Join us on a 17-day adventure in Vietnam bicycle touring from the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh City, otherwise known as Saigon, up to Hanoi. This epic southeast Asian bicycle tour showcases all aspects of Vietnam; from the poignant aspects of its war-torn history to its fragrant and unforgettable cuisine! Cycle through beautiful wetlands, backed by jagged peaks. Travel vast stretches of stunning beaches and sample the freshest seafood available, straight from ocean to table.

We begin our biking adventure takes us 1,700 km from Saigon to Hanoi by bus, train, boat, and bike. We cycle about 787 km in 14 cycling days, enjoy a number of rest days, and lots of time can be spent sightseeing and exploring Vietnam. The cycling is on a mixture of well-surfaced roads and good quality dirt tracks.

Some of the days are quite long, and experienced riders usually find it sufficiently challenging. Faster cyclists can ride at their own pace after consulting the guides on the route. However, the average rider will want to ride and take photographs, stopping here and there to take in the magnificent sights. If you race through the country, you won't see much.

Our route has been designed to explore the Vietnamese countryside that lies on either side of the main north-south artery, Highway 1. We spend no more than 20 km on this busy route. Away from the main roads, cycling in Vietnam is a wonderful experience; the bicycle is the most common form of rural transport, and you will share the road and tracks with beautiful girls in flowing ao dais, school children, and farmers. Such is the friendliness your voice may not be capable of saying 'hello' by the end of the day!

Our rest days allow us to explore all the main tourist sites and places of interest along the way. You decide where you wish to go and in your own time. You can take this time on your own in Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue, and Halong Bay so that you can really get to know and perhaps understand Vietnam and its people. Additionally, of course, our guides will give you a fabulous extra personal and first-hand insight to their culture.

Bikes

Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a road bike in good mechanical order. We also have E-Bikes available for hire, but they are limited in number & size - please send an email to us to check on availability.

Bike Repairs

Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.

Safety

Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.

Guides

You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.

Passports and Visas

Vietnam e-Visa is available to 80 nationalities. Please check this link to determine if your country is on the list. To apply for an e-visa please visit the official government website here and follow the required steps and make payment. You can apply for a single entry visa up to 30 days. Multiple entry e-visas are not currently available. For peace of mind, we suggest applying for your e-visa as early as possible, and no later than 2 weeks before your expected arrival in Vietnam. While processing time is generally no more than 1-3 working days (not including weekends and Vietnamese holidays), it is wise to give yourself some buffer time in case there are any issues.

If your nationality is not on the list for e-visa eligibility, or you need options for longer stays or multiple entries, then you may consider Visa on Arrival. The process for this is more complicated than e-visa and requires the acquisition of a visa letter prior to arrival. Please see here for a detailed overview.

If you are joining our "Saigon to Bangkok" or "Saigon to Siem Reap" tour, when you are applying for your e-visa, please select Song Tien Landport as the exit point. This refers to the river crossing at Chao Doc.

Health

Recommended vaccinations are typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days. Vietnam is a malarial area and you will need to take anti-malarial tablets. Please speak to your doctor for the most up to date information.

Weather

Weather in Vietnam is divided into 4 main regions - the far north, north, central and south.

The far north can get very cold in December and January while the dry season runs from October to late March and the wet season between April to September.

In Hanoi & the north, it is hot, wet and humid from May to October while November to April is cooler and dry.

Central Vietnam experiences hot, dry weather between January & August with temperatures ranging in the mid 30°C. High levels of rainfall are during September - November.

Southern Vietnam is dry and hot from November to April, and warm and wet between May & October, with the highest rainfall in June, July & August.

Food

Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are Vietnamese food and features noodles, rice curries and soups. Vietnamese cuisine is world famous and we make sure you sample as much variety as possible. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.

Drink

Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit, and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere in Vietnam but is NOT included in the price.

Solo Travelers

SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.

Extra Expenses

We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$10, for incidentals. It is customary to tip local tour guides and drivers, however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive. As a general guide, we suggest US$ 3-4 per person per day is appropriate.

Money

The official national currency is the Vietnam dong (d), but the US dollar is widely accepted in tourist centers. However, in smaller towns and villages the dong is preferred. ATMs are available in all major tourist destinations and big cities. Vietcombank has the best network with a single withdrawal limit of 2,000,000d (about US$125). Most major currencies can be exchanged at leading banks in Vietnam, but the US dollar is preferred away from the tourist centers. Changing US$100 will make you an instant millionaire! You cannot legally take the dong out of Vietnam but you can reconvert reasonable amounts of it into US dollars on departure.

Meet in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) for dinner at one of the best restaurants in town!

Today we transfer a short distance out of bustling Saigon and start riding to the haunting Cu Chi Tunnels, which the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) used during the Indochina War as their stronghold and torture site of foreign POWs for decades. After witnessing the war's devastating consequences, we return to Saigon by bus just in time for a visit to the notorious War Remnants Museum. Dinner is your choice.

Ride 18km • +47m • -44m

We rise very early this morning and transfer to the airport for a short flight to Dalat, once a favorite summer retreat among the French and Vietnamese royal families. Dubbed “Le Petit Paris”, the city is now a popular honeymoon destination for Vietnamese newlyweds. Upon arrival, we'll hop on our bikes, start off with a relatively easy ride around Dalat past Xuan Huong Lake, colorful flower plantations, the Old French Railway station and cycle out of town on picturesque and nearly traffic-free country lanes and back roads. After cycling in the shadow of Mount Langbian, we return to Dalat for dinner and you are free to take a walk to explore this lovely city.

Ride 35km • +443m• -420m

As we head towards Nha Trang, a famous seaside getaway, we’ll tackle some challenging hills before being rewarded by smooth descents with lush mountains as our backdrop. Our first break will be at the community house of highland hill tribe people, then we muscle up again to conquer Hon Giao pass (1,650 m) before a 30 km downhill to have lunch at the local restaurant by the river. In the afternoon it is back on the bikes for 28 km on a flat road. A short transfer takes us to the resort for a lively evening.

Ride 103km • +736m • -1917m

For a rest day off the saddle we take a boat trip to stunning coral islands for swimming and snorkeling. On the way back we'll have a cultural stop at Pa Na Gar Cham towers. Built between the 7th and 12th centuries, four of the original eight towers are still actively used for worship by Cham, Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhists. Alternatively, those who would like to take it easy can lie down and soak up the sun by the beach.

Following breakfast, we cycle out of Nha Trang and then take a short transfer to avoid busy Highway 1. Back on the bikes we cycle on to Dai Lanh Beach where we'll have a beach side lunch with time for a swim in the blue waters. To avoid another busy section of road a 20 minute transfer takes us to the start of our afternoon ride on a coastal road snaking along the base of Da Bia Mountain. There will be some gentle climbs before we drop to the flats and finish our day on quiet countryside lanes that are a mix of tarmac and dirt, passing soothing rice paddies and peaceful villages.

Ride 80km • +954m • -947m

After transferring out of town to avoid the main highway we start biking along a remote, but well-surfaced road running parallel with the railway. The terrain rolls gently with breathtaking views of the highland hills. As we cycle through tribal and Viet villages we'll also spot potbellied pigs and barefooted children trotting across the trail. We then return to the highway and transfer a short distance to Quy Nhon.

Ride 71km • +248m • -250m

Today we follow the coastal road to Tra O Lagoon, the largest wetland in Binh Dinh Province and also a principal food source for the locals. While rolling we also take in the sea breeze and spot tranquil fishing villages lined along the coastline. After lunch at a local restaurant, the ride continues to Highway 1, where we transfer to Quang Ngai for the night.

Ride 72km • +329m • -296m

In the morning we start cycling from the hotel to have the first stop at My Lai, the site of one of the deadliest massacres during the Indochina War. After a guided tour we continue cycling along the coast, passing many picturesque fishing villages with their colourful boats. We stop riding at lunch and transfer on to Hoi An so we can have the afternoon free to explore this historic town. A major trading port during the 17th and 18th centuries there are 844 structures of historical significance and many vibrant shopping streets, the city is a must for you to wander around and absorb the atmosphere.

Ride 50km • +137m • -138m

This morning we have a short transfer to avoid the highway and start riding to My Son, the ancient centre of the Cham Civilization dating back to the 4th century. We then cycle along scenic country back roads flanked by rice paddies, eucalyptus plantations and relaxing villages. Later the road stretches away from the coast, offering stunning views of the ocean as we head to My Son, once Champa’s most important city. After lunch we spend the afternoon visiting the site, and although many of the temples were destroyed from heavy bombing, enough have survived the war to impress most visitors. After the historical tour, we take the bus back to Hoi An. Dinner is your choice.

Ride 47km • +133m • -106m

This is probably the toughest ride of the tour, yet it is also one of the most rewarding. A short transfer out of Hoi An brings us to the start of our ride along the beach to Danang, known to some as Danang Beach, an R&R destination for American troops during the Vietnam War. It will be quickly time to change your gears and start the climb up Hai Van Pass, a steady and moderately challenging uphill with exhilarating views of the coast. From sea level we climb up to 480 m before flying down a long and smooth descent After lunch we venture away from the main highway and cruise on a coastal road for 44 km to Hue, the old capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty.

Ride 100km • +658m • -635m

Today we explore by bicycle and boat the rich history left behind by the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty. We start by cycling directly from our hotel along the An Cuu (Perfume) River and head up to the tombs of Khai Dinh, the 12th king of the Nguyen dynasty, which were built from 1920-1931. After our visit, we continue to bike on a quiet route to Vong Canh hill, which is just 43 m high, but is the best place to catch a panoramic view of the Perfume River. We finish the ride today at the seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda, the tallest religious building in Vietnam. Built in 1601, it has become the symbol of the city, and be sure to get a photo with the marble turtle! We then walk to the boat pier nearby the pagoda to take a cruise on the Perfume River back to Hue. After refreshing ourselves and packing up we have a dinner at a local restaurant before boarding an overnight train to Ninh Binh.

Ride 28km • +123m • -103m

We arrive in Ninh Binh around 10 am (arrival time may vary). Following a short transfer to the local restaurant for washing up, bike fitting (we have new fleet of bikes in the north) and an early lunch, we start cycling through spectacular karst mountains towering over a blanket of rice paddies to the ancient city of Hoa Lu, the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries. After touring the temples we continue to Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam's first and largest natural reserve to check into our accommodation at the park.

Ride 56km • +243m • -82m

We enjoy another ride to appreciate the park's beauty, visit the primate rescue centre and head east on serene back roads through a sea of pineapple plantations. Today while riding you’ll notice the differences between North and South Vietnam ranging from crops, villages, to clothing as we pass through countless lush greenery, lovely villages and friendly locals. Today's ride finishes just before we reach Highway 1 and our transfer to Hai Phong, one of Vietnam’s major ports.

Ride 63km • +332m • -695m

We transfer to the pier to catch a ferry to Fulong on Cat Ba Island. Located at the southern end of picturesque Halong Bay, the island is home to one of Vietnam’s most exquisite natural treasures, Cat Ba National Park. Once we get off the boat we cycle 26 km on the island’s only road before enjoying lunch in town. In the afternoon you are free to explore the surroundings before spending the night on this heavenly island.

Ride 27km • +253m • -233m

We have a short ride in the morning and head for a memorable cruise through majestic Halong Bay. With its towering limestone karts protruding from the emerald sea, Halong Bay is truly one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the world. Legend has it that it was formed by a great dragon that descended from the mountain into the sea. The boat trip is definitely rewarding after the long biking expedition. We then transfer to Hanoi and meet again in the evening for our farewell dinner at one of the many fine restaurants in the city.

Ride 24km

In the morning you are free to do last-minute shopping or take a short tour around the Vietnamese capital before catching your onward flight. If you would like to extend your stay in Hanoi, please contact us for best hotel deals and rates.