Hanoi Cycling To Nha Trang - This mountain biking cycle exploration of Ho Chi Minh Trails, starts in Hanoi Capital and ends in the Hochiminh city in the south of Vietnam. Along the way, we pause to visit the main sites in Hoa Binh, Hoi An, Hue…, and finally Hochiminh city. What makes this tour special is our route hardly touches the frenetic Highway One, as we ride along quiet or little-used roads to discover the real Vietnam.
Day1: Hanoi – Mai Chau ( L ,D )
Have breakfast at your hotel, check out and pick up at 7:30 Am and drive to Luong Son and cycle through Bai Chao villages to Cao Phong – Hoa Binh province. Cycling to Thong Khe Pass. Have lunch on the way then ride on a single track through Thai minority villages. Ride past terraced fields and beautiful valleys. Overnight in a stilt-house of a Thai-tribe village. O/N in Poom Coong Village.
Summary
Cycling distance: 75 km
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay
Day 2: Mai Chau – Pu Luong Nature Reserve ( B, L, D )
The early morning starts walking around Mai Chau villages and beat the heat of the day. The route takes us away from the river and appears to contour through the same range of mountains that stretch from Mai Chau to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. The road gets more beautiful the closer you ride to Pu Luong with looming karst limestone cliffs and lush vegetation. The route is tarmac all the way but quite hard riding due to the undulating terrain. Overnight in Home -Stay in Kho Muong.
Summary
Cycling distance: 55 km, Trekking 2 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Kho Muong Villages – Home-stay
Day 3: Pu Luong Nature Reserve – Ngoc Lac ( B, L, D )
Breakfast in a Thai village house before trekking 3 km to the main road and setting off along a spectacularly beautiful river valley, terraced fields towards Canh Nang town along an undulating tarmac road. The road follows the flow of River Song Ma. This is an old supply route of the HCM Trail that fed the main trail with ammunitions during the American War with Vietnam.. just passing scenes of local village life and rice paddies. Dinner at the hotel.
Summary
Accommodation: Gold Time hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 70 Km
Day 4 : Ngoc Lac – Thai Hoa ( B , L , D )
Early morning starts to beat the heat of the day. The route takes us away from the river and appears to contour through the same range of mountains that stretch from Ngoc Lac to Thai Hoa on Ho Chi Minh trails. The road gets more beautiful the closer you ride to Ngoc Lac with looming karst limestone cliffs and lush vegetation. The route is tarmac all the way but quite hard riding due to the undulating terrain. We ride for the first time on the newly built two-lane Ho Chi Minh Highway. It hardly warrants two lanes as there is no traffic! The road makes for smooth fast riding, and for those who prefer there is always the old highway dirt and gravel – that weaves around the new highway allowing for plenty of exploring possibilities along the way. Ride to Muc Son, on the banks of River Song Chu. On the outskirts of this small town are the famous Kan Linh historical relics – a pagoda where the first king of the Ly dynasty, Le Thai To, ruled, in 1428. Continue riding on the trail to Yen Cat. The distance covered today is quite long and there will be the chance to transfer some sections by the backup vehicle to rest weary legs. There are fewer villages today as the route cuts through forests and jungle. Picnic lunch en route. Overnight Thai Hoa guesthouse. 80+ km.
Summary
Accommodation: Local Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 80 Km
Day 5 : Thai Hoa- Huong Khe ( B , L , D )
Continue riding the incredible Ho Chi Minh Trail. Have lunch in Pho Chau town, on the way stop to visit some villages or markets. Transfer to Huong Khe town for check-in Hotel. Overnight in Huong Khe.
Summary
Accommodation: Duc Tai Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 80 Km
Day 6 : Huong Khe – Phong Nha National Park ( B , L , D )
From Nghe An to Huong Khe the mountains rise and the road winds up, down, and along the hillsides. The scenery is spectacular, the road tranquil. Ride up to 80km then transfer the last few km to Phong Nha National Park. The park contains one of the most spectacular caves in Vietnam, It is a true speleological wonder. Visit the cave by boat then wander through the cavern, past the foundations of ancient Cham ruins. Pause to admire the incredible formation of stalactites and stalagmites. Formed approximately 250 million years ago Phong Nha was used as a hospital and ammunition depot during the war, the entrance still showing evidence of fighter aircraft attacks. There are community projects underway with Flora and Fauna International and it may be possible to visit village initiatives and learn more about the forests of the National Park. Overnight at the National Park. 70 km.
Summary
Accommodation: Saigon - Phong Nha hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 70 Km
Day 7 : Phong Nha National Park-Khe Sanh ( B , L , D )
Explore Phong Nha Cave in the early morning by boat. 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. Transfer to Khe Sanh visiting war relics en route. Overnight Hotel in Khe Sanh.
Summary
Accommodation: Green Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 70 Km
Day 8 : Khe Sanh – Aluoi ( B , L , D )
In the morning we head south over the Da Krong Bridge (built by the Cubans in 1973) then jump into back roads and keep riding through remote villages to A Luoi. Overnight in A Luoi
Summary
Cycling distance: 80 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guest House.
Day 9 : Aluoi – Hue City ( B , L , D )
The bike ride of today is easy, the terrain is flat. The distance of biking is 60 km. We will have a bus transfer for the last 14 km to the former capital of Vietnam. Overnight in Hue city
Summary
Cycling distance: 75 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Asia Hotel
Day 10: Hue City and Cycle to Villages ( B, L )
Spend a whole day visiting, exploring the Forbidden Citadel, Royal Tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty ( Tu Duc Tomb ), and by bicycle in the morning. Ride on hilly country roads to Thanh Toan tile-roofed Bridge crosses a canal flowing from the beginning to the end of Thanh Toan village, Thuy Thanh Commune, Huong Thuy District.
Summary
Cycling distance: 25 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Asia Hotel
Day 11: Hue – Hoi An ( B, L )
Have breakfast and transfer to the outskirts of Hue, Thuan An Dist. Start riding on the coast roads to Phuoc Tuong Pass. Pedal past colorful ancient burial grounds, rice farming land, and fishing villages. Have lunch at Lang Co beach, after lunch, pedal uphill to the top of Hai Van Pass, then downhill to the Pass of Hai Van. Transfer by van to Hoi An in the late afternoon.
Summary
Cycling distance: 85 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Venus Hotel
Day 12: Hoi An Free Day ( B )
Free time to discover Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural site, shopping or Swimming …
Summary
Cycling Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Venus Hotel
Day 13: Hoi An – Kon Tum ( Central highland ) (B, L, D)
This morning we start early to cycle through stunning countryside off the beaten track where we will see much more real-life minority groups settle here in a remote area, this group is very friendly people. We will get cooler up the highland central in Kon Tum. Overnight in a hotel in Kon Tum.
Summary
Cycling distance: 75 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Kom Tum Hotel
Day 14: Kon Tum – Buon Me Thuot (B,L,D)
Our biking today is a scenic road passing many coffee and tea plantations and over many hilly roads and past which is stunning views. Our destination today is Buon Me Thuot city the capital of Coffee in Vietnam. This is an opportunity for us to try to taste some with condensed milk and buy some for the family at home. Overnight in Buon Me Thuot.
Summary
Cycling distance: 80 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Buon Me Thuat Hotel
Day 15: Buon Me Thuot – Da Lat (B ,L,D )
Today we will have another exciting cycling trip through breathtaking scenic road, we enjoy the first 70 km biking along the valley floor before turning onto Route 27 which takes us up to Da Lat city. The scenery and terrain along the way are stunning. We will arrive in Da Lat in the late afternoon. Overnight in Da Lat.
Summary
Cycling distance: 80 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Dai Loi Hotel
Day 16: Da Lat (B)
After breakfast, we cycle to visit former Emperor Bao Dai Summer Palace, Crazy House, Thien Vien Truc Lam, Old railway station, and cycling to visit the market to try some fresh fruit and dry fruit as well. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Da Lat.
Summary
Accommodation: Dai Loi hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Cycling distance: 25 km
Day 17: Da Lat – Nha Trang Beach (B ,L)
Today we cycle down the hill on a quiet country road to Nha Trang seaside city, on the way, there is plenty of opportunity for taking great pictures. We arrive at Nha Trang city is also the end of the cycling challenge. Overnight in Nha Trang. End The Tour.
Summary
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling distance: 90 km