Email 1800 829 829 - …...be greeted by our local guide at Noi Bai Airport before arriving at our hotel. After a freshen up we will enjoy an evening meal and an early night for the

1800 829 829 [email protected] www.plan.ie/challenges Email - [email protected]

On this 10 day Vietnam Cycle

Challenge adventure through

remote mountain villages, you will

be surrounded by magical scenery

off the tourist track and be

immersed in the local H’mong

culture.

Visit down-town Hanoi, Vietnam's

vibrant capital city. Enjoy an

extraordinary road trip though the

spine of Vietnam via Viet Tri, Tuyen

Quang, the valleys of Tuyen Quang

and onto Ha Giang.

Then, traverse the Ha Giang

province by bike over 5 days, along

the way meeting the local H’Mong

people, immersing yourself in local

food and culture. You will also have

the very unique, and special,

opportunity to visit several Plan

International Programmes, thus

seeing you support in action directly.

1800 829 829 [email protected] www.plan.ie/challenges

Here at Plan International Ireland, we have a vision – happy, healthy and educated

girls. By joining us on this extraordinary adventure, you are supporting this vision.

You can see you support in action, while experiencing a personal journey of

adventure and discovery.

We believe that if we can help create the opportunity, they will do the rest. This is tenet

of our Because I am a Girl campaign. Being a girl in the developing world is tough. It means

you are more likely to be married off early, more likely to find yourself having a child while

still a child, more likely to drop out of school, more likely to suffer from violence and abuse,

to be the last to be fed, the last to be heard.

Plan International's 78 years of experience has proven to us that supporting girls is the best

investment we can make in the world today. If we invest smartly in girls, they can decide the

future they want for themselves and for their children. They can educate themselves and

those around them. They can invest and save and reinvest. Ultimately, they can make the

world better .. our world.

Email - [email protected]


Day 1 Depart Dublin

And we are off! The journey starts here with our flight

from Dublin to Hanoi.

Day 2, Arrive Hanoi. B/L/D

The real adventure begins as we arrive in Hanoi. We will

be greeted by our local guide at Noi Bai Airport before

arriving at our hotel.

After a freshen up we will enjoy an evening meal and an

early night for the start of the challenge trip tomorrow.

Day 3, Hanoi > Ha Giang. 15km B/L/D

Today we will have a group breakfast in Hanoi and make

our first visit to Plan International Vietnam country office

in Hanoi.

Enjoy a full day road trip along the national road #2 via

Viet Tri, Tuyen Quang to Ha Giang province. We will have

some stops on the way to take pictures or to visit local

ethnic villages.

We will be immersed in the beautiful scenery of lush palm

forests, tea plantations and stunning valleys as we travel

through Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang.

Lunch will be provided in local restaurant en route.

We will arrive in Ha Giang by 16:00. After checking in at

our hotel we will get to try out our bikes for the first time

with an optional warm up cycle to Tay village before

returning for an evening meal.

Day 4 Ha Giang > Quan Ba. 65km B/L/D

Following breakfast at hotel, we set off by bike heading out

of town for the first 25km on relatively flat road through the

landscape of terraced rice paddy fields.

Passing through minority villages we cycle the next 25km

up winding roads into the vast limestone mountain range,

with its perpendicular walls of rock, climbing 800m towards

the mountain road pass “Heaven Gate 1”.

As we pass through mountain villages, we will receive a

friendly greeting from the local communities along the way.

From the pass we can look down at amazing views,

including the famous vista of the Tam Son Valley with the

‘Twin Hills’ and can spy Quan Ba town, our destination, in

its beautiful location. It’s mainly downhill for the last 15km

into Quan Ba, where we overnight.

Day 5,

Quan Ban > Yen Minh. 45km B/L/D

Following, we’re back on the bikes to Yen Minh,

surrounded by outstanding natural beauty. The terrain

today will be a slightly challenging mix of up and downhill

at an altitude over 1000m before a final 15km descent.

We plan on taking our time today as our beautiful

surroundings offer numerous photo opportunities and the

rocky limestone and karst terrain is as diverse as it is

beautiful.

We cycle uphill for the first few km before a descent of

around 10km and flat terrain for the next 10km, before a

well-earned meal at our hotel in Yen Minh.



Day 6, Yeh Minh > Dong Van. 30km B/L/D

Today is our first opportunity to witness first hand the work

Plan International and how your fundraising efforts help.

Our morning will be spent at our first programme visit where

you will get to meet the children, families, teachers and

communities that are benefitting from our Community based

Bilingual Education for Ethnic Minority children in the

region.

We will lunch in Yeh Minh before getting back on our bikes

to continue to Dong Van. Today’s ride is short, but the

climbs are a little harder but more spectacular.

The colorful traditional costumes of the local people will

help you to face the challenge of the hills, and the views

over these spectacular mountains and through the huge

gorges will reward your efforts, with an overnight planned

for Dong Van.

Day 7, Dong Van > Meo Vac. 30km B/L/D

Today we will be cycling one of the most scenic 10km of

Northern Vietnam. As we leave town, we will descend

slightly, but into the next climb you are delivered an optical

encouragement as the valley floor down to your right drops

at almost the same level as you climb. The huge gorges

leading away from you at this point lead straight into the

wild frontier land and Yunnan Province of China.

We will have lunch in Meo Vac before travelling to our

second Plan International programme visit where we will

spend the rest of the afternoon, before heading to our

destination for the night - Meo Vac.

Day 8,

Meo Vac > Bao Lac. 65km B/L/D

Our final day of cycling we see us take on a stunningly

remote mountain road en route to Bao Lac as we wind

our way through beautiful villages.

After a 5km uphill cycle we will make a 20km descent

before following a fairly flat road for the next 10km.

The surrounding landscape, with predominantly

limestone formations, is a surreal vista of peaks,

troughs, towers and caves.

We will once again pass people from the local minority

communities along the way dressed in their vibrant

tribal costumes.

Arrival in Bao Lac, we will check into a local

guesthouse for our overnight.

Day 9, Bao Lac > Hanoi. B/L/D

After breakfast we will have our full day transfer back to

Hanoi, arriving late afternoon, with refreshment stops

along the way. On arrival back in Hanoi, we will have

our final celebratory meal together tonight in Hanoi and

have time to explore Vietnam’s vibrant capital.

Day 10, Hanoi > Dublin. B/L/D (in-flight)

Following breakfast at hotel, we will transfer back to the

airport for flight back to Dublin, arriving into Dublin on

Saturday afternoon.



Plan International was founded over 78 years

ago with a mission to promote and protect the

rights of children.

Today, Plan International is a global organisation that

works in 51 developing countries to promote child

rights and lift millions of children out of poverty

Because I am a Girl is Plan International’s

global campaign to create a world that

values girls, promotes girls' rights and

ends injustice.

We are committed to driving a global

movement that transforms power relations

so girls everywhere can learn, lead, decide

and thrive.

The Because I am a Girl campaign

empowers girls and boys to become agents

of change. Putting children’s voices at the

centre of the social movement is a core

belief that underpins Plan International’s

work and our desire to create lasting

change.



What does it cost?

The total fundraising target for this trip is €3,750.

How do I fundraise?

There are so many fun and creative ways to raise the funds. You will receive a comprehensive fundraising tool kit and have our full support throughout your journey.

How fit do I need to be?

This challenge is marked moderate.Whilst no extensive cycling experience is required prior to registering, our challenges are designed to be just that – CHALLENGING!

We advise you to increase your physical fitness with aerobic exercise and cycling in the three months prior to your trip.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age for this trip is 18. However, younger participants will be considered on application. We have had participants from ages 17 to 70 on our challenge treks and challenges previously!

Can I extend my stay?

Yes. If you wish to extend your stay and visit more of the country this is entirely up to you. Any travel arrangements outside of those mentioned in itinerary will be at your own cost.

Will I meet the Team before I go?

Yes. We hold information evenings which are a great opportunity to meet the rest of the group –this works well for those taking on the challenge on their own.

You will also have regular contact and updates from the Plan International Ireland staff member that will be on your trip.

• All international flights

• All transfer as per itinerary

(private air-conditioned vehicles)

• Twin-share accommodation

• Plan International Ireland staff

member

• Local translator

• Bike, with support vehicle/team

• All meals as per itinerary

• Water and snacks on cycle days

• All entrance fees/permits

• Visa

• Meals not mentioned in Itinerary

• Services, excursions or activities

not mentioned in itinerary

• Personal expenditure

• Tipping


1800 829 829 [email protected] www.plan.ie/challenges Email - [email protected]

PICS Vietnam 2017


Three easy ways to do it …

logon @ plan.ie/vietnamcycle

freefone 1800 829 829

Email

[email protected]

Plan International Ireland

126 Baggot Street Lower

Dublin 2

D01X934

“This is a challenge that

you shouldn’t miss. Vietnam

is a stunning country. You

won’t regret doing it, and

I am personally looking

forward to leading you on

this adventure of a lifetime.

Please get in touch to discuss in more

detail.”

Emily, Plan International Ireland


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Email 1800 829 829 - …...be greeted by our local guide at Noi Bai Airport before arriving at our hotel. After a freshen up we will enjoy an evening meal and an early night for the