Our 16-day Vietnam Explorer takes us from Hanoi in the North to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in the South. Its many ethnic minorities and 2,200 years of history make it rich in culture and heritage. Enjoy bicycling on quiet country roads with the locals.
Included in the tour is a flight from Hanoi to the ancient capital of Hue, two nights in the lovely town of Hoi An, two nights by the sea at Nha Trang, the temperate Central Highlands with two nights at Dalat and the opportunity to ride an elephant at Buon Ma Thuot.
As with all our tours, we stay at very comfortable, character places and bike on minor roads. To avoid the highway, we drive part-way most days.
Optional extras include our 3-day Halong Bay tour that starts and finishes in Hanoi and has a night on a junk, and a leisurely 4-day Mekong Delta cycle tour that starts and ends in Ho Chi Minh City
Day 1 HANOI. You will be met at the airport and taken on a short sightseeing tour of Hanoi. We recommend you add a few extra days in Hanoi and the World Heritage Park of Halong Bay before the tour.
Day 2 Hue. This morning we fly to Hue to commence the cycling tour (flight included in tour price). We will fit you to your bikes before a welcome dinner featuring traditional music. The city is built on the banks of the Perfume River and steeped in 3,000 years of history.
Day 3 + 4: HOI AN. We cycle from town on a flat coastal road, then tackle the Hai Van Pass. The view from the top of the pass is outstanding and well worth the effort. We have a free day to explore this delightful town with its street side cafes, artists and markets.
Day 5: SA HUYNH. Cycle on a delightful little road into the countryside. Take an optional side trip to the My Lai Massacre site.
Day 6: QUI NHON. We drive from town to commence cycling on an attractive minor road. Few tourists stop on this stretch of road, so you can enjoy the contact with friendly local Vietnamese people.
Day 7: TUY HOA. Cycle through cassava and sugar plantations, along a quite rural road. We stop for lunch at Me Trang Cafe.
8+9: NHA TRANG. Enjoy jungle and bay views as you cycle to Vung Ro Bay and up to the top of Ca Pass. Nha Trang is the coastal capital of Khanh Hoa province. On our rest day we take a boat trip to the outer islands and lunch at a fishing village with time to swim and snorkel.
Day 10: BUON MA THUOT. Enjoy cycling in the mountainous Central Highlands. We also stop at an ethnic village with long houses.
Day 11 + 12: DALAT. A pleasant but uphill ride to this temperate region dotted with lakes, waterfalls and evergreen forests. At 1,475m above sea level, Dalat was once known as Little Paris.
Day 13: PHAN THIET. Ride through desert-like scenery with sand dunes and coastal views.
Day 14: LOC AN. More coastal riding, then relax at our water-front resort.
Day 15 + 16: SAIGON. Finish biking on quiet roads past rubber, cashewnut and black pepper plantations. A farewell group dinner will be held to celebrate your achievements.
