OVERVIEW

Vietnam Cycling Southbound

Book this active cycling tour with Asia Top Travel to enjoy the best views of hidden charm of Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city, from country lanes to spectacular mountain passes, meet local people and discover many untouched destinations and regional culture in a unique way that would not otherwise be possible.

ITINERARY

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Day 01

Hanoi Arrival

Set off your trip in Hanoi

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Meals: Not included

Upon arrival at the airport, meet your guide for the transfer to your hotel for relaxing.

Day 02

Hanoi

Visit all the highlights of Hanoi on a guided tour

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visit Hanoi starting with Ho Chi Minh Complex, completed in 1975. The complex includes the Presidential Palace, House-on-Stilts, Ho Chi Minh Mausuleum and the Ho Chi Minh Museum. Continue with a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first University dating back to 1070.

Lunch at a restaurant.

Visit the Museum of Ethnology, widely acknowledged as the best in the country with an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. Back to the center of Hanoi to visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake. Ngoc Son temple is set on a tiny island on the Hoan KiemLake, its history dating back to the 13th century. The temple is reached by crossing the The Huc Bridge which literally means the ‘Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams’. The Hoan Kiem Lake is the local point of the city and the source of many legends.

A 45 minutes Cyclo Tour takes you through the Old Quarter, also known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally each of the 36 s names’ was related to the products being sold there. It’s a great place to explore on foot with numerous photo opportunities.

Day 03

Hanoi - Phong Nha By - Phong Nha Cave

Fly to Dong Hoi and cycle to Phong Nha Cave

Accommodation: Hotel in Dong Hoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Dong Hoi.

Pick up in Dong Hoi airport, lunch at local restaurant and transfer to Phong Nha Lake House.

Ride around 35-40km to Phong Nha Cave on the Ho Chi Minh trail for 6km. These caves are listed as a UNESCO world heritage site and rated as one of the world’s greatest caves. Your visit reminds you of the peace and power of Mother Nature but also what the Vietnamese people and culture are all about.

Day 04

Phong Nha - Tu Lan Cave

This day is devoted for adventurous activities

Accommodation: Guest House/Homestay in Phong Nha

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Start your day with a drive of 70 kms over the Da Deo Mountain Pass to reach the ethnic minority village of Tan Hoa and the Oxalis Headquarters.

Walk 2 km across peanut and buffalo fields to reach the Rao Nan River. After crossing the river, climb your first mountain, an old cow trail through the thick jungle (1.5 km). Cross Hung Ton Valley through the thick scrub and one more small river crossing to reach Hung Ton Cave. Explore this wild cave by decsending a 15 m ladder with safety harness before swimming 50 m through the cave and underground river to reach To Mo Valley, where a delicious BBQ lunch is awaiting you.

After swimming at the waterfall, trek over Hung Ton Mountain (1 km), across Hung Ton Valley (500 m), and another small hill down to Rao Nan River (500 m). Cross the jungle (400 m) to reach the impressive Hang Chuot (Rat Cave) to explore its massive formations for up to 200 m. Finish the day crossing back over the Rao Nan River, peanut and buffalo fields (2.5 km) to the Oxalis Headquarters, where a cold drink and shower are available.

Day 05

Phong Nha National Park - Dong Ha

This day is truly a biking day of more than 100 km

Accommodation: Hotel in Dong Ha

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Go towards Hue for next 2 days through this beautiful karst mountain park and onto the great Ho Chi Minh trail and the real Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh trail is more mountainous than the coastal road and have less traffic.

Day 06

Dong Ha - Hue

Continue your ride from Dong Ha (Quang Binh) to Hue - 100/150 km cycling

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Ride along the beautiful Ho Chi Minh trail, started in 1959. Pay your respect with a visit to the War Cemetery, home to over 10,000 soliders. Pedal along the country road past rubber plantations and small villages. Continue to ride to the 17th of Parallel, Ben Hai river, DMZ (demilitarized zone) of Vietnam from 1954 – 1972.

Lunch en-route.

Ride up and downhill to Vinh Moc tunnel, known a the legendary “Underground city” during the American war in Vietnam. Here, local people stayed underground for nearly 2,000 days without sunlight in order to remain their homeland.

Transfer to Hue and relax in your hotel.

Day 07

Hue

Enjoy a full day biking in Hue

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the early morning, take a nice peaceful and short ride through the back roads to a stunning local Pagoda, Huyen Tran Cong Chua hidden in the jungle. Head to the Tomb of Minh Mang which is probably the most spectacular of all the tombs of former emporers buried in this area.

Head back to Hue to walk around a local market for some street Pho lunch.

Take a short ride to the massive World Heritage Citadel where Chinese eporers ruled from for centuries, you are free to roam as long as you want including in the former harem area.

Bike to Cau Ngoi Thanh Toan (Title bridge) outside Hue city.

Day 08

Hue - Lang Co

Heading to Lang Co beach - 75 km cycling

Accommodation: Hotel in Lang Co

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The next two days cycle the Mandarin Road passing through three mountainous spurs. Take a side road through local villages and rice fields to one of the most unique historic wooden bridges in Vietnam. There are only 2 in the whole country. Take side paths through the rice fields and join the main road to Lang Co, stop at one of Vietnam's best beaches: Lang Co Beach. If time allows, stop at the Elephant Pools for a quick dip in this beautiful ravine just off the main road.

Day 09

Lang Co - Hai Van Pass - Da Nang - Hoi An

Enjoy an impressive ride through the Hai Van Pass - 60 km cycling

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Start your day with a short climb to the top of the Hai Van Pass, where some original Vietnamese war bunkers remain and with an incredible view of the coast line. Enjoy an easy ride downhill and then on a flat road through Da Nang to Hoi An, along the ocean/beach. If time permits, stop at one of the Vietnam's most powerful religious sites: Marble Mountain founded 5kms further Da Nang. A short hike up the mountain takes you to the temple located inside a big cave where you can feel the power and peace of Buddhism.

Day 10

Hoi An - My Son

Visit My Son Sanctuary - 45 km cycling

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

A lot of history awaits you in Hoi An, as it was once an inland port town that silted over so it never grew into a city but kept its charm. Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, Hoi An is noted for its silk clothing and great prices, a good place for shopping.

Morning ride to My Son Sanctuary, once the heart and soul of the ancient culture 1500 years back and also recognized UNESCO site.

Day 11

Hoi An - Kham Duc - Kon Tum

115 km cycling to Kon Tum through the mountains

Accommodation: Hotel in Kon Tum

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

From Hoi An, take the bus to cross-road Kham Duc (Quang Ngai) in the morning.

Start biking for 40km from Kham Duc to Lo Xo pass around 2 hours on the nice road, up and downhill on a very beautiful mountain and on the river side. Climb for 10 km and ride downhill for about 30minutes.

Lunch in Dak Glei town.

Continue riding for another 60km on a rolling road.

Then transfer by bus to Kon Tum about 115km on Ho Chi Minh Road (national highway 14).

Day 12

Kon Tum - Chu Sre

75 km riding through the beautiful landscapes of Vietnam

Accommodation: Guest House in Chu Sre

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Start your day with a 4h30 ride.

Lunch in Kon Tum town.

Continue to ride for 25km enjoying a nice view.

Transfer by bus to Chu Sre.

Day 13

Chu Sre- Buon Ma Thuot - Lak

Riding from Buon Me Thuot to Lak - 50 km cycling

Accommodation: Guest House in Lak

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, a bus brings you to Buon Ma Thuot. Start biking from Ban Me Thuot to Lak through the quiet villages. Ride along coffee fields, pepper and rubber plantations, corm paddies and rice fileds. Cycle along the Eo Kao lake to reach Lak enjoying nice views on your left and on your right side.

Lunch on the way.

Day 14

Lak - Dalat

Riding to Dalat

Accommodation: Hotel in Dalat

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Ride in the area of unique kind of coffee called “Weasel Coffee" to reach Dalat.

Day 15

Dalat

Visiting Dankia lake - 30 km cycling

Accommodation: Hotel in Dalat

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a free morning to rest.

In the afternoon, pick-up from the hotel and transfer to Dankia lake (15 km from Dalat city). Start biking from here. This ride probably offers the best sampling of single track downhill riding in the Dalat area. The total ride distance is about 30 km and it is the easiest of your rides. Views are outstanding throughout the beautiful pine forested hills, the Dankia Lake and picturesque small farms dotting the valleys.

Day 16

Dalat - Ho Chi Minh City

Fly to Ho Chi Minh bustling City

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a free morning to visit Dalat or to relax.

In the afternoon, fly back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 17

Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Be, Vinh Long - Can Tho

Cruise on the Mekong Delta

Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, depature for Cai Be (2.5 hours).
On arrival, board on a boat to visit the floating market and cruise over the mighty Mekong River to Dong Phu island.
Start cycling one hour under the green canopy, explore the orchards and daily life of farmers.

Lunch break on the island.

Cruise to Vinh Long.

Ride 2 hours on immense rice fields, cycling through numerous rural riverside villages near by Cai Be before the bus picks you up to Can Tho for the overnight.

Day 18

Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City

Riding back to Ho Chi Minh City

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Embark on a morning boat trip to Cai Rang's floating market before heading up a quiet canal for more cruise along winding waterways.

Bike for two hours along backcountry roads taking in the breathtaking Mekong Delta scenery and greeting locals (many of whom will also be on bicycle).

Following lunch we head back to Ho Chi Minh City where the tour ends.

Day 19

Ho Chi Minh City Departure

Say goodbye to our team in Ho Chi Minh City

Accommodation: Not Included

Meals: Breakfast

Free time until the transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Price

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TOUR INCLUSIONS

For your peace of mind, our tours are designed to include as much as possible in the price, but also to give you the freedom to find a special place to eat or to seek out an independent adventure that especially appeals to you.

Trip Inclusions