This challenge trip will take you through the best mountain scenery of Vietnam – conquer the Tonkinese Alps to the historical Dien Bien Phu battle field – General Giap’s site – and up the mountain again to Laos.

Trip for sportive cyclist who love to see your HR go up and down along the mountain pass. There are some tough day before and after DienBienPhu former battle field with the French. Great mountain scenery along the Da river and the Nam Ou.

Day By Day

Day 1. Hanoi to Nghia Lo.

Day 2. Nghia Lo to TuLe.

Day 3. TuLe to Mu Cang Chai.

Day 4. MuCangChai to ThanUyen.

Day 5. ThanUyen to TuanGiao.

Day 6. TuanGiao to DienBienPhu.

Day 7. Sightseeing DienBienPhu.

Day 8. DienBienPhu to MuangKhoua – Laos.

Day 9. MuangKhoua to Udomxai.

Day 10. Udomxai to Pakmong and Nongkiaw.

Day 11. Sightseeing Nongkiaw.

Day 12. Nongkiaw to LuangPrabang.

Cycling Vietnam to Laos Description

• Distance of biking: about 800 ~ 950km.
• Difficulty: Moderate.
• Features: Remote area with spectacular scenery and rich hill-tribes culture.
• When to ride: October to May.

Here is a clip at the last day of Cycling Vietnam to Laos: Cycling from PakOu to Luangprabang

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi – DuongLam – ThanhSon – NghiaLo. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Starting from Hanoi, we transfer by van to SonTay, visit DuongLam ancient village. Then we keep on to ThanhSon where we start at DeoKhe, going down hill and on to BaKhe for lunch break. In the afternoon we ride through the tea plantation to Nghia Lo where we spend tonight. Cycling distance ~ 70km. O/N NghiaLo hotel.

Day 2:  Nghia Lo to Tu Le. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

It’s a nice day warm up your leg before challenging up other hills. There are several hills to conquer until arriving in Tu Le. Lunch break, then we start a loop around the huge valley of Tule with Thai villages and their rice farms. Time for hot bath at a local hotspring by the stream in Tu Le. Cycling distance ~ 50km. O/n at a PhoNui guesthouse.

Day 3: Tu Le to Mu Cang Chai. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

There is a big challenge today with a big climb up KhauPha pass, up to 1,500 m, then we go down hill to NgaBaKim. The photo road start from here. Every corner of this winding road along the rice terraces of Lapantan and Checunha villages are good places for photograph. We keep on to Mu Cang Chai for overnight.  Cycling distance ~ 50km.

Day 4: MuChang chai to Than Uyen. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Relaxing today with gentle road going down hill from Mu Cang Chai to MuongKim. The last 9km from MuongKim to Than Uyen is fantastic with scenery of Karst moutain and valley, rice terraces of the Thai villages along the road sie. Late afternoon easy ride around the town. Cycling distance ~ 50km.  O/n in Hoan Quan guesthouse.

Day 5: Than Uyen to Tuan Giao (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Get ready for a big day. This day ia a challenge 125km up and down hill all day to TuanGiao via MuongGion and Pa uon  bridge over the Da reservoir. The elevation gain is over 4,200 m for all the climbs. However, you may cut off about 20km after PaUon bridge, just a rest after lunch break. Then you can ride down hill to TuanGiao. O/n at TuanGiao guesthouse.

Day 6: Tuan Giao to DienBienPhu. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Good road with gentle hills and beautiful scenery of the Nam Ma river. Coffee break in MuongAng town before climb up to TangQuai pass, picnic lunch break at the Artillery memorial place of DienBienPhu campaign. Then we ride to  DienBienPhu town for tonight. Cycling distance ~ 76km. O/N at A1 hill hotel.

Day 7: Around DienBienPhu (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Sightseeing day around DienBienPhu former battlefields: Eliane – A 1 hill, Military museum, Gabriel – DocLap hill and bunker of Decartes etc….Riding up to the hill for panorama view of DienBienPhu with memory of General Giap !

Day 8: Cycling Vietnam to Laos – DienBienPhu to MuangKhoua (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

This is a big day. We start early from DienBien to TayTrang border with 35km climb up the mountain to Laos border.  Crossing to Laos, then we go down hill to MuangMai, having lunch break. Then we have the last challenge up hill to Hmong village, then going down to MuangKhoua for overnight. Cycling distance ~ 105km.  O/n Chalernsouk GH.

Day 9: MuangKhoua to Udomxai (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Good road along Namphak river today, very nice view. The first stage is flat about 70km through forest and tribal village. In the afternoon, we have a gentle climb from +450 to 750m elevation then going down to Udomxai. Cycling distance 100km. O/N Villa Keoseumsack.

Day 10: Udomxai to Nongkiaw (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Morning warm up your leg 6km outside the town, the moutain begins. This is a challenge day, climb up mountain passes through tropical forest. After 5km up hill we pass by a waterfalls over a limestone cliff into a Nam beng tributary. First summit at level +1,200 meter, then we decent down and climb to a second pass, Hmong villages living along road to the second summit. The third pass is the longest one, at this summit, we have only 28km to go , all way down to Pakmong little town, then we keep on to Nongkiaw. Cycling distance ~ 110km. Overnight at Phaxang riverside resort in Nongkiaw.

Day 11:  Sightseeing Nongkiaw. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

It’s a rest day to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Nongkiaw. Boat trip, cave visit and relaxing, walk around the little town, massage etc….. O/n Nongkiaw.

Day 12: Nongkiaw to Luangprabang (Breakfast, lucnh, dinner)

In the morning, we transfer via Pakmong junction to Namkene where we start cycling again. Good road with gentle hills and beautiful scenery of the Nam ou river. We turn right at Nam Ou bridge to follow a dirt road to the Mekong river. Boat trip to visit famous PakOu cave. Lunch break by the mekong river. In the afternoon, we cycle along the mighty Mekong river and enter LuangPrabang former capital of Laos.
O/N at Maison Vongprachan hotel. Farewell dinner in LPG. Our Cycling Vietnam to Laos end here.
Pls.let us know if you want to extend cycling around Luangprabang or keep on cycling southern Laos to Vientiane, Pakse.

Prices & Services

Tour price:

• 79.000.000 vnd /person ($US 3,290) (group of 2)
• 50.000.000 vnd /person ($US 2,110) (4 to 5 person)
• 45.000.000 vnd /person ($US 1,880) (6 to 8 person)

Single supplement: 9.250.000 vnd ($US 375).

Services included:

• All entrance fee for sightseeing.
• Transport: A/c bus or minivan support with snack, dringking water, towels.
• Accommodation twin/ double with daily breakfast.
• Meals full board: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Good mountain bike.
• Guide: Experienced cycling tour guide.

Not included:Insurance, flight fares, personal expenses.

See our video clips of Cycling Vietnam to Laos – Hanoi to Luangprabang 12 days here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Sinhbalotravel

See other Vietnam bike tours:

– Cycling Cambodia to Vietnam – Bangkok Siemreap to Saigon 10 days

– Tour du Vietnam on HoChiMinh trail – Cycling Hanoi to HoiAn 8 days