Day 1.
Hanoi - Mai Chau - Van village (L, D ) (25km)
Early morning depart Hanoi for Mai Chau, arriving at Prong Con village
for an early lunch. After lunch, cycle to Van village on a mix of
good single-track trails, undulating rough jeep trails and tarmac.
The views are stunning as the ride passes through many villages and
across rice paddies. Pass hot springs, cycle across suspension bridges
and follow the contours round beautiful terraced rice fields. On arriving
in Van village the rest of the afternoon is free to wander by foot
or explore the village trails further by bike. Overnight in a friendly
family in Van village.
Day 2.
Van village – Xo village – Pom Cong village (B, L, D ) (27km)
A contrasting and more challenging ride today, though there is plenty
of opportunity to stop, rest and admire the views. After breakfast,
enjoy relatively easy biking on undulating terrain for the first 7km
then the trail begins to climb uphill for about 10km, steep in parts,
undulating in others. Rise above the valley and look down on small
hamlets, feel and hear the forest surroundings as the trail snakes
up and along the mountainside. Stop for a siesta at Xo village, a
welcome relief from the heat - before tackling the last few km to
the top of the pass. Cruise the final 11km downhill all the way back
to Mai Chau. Overnight at Pom Cong village.
Day 3.
Pom Cong village – Hoa Binh – Hanoi (B, L ) (18km)
After breakfast, transfer to Hoa Binh and bike along the village trails
in and around Hoa Binh. The landscape is beautiful, the villagers
are unused to foreign visitors and the biking is very exciting with
a mix of hard pack clay and dirt. Lunch in Hoa Binh.
Transfer back
to Hanoi by road, arrive in Hanoi in late afternoon.
