cycling Hanoi to Saigon 15 days

CYCLING HANOI TO SAIGON-TOUR DE VIETNAM

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

This  road cycling adventures starts in the capital city Hanoi in the north, and ends in Ho Chi Minh City in the far south.  This trip we use road bikes or cross bike , and daily distance ride from 120-140 km. En-route, you will cover more than 1,500kms as you visit the most spellbinding places the country has to offer.

Having explored Hanoi and its stunning surroundings, you will head south to Hue, the former Imperial Capital. Dominated by majestic temples and ancient tombs, it is a town in which time seems to have stopped.

After Hue you will ride to Hoi An, a charming old trading town situated on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Your journey continues as you will riding to the white sandy beaches of Nha Trang.

From the beach, head to the cooler temperatures and lush hills of Dalat before reaching down to Mui Ne and final cycling in Ho Chi Minh City.

We think you’ll agree: there is no better way to experience the wonders of Vietnam than by bike!

Testimonials of this trip

Hi Joe
Happy holidays to you. We had a great time in Vietnam and still rave about it.
We look forward to the next trip through Laos and Cambodia.
Take care
Fayez

Dec,2008

Itinerary

Day1: Hanoi arrival. Pick up in airport, transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 2: HaNoi – Cam Thuy Dist 180 km, cycling +-120 km asphalt road 

Transfer to Hadong- Xuan Mai , cycling to Cam Thuy. Overnight in hotel at Cam Thuy (B,L,D)

Day 3:  Cam Thuy – Thai Hoa Dist 135km, cycling +- 130 km asphalt road. 

Ride on the newly built two lane Ho Chi Minh trails Highway there is very few traffic! The road makes for smooth fast riding, plenty of exploring possibilities along the way.

Ride on the banks of River Song Chu, the distance covered today is quite long and there will be the chance to transfer some sections by the back-up vehicle to rest weary legs. There are fewer villages today as the route cuts through forests and jungle. Arrival Thai Hoa very late. Dinner and overnight Thai Hoa guesthouse.   Overnight in Thai Hoa. (B,L,D) 

Day4:Thai Hoa – Pho Chau ( +- 130km, asphalt road )

The ride is on smooth road and passing peaceful villages and stunning mountain range. Overnight in Pho Chau (B,L,D) 

Day5:Pho Chau– Phong Nha  (150km, cycling +- 120 km, asphalt road)

After a relaxing breakfast continue riding  on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The trail is still a dream to ride on. Transfer if tired in the afternoon to Phong Nha cave. Overnight in a local Hotel in Phong Nha  (B,L,D) 

Day 6: Phong Nha – Dong Hoi- Dong Ha: ( dist 140km asphalt road )

Riding on asphalt road to Dong Hoi. Breakfast in the hotel, today we will  cycling in ” DMZ ”  area with  “Truong Son National Cemetery ” where some hundred of thousand soldiers of North Vietnam who served in army during Vietnam War are resting in peace. Dinner and overnight in Dong Ha. (B,L,D) 

Day 7: Dong Ha  – Hue ( Cycling +-90km, asphalt road )

Cycling to old military base “ Quang Tri “, with ” Thach Han River “.  Old Quang Tri town.The ride with river and tribal villages along the road. End of riding day in Hue.  Overnight in Hue.(B,L,D) 

Day 8: Hue to Hoi An:  Dist 145 km, cycling +- 120, asphalt road

We will begin riding early in the morning in back road , country side of Hue city to Hai van pass . Our route passes by rural villages and picturesque Lang Co lagoon, an ascent of the pass with stunning views of the coast and a thrilling 5-mile descent from the top of the green rice fields around DaNang, which we will .Skirt by on our way to HoiAn. Overnight in Hoian .(B,L,D)    

Day 9: Hoi An to My Lai/ My Khe – Quang Ngai- Quy Nhon: Dist 255 km, cycling +-115 km, asphalt road. 

Depart early along the coast and past  scenic rice village. Lunch near a “secret” Cham sight. Via ChuLai, a former American military base, and cycling our way to the MyLai Memorial, riding ahead to city central. Pm continue cycling to Quy Nhon.  Overnight in Quy Nhon .(B,L,D) 

Day 10: Quy Nhon – Tuy Hoa – Nha Trang: Dist 213 Km, cycling +- 113, asphalt  road.

Our ride from QuyNhon to  Tuy Hoa  covers some of VietNam’s scenic coastline, featuring deserted blue lagoons and stone promontories. Overlooking the water below. Driving to Vietnam’s finest oceanfront city, Nha Trang. Overnight in Nhatrang

(B,L,D)   

Day 11: Nha Trang relax: no cycling 

Morning after breakfast visit city. Pm relax on beach. Fare well dinner in Nha Trang. Dinner and overnight in Nha Trang. (B,L,D) 

Day 12: Nhatrang – Dalat: Dist 180km, cycling 125 km, asphalt road

This morning we take on a challenging climb up hill to Dalat. We head inland from Nhatrang, this is new route west of Nhatrang to KhanhVinh of approximately 30km of flat road before the mountains begin! This is a beautiful narrow piece of tarmac through the tropical forest to the highland, 30km climb up to HonGiao, and 50km fuelling us over a couple more passes to Dalat for our overnight stay. Overnigh in Da Lat.(B, L, D)

Day 13: Dalat- Mui Ne : Dist 165km , cycling 110km, asphalt road

We begin today with a twisting six-mile descent from Da Lat through pine forests to the rolling and gradually falling road to Di Linh. We’ll pass by numerous coffee, tea, banana and rubber plantations planted in the rich, red earth that marks the Central Highlands as the place where Vietnam’s finest tea and coffee is grown. We turn off High Way 20 for a small road, rolling through tropical forests to Gia Bac, then down hill to sea level at PhanThiet and Mui Ne Beach where we spend tonight.

Cycling distance: 90 ~ 190km. Overnight in Mui Ne (B,L,D) 

Day 14: Mui Ne- SaiGon: Dist 180km, cycling 90 km, asphalt road

Am  Cycling around Mui Ne 40 km and Relax at the beach until lunch time while our staff clean and pack your bike. We check out of the hotel in the afternoon and transfer by van to Saigon.

Overnight in SaiGon (B,L,D) 

Day 15 (No cycling day). Breakfast , transfer to Airport  for flight home (B )

Or extension tour in SaiGon to Mekong delta.

Tour overview

Tour Cost

Note: Prices are based per person, double occupancy, with a separate cost for solo travelers. If you are traveling in a group but prefer single accommodations, a single supplement fee applies. Triple accommodations are not available in many of the destinations we visit.

Best time to go

From October to May

Group tour :  from 6 to 14 people     

 WHAT’S INCLUDED

WHAT NOT:International airfare; meals not noted on itinerary; optional tour; Vietnam visa; insurance other than basic medical ; optional tipping to leader, guides and local staff; excess baggage charges; international airport taxes; cost of medical immunizations; items of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).

Bike Hire including for Surly Cross check, Trek 520 

Gears checklist

Total Distance cycling +-  1,000 km