+61 (0) 447 898 766 | +84 (0) 933 898 766
info@greatvietnambikeride.com
An unforgettable charity cycling trip from the North to South of Vietnam, supporting the Saigon Children’s Charity Cycling through Vietnam is one of the best ways to explore this mesmerising country.
Cycling provides the opportunities to meet the locals and experience their culture in a way that would not otherwise be possible. Even better, you will be helping the most disadvantaged children in Vietnam receive a decent education – eliminating them from the cycle of poverty.
So come with us, and get active as we travel from the North to the South (from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh) down country lanes, past stunning beaches and over spectacular mountain passes. And all that exercise gives you the perfect excuse to indulge in the delicious Vietnamese cuisine! HighLights A welcome Gala Dinner – Degustation style, with 20 signature courses. 15-minute scenic flight over Ha Long Bay.
Overnight luxury cruise in Ha Long Bay. This two-wheeled adventure will show you all the different aspects of this country – natural landscapes, small villages, amazing food, ancient ruins, along with the region’s liveliest cities. End the bike riding with a hot spring retreat. Visit a shelter sponsored by the Saigon Children’s Charity. Gala Dinner at the conclusion of the tour.
Destination: Hanoi – Halong – Hue – Hoi An – Quang Ngai – Tuy Hoa – Nha Trang – Saigon
Duration: 14 Days/13 Nights
Cycling distance estimate: 400 km
Grade: Moderate
Period: 2017-2018
Time: Year-round
Brief Itinerary:
Day 1 – Hanoi – Arrival
Day 2: Hanoi – Halong – Scenic Halong Bay seaplane (weather permit)
Day 3: Halong – Hanoi
Day 4: Hanoi – Night train to Dong Hoi
Day 5: Dong Hoi – Phong Nha
Day 6: Phong Nha – DMZ – Hue
Day 7: Hue
Day 8: Hue – Haivan pass – Hoian
Day 9: Hoian – Free
Day 10: Hoi An – Quang Ngai
Day 11: Quang Ngai – Tuy Hoa
Day 12: Tuy Hoa – Nha Trang – Flight to Saigon
Day 13: Saigon – Mekong exploration – visit to SCC – Gala Dinner
Day 14: Saigon – Departure
Location: Hanoi
Xin Chao! Welcome to Vietnam.
On arrival at bustling Hanoi airport, The Great Vietnam Bike Ride Team will greet you. You will then be transferred to our hotel where you will be able to relax before enjoying a special Welcome Dinner
Location: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay
This morning, enjoy an International Buffet Breakfast.
We will then check out and make our way to the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Ha Long Bay. This is truly one of the most exquisite locations in the world!
On arrival, we will be greeted with welcome drinks before having an authentic Vietnamese buffet lunch on the exotic Emeraude Cruise. You’ll even get the once in a lifetime chance to enjoy a 25-minute scenic flight over the spectacular Ha Long Bay (weather permitting).
In the afternoon, you can enjoy one of the many exciting activities such as visiting the stunning Sung Sot cave, energetic kayaking or visiting a pearl farm.
In the evening, a European-style buffet will be served. After dinner, you might like to try your hand at squid fishing or just relax with a few drinks by the bar, drinking in the stunning views.
Location: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi
Wake up today and enjoy the breathtaking sunrise over Ha long Bay. After breakfast, we continue exploring the sights of Ha Long Bay. We then return to port, say farewell to Ha Long Bay and make our way back to Hanoi.
Location: Hanoi – Dong Hoi
After breakfast, we will explore the bustling city of Hanoi. We will visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Ethnic Museum, the historical Old Quarter and walk along the city’s lung – Hoan Kiem lake, before enjoying a traditional Vietnamese Water Puppet show. In the evening, we take the night train to Dong Hoi. Overnight on the train
Location: Dong Hoi – Phong Nha
Ride Length: 65 – 80km
Road conditions: paved road, some uphill (less than 5%)
On arrival to Dong Hoi city in the morning, The Great Vietnam Bike Ride Team will provide your GT Mountain Bike and helmet. Let the cycling adventure begin! We will be cycling off towards Phong Nha National Park. Lunch enroute.
On arrival to Phong Nha, we will take a relaxing boat cruise up the Son river to visit Phong Nha water cave, nestled in the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park and listed as a UNESCO world heritage site since 2003. The cave is a part of the Cave Kingdom which was filmed by National Geographic in Jan 2011. Hollywood film “Kong – Skull Island” shot in the area in 2016. Dinner and relaxing night night at the resort in Phong Nha.
Location: Phong Nha – Ho Chi Minh Trail – DMZ – Hue
Ride Length: Approx. 90km
Road conditions: paved road, some uphill (less than 5%)
After Breakfast the bus transfers us about 1.5 hours to the starting point of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The Ho Chi Minh Trail facilitated the movement of soldiers and war supplies from North Vietnam to battlefields in South Vietnam.
Pay your respects with a visit to the National War Cemetery – home to over 10,000 soldiers killed during the war along Ho Chi Minh trail. Pedal along the country roads through the rubber plantations, stop for a break under the shadows of the rubber trees.
Continue cycling on to the 17th Parallel – Ben Hai river, DMZ of Vietnam from 1954-1972. Lunch en route. More uphills and downhills on the single road. We will stop at the Vinh Moc tunnel – known as the legendary “Underground city” during the war in Vietnam. Local people stayed underground for nearly 2,000 days without sunlight in order to remain in their homeland. There were 17 children born during that time, all of them underground. After, you will be transferred to Hue for the night
Location: Hue
Ride Length: 30km
Today we will be cycling around the imperial city, Hue. We will visit Hue Citadel – homed to 13 Emperors of Nguyen Dynasty, the last Feudal dynasty in Vietnam. Thien Mu pagoda – one of the iconic symbol of the city will be the next stop to know why Hue also called “the land of peace”.
Later, a short boat ride over Perfume river to take you to the other side of the Citadel, where most of the tombs of the Nguyen’s Kings located. Visit Tu Duc Emperor’ tomb to get more information about the Royal life before heading back the city and enjoy an organic coffee while watching the local people with their own lifestyle. Back the hotel for your free at leisure
Location: Hue – Hoi An
Ride Length: 90km
Leaving Hue city, cycling off-road into the villages and through Tam Giang lagoon, the biggest lagoon in Southeast Asia. When we reach the highway the bus will transfer us to Lang Co beach for lunch on the beach.
After lunch, we ride along the Lap An lagoon, also known as “the Venice of Vietnam” before climbing 7 miles and descending 7 miles along the Hai Van mountain pass. Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear praised it as “a deserted ribbon of perfection — one of the best coastal roads in the world!” We will stop to take photos and have some ice-cream on the summit. Now enjoy the thrilling descent with spectacular views of the modern beach city of Danang before transferring to Hoi An ancient town for night.
Location: Hoi An
It’s free at leisure today for whom wants to take the day off of shopping, cooking or drinking or spa or keep cycling.
Hoi An is a destination with two faces – the charming, old-world trading port of narrow streets and traditional houses, and the beach with its new resorts and a long stretch of clean white sand. In keeping with Hoi An’s heritage as a trading port, the town’s tiny shophouses now host a range of craft shops and artisans, including some of Asia’s best bespoke tailors. It was listed as a UNESCO site in Dec 1999. Being such an idyllic destination, it is certainly worth protecting for years to come!
Location: Hoi An – Quang Ngai
Ride Length: 70km
Today we ride along the majestic coastline where we will stop at Son My (also known as the hamlet of My Lai). We will visit a memorial for the villagers who were killed during the Vietnam War. The My Lai site is a small rural settlement, surrounded by simple thatched huts, quilted rice paddies and farmers with conical hats going about their day-to-day routines. We continue to cycle to Quang Ngai where we will enjoy dinner at the hotel after our long ride.
Location: Quang Ngai – Tuy Hoa
Ride Length: 50km
Today we travel by bus for two hours to reach our start destination. We will pedal along quiet roads rarely visited by tourists. After 50-60km cycling, you will be transferring by vehicle to Tuy Hoa
Location: Tuy Hoa – Nha Trang – Saigon
Ride Length: 40km
We depart from the hotel for a 20km ride past a network of lush rice fields, which blanket the valley. We make our way along the hidden Ho Chi Minh Trail to the historical Vung Ro bay. We celebrate your adventure cycling with a fresh coconut juice from a local vendor in the middle of the mountain overlooking to the ocean of Nha Trang.
Lunch is in Nha Trang with the complementary hot spring retreat to re-fuel your energy before boarding the night flight to Saigon
Location: Saigon – Meekong Delta – Saigon
Today, we go on a day tour to the Mekong Delta where we will visit the floating market. In the afternoon, we return to Saigon before we have a Gala Dinner
Today, you have free leisure time to enjoy your final day in Vietnam. You might like to do some last minute shopping or just drink in the stunning locale. In the evening our team will take you the airport where we will farewell you
We have tailored this experience for all bike-riding abilities so we have the accompanying bus should your legs tire. Cycling is such a special way to enjoy the many wonders of Vietnam; we know this will be a life-changing and unique experience you will relive in your memory for the rest of your life.
