon as we can. In the meantime, we thank you for your patience and understanding in these unprecedented times and are communicating with everyone booked on the impacted tours.

If you are booked on a tour that is due to depart from 1 November 2020, there are currently no changes to your trip, and it is currently scheduled to depart as planned. We are monitoring the situation closely and will notify you directly if your tour is affected.

If you want to cancel your booking, you can receive a credit for the amount paid to use on a new tour with a departure date before 30 September 2022.

For new bookings please see our flexible booking conditions below:

Terms & Conditions:

• We require a deposit (as listed on the individual tour pages) or full payment to reserve a place for you on a tour.
• In the event that we are unable to operate the tour, this deposit will be transferred to another tour at your discretion or held as a credit for use anytime until 30th September 2022.
• The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) must be paid 45 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.
• In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 45 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost must be paid in full within 48 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads.
• In all cases, tour fees must be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.
• Some last-minute miscellaneous fees (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.

Flexible Booking Policy

• This policy allows for multiple changes to the departure date.
• The change will only be approved if it is requested by the client in writing a minimum of sixty (60) days before the departure date.
• In the event the change request is moving to a different tour, then a price adjustment may need to be applied and your tour consultant will advise on what this will be.
• Deposit terms are 30% on booking or US$500 whichever is the greater.
• Any cancellation without rescheduling forfeits the deposit paid, until 45 days, at which time it is 70%, until 15 days at which time it is 100%.
  
  

Yes, if you're hiring a bike from the operator, a complimentary helmet is provided, although you are welcome to bring your own if you wish.