19 Days on Bike from Saigon to Hanoi

Day 1: Saigon Arrival

Welcome at the airport then pick up & transfer to your hotel for check in. Tour briefing and do a very short sightseeing ride around the center of Saigon to make sure that you got the right bikes. It's also a brief city tour to major attraction such as Notre Dame, The Post Office, Saigon Town Hall (1924), Municipal Theatre.

Ride back to hotel and enjoy welcome dinner at the restaurant. Overnight in Saigon.

Activity: 10km soft biking.

Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnels by bike - Back to Saigon on Jeep

Morning, after breakfast in hotel, leave the bustle of big Saigon and transfer by van to the outskirt area. Here we start riding along quiet laneways and dirt paths toward the Cu Chi Tunnels, passing rice fields, rubber plantations and local villages.

Visit the extraordinary Cu Chi tunnels, just outside Ho Chi Minh City, an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam War. You will have an opportunity to get the unique experience of guerillas living and fighting underground during the wartime.

Lunch at a beautiful restaurant surrounded by 2 small rivers then jump on the army Jeeps left from the war to get another adventurous experience while your bikes are loaded into a support van. Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City after a short pause at rice-paper-making villages to see how they produce the key ingredient of several traditional Vietnam cuisines.

Overnight in Saigon.

Activities:

• 25km biking.
• Visit Cu Chi tunnels.

Day 3: Saigon - Phuoc Hai (Tram Lake)

Morning, check out and transfer by van to Ba Ria Town (90km northeast from Saigon). Our route today is varying from countryside to along the coastal road. We will be impressed by the beautiful scenery, especially the sections of road straddled by mountains and beaches. The roadsides are planted with white and pink cherry blossoms.

Reach Minh Dam historical Mountain, used to serve as the military base for the liberation troop against the French and the Americans, where suffered from intense bombing where bullet holes still remain on the mountain.

After a picnic lunch in a small hut at the mountain foot, with the great panorama from here, we continue cycling ahead to Loc An along coastal paved road, passing quiet pine forest and we arrive Tram Lake.

Check in and overnight at Ho Tram Resort.

Activities:

• 50km biking.
• Free swimming at Ho Tram Beach

Day 4: Phuoc Hai - Phan Thiet (Ke Ga Cape)

After break fast at the resort, check out and take a rural route to Ke Ga Town - the outskirt of Phan Thiet City. We will ride through rice fields, orchards and rustic villages with the coastline on your right.

Stop for lunch at La Gi town ship then take back on bike to pedal along beach roads to a beach resort, named ROCK GARDEN with the exotic rock huts overlooking to the ocean. Overnight at the Rock Garden Resort.

Activities:

• 90km biking
• Free swimming at Phan Thiet Beach

After break fast at the resort, check out and take a rural route to Ke Ga Town - the outskirt of Phan Thiet City. We will ride through rice fields, orchards and rustic villages with the coastline on your right.

Stop for lunch at La Gi town ship then take back on bike to pedal along beach roads to a beach resort, named ROCK GARDEN with the exotic rock huts overlooking to the ocean. Overnight at the Rock Garden Resort.

Activities:

• 90km biking
• Free swimming at Phan Thiet Beach

Day 5: Phan Thiet - Dalat

Morning, breakfast & check out then leave the beach city for Dalat by van, a highland city on the level of more than 1500m above the sea. Lunch en-route. Arrive in Dalat at noon and transfer to the hotel for check in.

Afternoon, we'll pedal loop 30 km in rural of Dalat, pass the rustic villages, spectacular passes, plantations of tea, coffee, rubber trees, orchards and of course some mountainous forests as well.

Overnight in Dalat.

Activity: 30km biking.

Day 6: Dalat - City Tour & Camping at K'Ho Village

Morning, we will have a half-day Da Lat city tour on bike to visit city garden of flowers, XQ embroidery Gallery, Domain De Marie Church, Old Rail Station, Valley of Love. Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Back on bike and continue heading northward off-road to Langbian Mountain. Views are outstanding throughout with beautiful pine forested hills and picturesque small farms dotting the valleys you ride through.

Pass through the Lat Minority Village (also called K'Ho village) and arrive at the camping site where we can enjoy a night stay in the beautiful huts/ bungalows nestled up against the base of the mountain in a very secluded valley or spend a real night outdoor in tents (optional) with camp fire and traditional music performed by hill tribe people. Simple dinner is served at the campsite.

Overnight in Dalat.

Activities:

• 50 km biking.
• Camping in minority village (optional) .

Day 7: Dalat to Nha Trang Beach

Morning, 7:30 AM after light breakfast at your hotel and check out, our support vehicle will transfer you 45 minutes out of Dalat city to the trail head where we start our ride  in  a  pine tree forest with breathtaking views of the  natural  landscape  and  deep jungle  forest  on  both  sides  of  the road. The fantastic ride runs along the border of Bi Dup Nui Ba National Park with beautiful views of farms, countryside and Nui Ba Mountain (2287 meters high).

Then we climb 3 km to the summit of the pass for a fly down the mountain on wheels with 28 km non-stopped down-hill section to reach the end of the pass. Finish this challenge by a picnic lunch here at a river side.

After lunch, we continue pedaling through small villages and farms until meet-up with our support vehicle to have a transfer to Nha Trang. Arrive Nha Trang around 4.30 PM.  Overnight in Nha Trang.

Activities:

• 70km biking.
• Free swimming at Nha Trang Beach.

Day 8: Nha Trang Beach Relax

Full day free at leisure.

Or you can join one of optional tours below:

Option 1: Biking to Nha Trang Rural
Morning, Our guide and van with bikes will pick you up at the hotel, leaving the bustling Nha Trang Urban to explore lush and peaceful villages of Vietnamese. Transfer by van to Ngoc Hiep Village, on the way there we will stop to see pagoda of Long Son, once here, from hill summit, we can see the biggest Buddha statue and over view of Nha Trang city.

Arrive at Ngoc Hiep village around 10 AM, we first visit a traditional old house, here we start riding on villages lanes, cross rice paddy. This is great chance to learn how the rice is cultivated and chat with very friendly villagers. Our cycling routine will lead us to visit some handy craft families such as making bread, sleeping mats, conical hat and incense making. Then continue pedaling to restaurant on river bank, where we enjoy lunch before meet-up with our van and head back to Nha Trang city. This optional trip concludes at your hotel around 5 PM.

Activity: 15km biking.

Option 2: "Party Boat"
Breakfast at the resort. The speed boat will take you back to mainland and disembark at Cau Da (Stone Bridge) Pier to transfer to another big wooden boat. Here we join an unforgettable ''Party Boat'' to have a 4-islands discovery trip with lots of fun.

9:00 am - Visit Mun Island (Ebony Island) , stop 1 hour for snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing. Here with mask & snorkel you can see marine life such as multicolor fish and the coral reef.

11:00 am - Visit Mot Island where you enjoy excellent food for lunch (with local dishes such as shrimp, crab, cuttlefish, beef, noodle, rice & vegetarian food). After lunch, enjoy the unique "floating bar" with red wine and a piece of pineapple. The guides will go "crazy" (wearing like Hawaiian girls & performing famous songs as Hotel California...) to stir up the party atmosphere on the island.

2:30pm - Reach Tam Island - a nice, clean and quiet beach. Good for relaxing, sunbathing and walking. There are water sport services here such as Jet Ski, catamaran, wave killer, canoe (Optional). Then have fruit party & coffee on board.

3:45pm - Last visit is the fishing village where you can see a lot of fishing cages in which the villagers raise the fresh fish, shrimp, flower- crabs.... Have fun with the basket boats for hire to row around in (optional).

4:45pm - Return to Cau Da port at sunset. Back to your hotel. Overnight in Nha Trang

Activities:

• Free snorkeling & swimming at Mun Island
• Water sports at Tam Island (optional)

Day 9: Nha Trang - Quy Nhon

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Co Ma Town by van. Here we start riding to Dai Lanh for beach breaks & photo capture. Then ride up to Ca pass then to Tuy Hoa for lunch. There are many good stops on the pass for you to view the landscapes and take pictures. On your right is the blue ocean, while imposing mountains are on your left.

Transfer by van to Song Cau (1hour) then back on bike and ride to Qui Nhon city for overnight.

Activity: 80km biking

Day 10: Quy Nhon - Quang Ngai

Morning, breakfast at hotel and transfer by van to Chanh Giao, belongs to Binh Dinh Town. Here we start our biking day along the rural & coastal road from Quy Nhon to Quang Ngai via Sa Huynh Beach which is also the centre of the Sa Huynh civilization dating from the first century AD. We will bike through hilly terrains.

After 5-6 hours you will reach Sa Huynh and enjoy a much deserved meal on the beach with time to relax. After a few hours resting and enjoying the beach, transfer by van to Quang Ngai and check in hotel.

Overnight in Quang Ngai.

Activities:

• 80km biking.
• Free swimming at Sa Huynh Beach

Day 11: Quang Ngai - Hoi An

Breakfast & check out then leave Quang Ngai city on bike to My Lai massacre, 14 km far from Quang Ngai. Here we will stop and take a guided tour of the site and museum. Then back on bike and take a countryside road to My Khe Beach. Continue along the coastline to Chau O. Here transfer on highway A1 to Tam Ky for special lunch at The Tam Ky Baby Orphanage.

Afternoon, by van, transfer to Hoi An, one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16^th century. Hoi An has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets is still virtually intact. Many of the houses were constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs.

Check in the resort. Overnight in Hoi An.

Activities:

• 50km biking.
• Free swimming at Sa Huynh Beach

Day 12: Hoi An Beach Relax

Full day free at leisure and relax at Cua Dai Beach. Overnight in Hoi An.

Or you can join one of optional tours below:

Option 1: Full Day Cycle to My Son Heritage
Breakfast at the resort then transfer out of Hoi An town out of the highway before cycling along country back roads along the Song Tranh River to My Son, the ancient centre of Cham civilization. Take lunch before spending the afternoon visiting the site. Transfer back to Hoi An in the afternoon. Overnight in Hoi An.

Activities:

• 60km biking.
• Discover My Son World Heritage Site on foot

Option 2: Full Day Discover Hoi An on bike
Morning, Our guide and bikes will pick you up at the hotel, then we start riding through the picturesque surrounds to reach the ancient town and take a discovery trip on foot inside of the ancient town and do some shopping. Lunch in a local restaurant.

Then pedal around the country side of Hoi An to observe daily activities of local farmers, see rice fields - an symbol of Vietnam farmers, farms, small villages. Visit a family making the famous lanterns. Try your handicraft skills to make the lanterns yourself.
Back to the resort. Overnight in Hoi An.

Activities:

• 20km biking.
• Discover inside of Hoi An town on foot.

Day 13: Hoi An - Da Nang - Hue

Morning, check out & pedal from Hoi An via Cua Dai Beach and along the coastline, passing pretty fishing villages, sand dunes and green casuarinas forests to visit Marble Carving village and China Beach. Then keep riding up to Hai Van (Cloud Sea) Pass and climb 500 meters over 10 km. Reach Lang Co for lunch.

Afternoon, Transfer to Phuoc Tuong Hill (30 minutes). Ride off the main highway and take a coastal side to Cau Hai lagoon. Stop and take a van to Hue for hotel check-in.Overnight in Hue.

Activity: 70km biking

Day 14: Royal Hue Discovery

Morning, we start riding from hotel to visit Imperial Citadel then take a road along Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. Pedaling back along river to visit colorful Dong Ba Market and do short shopping by your own here before lunch in a local restaurant.

Afternoon, back on bike and ride to Tu Duc royal tomb of Tu Duc King via

Nam Giao Esplanade (an open-air monument for God worship ceremonies). Then walk to visit a local incense making shop before a short stop and hike up to Vong Canh Hill for panorama of Hue city.

Continue heading on the beautiful road to Bronze Casting Village to learn how the artisans cast a bell, which used for worship in almost Vietnamese pagodas. After here, we keep pedaling to visit Former Tiger Fighting Site, which was the fighting place between animals, especially elephants and tigers, for the glee of the royalty as well as to assert the unbeatable strength of battle elephants.

Transfer back to Hotel by van and overnight in Hue.

Activity: 30km biking

Day 15: Hue - Quang Tri (DMZ) - Quang Binh

Morning, breakfast & check-out then transfer by van to Gio Linh District, belongs to Quang Tri Province. Here we will start pedaling to visit some remained places on the DMZ (Demilitarized Military Zone) route such as: Hien Luong Bridge, Vinh Moc Tunnels via Tung Mouth Beach. Have picnic lunch en-route.

Afternoon, back on bike and take the small route via Ho Xa Town to reach Ho Chi Minh Trail and bike further 10km on this historical road then transfer to Chay Village of Quang Binh Province, a step to Phong Nha - Ke Bang Heritage. Arrival Rustic Chay Lap, take the buffalo carts to the home stay.

Evening, you are invited to prepare the dinner with the host. You will be guided to learn how to cook the food called "Steamed Fish with Beer, served along with local herbs". Enjoy your dinner by your style.

Overnight in Rustic Chay Lap (Quang Binh).
 

Activities:

• 60km biking.
• Visit DMZ
• Culture exchange at Chay Lap Homestay
• Cooking Dinner

Day 16: Explore Phong Nha Ke Bang - Night Train to Ninh Binh

Morning, a simple breakfast with host then start biking to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. Hear the call of the wild and the sounds of primates bounce off the stunning limestone cliffs on western Ho Chi Minh trail as the newly paved single lane road snakes through one of Vietnam's most important conservation areas and most important historic trail during the war.

Keep pedaling around the national park to admire the fresh air and the biodiversity eco-system of Phong Nha Ke Bang Park. Picnic lunch is served in the park.

Afternoon, on arrival at the boat landing, transfer on the wooden boat on Son River to Phong Nha cave - the World Natural Heritage site. Discover the magnificent beauty of the caves. Return the homestay.

Relax & check-out. Leave Rustic Chay Lap to transfer back to Dong Hoi city for dinner by your own. Take the night train TN6 to Ninh Binh located in Northern Vietnam. Overnight on train.
 

Activities:

• 35km biking.
• 2.5 hrs boat trip

Day 17: Ninh Binh - Tam Coc - Hoa Lu - Hanoi

Arrival Ninh Binh in early morning then transfer to a guesthouse for temporary rest & breakfast. Free at leisure until 9 AM, we will get in van and move to Tam Coc for an interesting rowing boat trip on river to explore the so called "Halong Bay on the rice paddies". Then disembark and have lunch in a local restaurant.

Afternoon, back on bike and ride to Ancient Hoa Lu Capital through an amazing area of limestone mountains uprising on rice paddies. Arrive at Hoa Lu, stop to visit the temples and climb some hundred steps to the top of a mountain for a great view over the just-visited "Halong Bay on land".

Transfer by van to Hanoi. Late arrival Hanoi, check in & Overnight in Hanoi.

Activities:

• 20km biking.
• 02 hrs boat trip

Day 18: Bat Trang Village - Hanoi City Tour

Morning, after breakfast in Hotel, transfer to the end of Chuong Duong Bridge, we start pedaling along a rural road by Red river bank to the oldest Bat Trang pottery village. After 14km cycling, we arrive the village and walk to visit some local crafts men. Take photos or chat with them to discover the way they make the pottery by hands. You will have opportunity to make your own pottery in the craftsmen workshop with a few minutes waiting then take your own made away. Transfer back to Hanoi for lunch.

Afternoon, keep on bike to visit Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and around Hoan Kiem Lake. At 7.00pm, we will have a big dinner to cheer our achievement after long days on long way.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Activities:

• 29km biking.
• Making pottery (optional)
• Party

Day 19: Departure

Free at leisure or do some last-minute shopping until transfer to Noi Bai international Airport for flight home or onward travel. The tour concludes.