Hanoi to Saigon by Bicycle

This morning, please head to our designated meeting point in central Hanoi. From here, we will transfer around 2 hours out to the rural area south of the city. After a briefing and bike fitting, we will begin our first bike ride by mid-morning. Enter a surreal landscape of limestone mountains surrounded by rice fields and natural beauty. On the way, we will stop to explore winding caves and watch for wildlife in bamboo boats, then explore the site of Vietnam’s ancient capital, Hoa Lu, founded more than 1000 years ago, before the capital was moved to Hanoi. Later, we will finish our ride amid the striking rock formations and dazzling rice fields outside the town of Tam Coc. This evening, enjoy the sunset over these unique surroundings with a drink on the terrace and a delicious dinner of north Vietnamese cuisine.

Enjoy breakfast among the idyllic surroundings of Tam Coc with the morning light dancing on the rice fields. Transfer one hour to Vietnam’s first national park, Cuc Phuong, consecrated by President Ho Chi Minh in 1962. The dense tract of mountainous jungle is still home to indigenous communities and is the habitat for many rare species. Visit the primate rescue centre where rescued monkeys transition back into the wild, then cycle among the gigantic trees of the park, past prehistoric cave dwellings, and finally emerge to ride along dykes and farm roads once more. We saddle off in the town of Tam Diep and transfer 30-minutes to Ninh Binh City where we will shower and change at a local hotel before having dinner. In the evening we go to the train station and board the sleeper train headed south. The north-south train line is a legacy of the French colonial era and is still a vital link holding disparate parts of the country together. This is a quintessentially Vietnamese experience!

Wake up in the early morning as the train rolls into Dong Ha. We will have breakfast and transfer about one hour to the Vinh Moc tunnels. These subterranean passages were made to sustain North Vietnamese troops on Con Co Island, and they remain authentic, unaltered from their original state. After this visit, we will cycle south down the coast, crossing the Bien Hai River, part of the historic dividing line between north and south Vietnam from 1954 and on through the war. Continuing south, our ride ends at the historic citadel of Quang Tri. We will then jump in the support vehicle to transfer 1.5 hours further south to Hue, the former imperial capital. Steeped in centuries of history, this city is a joy to explore. We will stay here for two nights.

This morning 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 the Imperial City, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This massive complex – a city within a city – was the political, cultural, and religious heart of the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam's last royal family. After our exploration here and lunch you have the rest of the day at your own leisure. With a variety of dining options available in this popular city, dinner is on your own tonight.

This morning we transfer 45 minutes south and begin our ride by weaving through 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. We then skirt along Vietnam’s largest network of lagoons – where locals raise an abundance of oysters and fish – before tackling the iconic Hai Van Pass, a flagship achievement for cyclists in Vietnam! On smooth tarmac, we ascend nearly 500 meters over 10 winding kilometers, taking in views of the blue South China Sea and headlands covered in jungle and sandy beaches. We’ll catch our breath at the top before enjoying the thrilling 10 km downhill ride into Da Nang, Vietnam’s third-largest city where we load the bikes and drive around 1.5 hours to Hoi An, Vietnam’s darling UNESCO World Heritage-listed town. Once a major maritime trading center, Hoi An boasts beautifully preserved architecture with Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, and French influences. We will spend two nights here.

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, 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.

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. Every morning, small boats come ashore with their catch, which is brought directly to the local market by the very hardworking local fishing people. We will continue south, crossing a couple of river mouths on local ferries and enjoying these secluded communities. After the ride, we will transfer about 1.5 hours to the coast of Quang Ngai, where we spend the night at a beautiful waterfront resort..

This morning, we will transfer by van for 2.5 hours to arrive at ideal cycling roads further south. Hopping on our bikes, we will begin a diverse ride through rolling coastline, rice paddy fields, salt making flats, fishing villages, and a series of small passes that form natural gateways to isolated beach communities. We will 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. During the war, Quy Nhon was a port and supply centre, and a refuge for thousands of Vietnamese fleeing the vicious bombing of the countryside. Today, it is a thriving central Vietnamese city that has retained its distinctive character. Enjoy the lively atmosphere on the waterfront and side streets before a well-earned dinner at one of your guide’s favorite restaurants!

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. 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.

Cycling directly from our hotel, we wind our way out of Tuy Hoa. After a flat 30 km, we tackle a solid challenge as we ascend the Ca Pass towards Vung Ro Bay. Along the way, we pass villages nestled in coves and rugged headlands jutting out into the sea. This seldom-traveled road is one of the most dynamic and impressive sections of the central Vietnamese coast. Our ride finishes at Dai Lanh Beach, where we saddle-off for lunch and load the bikes for a 2.5 transfer to Nha Trang. This large coastal city is a favorite holiday destination for the Vietnamese, renowned for its lively promenade, long beachfront, seafood and neon lights.

This morning, we will avoid the busier roads by transferring 1.5 hours south to another slice of seaside cycling paradise, with white sand beaches and turquoise waters on one side, and an arid, rocky landscape on the other. Today’s ride will once again test our legs, but it yields fascinating sights, including some of Vietnam’s vineyards. The intact coastal ecosystem is protected by Nui Chua National Park, home to sun bears, monkeys, dozens of bird species, numerous types of turtles, and many more animals. Emerging from the park, we ride through a succession of villages that lead to tonight’s resort, with its irresistible pool overlooking the beach. Rest your legs and enjoy sundowners in this relaxed ambience.

Greet the spectacular sunrise over the South China Sea (known in Vietnam as the Eastern Sea). After breakfast, we will cycle directly from the resort with a flat section along Phan Rang Bay. After around 30 km, we will reach the Ninh Thuan Coastal Road, a gorgeous stretch of tarmac hugging the ocean. At 50 km we arrive at a major road, our cue to jump in the support van and drive around one-hour south for the section stage of today’s ride. This is a windswept section of high dunes and weathered pines, which eventually give way to a terrain of red stone eroded into deep gullies as we turn inland. We reach the surfing mecca of Mui Ne, where we once again make the most of our location in a beach community with the easygoing vibe of South Vietnam.

This morning, a 45-minute transfer whisks us past the busy port city of Phan Tiet to enjoy our last day of blissful coastal cycling. At around 20 km we arrive at Ke Ga, a small town on a headland buffeted by the surf before veering inland into a rural area of dragon fruit plantations, with their distinct cactus-like vines. We enjoy our final scenes of the southern Vietnamese coastal flats, passing farms, villages, towns, and sand dunes. Upon reaching the small city of La Gi at the mouth of the Song Dinh River, we call it a day and load up the bikes. The drive to Saigon takes around 2.5 hours. Vietnam’s largest city and the southern capital, Saigon moves at a pace that may initially be a shock to the system, but you’ll quickly adapt, and we meet for a celebratory farewell dinner in the evening.

Our tour has ended, but if you have extra time and it is your first time in Saigon, we suggest extending your stay and exploring sites such as the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Giac Lam Pagoda, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Cu Chi Tunnels, and Ben Thanh Market. If you need assistance with post-tour hotel bookings in Saigon or airport transfers, please let us know.