Vietnam: North to South Custom Cycling Adventure

You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure.

Your Cycle Vietnam tour begins in Hanoi, where you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the 11th century Temple of Literature and the city’s famous old quarter. You will then be driven from your hotel to Hanoi’s train station for an overnight train journey to the central city of Hue. The Soviet-style rail cars are a throwback to a time when Vietnam had a closer relationship with the Soviet Union.

In the morning, your train rolls into Hue, Vietnam’s former Imperial capital and a great place to learn about the powerful Nguyen Dynasty. The tour includes stops at an imperial citadel, an emperor’s mausoleum and Thien Mu Pagoda, the tallest such structure in Vietnam. It was here, on the banks of Hue’s Perfume River, that the Nguyens surveyed their kingdom.

Challenge yourself by cycling to the top of the Hai Van Pass, which peaks at about 500 metres above sea level. Either way, you will arrive by late afternoon in Hoi An, a restored ancient fishing town. Many of Hoi An’s colourful old buildings have been lovingly refurbished, and the town now has a vintage vibe.

Today, the choice is yours! Pop into the tailors and have a new outfit whipped up, take part in a cooking class or spend the day relaxing on the beach working on your tan.

Board a mid-morning bus, and after arriving in a village, cycle to the village of My Lai. Here you will find a stark, concrete memorial for villagers who died in a 1968 massacre by American troops. After an American journalist uncovered the massacre, it reverberated through American society and aided the anti-war movement.

Today you will cycle inland past villages, bridges and forests. The road grows steeper as you near Vietnam’s Central Highlands, the centre of the country’s coffee industry and the home of several ethnic minority groups. The cooler air and mountainous scenery is a sharp contrast to flatter, hotter provinces.

This day of cycling passes tea plantations and ethnic minority villages. After climbing a few hills, rest in Buon Me Thuot, Vietnam’s coffee capital. Vietnam is among the largest coffee exports in the world by volume, and the country’s signature robusta beans are notoriously strong. Beware the caffeine rush!

Ride through mountain scenery toward Dalat, a hill town and a favourite destination of many Vietnamese honeymooners. The scenery along the way is simply breathtaking as you arrive in Dalat in the late afternoon.

Cycle around Dalat and visit Emperor Bao Dai’s Summer Palace, Xuan Huong Lake and a vibrant local market. The emperor came here to escape the heat of Hue, and it’s easy to see why. Take in the sights and sounds of this relaxed mountain retreat.

Cruise downhill to coastal Nha Trang, one of Vietnam’s most popular beach destinations. Pass through minority villages before you reach kilometres of pristine beaches. Once a base and air training centre for troops during the Vietnam War, the city is now full of glittering hotels and weekenders from Ho Chi Minh City.

Take a complete break from cycling! Nha Trang is an ideal spot for swimming, snorkelling or just reading a book. Your tired limbs will thank you.

Hop a morning flight to Vietnam’s commercial hub, Ho Chi Minh City. Spend the afternoon visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, a colonial-era post office, the presidential palace and a museum about the Vietnam War. The city, formerly called Saigon, reflects the pulse of a changing Vietnam. Trendy cocktail lounges are found alongside ramshackle noodle stands, and Rolls Royces share the road with hundreds of scooters whizzing by.

Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground complex that sheltered Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam War. The cramped tunnels were central to a few of the war’s strategic operations, including the famous 1968 Tet Offensive. Discover the remains of an American tank and some craters left by American B52 bombers. This tour can be emotionally draining for some visitors, but it offers a fascinating window into the hardship and traumas of war.

Today is yours to plan. Savour a few last hours in Ho Chi Minh City before boarding your onward flight.