Thứ Hai, 19 tháng 5, 2014

Exploring Ha Giang by bicycle

Day 1: Lao Cai – Regional Triabal Market - Bac Ha – Ban Pho Valley(B; L; -)
Early arrival to Lao Cai station from 05.30 to 06.30 depending on different train.  Freshen up, breakfast in a local restaurant.
07.30 leave Lao Cai for a road transfer to one of the regional markets as following: Coc Ly(Tue), Cao Son(Wed), Lung Khau Nhin(Thur), Can Cau(Sat) and Bac Ha(Sun). Enjoy about 2 hours joining the local ethnic peoples such as H’mong, Zao, Tay, Phu La…experiencing the festive atmosphere and lively activities as well as understanding of the regional spiritual life.
Transfer to Bac Ha Town let and check in Sao Mai hotel around noon time. The Bac Ha market on Sunday takes place right in this charming town. Lunch break.
Warming up for approx 2 hours in the afternoon by cycling 12 km up and downhill around the Ban Pho Valley.
Overnight in Bac Ha.
Day summary: Transfer from 75 to 140 km// Biking: 2 hours // Walk & visiting market: 2 hours // Hotel room and dinner in Bac Ha
Day 2: Bac Ha – Can Cau – Ta Cu Ty(B; L; D)
Breakfast and check out Sao Mai hotel at 08.30 am.
Start biking from hotel following the motor way 3 km to the center of Lau Thi Ngai Commune.
Cross the stream by suspension bridge and then ejoy an easy ride on a single dirt track along a stunning valley for 4 km before challenging 5 km up steep hill trail to Lung Phin.
Follow the motor way again for 2,5 km and then turn left to another single dirt track for 22 km, passing through several small hamlets of the H’mong peoples to Can Cau market place.
Arrive at Can Cau at about 4.00 pm. Stop biking and then transfer by road for 45 minutes to Ta Cu Ty.
The trail today runs mostly through populated valleys which featured of terraced rice paddies and cornfields on steep hills sides as well as chances to meet local tribal peoples such as Flower H’mong, Zao and Tay.
Day summary: Transfer: 29 km// Biking: 5 – 6 hours // Walk & visiting 1 hour // Home stay.
Day 3: Ta Cu Ty – Ban Ngo – Nam Dan(or Gio Pass)(B; L; D)
Breakfast and say good bye to hosting family at 08.30.
Biking along a single track which form a half circle around the Ta Cu Ty mountain range and is a combination of short lose rocky part and dirt trails with some stream crosses for 21 km from Ta Cu Ty to Dan Khao Village of Ban Ngo Commune via several villages and hamlets of the Nung, H’mong and Zao ethnic peoples.
Lunch break at Dan Khao, a newly settled-down village.
There are 3 choices for afternoon biking from here:
Opt 1:  Continuing along the same track for 9 km on high elevation of Ta Cu Ty range to home stay at Nam Chien Village with ½ hour visiting to the interesting rock fields with messages of the ancient peoples carved on many big rocks at Nam Dan Village. Arrival at home stay at about 3.00 pm.
Opt 2:  Making a short loop for about 2 hours along a narrow and steep single dirt track from Dan Khao Village to home-stay at Nam Chien Village, Nam Dan Commune:
5 km downhill to the suspension bridge 1.
2,5 km uphill and then 2 km downhill, then 1,5 km uphill again to the motor way.
3 km paved road to home stay at Nam Chien.
Opt 3: Making a longer loops for nearly 3 hours along a steep and narrow single track from Dan Khao Village to Che La Commune and then continue to home-stay at Nam Chien Village, Nam Dan Commune:
+ 5 km downhill to suspension bridge 1
+ 6 km uphill to the junction in Che La Commune.
+ Turn right and gradually getting downhill for 7 km to suspension bridge 3.
+ 2,5 km uphill again from the bridge 3 to home-stay.
Day summary: Transfer: 0// Biking: 5; 6; 7 hours depending on optional plan // Home stay.
Note:  If choosing to stay overnight at Gio Pass site in stilts house amongst thick forest, please add 7 km biking or transferring along the motor way up steep hill.
Day 4: Nam Dan(or Gio Pass Site) – Nam Nhung – Khau  Rom – Nam Choong(B; L; D)
Breakfast and leave home stay in Nam Chien at about 08.30 am.
Warming up by following the good motor way for 14 km through thick rain forest from home-stay over the Gio Pass to the southern side of the.
Turn left to a single dirt track for 12 km mostly steep downhill through tea farms, terraced rice paddies, bamboo forest, passing some isolated hamlets of the Zao and H’mong ethnic of Nam Nhung and Khau Rom Villages to the main road which run along the Nam Ly River.
Following the main road for 3 km to a suspension bridge and cross the Nam Ly River to the southern bank.
Take the single dirt track uphill 5 km through Phieng Lang and Quang Thuong Villages of the Red Zao and then 3 km on the hill side with not too much up and down before challenging 5 km downhill along a narrow and steep dirt track to Nam Choong Village.
Arrive at the Nam Choong local tourist site near the hot mineral spring at about 5.00 pm.
Day summary: Transfer: 0// Biking: 4 to 5 hours// Walk and visiting: 2 hours // Home stay.
Day 5: Nam Choong – Cao Son – Ho Thau Commune – Ho Xan Village. (B; L; D)
Breakfast and leave Nam Choong at about 08.30 am.
Start biking along a narrow single track from Nam Choong for 6 km to the center of Quang Nguyen Commune.
Then following a single dirt track gradually uphill along the Nam Ly River through the Trung Son Village for 10 km.
Challenging 4 km down and up very steep trail to cross the upstream of Nam Ly River to the other bank. Bikes may have to be carried for about 30 m.
Following a larger single track uphill for 5 km to Chien Thang Village and then gradually downhill for 6 km to the center of Ho Thau Commune.
Uphill for 4 km along the concert road to Ho Xan Village of the Red Zao and Nung ethnic.
Arrival to home stay at Ho Xan Village at about 4.30 pm.
Day summary: Transfer: 0// Biking: 4 to 5 hours// Walk and visiting: 2 hours // Home stay.
Day 6: Ho Xan – Nam Son – Nam Khoa – Panhou(B; L; -)
Breakfast and then leave Ho Xan Village at 08.30.
Cycle along a single dirt track almost downhill for 12 km from Ho Xan Village Via Sin Chai Village to Nam Son Bridge. Take a short rest by the river.
Then follow the large road up steep hill for 14km to the Nam Khoa Heaven Gate. This part offers stunning scenery of thick rain forest with narrow terraced rice paddies on steep hill sides.
Lunch break.
Getting downhill along another large single dirt track for nearly 10 km along the Nam Khoa Valley to the Junction of the Nam Khoa River. Scenery features with small villages of the Zao and the Nung surrounded by tea farms, plantation and terraced rice paddies stretching along 2 sides of the valley.
Turn left and then follow a very narrow single dirt track winding its way up and down on steep steep hills sides along the Nam Khoa River for 8 km to Thong Nguyen Commune.
Follow the narrow concert motor way for 2,5 km to the Panhou.
Day summary: Transfer: 0// Biking: 5 hours// Walk and visiting: 2 hours // Hotel room and dinner at Panhou
Day 7: Panhou – Ha Noi(-; -; -)
Breakfast and check out the Panhou at 08.00 for a full day transfer by road 315 km to Ha Noi via Tuyen Quant, Viet Tri,...
Day summary: Transfer: 315 km.
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