Red River Delta by Bike 4 Days
written by IndochinaTours
at Friday, December 21, 2012
I. Overview
Head out the city of Hanoi to commence your cycling tour in Vietnam
along the Red River Delta. Head to the village of Bat Trang and into the
heart of the Delta where traditional villages can be found. Take lunch
in a pagoda and visit a number of revered temples as you spend 4 days
crossing small rivers and pedaling toward the sea. Explore dramatic
limestone karst formations, traverse dens forests and ride through
ancient capitals from former dynasties.
II. Intinerary
Day 1 - Hanoi - Ninh Binh (L,D)
This morning you will start with a short transfer out of the city to avoid the busy streets. Once out of the city start cycling on a dyke road along the Red River to the ceramic making village of Bat Trang. After a brief tour continue heading south into the heart of the Delta passing through many traditional villages, rice fields, pagoda, and temples. Enjoy lunch in a local pagoda and continue cycling to the town of Thai Binh to visit one of the most revered temples in the Red River Delta. From here transfer a 45 minutes to Ninh Binh.
Overnight in Tam Coc.
Cycling distance: 60km
Day 2 - Ninh Binh - loop ride to the coast - Tam Coc (B,L,D)
0800 depart for a full day of cycling. Once out of the town the route follows numerous small rivers as they finger out toward the coast. You will pass very rural communities as you pedal toward the sea. After a local lunch of traditional seafood loop back to Ninh Binh with a stop to visit Phat Diem Church and Mai An Tiem Temple. You will notice the scenery change as you pedal from the flat plains of the delta to the Limestone Mountains of Tam Coc, also known as Halong Bay on Land.
Overnight in Tam Coc
Cycling distance: 70km
Day 3 - Tam Coc - Cuc Phuong (B,L,D)
After breakfast board a sampan for a leisurely cruise to explore the dramatic limestone karst mountains that dominate the region. As the boat gently slices through the water you will explore caves cut from the mountains and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the enormous limestone karsts jutting out from the green rice fields giving rise to Hoa Lu's other name, 'Halong on Land'. Should you feel adventurous climb up to Bich Dong Pagoda on nearby Ngu Nhac Mountain, dating to 1428 and comprising three structures: Ha, Trung, and Thuong Pagodas, in ascending order.
After lunch hop back on the bikes and ride to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of the Dinh and Le dynasties. The route is stunning as you pass green rice fields amongst forest covered mountains. From here continue cycling to the temple complex of Bai Dinh, soon to be the largest temple in Vietnam. Following a short visit it's on to Cuc Phung National Park and a chance to experience a thick tropical rain forest.
Overnight in Cuc Phuong
Cycling distance: 60km
Day 4 - Cuc Phuong - Hanoi (B,L)
This morning you will have the opportunity to cycling into the center of the park and take some short treks into the forest. Visit the animal rescue center when a wide variety of native monkeys and gibbons are being rehabilitated to return to the wild. Continue cycling from the park to Chi Ne and small town on the banks of the Boi River. After lunch transfer one and a half hours back to Hanoi.
Cycling distance: 60km
This morning you will start with a short transfer out of the city to avoid the busy streets. Once out of the city start cycling on a dyke road along the Red River to the ceramic making village of Bat Trang. After a brief tour continue heading south into the heart of the Delta passing through many traditional villages, rice fields, pagoda, and temples. Enjoy lunch in a local pagoda and continue cycling to the town of Thai Binh to visit one of the most revered temples in the Red River Delta. From here transfer a 45 minutes to Ninh Binh.
Overnight in Tam Coc.
Cycling distance: 60km
Day 2 - Ninh Binh - loop ride to the coast - Tam Coc (B,L,D)
0800 depart for a full day of cycling. Once out of the town the route follows numerous small rivers as they finger out toward the coast. You will pass very rural communities as you pedal toward the sea. After a local lunch of traditional seafood loop back to Ninh Binh with a stop to visit Phat Diem Church and Mai An Tiem Temple. You will notice the scenery change as you pedal from the flat plains of the delta to the Limestone Mountains of Tam Coc, also known as Halong Bay on Land.
Overnight in Tam Coc
Cycling distance: 70km
Day 3 - Tam Coc - Cuc Phuong (B,L,D)
After breakfast board a sampan for a leisurely cruise to explore the dramatic limestone karst mountains that dominate the region. As the boat gently slices through the water you will explore caves cut from the mountains and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the enormous limestone karsts jutting out from the green rice fields giving rise to Hoa Lu's other name, 'Halong on Land'. Should you feel adventurous climb up to Bich Dong Pagoda on nearby Ngu Nhac Mountain, dating to 1428 and comprising three structures: Ha, Trung, and Thuong Pagodas, in ascending order.
After lunch hop back on the bikes and ride to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of the Dinh and Le dynasties. The route is stunning as you pass green rice fields amongst forest covered mountains. From here continue cycling to the temple complex of Bai Dinh, soon to be the largest temple in Vietnam. Following a short visit it's on to Cuc Phung National Park and a chance to experience a thick tropical rain forest.
Overnight in Cuc Phuong
Cycling distance: 60km
Day 4 - Cuc Phuong - Hanoi (B,L)
This morning you will have the opportunity to cycling into the center of the park and take some short treks into the forest. Visit the animal rescue center when a wide variety of native monkeys and gibbons are being rehabilitated to return to the wild. Continue cycling from the park to Chi Ne and small town on the banks of the Boi River. After lunch transfer one and a half hours back to Hanoi.
Cycling distance: 60km
III. Included and Exculuded
Note:The price applied for Season : January 01, 2013 to
December 31, 2013. Reservations during peak times (Christmas, New Year,
Vietnamese Lunar New Year, National Holidays) may be subject to
supplementary charges and compulsory meals.
Tour price includes: Accommodation(first class option) in a shared twin or shared double room, Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner),English or French speaking biking guide (for other languages and a national guide supplements apply), Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air conditioned vehicle, Entrance fees for mentioned visits, Drinking water for riding day, Snack, soft drinks, local fruits and fresh tissues for riding day.
Tour price excludes:International and domestic Flights & departures taxes, Beverage, Travel insurance, Personal expenses, tips and gratuities, Local bike hire including transport of bikes, and spares(Trek 4500 Front suspension mountain bikes): 15USD/bike/day , Vietnam visa stamp fee, Other services not mentioned above.
Tags: vietnam tours, vietnam travel, indochina travel , Indochina tours
Tour price includes: Accommodation(first class option) in a shared twin or shared double room, Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner),English or French speaking biking guide (for other languages and a national guide supplements apply), Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air conditioned vehicle, Entrance fees for mentioned visits, Drinking water for riding day, Snack, soft drinks, local fruits and fresh tissues for riding day.
Tour price excludes:International and domestic Flights & departures taxes, Beverage, Travel insurance, Personal expenses, tips and gratuities, Local bike hire including transport of bikes, and spares(Trek 4500 Front suspension mountain bikes): 15USD/bike/day , Vietnam visa stamp fee, Other services not mentioned above.
Tags: vietnam tours, vietnam travel, indochina travel , Indochina tours