There is probably no better way to see Vietnam than by motorbike, if you have the fortitude for it. You will drive through some of the most amazing scenery you will ever see, starting from the beaches at Vung Tau and finishing in the high country at Da Lat, before returning to Ho Chi Minh City
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Vung Tau
Day 3: Vung Tau – Phan Thiet
Day 4: Ke Ga - Cape Taku Mountain - Mui Ne
Day 5: Mui Ne - Da Lat
Day 6: Da Lat – Ho Chi Minh City
Level of fitness and cycling ability is required.
Undoubtedly, weather is one of the determining factors for your traveling decisions. If you are heading to Vietnam, then, take it easy to make up your mind. Vietnam’s climate is not just steamy hot as what you are frequently exposed to on movies. All year round here, there is always a perfect place where it is pleasant to stay. Basically, the whole country falls into the tropic and subtropics but its stretching length and diverse topography allow it to span several different climate zones. The weather thus, tends to vary considerably from season to season and also from region to region.
Northern Part
The North of Vietnam is generally cooler than other South East Asian regions in the same longitude. It experiences two main distinct seasons. In winter months, the weather gets colder and colder fromNovember to March and considerably warmer in April (a leap into summer). This is also time to observe much cloud and frequent drizzle. The average winter temperature is 17.2°C (62.9°F). Particularly, the mountainous areas (Northwest) are often much colder, temperature may keep below 10°C (50°F) for long period. Ice and snow even cover Hoang Lien Son Mountains and nearby Sapa town for some times with the lowest record of -3°C (26.6°F) in Feb 2008.
In the summer (from May to October), the whole region is quite hot. Temperature may rise to 37°C (98.6 °F) in the peaks of June and July. Hanoi and coastal provinces around the Red River Delta generally enjoy equitable weather with high average humidity (80%) all year round though they may occasionally be subjected to typhoons and heavy rain in late summers (September to November). Vietnamese people even identify four seasons in the Northern provinces (from Hai Van Pass toward the north) with their distinct features: pleasant spring (typically March-April) and autumn (October-December), a chilly winter (December- February) and a hot summer (June – July).
Central Part
The Central Vietnam with two sub-regions, coastal lowlands and central highlands, can be seen as an in-between climatic area of the North and the South. The coastal strip is usually dry and hotter than the rest in the summer, as the Truong Son Mountains do not allow it to enjoy most rainfall of south-western monsoon (from April to October). Unprotected coasts in their turn, however, make it wet and colder than the rest in winter-monsoon season (from November to March). Also, storms and typhoons strike this area more frequently than the northern coasts in summer months (from July to November). The Central Highlands in particular enjoys nearly double the average rainfall of the country. Two biggest towns in this plateau, Dalat and Pleiku, are ideally cool throughout the year. Near-the-south coastal cities, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet, on the contrary, experiences steamy hot weather (21°C-32°C / 70°F-90°F) all year round.
Southern Part
The South of Vietnam, merely 8 degrees north of the Equator, is typical of humid tropical climate which is excellent for growing rice. The region’s temperatures experience little variations in a year (around 27-32°C/80-90°F). There are two main seasons: the rainy and the dry. During the rainy/monsoon season (from May to November), downpours are expected to happen nearly every afternoon, resulting in occasional street flooding in and around Saigon. In the dry season, it is hot from late February to April then slightly cooler when first downpours come. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) enjoys rather equitable tropical climate with high humidity all year round. December to March is said to be the most pleasant time to hit this region’s center.
Note: In all, Vietnam climate is so diverse that there is almost no definition of an average temperature for the whole country. Thanks to these regional variations in weather, generally, you can drop in Vietnam at any time of year. Commonly, based on the duration of your stay, you should plan to catch the good weather and places by either dropping in Saigon in February or March then following the coast to north or hitting Hanoi in October-November then tracing southward.
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)
On arrival at the airport you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure or you can enjoy a warm-up ride around the city with our guide. This is to get familiar with driving a motorbike in Vietnam.
Overnight in HCMC
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Vung Tau
After breakfast, you head southeast to Vung Tau, a beautiful coastal city. Please be prepared for very busy traffic as you leave Ho Chi Minh City. When you reach the countryside, things calm down and we’ll pass many rubber plantations and tapioca farms.
You get to Vung Tau after a 3.5-hour drive and then take a quick uphill ride to Nho Mountain where a 32-metre tall statue of Jesus stands. You’ll also visit the White Palace, which used to be a summer palace for the French conquerors. Once back in Vung Tau, the rest of the day is at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Overnight in Vung Tau
Ride distance: Approx. 145 Km
Day 3: Vung Tau – Phan Thiet (Ke Ga Cape)
Following breakfast, you visit Minh Dam Mountain and the Long Phuoc Tunnels before you continue on our bikes to Phan Thiet.
The coastal road to Ke Ga is wonderful, with a nice breeze to help cool us off. You can stop along the way to relax by the beach in La Gi if you wish. You can also try the mud bath at one of the local hot springs along the way.
Your arriving on Ke Ga Island in the afternoon, and the rest of the day is yours to relax by the beach or to visit the famous lighthouse.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Overnight in Ka Ga
Ride distance: Approx. 145 Km
Day 4: Ke Ga - Cape Taku Mountain - Mui Ne
You first ride to Ta Ku Mountain and hike up to the Linh Son Trong Pagoda. This is the site of the largest reclining Buddha in Vietnam, which gleams white against the surrounding greenery. On the return journey we take the cable car.
In Phan Thiet, you stop to visit Chua Ong Pagoda then continue to the nearby Mui Ne.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Overnight in Mui Ne
Ride distance: Approx. 105 Km
Day 5: Mui Ne - Da Lat
It’s a pretty stunning ride today as you head from the lowlands into the highlands. You head along beautiful coastal roads and eventually ascend to the town of Da Lat. Homesick French colonials who were attracted to its cool, spring-like weather, pine forests, waterfalls and lakes established Da Lat as a hill resort at the beginning of the last century. Many reminders of Da Lat’s colonial past can be seen in the hundreds of European style villas,
Apart from its colonial heritage Da Lat is known in Vietnam for its market gardens growing `everything from carrots and cauliflowers to avocados and bananas as well as many varieties of flowers. For the Vietnamese, Da Lat means romance, and with attractions like the Valley of Love it is the destination of choice for local honeymooners. A few kilometers from Da Lat, at the base of Mount Lang Bian is the village of the Lat ethnic minority from whom Da Lat takes part of its name.
Overnight in Da Lat.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Driving distance: Approx. 185 Km
Day 6: Da Lat – Ho Chi Minh City
You leave Da Lat after breakfast and head back to Ho Chi Minh City. Today is a long days drive passing through pine forests and rubber plantations. Enjoy the winding road to Bao Loc, and then from here the traffic gets heavier. You drive at our own pace and watch out for the traffic.
You arrive in Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon, and the rest of the day is free for you to do your own thing.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Driving distance: Approx. 320 Km
This tour is private and can be tailor-made to suit your travel needs. As a result the price is quoted in US dollars and shown on a per-person basis. The 'Price From' quoted above is for parties of 2, 4 and 6 people and for accommodation in 3 star hotels. The final price will be privately quoted, based on the number in your party, your preferred time of travel, grade of hotel and any additional services requested. Please click on the BOOK NOW button and fill in the booking form, after which one of our travel consultants will customize the best value holiday for you.
REMARKS:
We are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. In Indochina particularly, hotel price makes up most of the cost of your Cambodia cycling, Vietnam cycling, Laos cycling, Myanmar cycling or Thailand cycling. All of our prices are calculated on a twin-shared basis. As a guide, Travel Loops defines hotel grades as follows:
>>Superior Level (3 star hotels in good locations): > 40 USD/room/night
>>Deluxe Level (4 star hotels): > 80 USD/room/night
>>Luxury Level (5 star hotels): > 180 USD/room/night
Price based on twin shared accommodation.
Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.
More people means more discount. Please enquire for more details
If, after reviewing the details of this tour, you would like to receive a "Special Offer" tour price, just click on the "INQUIRY" button below. If you wish to “Tailor Make" your trip, simply click on the "CUSTOMIZE TRIP" and enter your contact details.
COST INCLUDED:
- Experienced English speaking guide
- Private transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
- Accommodation in double/twin sharing rooms with daily breakfast
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water for sightseeing
- All sightseeing entrance fee where required in the itinerary.
COST EXCLUDED:
- International/domestic airfares & tax
- Visa fees
- Travel Insurance. (We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance from home)
- Personal expenditure (telephone, laundry, shopping and so on…)
- Tips for guide, driver, porters and project cost
- Beverage and alcoholic drinks
- Any other services not clearly mentioned on itinerary and trip inclusive portion.
The hotels listed below are just our suggestions offering the best value for this trip according to the hotel category chosen, but Travel Loops also offers more options to cater for different grades, personal taste, and budget. Please let us know if you have any specific choice of hotels, or personal preferences/requirements.
Note: Our choices for each level of accommodation have been highlighted in orange. As mentioned above our selection criteria are based on: prior client reviews, hotel management and staff training, facilities maintenance, location, business relationship and advantages given exclusively to our clients on price and service.
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