21 Days Vietnam Adventure Cycling Tour from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
Tour Overview
Vietnam Adventure Cycling Tours – 21 Days. Discover the highlights of Vietnam through the country, Vietnam, the country occupying the eastern portion of mainland Southeast Asia. Vietnam’s reinvention as...
Code of Tour: TAD0000028037
Length of Travel: 21 Day
Destinations of Tour:
Departure City: Hanoi
Price of Tour: Request
Type of Tour: Private
Features of Tour: Cycling
Vietnam Adventure Cycling Tours – 21 Days. Discover the highlights of Vietnam through the country, Vietnam, the country occupying the eastern portion of mainland Southeast Asia. Vietnam’s reinvention as Southeast Asia’s most exciting tourist destination has long since been completed. Cycling from Northern Vietnam to Central and finishing the tour in Ho Chi Minh city.
TOUR ITINERARY
Day 1 – Ha Noi – Arrival
Pick up at the airport and transfer to hotel for check-in
Transfer Distance: 35 Km
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 2 – Ha Noi – City tour
8.30 pick up at your hotel, start the tour on to beautiful Tran Quoc Pagoda located on the shores of West Lake, and visit Ho Chi Minh complex, including Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum – the final resting place of Vietnamese great father or Uncle Ho, President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house- where he lived on and off from 1958 to 1969. The next place to move to is One Pillar Pagoda – a group of structures consisting of a pagoda and a tower built in the middle of a square lake. Leave the Pagoda for the Temple of Literature – the first college of Vietnam and the place dedicated to Confucian., Lunch is served at a local restaurant for a taste of authentic Hanoi cuisine., Afternoon chooses one of the city’s museums (History Museum and Ethnology Museum, Hoa Lo Prison which was once known as “Hanoi Hilton”). Back to downtown for refreshment by Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Hoan Kiem Lake (Restored Sword Lake) with Ngoc Son Temple before taking a cyclo tour through the Old Quarter, also known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Transportation: Support car
Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Giang
It is a long drive to get to Ha Giang Province as you might imagine. Never was a remote and untouched area easy to reach. In any case, we’ll stop along the way at a couple of points of interest, and leaving early morning, we’ll arrive just after midday. It’s time to try out the bikes and take a warm-up ride in this sleepy provincial capital. The late afternoon is best spent in our simple, but adequate resort, on the banks of the main river.
Total Distance: 290 Km
Biking Distance: 20 Km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home-stay in Ha Giang.
Transportation: Support car
Day 4: Ha Giang – Tam Son
After a full day yesterday, we will glide into your adventure. After taking our time at breakfast, we set out on our first proper ride. We initially follow the river along an undulating landscape and after the first short climb and descent, we reach a village for lunch. We push on into the second climb and discover what the gradient of Ha Giang province is like. For the most part, it’s a continual, but predictable ascent where you will be at ease once you find a rhythm. The high pass today is called Heavens Gate. We have a short descent into Tam Son, a tiny community clinging to the side of the hill. A short exploratory ride or walk is a great way to see out the day. The village is surrounded by limestone hills and traditional-style houses.
Biking Distance: 47 Km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Tam Son
Transportation: Support car
Day 5: Tam Son – Meo Vac
A long day starts early. After a steaming bowl of noodles, an egg baguette, and a strong coffee, we finish the descent that we interrupted the day before. Halfway down, we detour onto a minor road that takes us right down to the bottom of the valley. Here we ride through tiny hill-tribe communities and eventually reach a bustling village market where a dazzling array of bright costume-clad villagers are trading everything from piglets to bamboo shoots and forest fodder., After following a river for a short while and just after we see the ruins of a defensive wall of speculative age, we start to climb. A gradient similar to the day before is a welcome warm-up before the main climb to come after lunch. As we enter the Ha Giang Plateau, the scenery that was already impressive is now nothing short of mind-blowing. At each stage, you find yourself wondering how you could continue to climb when you’ve climbed so far, but it goes on and on with an amazing variety of scenery. When you finally descend into Meo Vac, a beer and a feast will be a welcome sight, and the news that you have just managed the epic Ha Giang Plateau climb is enough to ensure a good night’s sleep.
Summary
Accommodation: Home-stay in Meo vac
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 103 km
Day 5: Meo Vac – Dong Van
The news that you will continue climbing this morning may come as punishment for tired legs, but the reality is that you are about to ride one of the most scenic 10km of northern Vietnam. As you leave town, you descend slightly, but into the next climb, you are delivered an optical encouragement as the valley floor down to your right drops at almost the same level as you climb, pronouncing your climbing achievements. The huge gorges leading away from you at this point lead straight into the wild frontier land and Yunnan Province of China. You are less than 20km from a border that has been fiercely defended on various occasions by the Vietnamese, and where its porous nature makes all manner of trade possible., After some time soaking up the sun with a coffee on the edge of the charming Dong Van Market, we may take a ride to the site of the palace of the former Hmong King. From here we take a drive back to Dong Van, a stroll around the old town, and a great dinner is waiting for you.
Summary
Accommodation: Hotel in Dong Van
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 40 km
Day 6: Dong Van – Bao Lac
After a decent morning climb back to Meo Vac, it’s reward time. After all those days of climbing, today comes the inevitability of physics as we descend for a continual 30km on a well-made road. The climate will noticeably change as we cycle, to the point where you’ll be shedding layers as soon as we reach the bottom. From here we have a lovely ride of ups and downs through sleepy villages in a very different lowland setting to what we’ve seen on the plateau. There are still some steep little hills, but after the last few days, these. will be nothing more than a blip. We will then transfer the last bit into the small town of Bao Lac.
Summary
Accommodation: Hotel in Bao Lac
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 70 km
Day 7: Bao Lac- Ba Be lake
Today we start with a transfer of approximately 2.5 hours, bypassing the least interesting section. Our destination is an area of forests and terraced rice paddies. The scenery on today’s ride is beautiful and the route is mainly downhill today. Our destination is Ba Be, a stunning lake in the mountains where we can enjoy a celebratory beer or juice in the knowledge that the challenging part of the ride is done.
Summary
Accommodation: Home-stay in Babe lake
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 70 km
Day 8 : Babe lake – Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Van Long
Today we cycle on semi-surfaced quiet roads as we undertake from Bale lake to Cho Don market and load the bike to Ninh Binh and then cycle to Van Long beautiful nature reserve, late arrival and check-in hotel.
Summary
Accommodation: Hotel in Van Long
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 65 km
Day 9 : Van Long boat tour – Cuc Phuong National Park – Ninh Binh
After breakfast, tour the wetland Van Long by rowboat, a perfect venue for you to relax and let your mind wander amongst the diverse limestone features of Van Long nature reserve, and then cycle to Cuc Phuong National park.
The ride today is mostly undulating from the beginning and because we start quite early, the air tends to be quite cool. We continue through a varied landscape of rice fields and karsts, then in the late morning, we reach the entrance to Cuc Phuong National Park. This was Vietnam’s first National Park and is home to a great variety of animals and birdlife, among them the Langur Monkeys., After lunch, we take a 3-4 hour hike through the park in the hope of seeing a good number of the inhabitants either birds or one of the many Primate species such as Gibbon and Leaf Monkey as well as a lovely range of flora and return to Ninh Binh.
Summary
Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh ( Tam Coc )
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 50 km
Day 10: Ninh Binh – Train to Dong Hoi
Morning, transfer to the train station for your train ride from Ninh Binh to Dong Hoi., Upon arrival in Dong Hoi, a driver will be waiting to escort you to your hotel for check-in. Overnight in Dong Hoi.
Summary
Accommodation: Hotel in Dong Hoi
Meals: Breakfast
Cycling distance: None
Day 11: Dong Hoi – Phong Nha National Park
After breakfast, head out for an exploratory ride up and through the Phong Nha valley. Your route takes you along the old Ho Chi Minh trail., There are a couple of steep climbs through the Phong Nha National Park, but after Hai Van Pass you’ll be well prepared. The support van is always ready to assist just in case., Following a snack and rest stop, we descend to the town of Phong Nha for lunch. We continue to wind through the beautiful valley, taking a local ferry to cross the river and make it back to the hotel by late afternoon., Overnight in Phong Nha.
Summary
Accommodation: Hotel in Phong Nha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 65 km
Day 12 : Phong Nha – Tan Hoa – Tu Lan
After breakfast, around 8 am-8.30 am, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Tan Hoa, located 70km away. After a safety briefing and gear check, it’s off and away for a full day of trekking! The trek begins with a 2.5 km march across fields of peanut crops, giant water buffaloes, towering corn stalks, and down to the Rao Nan River., The adventure accelerates with a 30m climb up a rocky hill to a small jungle opening where you can catch your breath before a 100m descent in elevation down to Hung Ton Valley. Lunch will be enjoyed in the Hung Ton Cave opening and then the adventure picks up again with some serious trekking from Hung Ton Valley and over to Mango Mountain, then back down into Tu Lan Valley (4 km)., By mid-afternoon, Tu Lan campsite will be on the horizon, where swimming can be enjoyed in the beautiful waterfall. Afternoon activities include exploring and swimming through Ken Cave, located next to the campsite, and after that, it’s back to camp for a delicious BBQ dinner., Sleep will come easy in comfortable hammocks set up amongst the trees!
Accommodation: Camping in Tu Lan.
Meals: Break, Lunch, Dinner
Trekking distance: 6.5 Km
Day 13 : Tu Lan – Tan Hoa – Phong Nha
Today, start with a hearty breakfast, and more cave exploration. Tu Lan Cave (both wet and dry sections) is first on the agenda, followed by lunch back at your campsite. You’ll then be off on a swim (450m) and trek (500m) through Hang Kim to To Mo Valley, before continuing with a swim through Hung Ton Cave. Following this is the exploration of a dry passage, and then a trek down into Hung Ton Valley (800m)., After crossing this valley, it’s time to climb over a small rocky mountain to get to Hang Chuot (Rat Cave). After seeing Hang Chuot (300m), the tour winds down by crossing the Rao Nan River and picturesque fields (2.5km)., Arrive in Tan Hoa, where your transfer back to Phong Nha will be waiting. Showers are available if you would like to clean up and change before heading to the hotel. Overnight in Phong Nha.
Accommodation: Hotel in Phong Nha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trekking distance: 8.5 Km
Day 14 : Phong Nha – DMZ – Hue
Explore Phong Nha Cave in the early morning. Continue riding on the Ho Chi Minh Trail across the DMZ (better known as the 17th Parallel,) to Cam Lo. The road is now quite flat and makes for good cruising! Stop en route to visit Truong Son Cemetary, a memorial to the tens of thousands of North Vietnamese soldiers who were killed in the Truong Son Mountains along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Fourteen miles further on is the town of Cam Lo – the Trail here intersects a strategic feeder road (H9) from Dong Ha and at this junction part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail heads across the country into Laos. We finish our exploration of the Ho Chi Minh trail here. This is where we end the cycling section of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Transfer to Hue visiting war relics en route. Overnight Hotel in Hue. 70 km.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch
Cycling distance: 70 Km
Day 15: Hue – Danang – Hoian
Cycling from your hotel to visit Hue was the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty of emperors from 1802 till 1945. In the morning cycle to the elaborate mausoleums of Emperor Tu Duc and Thien Mu pagodas along the banks of the Perfume River. Leave Hue in the afternoon by local train to Danang and arrive take a van to the ancient trading port of Hoi An.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi an
Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 25 Km
Day 16: Hoian – My Son – Tam Ky
Cycling from Hoian to the historic city of Hoi An gives way to beautiful rural landscapes on this half-day cycling adventure to the historic Cham ruins of My Son. The tour winds through the countryside, past small farms and villages following rural pathways and small roads hidden from most tourist routes. With a refreshing snack and fresh fruit stop en route, we cycle to the edge of the My Son site, boarding the electric busses mandated by UNESCO to protect the integrity of the temples. Your guide leads you on a private tour of the beautiful Cham ruins, before boarding our air-conditioned van for the drive back to your hotel. This tour also includes a simple but delicious local noodle lunch to keep you well-fueled from your day of exploring.
Accommodation: Hotel in Tam Ky
Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 65 Km
Day 17: Tam Ky – My Lai – Quang Ngai
Today is one of the few days where you will need to spend some of your ride along Highway 1. Whilst you can expect to encounter more traffic, the road is very well made and the ride will be smooth. You’ll pass through some manufacturing districts before returning to small coastal roads and quaint villages, where the seafood is pulled straight from the ocean and cooked for lunch. Once your belly is full, you have a short distance remaining until the university town of Quang Ngai and the comforts of your hotel. Along the way, you will pass the solemn but poignant Son My Memorial, the site of one of the most atrocious and infamous crimes committed by the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War – the My Lai Massacre. The memorial site contains a war history museum, a photo gallery, and an assembly of sculptures constructed in memory of the multiple civilian victims.
Accommodation: Hotel in Quang Ngai
Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 96 Km
Day 18 : Quang Ngai – Tam Quan
Arguably one of the best days of the tour, today you’ll leave the coast for part of the ride and enjoy some cycling through the hinterland. The route is an intricate set of turns, forks, and bends; but your guide will keep you on track. Expect to ride along canal paths and across old bridges, passing plenty of friendly locals working in the fields. For the final leg of your journey, you will return to the coastline as you cycle towards the town of Tam Quan, where you’ll spend the night at a cozy and comfortable beachfront hotel that is well and truly off the beaten path.
Accommodation: Hotel in Tam Quan
Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 85 Km
Day 19 : Tam Quan – Quy Nhon
The coastline today provides some great scenery, as you encounter a couple of steep, but relatively short hill climbs. The early part of the day is a little sparse for villages, but the latter part of the ride showcases some modern-day Vietnamese engineering as you pass over an immense bridge spanning a huge lagoon, delivering you into the city of Qui Nhon. Qui Nhon is a prosperous coastal city that sits on a headland with a harbor full of colorful squid boats. Qui Nhon is a pleasant, but very quiet city, set on a bay with rocky hills as the backdrop.
Accommodation: Hotel in Quy Nhon
Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: None
Day 20: Quy Nhon Flight to Saigon
We spend this morning exploring this pleasant seaside town and learning about the work of a dedicated lady who has single-handedly established a center to provide vocational training for young, disabled Vietnamese. This afternoon we fly to Saigon. Our van pick you up at the hotel for check-in. Overnight in Saigon.
Accommodation: Hotel in HCMC
Meals: Breakfast
Day 21: Saigon – Departure
After breakfast, All day is free to explore Saigon on your own, and evening transfer to the airport for departure.
