We (Kim and I) started in Hanoi and biked to the northernmost region of Vietnam near the Chinese border, with our endpoint at Meo Vac in Ha Giang Province. Then we cycled back to Hanoi (okay, with the help of a bus), with a total of 12 days on the bike. Kim has documented most of the journey, starting with day 1, here. For our route, see the map below:
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It all started in Hanoi, at our couchsurfing host's apartment.
We packed our things and set off in the drizzle, stopping to buy plastic ponchos before crossing the a bridge we weren't technically supposed to ride on to get out of the city. We headed to Bac Giang, about 50 km away, where we had dinner with a Vietnamese friend that I met in Dalian.
On the way we passed a lot of very skinny buildings, an apparent architectural trademark of northern Vietnam. Check out the fancy decorations on the top of building to the right:
From Bac Giang we headed northwest, aiming for Ha Giang, the capital of Ha Giang Province, which we had heard had "stunningly beautiful" mountain roads from a friend of Kim's who has cycled almost all of Vietnam. We made it to Ha Giang by Day 5. Here are some pictures from along the way.
Townspeople gather to watch the foreigner work on her bike:
Rice paddies made up much of the scenery in the greater Hanoi area.
Vietnam has great signage; we were almost always able to calculate our mileage just based on the road signs. We also knew whenever we were entering or leaving a town!
Riding into Ha Giang Province, we finally got our first glimpse of a blue sky and the mountains that awaited us.
After obtaining the permit necessary to ride into the northernmost part of Vietnam, we reveled in the beautiful weather of Ha Giang city, which would be the last gorgeous day until leaving Vietnam!
Vietnamese people are really serious about their car and motorcycle washing. Having ridden on some muddy roads, now I know why!
The market in Ha Giang:
Schoolchildren:
The next day we set off on the hard part of our trip -- up, up, and over "Heaven's Gate" pass and then 3 days along high mountain roads. Well worth the pain!
One of the towns we stayed in:
The ride to Meo Vac, our final destination in the heights, was the most spectacular scenery.
On Day 10, we rode a bus from Meo Vac back to Ha Giang, taking our first rest day. The next morning we took a bus from Ha Giang to the city of Tuyen Quang, which put us in a good place to roll into Hanoi two days later so that Kim could catch her flight out. In the Hanoi area we were back on flat roads passing paddies.
We entered Hanoi in style: drenched but elated.
Kim was an amazing bike buddy, and I can't wait for our next ride!
yo those panorama shots are sweet.
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