The Northeast Vietnam is a destination most tourists who go to Vietnam do not visit. It is a pity, because sceneries here are fabulous. In some of the places tourism is still very scarce. 
This isolation adds to the region's beauty as many areas are still extremely unspoiled and distant from the popular tourist trails. To reach Ba Be lakes in Bac Can province is a challenge but one well worth pursuing. The road between That Khe and Lang Son, whose beautiful plunging ravines and is riddled with caves, hides a grim and bloody past and is also worth the effort to visit. To the North of Cao Bang is Pac Bo which is very near the cave in which Ho chi Minh lived when he first returned from China. The Far North of Vietnam is also the home of numerous ethnic minority tribes. They live in some of the most isolated places while subsisting through traditional means. Some of the tribes you may encounter on a visit to the Far North are the Tay, Nung, Zao, H'mong, and the San Chi tribes. Farther away in Ha Giang province, there are a variety of hill tribes numbering from several thousand members to only a few hundred people.
This trip to the Far North follows an itinerary which begins in Thai Nguyen, to the North of Hanoi, then heads North to Bac Can and the Ba Be lakes before moving Northwest to Cao Bang. From there the itinerary heads in a Southern direction through Dong Khe and That Khe to Lang Son, the other main gateway between China and Vietnam open to foreign visitors.

Day1: Hanoi Arrival

We are met and transferred to hotel. Ha Noi , Vietnam's capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia  most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. If time permits we embark on a cyclo for a short excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. O/N in Ha Noi

Day 2: Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Bac Can. (B/L/D)

We take bus transfer to Thai Nguyen. Bike ride to Bac Can. First day easy ride up and down hill, scenery of palm trees with village of Tay and Nung a long the way.

Overnight in Bac Can.

Day 3: Bac Can - Ba Be National Park. (B/L/D)

Morning ride 20 km outside Bac Can and up hill, turn off highway 3 to a quiet road, great view small village of Tay and Thai on the opposite of the river. Later afternoon we take our boat cruise on Ba Be lakes and walk around Pac Ngoi village.

Overnight in Ba Be national park.

Day 4: Ba Be - Bac Me. (B/L/D)

Morning boat cruise with our bike to waterfalls, then we start a cycling adventure on a small trail to Bac Me (no jeep support).

Overnight in Bac Me.

Day 5: Bac Me - Ha Giang. (B/L/D)

Good paved road along Gam river.

Overnight in Ha Giang.

Day 6: Ha Giang - Heaven gate pass - Hoang Su Phi. (B/L/D)

Easy ride 45km down highway 2 to Tan Quang where we turn left and up hill to the mountain again. Best mountain view today, chalenge climb through the Heaven gate pass to Hoang Su Phi town.

Overnight in Hoang Su Phi.

Day 7: Hoang Su Phi - Xin Man - Bac Ha. (B/L/D)

Some part of the road is bad, but great view along Chay river. This is totally a new road - built on the former trail of the flower H'Mong tribes.

Overnight in Bac Ha.

Day 8: Bac Ha - Sapa (B/L/D)

A relaxing day promenade around Bac Ha Sunday market, see a market day for all tribes: Tay, Nung, Dao, Flower H?Mong, Giay, and Phu La etc? Afternoon we ride bike around H'Mong village.

Overnight in Sapa.

Day 9: Sapa - Than Uyen. (B/L/D)

From Sapa we start the day’s ride with a 15kms climb to the top of the Tram Ton Pass, stopping on route to visit the “silver waterfall”. Then it’s a 26kms plunge down to Binh Lu junction. From here we continue along the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, there are a number of hard climbs but the magnificent landscape makes the hardship all worthwhile. We finish with a 20kms descent to Than Uyen.

Overnight in Than Uyen

Day 10: Than Uyen - Tu Le (B/L/D)

We follow the valley out of Than Uyen until the road begins to wind up into the hills. This rugged terrain of dense vegetation brings us into contact with the Black Hmong and the mysterious White Tay people who are famed for their folk music, poems and songs. We end the day at Tu Le.

Overnight in Tu Le

Day 11: Tu Le - Nghia Lo (B/L/D)

Today we pass large white limestone mountains as we explore the “real Vietnam”. We will cycle through meandering roads before we finally end the day in Nghia Lo. It sits on a mountain ridge overlooking the Red and Black River and is home to the Thai, Nung, H’mong, La Ha and Ma peoples.

Overnight in Nghia Lo

Day 12: Nghia Lo - Yen Bai (B/L/D)

The route today day takes us on the back roads to Yen Bai. A spectacular road through undulating terrain of tea plantations, lush forests, rice fields and gum trees.

Overnight in Yen Bai

Day 13: Yen Bai -Hanoi (B/L/D)

Our last day in the saddle takes us back to paved roads through the rolling terrain of tea plantations lush forests, rice fields and gum trees used for paper production. We finish cycling early in the afternoon, then transfer back to Hanoi.

Overnight in Ha Noi

Day 14: Hanoi - Departure (B)

There is a free time for you to relax or further explore Ha Noi. The trip ends after your transfer to Noi Bai Airport for departure