Portrayal of Vietnam Luxury Bike Tour

vietnam bike tour 29

Overview

This tour gives an excellent introduction to Vietnam. We cover some classic highlights of Vietnam from Hanoi through Vietnam’s coastline ending at Saigon. Dive into the thick of things in Vietnam where old school meets the new and lush countrysides and pristine beaches go hand in hand with bustling wet markets, charming old towns, and trendy young cities.

Explore Hanoi, temples, pagodas, and imperial citadels, visit fine old merchant houses or seek out some of the world’s best warm water beaches.

Start

Hanoi | 13:00hrs

Finish

Saigon

Lodging

premiere

Level

easy

Avg. dist. cycled

40km or 24mi

Suitable for

Age: 9+

Highlights

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Wholesome Experience

Indulge in the history, culture and cuisine of Vietnam

Itinerary

Brief Itinerary

DayPlaceHotelMealsDistanceActivity
DAY 1HanoiSofitel MetropoleDwalking
DAY 2Halong BayParadise LuxuryB,L,D
DAY 3Fly to HuéLa ResidenceB,L
DAY 4HueLa ResidenceB,L,D25-50km / 15-30micycling
DAY 5Hoi An AnantaraB,L,D60km / 36mi*cycling
DAY 6Hoi AnAnantaraB,L40km / 24micycling
DAY 7Fly to SaigonHôtel des Arts SaigonB,Lwalking
DAY 8Can ThoAzerai Can ThoB,L40km / 24micycling
DAY 9Can ThoAzerai Can ThoB,L,D25km / 15micycling
DAY 10SaigonB

Accommodation

These hotels include some of the most prestigious ones. Heritage properties, art décor contemporary places or chic boutique stays that are a notch above the rest is a part of this list.

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Sofitel Metropole

Located in the heart of the old city, and is an iconic award-winning luxury Hanoi old quarter hotel. Blending a heritage colonial style with neo-classical luxury and a dash of modernity, you'll find an elegance during your stay you're unlikely to experience anywhere else.

Detailed Itinerary

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Day 1: Hanoi

Arrive and settle into your hotel. Our guide meets you at your hotel at 13:00hrs.

Today walk the busy streets of Hanoi visiting some of the cultural and historical highlights of Hanoi. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, which was constructed nearly a millennium ago, and is delicately elevated in a pond. Also visit the Temple of Literature, dating back close to a thousand years, is a wonderfully preserved piece of ancient Vietnamese architecture and stands to honor the scholarly achievements of the country’s academics and philosophers. Continue exploring the area around Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake, old quarter including Ngoc Son Temple, which sits perched on a little island in the lake. In the evening, we convene over dinner.

Meals: D
Accommodation: Sofitel Metropole
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Day 2: Halong Bay

Today we transfer you to one of the greatest sites in Asia – the spectacular Limestone strewn massif of Halong Bay. Arrive in Ha Long city, and board a traditional wooden junk boat.

Start with an excursion to Tung Sau Pearl Farm, an area in Halong Bay dedicated to growing pearls and practicing a handmade technique based on Vietnamese tradition and Japanese technology. This is also an ideal destination for kayaking.

Later Visit Titov Island – the island is named after the Russian cosmonaut Gher-man Stepanovich Titov. You can either hike the mountain to get an overview of Halong Bay or swim at the beach on the island. In the evening, enjoy the sunset with evening cocktails and fresh fruit and enjoy a cooking class on a notable Vietnamese dish.

Meals: B,L,D
Accommodation: Paradise Luxury
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Day 3: Fly to Hué

If you rise early, we recommend a Tai Chi session on the sun deck. Tai Chi helps focus the mind and condition the body and there is no better environment to practice this than amongst the limestone peaks and islands.

After breakfast, visit Sung Sot cave – The most beautiful and largest cave in Halong Bay. Let your imagination run wide with stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes and sizes. At the end of the way out, you can have an amazing panoramic view from the viewpoint. The cruise also passes by Thien Cung and Dau Go Cave and the Fighting Cock Islet.

Check out the cabin and cruise back to Tuan Chau Marina for disembarkation. We shuttle back to Hanoi for a flight to Hue. Arrive at the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hué, the gateway to Central Vietnam. Our guide meets at the airport and then transfers to your hotel for check-in.

Meals: B,L
Accommodation: La Residence
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Day 4: Hue

Today take your bicycle out for an early morning leisurely loop around the imperial town of Hué. Ride past the Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, Mausoleums, and the merchant’s houses along the banks of the Perfume River and through quiet lanes with lush gardens.

If you're up for more riding, explore the ‘purple city’ on a short countryside loop on a bike, swerving to unthreaded nooks and corners through the beautiful rural countryside and absorbing this historic capital city of Vietnam at your own pace. Take a short transfer out of Hue to visit the Thanh Toan Bridge, an ancient architectural monument extremely valuable in terms of its history and culture. This is one of two bridges remaining in Vietnam today that retains its unique architectural style. We then cycle on to Dam Chuon Lagoon, a part of the Tam Giang Lagoon system. This is a must-see spot for all those who are lovers of beautiful scenery and keen photographers.

We continue riding to Thuan An beach, an ideal place for relaxation. On the way to the beach, there will be many houses, temples, pagodas, rice fields, and beautiful gardens to see and explore. Upon arrival at the beach, enjoy a swim and then jump back on the bikes and head to Con Te Islet.

Loopback to Hue, and stop at Sinh Village – an ancient village well known for its artists and beautiful, traditional, craft woodblock paintings.

Hue Loop.PNG

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 25-50km / 15-30mi
Accommodation: La Residence
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Day 5: Hoi An

After a hearty breakfast, we take a short transfer out of Hue to the coast. Begin riding off the beaten track along a picturesque, narrow peninsular road. Cross the estuary of the Perfume River and from here, challenge yourself by cycling up the Phuoc Tuong Pass then take a short transfer to Lang Co and have lunch by the gorgeous lagoon.

Later, ride along the Lang Co Bay with spectacular views of winding paths, wooden fishing boats, waterfalls, mountains, and forests, and bike on over gradual hills to climb Hai Van pass for views of this splendid bay. This rugged pass is the final section of the Truong Son Range stretching to the sea. From the pass, go downhill to the base and shuttle to Hoi An, a delightful old trading town and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hue-Hoian(Part1).PNG

Hue-Hoian(Part2).PNG

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 60km / 36mi*
Accommodation: Anantara
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Day 6: Hoi An

The architectural beauty of Hoi An will captivate you as this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a melange of Vietnamese, European, Chinese, and Japanese monuments in an unhurried, timeless setting. Here, we ride to My Son, a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temples constructed between the 4th and 14th century AD by the kings of Champa. Regarded as one of the foremost Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia and is the foremost heritage site of this nature in Vietnam. The initial ride is through the hinterland and the last leg has a bit of traffic, so ride carefully. Hoi An-My son.PNG

Meals: B,L
Cycling Distance: 40km / 24mi
Accommodation: Anantara
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Day 7: Fly to Saigon

Transfer to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrive in Saigon and settle into your hotel. Our guide meets you at your hotel for a walking tour to explore some of the most popular sites (Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Opera House, Continental Hotel, The Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Post Office, The War Remnants Museum). This walking tour gives an excellent introduction to the city’s history and provides you with plenty of opportunities to soak up the unique mix of chaos and tranquility that is modern-day Saigon.

Alternatively, we can also today bike to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an immense network of connecting underground tunnels. A shuttle transfer of about 90min brings us to the Tan Phu Trung village. After a short ride through narrow rural trails, take a ferry to a nearby island and bike past typical rural hamlets, rubber plantations, and paddy fields. Another ferry brings us closer to Cu Chi Tunnels. Our guide takes us on a walk through the tunnels and shares anecdotes along the way. Try the famous Cassava with green tea and peanut dip, the food of soldiers living in the tunnels during the war. After lunch at a local restaurant by the Saigon River, shuttle back to the city.

Meals: B,L
Accommodation: Hôtel des Arts Saigon
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Day 8: Can Tho

A shuttle transfer brings us to Cai Lay, the outskirts of Saigon. Ride along a small creek to the Mekong estuary past gorgeous paddy fields and dragon fruit farms. Arrive at Cai Be and take a boat trip along the mighty Mekong River and its tributaries to experience the daily lives of people who work and play on the waterways of the Mekong Delta. We also visit the floating market at Cai Be, and a family-run business producing rice paper – a key ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine. Break for lunch on an island at a local house, set amongst fruit orchards and bonsai trees.

After lunch, transfer to our hotel in Can Tho where we spend the night. Seasonally, on the way to the Mekong Delta, we can enjoy the peaceful scenes of farmers seeding, ploughing, and harvesting rice crops.

Please note, today's day include a shuttle transfer of about 2:30hrs.

Meals: B,L
Cycling Distance: 40km / 24mi
Accommodation: Azerai Can Tho
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Day 9: Can Tho

Experience early morning Cai Rang floating market on a boat ride and then cycle to Phong Dien floating market. Weave through the teeming early morning market bustle along the banks of an active riverfront. Absorb the sights of the endless cottage industries, timber merchants, coconuts shredders, dock loading/unloading rice, and vibrant markets. Continue by bike on the narrow lane and loop back to the main road.

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 25km / 15mi
Accommodation: Azerai Can Tho
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Day 10: Saigon

We shuttle back to Saigon. Extend here or depart as per your onward travel plans.

For those with additional days to spare, we offer the option to extend the trip further by continuing the cycling adventure into Cambodia, culminating at the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat. This extension serves as a perfect memento for your unforgettable cycling holiday.

Meals: B
Accommodation:

Map

Dates and Prices

Note:

Our base pricing is in USD. However, we can also quote in AUD, GBP, CAD, and EUR, and you can pay in the same. Please write us.

Single Supplement

From US $1,850



Couldn't find a trip with convenient dates?

Open your date as a join-in tour or customize further as private one.

We offer private departures on almost all our itineraries, and for groups of four or more, they cost the same as our standard trips!


Essential Info

Inclusions

LODGING

All hotels as mentioned in the tour details or similar (subject to availability).

trip leader

Expert Trip Leader(s) who look after your every need and add meaning to your vacation.

bike

Immaculately maintained bike with helmet, suited to a terrain.

shuttle

A Van support that follows the group of riders and carries all belongings.

meals

Meals as per itinerary. Guests are given the opportunity to dine on their own so that they discover a location independently.

refreshments

Refreshments and mineral water while cycling.

entrance

Entrance fees to most of the monuments and temples.

E-bikes

E-bikes are available on this trip at a surcharge. Please send a note to your tour consultant to book one.

Bikes

When you have a road and the thrill of a journey ahead of you, it’s imperative to have a good bike to enjoy it. Our fleet majorly consist of the below bikes as a part of this tour. However, sometimes due to height or availability constraints, we may provide a different but similar quality bike.

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Trek Marlin 5

mountain

Included in your trip price

Bike Image

Specialized Rockhopper

mountain

Included in your trip price

Weather

Like most tropical regions, Vietnam has hot summers, mild pleasant winters, and an extremely wet rainy season. Being located in the northern hemisphere, the best season for cycling in Vietnam is generally from September to May, with regional variations as described below:

North Vietnam – Hanoi and Halong Bay: The cycling tour season in this region runs from October to May. December and January can be cold with occasional rainfall. May to October is hot, with heavy rain in the months of August and September.

Coastal Vietnam – Hue to Nha Trang: Coastal Vietnam is a narrow crescent-like coastal strip that is at times only 60 km wide. As a result, it experiences coastal weather phenomena such as high rainfall and occasional typhoons during the wet season that runs from September to December. Travelers during this season should be prepared for last-minute changes to the itinerary. The Best season to visit this region is from January to September with the average temperature hovering around 30°C.

South Vietnam – Saigon and Mekong Delta: South Vietnam is a year-round cycling destination because of its pleasant tropical climate. April and May can be hot, but for the rest of the year, the temperature hovers around 30°C. There is moderate rainfall from May to early November but it settles soon, leaving the weather cool and the countryside lush. November to February is the best time for cycling in South Vietnam with warm weather, clear blue skies, and a light ocean breeze blowing in from the Pacific.

Visa

Residents from a number of countries have visa exemption status for tourist visits to Vietnam. For a full list of up-to-date visa-exempt countries, see the Vietnam Foreign Affairs website.

e-Visa – The ‘e-visa’ process is newer and more streamlined. You can apply for an e-visa through the government website, then, once approved, simply print it out and present it upon arrival in Vietnam. The additional benefit of the e-visa is that it's valid at land borders, not just airports. The processing time ranges from 2 to 7 working days. We recommend applying 2 weeks in advance to avoid unexpected delays. Read more about tourist e-visas for Vietnam at the Vietnam Immigration portal and apply there.

While applying online for an approval letter, please ensure that you have the following documents:

  • Passport scanned copy: A scanned copy of your passport - front (main) page. It shouldn't be a mobile photo or a photo taken from a laptop. Strictly scanned copy done through a computer scanner.
  • Passport size photo: portrait photo (4*6 size, colored photo, white background, straight looking without glasses). A photo taken from a mobile or laptop may or may not work, so I would strictly advise getting one made through a nearby photo studio (retail shop) that specializes in taking photos for visas.

Here is an excellent resource on Vietnam visas that may be worth looking at.

Exclusions

Airport pickup and drop

We recommend to book direclty from airport or hotel.

meals

Some meals may not be included. Please check your itinerary.

Beverages

Beverages such as alcohol, tea, coffee, juice at a hotel or restaurant.

Reviews from our friends

Kathryn H from UK

5.0

We really enjoyed the trip!

We really enjoyed the trip. We combined two trips so we did an extended tour of Vietnam and Cambodia with a few different guides -each time they were local people with good English and excellent knowledge of the areas we were cycling through. The main sites were covered well but it is the cycling through rural areas with local guides that were by far the best part of the trip- we saw some amazing things that are not on the tourist trail. We always felt very well supported and looked after by the guides and the drivers and the hotels were very good. Excellent. Thank you.

Susan Cadenhead from NZ

5.0

Highly recommend

The guides were exceptional. Saw things I know most tourists don’t. Very organised. Tony was was so considerate and aware of our capabilities. Jock our driver was so very capable and made us feel safe. It seemed he was always just around the corner. Highly recommend.

End of reviews