After breakfast, begin the day’s ride directly from your hotel, cycling a few kilometers through town before leaving the city behind. The route takes you past tea plantations and steadily uphill toward Tram Ton Pass—also known as Heaven Gate—the highest mountain pass in northern Vietnam. Pause here for a well-earned coffee break and take in the spectacular views of Muong Hoa Valley and the lush jungles that descend toward Binh Lu. From the pass, enjoy an exhilarating downhill ride into Tam Duong township, where you’ll stop for lunch.

In the afternoon, embark on a 25-kilometer stretch of truly off-the-beaten-path cycling through the scenic villages of Na Hum and Ban Hon. The route winds along dirt tracks and gravel roads, undulating through rice terraces, forested areas, and across small rivers. Along the way, visit local homes and witness the rich cultural tapestry of the region. Stop in a community village inhabited by Lu tribes and a few Black Hmong families. Here, you’ll engage with the locals, observe traditional ways of life, explore clusters of well-preserved wooden stilt houses, and learn how the Lu people weave their traditional clothing and store their agricultural products. The journey continues through expansive farmland, where you’ll pass buffalo working the fields and ride through verdant countryside en route to Lai Chau.