On this Ho Chi Minh bicycle tour, your road bike takes you up mountain passes, along glistening rivers, and through jagged valleys. It’s the beauty of Vietnam's landscape that will make you happy to be riding on the newly-built Ho Chi Minh Highway. Of course, other sites on this historic road will make you pause and contemplate the past, but let the scenery wash over you as you explore this remote area of Vietnam.
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. The guide was fantastic. We learnt so much about the country and loved the local restaurants.
Perfect variety of local food in combination with intense cycling.
DestinationsVietnam
Tour MeetsHanoi
Fly in toNoi Bai International Airport (HAN)
Group Size2-16 riders
SpiceRoads jerseyWater bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)AccommodationSnacks and drinks
International flightsDomestic flightsAirport pick upAirport drop offVisa feesAlcoholTips
The wide, smooth undulating highway is a biker’s dream as there is little traffic on the road. Our route of 922 km will take us through farms, orchards, and tribal villages and offers us easy access to spectacular scenery, one of Vietnam’s most spectacular caves, war sites, and the ancient royal seat of Hue.
Suitability: This trip is suitable for those with a sport-level of fitness. Fitness will be a huge asset on those long days and on the undulating hills. The tour is fully supported, and the bus is always close at hand for those that find the riding too difficult.
Biking Conditions: We ride between 50 km and 150 km a day for a total of 922 km in 9 cycling days. Though the distances may not be that long, the climbs will be tough and challenging. The roads are 100% tarmac in good condition, and the traffic will be light.
We meet at the hotel in the late afternoon and kick off our Vietnam bike tour with a trip briefing followed by a welcome dinner at a fine Hanoi restaurant.
Church Boutique Hang Gai
DinnerWe escape the hustle and bustle of Hanoi and transfer just outside the city to start our cycling along small roads passing many Hmong, Dao, and Thai villages with spectacular views of lush vegetation and green rice paddies. It’s an easy start, and there will be some rolling climbs, but nothing too steep. Depending on how your legs feel, we may have a short transfer to our overnight stop in a Thai ethnic stilt house in Mai Chau Valley.
Mai Chau Sunset HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 70km
+1296m
-1162mOur second ride begins along the stunning and undulating valley of the Song Ma River as we head towards Hoi Xuan. This route was used to carry supplies and ammunition during the war and linked to the main part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The route then takes us away from the river through the range of mountains that stretch from Mai Chau to Cuc Phuong and to Hoa Lu. The scenery becomes even more beautiful as we ride closer to Ngoc Lac, with looming limestone cliffs and lush vegetation. We overnight in this small town.
Gold Time HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 120km+1230m-1353mWe start the day with a short transfer to reach the newly-built Ho Chi Minh Highway, which we’ll have virtually to ourselves. The tarmac makes for smooth and fast riding with 360-degree picturesque scenery. Riding through the fertile area, we'll see such crops as coffee, rubber, tea, and various fruits. We will arrive in Thai Hoa late in the afternoon.
Thai Hoa RiversideBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 100km+877m-830mFollowing breakfast, we are back for another day of cycling on the Ho Chi Minh Highway. The road winds through lush jungle and beautiful villages nestled under the Truong Son mountain range. During our cycle, take the time to admire the stunning scenery and the serene karst formations. We reach the remote town of Pho Chau in Nghe province at the end of the day, where we stay at a local guesthouse.
Hai Thuong Eco ResortBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 130km+733m-787mFrom Pho Chau, the Ho Chi Minh Highway is still a dream to ride on and you’ll appreciate the smooth tarmac as the mountains rise and the road winds up and down along the hillsides. The scenery is impressive, and the road is tranquil. We ride to Phong Nha National Park, which contains one of the most magnificent caves in Vietnam. A true speleological wonder with 65 km of caves and underground rivers, formed approximately 250 million years ago, the caves were used as a hospital and ammunition depot during the war, and the entrance still shows evidence of attacks from fighter air-crafts. Nearby, there are community projects underway with Flora and Fauna International, and it may be possible to visit village initiatives creating habi-tat corridors to help to maintain the forest’s ecosystem.
Saigon Phong Nha HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 150km+1654m-1660mThis morning, we board a boat to explore the first 600 m of Phong Nha Cave. When we reach the cave’s gaping entrance, the boat’s engine will be stopped, and we’re transported to another world, paddling through illuminated cavern after cavern. We then have the option to climb 330 steps up to Tien Son Cave, a dry cave in the mountainside used as a hospital and ammunition depot during the American War. Our afternoon cycle will be a gentle ride on a flat road to the seaside village of Dong Hoi, which boasts over 12 km of beautiful white sand beaches.
Muong Thanh HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 50km+262m-266mToday, there will be many reminders of the war that forced the creation of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Our ride takes us across the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone, also known as the 17th Parallel) to Cam Lo. The DMZ was the dividing border between North and South Vietnam, and troops of both governments were barred from 5 km on either side of the border. The road is now quite flat and we make good time and stop to visit Truong Son Cemetery, a memorial to the tens of thousands of North Vietnamese soldiers who were killed on the DMZ and the Ho Chi Minh Trail. It’s just 14 km further to the town of Cam Lo, and here the trail heads across the border into Laos. We then transfer to Khe Sanh, the site of a former US marine base and the in-famous 1968 battle of Khe Sanh (the longest battle of the war), near the Laos border to overnight.
Green HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 129km+793m-757mWe start the morning with a visit to the Khe Sanh combat base, where relics of the war are exhibited, and see the airstrip used to transport troops and supplies. We ride through spectacular scenery, mainly downhill, from the Laos border to Dak Rong River, to ride alongside what was considered the southern part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Enjoy a traffic-free road, the undulating terrain, and a nice contrast to the flat plains of the previous day's ride.
Thanh Quang GuesthouseBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 103km+1528m-1346mBegin the beautiful ride downhill to Hue, Vietnam’s Imperial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We ride through the middle of Vietnam for 60 km on backroads before hitting Highway 1, just a few kilometres south of Hue. We stop on our way to visit the Imperial City, which served as Vietnam's capital from 1802 to 1945 under the Nguyen Dynasty. The citadel is protected by fortified ramparts and ringed by a moat. During the Vietnam War, the Imperial City was heavily damaged, but it is slowly being restored to its former glory. We ride on backroads to our hotel and prepare for a farewell dinner.
Emm HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 70km+836m-1444mWe end the tour, but you may choose to extend your time in Hue, visit Hoi An, or travel to Ho Chi Minh City.
BreakfastDisclaimer: 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.
Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. The bikes are road bikes (Giant Anyroad 2 with Shimano 9-speed shifting and SRAM disc brakes).
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.
You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.
If your nationality is not on the list for e-visa eligibility, or you need options for longer stays or multiple entries, then you may consider Visa on Arrival. The process for this is more complicated than e-visa and requires the acquisition of a visa letter prior to arrival. Please see here for a detailed overview.
If you are joining our "Saigon to Bangkok" or "Saigon to Siem Reap" tour, when you are applying for your e-visa, please select Song Tien Landport as the exit point. This refers to the river crossing at Chao Doc.
Recommended vaccinations are typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days. Vietnam is a malarial area and you will need to take anti-malarial tablets. Please speak to your doctor for the most up to date information.
Weather in Vietnam is divided into 4 main regions - the far north, north, central and south.
The far north can get very cold in December and January while the dry season runs from October to late March and the wet season between April to September.
In Hanoi & the north, it is hot, wet and humid from May to October while November to April is cooler and dry.
Central Vietnam experiences hot, dry weather between January & August with temperatures ranging in the mid 30°C. High levels of rainfall are during September - November.
Southern Vietnam is dry and hot from November to April, and warm and wet between May & October, with the highest rainfall in June, July & August.
Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are Vietnamese food and features noodles, rice curries and soups. Vietnamese cuisine is world famous and we make sure you sample as much variety as possible. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit, and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere in Vietnam but is NOT included in the price.
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$10, for incidentals. It is customary to tip local tour guides and drivers, however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive. As a general guide, we suggest US$ 3-4 per person per day is appropriate.
The official national currency is the Vietnam dong (d), but the US dollar is widely accepted in tourist centers. However, in smaller towns and villages the dong is preferred. ATMs are available in all major tourist destinations and big cities. Vietcombank has the best network with a single withdrawal limit of 2,000,000d (about US$125). Most major currencies can be exchanged at leading banks in Vietnam, but the US dollar is preferred away from the tourist centers. Changing US$100 will make you an instant millionaire! You cannot legally take the dong out of Vietnam but you can reconvert reasonable amounts of it into US dollars on departure.
If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:
Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.
You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.
From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).
If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.
Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.
We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.
The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.
In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.
In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.
The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.
If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).
If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).
Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.
If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.
The information in this document is given in good faith, and covers the average range of conditions likely to be found on this trip. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will always do our best to adhere to this original itinerary
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Absolutely brilliant tour! The route was very well cultivated - amazing cycling profile and amazing scenery - and at every point we were very well supported by the mechanics and guide. The end result was a smooth tour, where all we needed to do was focus on cycling and enjoying the country.