This cycle journey takes you through beautiful coastal towns, highlands and nature reserves. Over an amazing 17 day trip you will experience stunning mountain and coastal views, enjoy swimming and relaxing on beaches and experience mysterious ancient sites at Hoi An and Hue. Traveling by bike gives a new perspective of this spectacular country and its warm and welcoming people.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh- Loc An
Day 3: Loc An- Binh Chau - Phan Thiet - Mui Ne
Day 4: Mui Ne - Phan Thiet - Bao Loc - Da Lat
Day 5: Da Lat - Lak Lake - Buon Me Thuot
Day 6: Buon Me Thuot - Nha Trang
Day 7: Nha Trang
Day 8: Nha Trang- Tuy Hoa - Quy Nhon
Day 9: Quy Nhon – Quang Ngai
Day 10: Quang Ngai – Hoi An
Day 11: Hoi An Countryside
Day 12: Hoi An – Hue
Day 13: Hue back roads - Nam Dinh (by rail)
Day 14: Nam Dinh - Tam Coc - Hoa Lu - Cuc Phuong National Park
Day 15: Cuc Phuong - Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Du Village
Day 16: Du Village - Mai Chau - Hanoi
Day 17: Departure
Trip Grade:
Level of fitness and cycling ability is required.
Weather:
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: Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)
On your arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport, you will rendezvous with your guide and transfer the hotel (check in is after 13.00, early check in is subject to availability). In the afternoon, your guide will meet you at the hotel for your trip briefing and bike fitting. Tonight, you will enjoy great Vietnamese cuisine at one of Ho Chi Minh City’s best restaurants.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City
Meal: Dinner included
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Loc An (Cycling 78Km)
You will be met your tour guide in your hotel at Ho Chi Minh City. Then the riding today will take you to the Loc An sanctuary, which was used to store munitions for the Vietnamese Army, during the Vietnam/American War.
You first shuttle 45km out of Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Lai to avoid the city traffic. You cross on the ferry and unload the bikes and start cycling on a quiet paved road. The ride today is relatively easy as the terrain is, in general, pretty flat. You will cycle past rubber, cashew nut, and black pepper plantations. We have lunch at Ngai Giao and continue on the final leg to Loc An. Time permitting we can hike up to Minh Dam Mountain.
Overnight at Loc An.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Note food will be served in a local seafood restaurant
Day 3: Loc An - Binh Chau - Phan Thiet- Mui Ne (Cycling 85Km)
Today is a full day of cycling to the beach town of Phan Thiet. You start to ride from your hotel on a relatively flat route passing through desert-like scenery with sand dunes and coastal views. There are great photo opportunities along this stretch of the route. Arrive in Mui Ne for dinner and overnight at a beach resort in Mui Ne.
Overnight in Mui Ne
Meals: Breakfast and lunch included
Day 4: Mui Ne - Phan Thiet - Bao Loc - Da Lat (Cycling 90Km)
Today you will drive out of town, then cycle to Bao Loc (500 metres above sea level), following highway 28, as there is less traffic and fantastic views. You will see amazing rice fields, an ethnic village (K’ Ho minority), and the national forest of Ma Lam, Da Mi Lake, banana and tea plantations. We finish cycling at Di Linh, and transfer to the unique city of Da Lat. At 1,475 Metres above sea level, Da Lat is a temperate region dotted with lakes and waterfalls and surrounded by evergreen forests. This French Hill Station was once known as `Little Paris`. The surrounding hills provide South Vietnam with the more temperately grown flowers and vegetables such as apples and carrots.
Overnight in Da Lat
Meals: Breakfast and lunch included
Day 5: Da Lat - Lak Lake - Buon Me Thuot (Cycling 80Km)
This moring you depart to Da Lat to enjoy a full day in the saddle exploring the region’s amazing hillside scenery. The first 17 km is downhill to Ta Nung after which we continue to ride on flat roads and rolling hills to Thanh Binh. We are now on larger roads with a couple of passes to tackle. The road between Da Lat and Lak Lake winds over two mountain passes and the riding is quite challenging, but worth the effort. The road may seem almost vertical but the views over the coffee plantations are spectacular. After a slow uphill of less than 10km (remember the support vehicle is on hand) when you reach the summit you can coast down the other side. The second Chuoi (Banana) pass begins soon after, but is less challenging and mostly downhill. We ride past many examples of beautiful wooden houses with piles of coffee beans drying in the sun. As you approach Lak Lake you will have a great view of the town and the lake. We take the opportunity to rest here and admire the view, after which we transfer in the support van to Buon Me Thuot.
Overnight in Buon Me Thuot
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Day 6: Buon Ma Thuot - Nha Trang (Cycling 85Km)
Following breakfast, you head out on Road 26 to the coastal town of Nha Trang. The ride is over undulating hills with some stunning scenery; we make plenty of stops to take in the beauty of several coffee plantations, Earkrong Buk River and the mountains. We have a stop for lunch at Ea Knop before descending towards the coast. When you arrive at Highway 1 at Ninh Hoa, the shuttle will take you the last 30km to Nha Trang. Driving this scenic coastal stretch past turquoise waters and scarlet fishing boats, you will arrive in the holiday town of Nha Trang.
Overnight in Nha Trang.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
Day 7: Nha Trang (Cycling 30Km)
Today you enjoy a half-day cycle trip into the countryside on a 30km loop. Starting with a short drive and a boat trip, you cycle through villages along narrow roads and quiet lanes, stopping off at points of interest en route. There are plenty of sights, sounds and smells to absorb. Lunch will be a picnic and there will be options to sample local restaurant food if your wish. The afternoon is at your leisure to enjoy the beaches of Nha Trang where you spend the night.
Overnight in Nha Trang
Meals: Breakfast and lunch included
Day 8: Nha Trang - Tuy Hoa - Qui Nhon (Cycling 65Km)
The gentle ride today takes you to the coastal resort of Doc Let. There will be time to relax on the beach before transferring away from Highway 1 to Dai Lanh Beach. From here the ride is along the coastal road passing rice fields, shrimp farms, salt farms, and coconut palms. Few tourists stop on this stretch of road, so you will be a novelty to the local people; it is a great experience. Vietnamese are some of the friendliest people imaginable, choosing to see their country by cycle, will delight them. On arrival at Tuy Hoa, we take an air-conditioned bus to Qui Nhon.
Overnight in Quy Nhon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Day 9: Quy Nhon – Quang Ngai (Cycling 60Km)
Cycling the back roads through several little villages and a range of scenery you will find the road is mostly flat with just two small climbs. On reaching Highway 1 we will drive to Quang Ngai, passing the small town of Sa Huynh, a pleasant fishing backwater perched on a broad curve of palm-fringed, golden sand. Speckled with blue fishing boats, this sleepy village is a convenient and relaxing place to rest en route to points north.
Overnight in Quang Ngai.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Day 10: Quang Ngai – Hoi An (Cycling 70Km)
An early breakfast and then a short, steady 2km climb to the top of Thien An Mountain gives us panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Here we can visit an ancient working pagoda. We continue to ride to the site of the My Lai massacre. The My Lai site is in a small rural settlement, surrounded by simple thatched huts, quilted rice paddies and farmers with conical hats going about their day-to-day routines. The mood set by these surroundings is one of peace and tranquility despite the deep scars of the past. After a guided tour of the museum, we continue cycling on quiet roads passing My Khe Beach, local villages, a school and a lively local market. After cycling a further 35km to Chau O, we transfer to Tam Ky. We continue cycling from Dan Ha, alongside the Tam Ky River to Thang Binh, and transfer to Hoi An.
Overnight in Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Day 11: Hoi An Countryside (Cycling 25Km)
Today you cycle through the quiet countryside surrounding Hoi An to Tra Que village, which is a charming little village located on the edge of the town. The village is named after the sweet scented vegetables that spice up the everyday meals of the Hoi An people. Here traditional Hoi An dishes like Cao Lau, Quang noodles, the local ‘Tam huu' spring roll (made from Tra Que vegetables) and cake with meat (Banh Xeo) has been livened up. Experience a day of living and working with the local people in the village and enjoy a cookery class and lunch with your host. You return to Hoi An after lunch. then rest of the day is free at leisure. You can relax by Cua Dai Beach or shop in the ancient town of Hoi An.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch included
Day 12: Hoi An – Hue (Cycling 60Km)
Today you travel north again for the drive/cycle to Hue. In the morning we visit a marble factory and view their exquisite workmanship. We also visit the famous China Beach where the American servicemen went for their R&R during the Vietnam/American War. Leaving Da Nang, we cycle along a flat road by the beach before tackling the Hai Van Pass (also known as the ‘Pass of the Ocean Clouds’). The views here are stunning and worth the 580 metre climb. If you prefer to avoid this you can always take a lift in the support vehicle. Once at the top, it will have been worth every moment as you effortlessly glide back toward the coast. Lunch break is at Lang Co Beach, then after a short transfer continue cycling along the coastal road passing through small villages and timeless rural scenes to Thuan An. Here you transfer to our city centre hotel, and overnight in Hue.
Overnight in Hue
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Day 13: Hue cycling the back roads - Nam Dinh (Cycling approx 25-30Km)
After a leisurely breakfast, you cycle on a back road loop of Hue through lush countryside, on a mix of footpaths and quiet country lanes. Next, we cycle from the hotel to the historic Imperial Citadel. After exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument, we ride out through the unique backstreets and along the banks of the Perfume River to Thien Mu pagoda. You continue on to the Ming Manh mausoleum and loop back across the Perfume River to Hue via the mausoleum of Khai Dinh. At Hue, then you board an overnight train to Nam Dinh.
Overnight on the train (4 berth cabin).
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and box dinner included
Day 14: Nam Dinh - Tam Coc - Hoa Lu - Cuc Phuong National Park (Cycling approx 50-60Km)
The train arrives in Nam Dinh station early in the morning; you will be transfer to Tam Coc where you have a day-room to shower, rest and have breakfast. The area around Tam Toc is famed for its spectacular karst scenery. The soaring limestone mountains jut straight out of the paddy fields, and they are truly spectacular. Begin your day with a peaceful cruise by local sampan to explore the picturesque Tam Coc (dry Halong Bay) canal running through three caves. you start cycling on quiet country lanes twisting through the picturesque mountains leading to Hoa Lu. Stop to visit the ancient city of Hoa Lu (dating back to the 9th century), where the remarkable remnants of King Dinh and Le Temple lie. After lunch, you continue on country roads to the National Park at Cuc Phuong to visit the primate rescue centre. Tonight you will stay in a beautiful resort, which is located 3.5 km away from the park.
Overnight in Cuc Phuong national park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Day 15: Cuc Phuong - Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Du Village (Cycling 70Km)
After breakfast, you start to ride from Cuc Phuong. Enjoying the undulating roads, your riding takes you past a pineapple plantation and rice paddies. You enjoy lunch end of route, and then you continue cycling across La Han Bridge. From here the road is a mixture of hard-pack clay and gravel. The road is a jeep trail, built by the French over 100 years ago. Keep continue cycling to Du village nestled at the base of limestone hills.
Overnight in a local home-stay.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Day 16: Du Village - Mai Chau - Hanoi (Cycling 65Km)
After breakfast you begin your ride through the reserve on the rough jeep track. It is smooth and fast in parts, but hard-pack gravel in others, with large stony sections and some hill climbs. The terrain is undulating, with no steep hills over 4km to climb. you cycle along Road 15A, which is a newer French tarmac road, once an old supply route to the Ho Chi Minh Trail. There is still little traffic on this section of road, which contrasts to the valley ride. Here you can cycle alongside the stunning Ma River (time permitting). You end the ride at Mrs Trung’s home in Pom Coong village. Late lunch will be served, and there is the chance to grab a quick shower before the afternoon drive to Hanoi. In the evening, enjoy our farewell dinner in one of Hanoi’s top restaurants.
Overnight in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Day 17: Depart from Hanoi
At leisure after having the breakfast at your hotel. If you wish, it's nice to explore the Old Quarter for your last minutes shopping until transfer to airport or onward travel.
Meals: Breakfast included
End of Service with your healthy travel through out Vietnam on bicycle.
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.
- Mountain bike and helmet.
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.
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