The mist clings to the jagged limestone peaks as the first light of dawn touches the emerald-green rice terraces. You feel the cool mountain air against your skin, the rhythmic click of your gears, and the steady beat of your heart as you ascend a winding pass that seems to lead directly into the clouds.

The mist clings to the jagged limestone peaks as the first light of dawn touches the emerald-green rice terraces. You feel the cool mountain air on your face, the rhythmic click of your gears, and the steady beat of your heart as you ascend a winding pass that seems to lead directly into the clouds.

Northern Vietnam is a land of verticality. It is where the Himalayan foothills finally taper off, creating a dramatic topography of soaring peaks, deep canyons, and hidden valleys. But it isn’t just the landscape that makes Cycling Northern Vietnam so special; it is the cultural tapestry woven into these mountains.