CYCLING VIETNAM: SAIGON TO HANOI 14 DAYS

Say hello and warmest welcome to Vietnam at Ho Chi Minh city airport and enjoy Vietnam sunshine weather and follow our tour guide to explore on foot to enjoy the first impression of Vietnam. Take a short time to fit your Mt. bicycle and taste the famous Vietnamese foods. 

This morning we transfer by bus to Tan Phu Trung hamlet. From here we commence our 20km ride through rubber plantations and rice fields to the historic Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels were of significant importance to the Viet Cong (communist Vietnamese) forces during the Vietnam/American war. Visiting the tunnels we learn about the history of the site and also have the opportunity to explore some of the expansive underground system ourselves. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant on the left side of the Saigon river before hopping back on the bus and transferring back to the city.

This day adventure cycling will start from La Nga lake through the lush tropical farms of cashew, rubber plantation and pepper. You also have a lovely stop at the Ba Giot stream for coffee break. Follow the lunch at the rural village and cycle along the buffer zone of Cat Tien National Park and drive you to the forest resort overnight.

Traveling by support vehicle about an hour to the northern Bao Loc for top choice of backroad highlands, we cycle toward the central coffee land and flower hamlets with some challenges of short hills of 5-9% decline.  Our guide will set a hillside for lunch and enjoy the true coffee bean at the finest coffee-shop and learn about the coffee which is the top 3 best coffee in the world. Overnight in Da Lat city!

As for our general group ability, the plan today will stick with cycling from the hotel in Da Lat to the north-east of the city: You will enjoy the cool atmosphere of Da Lat and you might find the foggy roads about 5km at the altitude 1,690 meters above the sea level. After lunch, we cycle about 35 km, completely downhill of 10% and transfer to the hotel that is located right by the seaside. Overnight in Nha Trang City!

Today is a rest day! We will spend the morning for boat trip, snorkeling and swimming with those activities:

- Snorkeling after about an hour on the boat to the coral area.

- Boating to the mini beach where there is clean and nice swimming and you can spend some extra fee for the water sports: water skiing, surfing.. 

- Well lunch will be prepared and the boat trip will be finished to get back to the hotel around 15h.

Free explore the beautiful beach of Nha Trang at the night market, beach paths for walking, windy beach coffee-shop and more acts..

As the Nha Trang busy city that we should be transferred to the northern to Van Gia fishing village, we cycle for 25 km along the coastline where you can find a fishing market, fishing harbor and the onland market with the busy moment to experience while cycling past and stop somewhere for the really beautiful landscape of the rice fields and mountainous panorama. We then have a transfer to Vung Ro bay, this is a historic one that you will learn about the Ho Chi Minh trails along the sea. Our biking day might complete at Tuy Hoa and transfer directly to Quy Nhon overnight!

We will be shown the biking loops after a half an hour to the coastline, we will cycle after a long Thi Nai bridge of about 3,5 km length and cycle past the new fishing and farming village, and turbine of the wind and a giant buddha statue of mountainous pagoda. Lunch and cycling detour along the beautiful countryside and the endless rice paddies until packing our bicycles for a drive to Hoi An Ancient Town. Overnight in Hoi An! 

✨ The historic, merchant town and safe harbor of Hoi An had become one of the busiest international trading ports of Southeast Asia by the 17th and 18th centuries. Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, it still retains its charm today, with many of its old buildings superbly preserved. 

✨ This morning we’ll take a walk through the historic heart of this World Heritage Site, taking in the city's famous Japanese Bridge and its museum, before wandering amongst its traditional wooden houses and Chinese temples. This afternoon is then free to perhaps take a gentle river cruise, try your hand at Vietnamese cooking or pay a visit to one of Hoi An's renowned tailors' shops, or maybe explore further afield by bike. Overnight in Hoi An! 

✨ Leaving Hoi An after breakfast, we travel by bus up the coast to Danang followed by a twisting drive up to the lofty heights of the Hai Van (Sea Cloud) Pass. This stunningly scenic region once marked the boundary between Vietnam and the Champa Kingdom to the south and, as we reach the summit of the pass, the panoramas before us are simply spectacular. Descending by bus we head next for Lang Co where today's ride starts.

✨ We cycle along scenic back roads as we wind our way alongside the Cau Hai Lagoon to end the ride finally at Phu Bai. Meeting our bus in Thuan An, we’ll then drive for about an hour to Huế on the shores of the Perfume River. Overnight in Hue City!

✨ Once the capital of Vietnam and an inspiration for poets and artists alike for centuries, Hue is still a thriving and important city. First thing this morning we drive to the impressive Old Citadel that still dominates the left bank of the river. After visiting the citadel we commence our final cycle ride. Our route follows the Perfume River and leads us to the 19th century Nguyen Tomb of Ming Mang. After visiting the mausoleum we return to our hotel to freshen up before the mid- to late-afternoon departure of the overnight train to Hanoi.

✨ We plan to stay in 'soft-sleeper' four berth cabins, bunk bed style and bedding is provided. Both Western and Asian style toilets are at the end of each carriage as well as a basin. The Leader will allocate beds keeping people together as far as possible but it may be necessary to share with other travellers. Overnight on Train!

You will arrive to Hanoi around 5h30 am and transfer with guide to the Hotel in the Old Quarter Hanoi for breakfast and a short break before below acts: 

✨ 8:00 – 8:30 am: you’ll be picked up from your hotel in old quarter HaNoi to get to the TuanChau Marina via the new Hanoi – Hai Phong Expressway. 

✨ 11:30 – 12:00 pm: Arriving at Halong Bay, you’ll be welcomed to embark on the cruise. It’s time to learn about the cruise briefing and safety instructions while sipping a welcome drink. After check-in, you can take a short rest after an excursion. 

✨ 0:45 – 1:30 pm: While cruising through the karst rock formations into the world of natural heritage, you will have lunch at the luxury restaurant on the cruise. Fill your stomach with a great diversity of deluxe Vietnamese set menu and fresh seafood dishes. You can admire a lot of Dog Stone, Dinh Huong Island, Ga Choi Island, also known as Hon Trong Mai of Ha Long Bay. Island Images show up with two huge chickens: a drum, a roof with their heads together, feet pounding the protruding pose unique and impressive. Between heaven's immense sea, Ga Choi island shows up beautifully, natural challenges, the weather which for hundreds of years, sometimes chicken stands proudly between sky and sea. Each dawn, the sun sometimes dyed red chicken to create a shimmering beauty scene, vaguely. Photos of the island, Ga Choi gorgeous attracted a lot of tourists come and also the symbol of the House tourism Cage 

✨ 3:00 – 5:30 pm: Visit to Luon Grotto. This is also one of the most beautiful tunnels in Halong Bay. You will explore it by kayaking or just sit on a small bamboo boat, one fisherman will take it. Inclusions: Transport, guide, HaLong Bay Junk, shared accommodation, cave entrance fee, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, water. Overnight on Ha Long Cruise!

✨ 6:30 - 7:00 am: Enjoy coffee, tea, and breakfast served in the dining room. You can wake up earlier to catch the sunset moment from the cruise which gives more stunning views than on land. Taichi class may take place. 

✨ After breakfast 7:45 – 9:00 am: The next destination of Halong Bay classic route is Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave), one of the most magnificent and largest caves in Halong. To reach the mouth of Surprise Cave, you have to climb more than 50 steps and feast your eyes on the mysterious natural vegetation of Ha Long Bay. Discovered in 1901 by the French, its original name is “Grotte Des Surprises” due to the amazing variability in the cave. Sung Sot Cave occupies an area of approximately 10,000m2, divided into two large chambers. Each has its own typical scientific value which features million-year-old stone stalactites and columns formed throughout millions of years. 

✨ 9:30 am: After that, you will have time to pack your luggage or chill out on the sundeck while the boat is heading for the pier. 

✨ 10:15 -11:00 am: It’s time to have lunch on cruise. 

✨ 11:45 – 12:00 The cruise itinerary ends at Tuan Chau Port, where you sit back and relax in the waiting room for return transportation. 

✨ 12:00 – 4:00 pm: Time for transfer from Halong to Hanoi. You will be dropped off at your hotel in the old quarter Hanoi. Have dinner with the server's team and explore this last night in Vietnam!

The day is free at your leisure until transfer to Nội Bài International Airport for your departure flight. We wish you a pleasant onward journey. End of our services

Suggestions for your free time in Hanoi Capital:

• Cyclo tour in the Old Quarter of Hanoi and Lakes 
• Visit Ho Chi Minh complex, learn about his life of national hero
• Visit The Temple of Literature – the first National University of Vietnam.
• Spending your relaxing time strolling around the Hoan Kiem Lake, the little lake but the very heart of life in Hanoi.
• Experience sitting on a cyclo, enjoying views of what’s happening on the streets of the Old Quarter.
• Experience classic Vietnamese culture at a traditional water puppet show.

Hope to meet you on another trip that may be a cycling Vietnam Cambodia Thailand 14 days. We love to talk all about the holiday by bicycle at Ops@vietnambybike.com with our best regards.