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Cycling Vietnam's Central Coast

Day 1 Meet in Hue

We start our tour with a morning pickup from your hotel in Hue. Please be ready to ride! You will meet your friendly guide, who will introduce you to your trusty two-wheeled companions for the week! We are off for a spin through this atmospheric city and its surroundings, where monuments of the last dynasty of Vietnam surprise us as we wind our way through tree-lined lanes and elevated roads in the fertile rice paddies. We visit the grandiose tomb of a famous emperor (truly a palace for the afterlife), cross the beautiful Perfume River by small ferry, explore the 17th century Thien Mu Pagoda at its majestic vantage point over the river, and then arrive at the Forbidden City of the Nguyen dynasty, a moated palace that played a crucial role from the rise of the Nguyen dynasty, to the French colonial era, to the Tet offensive. After lunch, check into our hotel, take some free time to relax, or head out for a walk in this engaging riverfront city, with its many parks, gardens, and grandiose tombs of emperors nearby. Please let us know if we can help with any pre-trip hotel bookings or airport transfers!

Emm Hotel
Lunch, Dinner
Ride 26km
+105m
-105m

Day 2 Hue - Lang Co

This morning, we check out of our hotel in Hue and take a 15-minute drive to the outskirts of town. We rendezvous with our bikes and pedal along canals and rivers into the estuary of the Perfume River, a more isolated region of farming and fishing villages. We then arrive at the uncanny “Ghost City,” made up of huge, remarkably ornate mausoleums to ancestors, many of which are funded with money sent home by Vietnamese expatriates living abroad. The artistry of the mausoleums makes for a striking contrast with the rural landscape of rice fields, woods, and wetlands. The ride continues through this serene countryside and culminates by the shores of Vietnam’s largest lagoon, where locals raise an abundance of oysters and fish. After taking in this dramatic view, we transfer the final 40 km to Lang Co Beach Resort for lunch. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy the resort, head to the spa, or relax at the beach.

Lang Co Beach Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 64km
+281m
-266m

Day 3 Lang Co - Hoi An

Our ride begins straight out of the resort this morning, with a fun spin around another peaceful lagoon. This brings us to the day’s challenge: the iconic Hai Van Pass, where we will climb to 480 m above sea level over a distance of 10 km. It yields superb views over Da Nang Bay, well worth the ride. We then enjoy the downhill to the modern, dynamic city of Danang, our destination for lunch. In the afternoon, we wind down with a relaxing and very scenic ride to Hoi An, winding through Da Nang’s neighborhoods passing the Marble Mountains, strange limestone columns that seem artificially placed into the flat landscape, and then into the riparian landscape of the countryside. We follow the Thu Bon River into the town of Hoi An, an important port of call for Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese traders during the 17th and 18th centuries. The architecture reflects its cosmopolitan past, with over 844 UNESCO-protected historic structures forming the core of the town. We will spend two nights here, giving us a chance to enjoy the sights and atmosphere of this energetic community which has retained its festiveness, vibrancy and entrepreneurial spirit.

La Charm Hoi An Hotel & Spa
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 62km
+899m
-908m

Day 4 Hoi An - My Son - Hoi An

This morning, we cycle directly from our hotel out of Hoi An on small village roads and then make our way up the Thu Bon River by roads and farm lanes. The ride is a fascinating immersion in the region’s ecosystem and surrounding agrarian economy, inextricably tied to the natural cycles of the tides, seasonal rains, and jungle flora. Eventually, we arrive at My Son, ancient capital of the Cham civilization, a Hindu people who ruled this region until some 500 years ago. Although some of the temples were destroyed by American bombs, there are many remaining temples that convey the prosperity and artistry of the Champa kingdom. We will have lunch before visiting the site on foot. In the afternoon, we transfer by van just over one hour back to Hoi An. Dinner is on your own tonight, so get adventurous and try the delicious Vietnamese food Hoi An’s markets and riverside restaurants have to offer! Your guides will be happy to recommend some of their favorites.

La Charm Hoi An Hotel & Spa
Breakfast, Lunch
Ride 55km
+432m
-428m

Day 5 Hoi An - Quang Ngai

In the morning, we leave Hoi An and cross the Cua Dai Bridge, which spans high above the Thu Bon River, with impressive views of the open ocean and the Cham Islands in the distance offshore. We have a pleasant ride on quiet rural riverside roads, with friendly local farmers, eventually reaching the village of Tam Thanh to enjoy the beach and a lunch of local seafood. We then transfer about 1h45m and spend the afternoon at My Lai, where we have a climb on foot to an old temple to visit the memorial and museum at this site of one of the worst massacres of the American War. Guides will share the perspectives of the Vietnamese who lived through that traumatic period, and explain the continued fallout from the war down to the present day. We then transfer about 30 minutes to our hotel, the peaceful and comfortable Cocoland River Beach Resort & Spa, where the Phuoc Giang River meets the sea near Quang Ngai. This is the perfect place to relax and reflect on the day’s explorations.

Cocoland River Beach Resort and Spa
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 56km
+450m
-444m

Day 6 Quang Ngai - Quy Nhon

This morning, we will transfer by van for 2.5 hours to arrive at ideal cycling roads further south. We will hop on our bikes and begin a diverse ride through rolling coastline, rice paddy fields, salt making flats, fishing villages, and a series of small passes (less than 70 m of elevation gain each) that form natural gateways to isolated beach communities. Our destination is Quy Nhon, an American port and supply centre during the Vietnam War and refuge for thousands of Vietnamese fleeing the vicious bombing of the countryside, and now a prosperous mid-size hub for the agriculture and fisheries of Binh Duong Province. We end today’s beautiful bike ride beside a large river estuary with a view to the Quy Nhon skyline and take a brief transfer to our hotel in the city center. Enjoy a walk on the city’s bustling side streets and along the waterfront promenade before a well-earned dinner at one of your guide’s favorite restaurants!

Anya Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 68km
+465m
-473m

Day 7 Dieu Tri - Tuy Hoa

We transfer 45 minutes out of the city of Quy Nhon to a panoramic inland road along the floor of the Ky Lo River valley. The terrain is green and gently rolling, with beautiful views of the highland foothills as we pass through a mix of tribal and Viet villages on this smooth, gently sloping road. Potbellied pigs, chickens, and barefoot children trot across your trail, and we pass over rushing streams where the locals cast their fishing lines. Leaving the valley after about 50 km, we wind our way on quiet trails along a lagoon surrounded by farmland with energetic market villages along the way, ending with an impressive section along the coast as we enter the coastal city of Tuy Hoa past a series of modern sculptures on its newly-beautified waterfront. Your stylish hotel is within walking distance of the sea and the city core, giving you a chance to experience another of Central Vietnam’s lesser-known but rising cities.

APEC Mandala Phu Yen
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 90km
+530m
-563m

Day 8 Tuy Hoa - Whale Island

Today is the last cycling day and is perhaps the most memorable. We ride from our hotel, and after the first 20 km the scenery becomes very beautiful with looming mountains and a network of lush rice paddies across the valley. Prepare for a brutal hill today as we cycle to Vung Ro Bay and up the challenging Ca Pass. We are rewarded with jungle and bay views and stop for pictures at Vung Ro Bay before pushing through the last 3km and to the top of Ca Pass (10% grade). We make our way to Dai Lanh Beach, where we stop for refreshments and a swim for those who don’t mind getting their bike shorts wet, then transfer to Dam Mon. We may have the option to bike to Dam Mon if the traffic and dust conditions allow. The scenery here is like a moonscape and unlike anything else we have seen on the tour. Here, we swap bikes for boats and head to Whale Island for some well-deserved R&R. The boat journey will take about 10 minutes and we stay at the secluded Whale Island resort for two nights.

Whale Island Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 58km
+635m
-633m

Day 9 Whale Island Rest Day

A close connection to nature is the central guiding principle of Whale Island, which takes its name from the tradition of whale worship of the indigenous people here. The resulting experience is utterly unique and unforgettable. This 900-hectare island is pristine and uninhabited apart from the resort, making it a sanctuary for the many forms of life: colorful flowers, exotic birds, shimmering schools of fish, and of course whales and whale sharks if we are lucky! The day is yours to enjoy this paradise as you wish. Snorkel to explore its famed coral reefs, take a kayak or catamaran out into the bay, or venture out onto the island’s trails on foot. Soak in the views from the bar and terrace or kick back on a deck chair with a good book. We will gather tonight for our final dinner of the trip, a feast of local specialties where we can celebrate and reflect on the myriad impressions of our amazing journey along Vietnam’s Central Coast!

Whale Island Resort
Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10 Whale Island – Nha Trang

This morning, we transfer back to the mainland. Our included transfer will take you to Nha Trang or down to Cam Ranh Airport for domestic or international connections. If you prefer to go to Tuy Hoa Airport or other destinations, we can assist with those arrangements at additional cost. We can also assist those looking to stay longer on Whale Island or around Nha Trang with hotel and travel arrangements.

Breakfast

Disclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.