Our 17-day Vietnam Explorer combines the Explorer tour and Halong Bay tour. It Stars from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in the South and finishes in Hanoi in the North. Enjoy bicycling on quiet country roads with the locals.
Included in the tour are flights from Saigon to Dalat and from the ancient capital of Hue to Hanoi, two nights in the lovely town of Hoi An, two nights at Quy Nhon and sailing on a deluxe junk in Halong Bay
As with all our tours, we stay at very comfortable, character places and bike on minor country roads. To cycle reasonable daily distances and to avoid the highway, we drive part-way most days.
Optional extras include a leisurely 4-day Mekong Delta cycle tour that starts and ends in Ho Chi Minh City
Day 1 SAIGON. You will be met at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and transferred to your hotel. A bike fitting is scheduled at 4pm followed by a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2 DALAT. We will start our day with an early flight to Da Lat lasting 1 hour. After arrival and check-in at your hotel, you will take a relaxing ride along the lakeshore roads in the shadow of Mount Langbian discovering the region’s distinctive European influences, mountain scenery, and temperate climate.
Day 3 NAH TRANG. Quiet country roads take us to the coastal desert reserve at Phuoc Buu. In the afternoon we cycle beside plantations of Dragon fruit and descend gently to the coast with expensive views of giant sand dunes.
Day 4 PHU YEN. Today we will cycle to the Po Nagar Cham Towers built in AD 781, one of Vietnam’s oldest historical sites. We take a minor road, with superb views, past the shrimp farms and the largest rice paddies of central Vietnam to Phu Yen.
Day 5 QUY NHON. After breakfast, we will cycle along the coast to Quy Nhon, the capital city of the province. Throughout the day, you will see the province’s main economic activity: fishing. In particular, you will get a chance to see the region’s iconic basket-shaped fishing boats as you enter Quy Nhon, where you will spend the night.
Day 6 QUY NHON. Rest Day.
Day 7 QUANG NGAI The ride today offers a view of coastlines as well as the local countryside. You will be able to observe the local shrimp and salt farms and meet friendly farmers along the way.
Day 8 HOI AN. Cycling today along the coastline, past rice paddies, and through small fishing villages filled with colourful boats of My Lai. Hoi An is a delightful UNESCO world heritage town (dating back to 200BC) with street-side cafes, artists and markets. Much of the city was developed between the 16th and 19th centuries.
Day 9 HOI AN. Rest Day.
Day 10 HUE. We cycle from town along a flat coastal road, through various fishing and agricultural villages. You will have your first experience of the friendliness of the locals, especially the children. From here we tackle the Hai Van Pass or “Ocean Cloud” Pass (496m), a tranquil road now that there is a tunnel (not open to cyclists). The view from the top, and on the descent, is outstanding and well worth the effort.
Day 11 HANOI. Hue is the ancient capital of Vietnam, so you’ll see some of the country’s most important political and religious buildings. This morning will ride around Hue and visit its most iconic sights. We will finish the day with a relaxing cruise on the Perfume River before catching an hour-long flight to Hanoi.
Day 12 MAI CHAU. Today we will ride to Hoa Binh Lake, visit the ethnic villages of the Thai and cycle across rice paddies on a mix of single-track paths and rough trails
Day 13 PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE. The morning will start off with a climb uphill towards Pu Luong nature reserve. Following shaded paths beside mountain streams, we’ll enter the reserve and have a traditional Vietnamese lunch overlooking the village’s rice terraces. We continue our ride through remote ethnic minority villages and some of the most beautiful rice fields in southeast Asia.
. Drive 3 1/2 hrs to Halong International Cruise Port, embark on Oriental Sails Cruise along the limestone islands of Bai Tu Long Bay, heading to Vung Vieng fishing village to see the life of local fishermen. Dinner and overnight on board
Day 14 NINH BINH. We’ll start the morning by tearing downhill down several of Pu Luong’s steep terraced rice fields. The next 15 km will be spent on a remote x-country dirt track found by our route-planning team. The track passes by fortress-like karst formations and bamboo water wheel irrigation systems in traditional villages. Finishing our ride with a collection of quiet country paths and canal roads towards the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ninh Binh.
Day 15 HALONG BAY. Enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta on the way to Halong Bay. We embark on Pelican Cruise along the limestone islands of Bai Tu Long Bay, heading to Vung Vieng fishing village to see the life of local fishermen. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 16 HANOI. After breakfast. Continue cruising toward Thien Canh Son Cave. Visit Thien Canh Son Cave – the medium size and less visited cave in Bai Tu Long Bay. Transfer back to Hanoi. Tonight, celebrate your ride with a group farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 17 END OF TOUR. The tour finishes after breakfast. We will gladly take you to the airport should you depart this morning. We hope you have enjoyed your holiday and wish you a safe journey home.
