Cycle all the way through Vietnam from South to North
Embark on a complete cyclist’s deep dive into Vietnam, from Saigon in the south to Hanoi in the north. Dalat, Nha Trang, Hoi An, the ancient capitals of Hue and Ninh Binh, and so much more… The sheer number of Vietnamese cities and landmarks you’ll take in on this 16-day cycling tour is staggering! And that’s not to mention the world-class cycling spots you’ll visit; a few of the passes you’ll tackle are too amazing to do justice with words. If you’re looking to get a real feel for Vietnam and not just limit your exploration to one part of the country, this tour is a good choice.
Of course, with such a long itinerary comes a once-in-a-lifetime cycling adventure. You’ll cover a lot of ground (735 km, to be exact) and take on many different types of terrain, from steep uphills on rocky cliffs to long straightaways on narrow dirt cross-country tracks to screaming downhills through remote minority villages. It will definitely take some cycling experience to keep up with the 60-100 km/day schedule, but the challenge will make exploring Vietnam an even more memorable experience.
Highlights of the Saigon to Hanoi Cycling Tour
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Saigon to Hanoi Cycling Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival at Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon
Airport transfer upon request. On your first day in Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, you will meet the team of guides, mechanics, and drivers who will support you throughout your exciting adventure from Saigon to Hanoi.
A bike fitting is scheduled at 4PM followed by a welcome dinner where you’ll meet the cycling tour guides and support crew for your tour.
Overnight Location: Not included
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Saigon to Da Lat
You will take an early flight to Da Lat lasting 1 hour. After arrival and check-in at your hotel, you will take a relaxing ride along the lakeshore roads in the shadow of Mount Langbian discovering the region’s distinctive European influences, mountain scenery, and temperate climate. In the evening, you will have the chance to explore Da Lat to try its local cuisine at the night market.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Da Lat
Distance: 30km
Meals: Lunch
Day 3 Da Lat to Nha Trang via Hon Giao Pass
Today is the first major cycling day on the tour, with a distance of 100 km covered.
After breakfast, you will transfer to Bi Doup Mountain outside of Dalat. Climbing up the hilly terrain is a challenge, but it is absolutely worth it as you are then rewarded with a 30km descent with unforgettable views of the mountains, forests, waterfalls, and ethnic villages below. After a well-deserved lunch, you will follow the flat roads towards the coast, finishing the day with a transfer to Nha Trang (approx. 1 hour) where you will be able to rest your legs.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Nha Trang
Distance: 100km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Nha Trang to Phu Yen
In the morning, you’ll cycle to the Po Nagar Cham Towers built in AD 781, one of Vietnam’s oldest historical sites. After the visit, you will ride towards Vietnam’s Highway No. 1 where we will transfer 80 km to the Hon Gom peninsula.
For the second part of the day, you will cycle along the peninsula past the shrimp farms and the largest rice paddies of central Vietnam to Phu Yen.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Phu Yen
Distance: 80km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 5 Phu Yen to Quy Nhon
After breakfast, you will cycle along the coast to Quy Nhon, the capital city of the province. Throughout the day, you will see the province’s main economic activity: fishing. In particular, you will get a chance to see the region’s iconic basket-shaped fishing boats as you enter Quy Nhon, where you will spend the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Quy Nhon
Distance: 65km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 6 Relax in Quy Nhon
A rest day allowing you to kick back and relax on the beach. Breakfast is provided at your hotel.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Quy Nhon
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Quy Nhon to Quang Ngai
After breakfast, you will van transfer outside of the city to avoid the bustling rush hour traffic. The remainder of the morning will be an 80km ride offering a view of coastlines as well as the local countryside. You will be able to observe the local shrimp and salt farms and meet friendly farmers along the way. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will take a scenic drive (transfer) to your hotel in Quang Ngai.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Quang Ngai
Distance: 80km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8 Quang Ngai to Hoi An
The first stop will be a guided tour at My Lai sanctuary, the site of one of the greatest atrocities committed during the Vietnam War. After My Lai, you will cycle along quiet village roads, past rice paddies, and through small fishing villages filled with colorful boats.
After lunch, you will transfer to Hoi An, a mid-sized village and UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its preserved architecture, unique atmosphere, distinctive buildings, and its colorful lanterns illuminating the Hoi An Old Town at night.
The evening will be yours to start to explore this amazing town. Dinner on your own.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hoi An
Distance: 60km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 9 Rest Day in Hoi An
A rest day allows riders to relax and see more of Hoi An at their own pace - enjoy the history, the local markets, or simply take it easy on the beach. Do not hesitate to ask your guide for recommendations for things to do and places to eat in Hoi An.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hoi An
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 Hoi An to Hue
Day 10 will be the most challenging but rewarding day of the entire trip. The day will start with a short transfer out of the town and a ride along the coast to Da Nang before starting the climb to the world-famous Hai Van Pass. The road climbs gradually up to 480 meters with many switchbacks and offers stunning views of the countryside overlooking the East Sea.
This tough climb is followed by a long smooth descent to your reward: lunch. In the afternoon you will continue to ride seashore for another 44 km before getting to Hue, the old capital of the Nguyen Dynasty
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hue
Distance: 100km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 11 Hue to Hanoi
The morning will be spent cycling around Hue and learning about its most iconic sights, including Vong Canh Hill, the tombs of Khai Dinh, and the seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda. Hue is the ancient capital of Vietnam, so you’ll see some of the country’s most important political and religious buildings.
To finish the day, you will enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Perfume River back to Hue before catching an hour-long flight to Hanoi.
On arrival in the capital, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Explore and dinner by yourself.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hanoi
Distance: 30km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 12 Hanoi to Mai Chau
In the morning, you’ll transfer 2.5 hours out of Hanoi before getting on your bike and starting a 30 km uphill ride to Hoa Binh lake, where you’ll stop for a picnic lunch.
After lunch, you will encounter more stunning views as you pass through ethnic villages of the Thai, an ethnic minority in Vietnam. You’ll cycle across rice paddies on a mix of single-track paths and rough trails before returning to Mai Chau, where you will have dinner and spend the night at a hotel.
Overnight Location: Homestay in Mai Chau
Distance: 100km, 1000m ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13 Mai Chau to Pu Luong Nature Reserve
The morning will start off with a challenge: a long climb uphill towards Pu Luong nature reserve. Following shaded paths beside mountain streams, you’ll enter the reserve and have a traditional Vietnamese lunch overlooking the village’s rice terraces.
The next 10 km will be a flat ride through remote ethnic minority villages and some of the most beautiful rice fields in southeast Asia. After that, you’ll make one last short steep climb to your homestay, where riders can relax with a beer in the cool waters of one of the local natural springs. You’ll end the night with a fantastic BBQ dinner outdoors.
Overnight Location: Homestay in Pu Luong
Distance: 60-70km, 1000-1200m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 14 Pu Luong to Ninh Binh
You’ll start the morning by tearing downhill down several of Pu Luong’s steep terraced rice fields. The next 15 km will be spent on a remote x-country dirt track found by our route-planning team. The track passes by fortress-like karst formations and bamboo water wheel irrigation systems in traditional villages.
After an hour van transfer and a traditional lunch, you’ll ride a collection of quiet country paths and canal roads towards the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ninh Binh.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hanoi
Distance: 60km, 500m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 15 Ninh Binh to Hanoi
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll take a leisurely ride through the stunning natural beauty and historic sites of Ninh Binh, stopping often for stories and photos. You trade in our bikes for boats, where you will be paddled by a local guide for a 3 hours tour through pitch black river caves and hidden lagoons.
After lunch in Ninh Binh, you transfer to Hanoi and arrive before 6pm. Check in to your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and dress up for your farewell dinner!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hanoi
Distance: 25km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 16 Hanoi Departure
Breakfast is provided, but you will have a chance to make new culinary and cultural discoveries on your own for the remainder of the day. If you need to extend your holiday (e.g. to visit Ha Long Bay), we are happy to assist.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Saigon to Hanoi Cycling Tour Price and Dates
This guided biking tour is always run as fixed-departure tour where you would be joining a group, however, private departures may be available on request.
The prices below are per person, sharing a double room.
Accommodation on Saigon to Hanoi Cycling Tour
This tour is based in 3-star hotels or homestays. The hotels on this tour provide all the common modern necessities to make your trip more comfortable. Homestays provides a stay with a local family in their home.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Not included, optional (extra charge)
Please note that the accommodation for this day is not included and it can be either booked for you for an extra charge, or you can take care of the arrangement yourself.
Hotels and homestays in Vietnam
Enjoy a selection of nice hotels and homestays in Vietnam.
What’s Included in the Saigon to Hanoi Cycling Tour?
Meals
14 breakfasts, 12 lunches, and 6 dinners are included. Water, snacks, soft drinks, fresh fruit on biking days are also included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 14 nights are included. The accommodation on 1st day of the trip is not included.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes the services of an air-conditioned van for transfers and support, as well as support vehicle to carry gear, luggage, first aid. This tour also includes two domestic flights in economy class (Saigon to Da Lat and Hue to Hanoi).
Also Included
- Services of cycling guides and mechanics (number depends on group size)
- Entrance fees, boat trips
- All biking gear (High quality mountain bike, helmet, tool kit, water cage)
- Free flow cold beer at the end of the tour
Not included
- Airport transfer
- Visa
- International airfares
- Hotel early check-in / late check-out
- Overweight luggage
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Tipping
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Upgrade to E-bike (instead of MTB)
- Single room surcharge
Frequently Asked Questions about Saigon to Hanoi Cycling Tour
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