Cycling Central Vietnam

Welcome to Vietnam! When you arrive in Hanoi, make your way to the hotel to meet your guide and group for your upcoming adventure. Taxis are cheap, and tuk tuks are super fun! When you meet everyone at the hotel, you will head together for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant to discuss the itinerary and have a delicious introduction to the Vietnamese cuisine you can look forward to eating in the coming days.

Today after breakfast, you will embark upon a fantastic walking tour of Hanoi. This city is a maze of narrow alleyways, busy multi-lane streets, and markets and food stalls—very stimulating for your senses. Make sure you fuel up on breakfast washed down with ca phe sua da, the iconic Vietnamese iced coffee drink made with sweetened condensed milk. In the morning, you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and learn about a significant period of the nation’s history, then lighten things up with a stop at the Temple of Literature, which is considered the first university in Vietnam. The afternoon is dedicated to the Old Quarter of Hanoi. You’ll note colonial influence in the architecture juxtaposed with classic Vietnamese sightings like moto-taxi drivers taking naps precariously on their bikes. Throughout the day, you’ll begin to understand the blend of calm and chaos that comprises Hanoi. Have dinner with your group before you head to the train station to board an overnight train to tomorrow’s destination of Dong Hoi.

Arrive at the railway station at 7:45 am and meet your guide to accompany you to the hotel in Phong Nha. You’ll have a chance to freshen up and have breakfast before starting today’s awesome excursion. At 10:30 am, meet your guide for a quick chat about the day’s events. First, you’ll go to the UNESCO-recognized Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, famous for its cave system that is large enough to walk and even take a boat through. Start in the Paradise Cave with a wooden walkway and lighting inside to ease your exploration of this mind-blowing place. In the afternoon, you get to visit a historically significant spot used as a bomb shelter and wine-making cave during the Vietnam War. Despite its harsh history, the people around the Wine Cave perceive it with peace and love. Head back to the hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy a free evening in this magical part of the world.

After a delicious breakfast, you’ll set out for the day to explore Phong Nha and its surrounding villages in the valley. Ride along the Son River on the roads used by locals. You’ll stop in the Bong Lai valley to meet some farmers and learn about their agricultural practices in the rice and peanut fields—two hugely essential ingredients in Vietnamese cuisine. After lunch, continue cycling towards Phong Nha National Park to embark on a magical boat journey on an idyllic river running through the park’s cave system. You’ll be astounded by the scenery here: vibrant blue waters next to stalactites of enormous sizes, all surrounded by lush flora. Head back to the hotel after this dreamlike excursion and get a great night’s sleep.

Today, you’ll cycle to historically significant sites, starting from the beginning of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, constructed by the Viet Cong beginning in 1959 and used to transport soldiers and supplies from the north to the south. Ride alongside rubber plantations and through the region that was demilitarized between 1954 and 1972. Keep heading down the paved roads and make a stop at the Vinh Moc tunnels, also known as the “Underground City,” named as such because locals spent nearly 2,000 days underground during the Vietnam War to escape potential danger. Enjoy a seaside meal, then hop in a private transfer to Hue in the afternoon. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, then settle in for sleep in Hue.

Get ready for a jam-packed day cycle-touring Hue! Meet your guide in the morning after breakfast, then head to the Imperial Citadel, an incredible impressive fortress with great walls, ornate gates, temples, and gorgeous gardens. Finding shade to ride under, you’ll visit Phu Mong Village, replete with stunning architecture, then continue to a quiet garden house where you’ll share tea with the hosts and enjoy fresh fruits from their garden. Next, you ride to the spiritual site of Thien Mu Pagoda, then cross the river by boat to cycle to your lunch with a bonus foot bath in Thuy Bieu Village. Cruise along the Perfume River in the afternoon and stop at a local craft market to learn about incense and traditional hat production. The last stretch of the cycling tour brings you to Tu Doc Tomb, after which you’ll visit a fishing village then pause to have dinner at a nearby restaurant, with the sun setting on the water before you. Your driver will pick you and your bike up and take you to the hotel to crash for the night.

In the morning before the day's heat, head out to Vietnam’s largest lagoon, Tam Giang Lagoon. Enjoy the serenity on the ride, and when you arrive. Sit by the shores and admire the beautiful colours reflecting off its turquoise waters. Take a short boat ride and meet some fishermen who will show you their traditional net fishing technique before you stop for lunch in a local eatery. Receive a transfer back to Hue and have the rest of the afternoon and evening to yourself.

After breakfast, you will set out directly from the hotel and ride towards some small villages with ornate and fantastic architecture near the Tam Giang Lagoon that you visited yesterday. In the late morning, visit the Vinh Ve Museum, which offers insight into the local traditions and culture. Continue riding through the countryside of greenery and rice fields, then take a short ferry to reach your lunch spot at Tu Hien Beach. Once you have digested, continue pedaling along an easy flat route to reach the support vehicle where you can choose to continue riding on your own or take a ride. Settle into the hotel in Lang Co for a well-earned sleep.

Perhaps one of the most famous mountain roads in southeast Asia, Hai Van Pass connects Hue to Hoi An, and today you will ride over it! Make sure you get a hearty breakfast—today’s route will be challenging. As you start the ascent to the highest point, you will see why this mountain pass is thought to be one of the most beautiful coastal mountain roads in the world. Winding and hugging cliffs on one side, sweeping beach views on the other, you will pass by waterfalls, jungles, and the weather will likely be a little bit misty, which just adds to the area’s magic. At the summit, take a break and sip a well-deserved ca phe as you admire the stunning vistas. From the highest point, you can either take a ride in the support vehicle or continue to human-power your way to Hoi An. The enchanting Hoi An awaits!

Wake up for breakfast and prepare to explore the charming city of Hoi An by bike—don’t forget your camera because this place is supremely picturesque! Cruise around the Old Town, where you’ll note the unique blend of Japanese, Chinese, and French colonial cultures in the architecture and vibrantly-coloured houses. Explore the outskirts of Hoi An that’s dotted with villages of carpenters, artisans, and farmers, and stop to engage with the locals and learn about their crafts. You will take your bike on a short ferry ride to reach Tra Que Village, known for its diverse produce and agriculture, where you’ll enjoy a fresh meal of seafood and local fare. Return to the hotel after lunch and spend the afternoon as you please—you could easily spend hours wandering aimlessly around Hoi An’s Old Town. Get a good night’s sleep for a longer ride tomorrow.

During the morning, cruise around Hoi An then meet at a pier to head on a boat tour with a couple of fun stops. First, you’ll engage with a local carpenter who will show you his handmade wooden furniture. Cycle a little further down the route to a cute house to learn how to make rice paper for those delicious Vietnamese salad rolls you have undoubtedly been eating! Keep riding into the rural landscapes once more and stop for lunch. A cultural afternoon awaits once you’re ready to get on your bike: a visit to My Son Sanctuary, an archaeological site with ruins built between the 4th and 13th centuries. It’s an impressive complex with 70 buildings reminding visitors of the Champa civilization that once lived there. Meander through lush jungle paths connecting each site and soak in the sanctuary’s palpable spiritual magic. At the end of the visit, you can choose to cycle to the hotel taking the same road or hop in the support vehicle to give your legs a break. Enjoy your last night with your group with a few bia hoi (fresh beer) and a feast of Vietnamese cuisine.

Enjoy your final Vietnamese breakfast in Hoi An before checking out of the hotel. You will make your own way to Danang Airport, or wherever you’re going after this cycling adventure.