Vietnam - Hanoi to Saigon (12 days)

Vietnam as a country has now become so much a part of Western culture. Originating from the war days, now so many people have a link to Vietnam through social contacts, work contacts or commercial trade for which this country of 80-something million people is well known.

Those who have travelled here speak of a stunning and diverse geography of towering mountains, picturesque coastline and endless green rice fields. They speak of the naturally friendly people, of the delicious cuisine and of the intrigue at such a long culture of independence and national pride.

Our bike trip is the best of all these aspects of Vietnam. We take a classic cycling route between the commercial hub of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and the capital of Hanoi. We then Grasshopper-ize it by traveling on the most charming back road and trails to see the real countryside and not just the highway countryside. With very minimal driving and maximum cycling, this is a truly unique cycling trip. We took months to map out our route, so that you can take just twelve days to see the coast of this amazing country.

With many kilometres of stunning beaches and dramatic coastal roads as well as some of the freshest seafood going this trip is an indulgent experience. We are never far from a beach and stay in comfortable hotels to make this trip one of our most cushy adventure tours.

Day 1 | Saigon - We meet in the bustling commercial capital of Vietnam. We'll head out and explore the culinary side to the city this evening and have a group briefing on the trip ahead.

Day 2 | Quy Nhon - after a morning flight to Quy Nhon, we spend the afternoon exploring this pleasant seaside town and learning about the work of a dedicated lady who has single handedly established a centre to provide vocational training for young, disabled Vietnamese.

Days 3-5 | Cycling to Hoi An - We cycle some coastal roads along some simply stunning coastline as we work our way up through Quang Ngai, Tam Ky and into the world heritage listed, old port-town of Hoi An. Along the way we will experience deserted beaches, fresh seafood and some more sombre reminders of the war that was one of many defining moments in Vietnam's long history.

Days 6-7 | Hoi An - There are few places in Indochina that offer an experience on par with Hoi An. The intriguing, photogenic old town, the picturesque surrounding countryside and a beautiful beach where you can sit and sip a coconut. We spend two whole days here, during which we will explore all this on foot and by bike and also have some free time to relax and possibly have a garment or two made by Hoi An's world-famous tailors.

Days 8-9 | Cycle to Hue - We take two days to cycle to the last Imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue. After riding around the edge of the booming Danang City, we take the challenging, but breathtaking climb up Hai Van Pass, the subsequent descent and a night at one of the quietest, most charming beaches in Vietnam, Lang Co. Our last long day of riding takes us along the coastal back-roads through small fishing communities to Hue.

Day 10 | Explore Hue - We explore Hue by bike and aside from the most well known sites of the Forbidden City and Tu Duc's Tomb, we will take in some lesser known ones, to get a full picture of this much visited, but under explored city.

Days 11-12 | Finish in Hanoi - We take a morning flight to Hanoi. In the afternoon we walk the streets of this buzzing city with its constant clash of new and old and the continuing theme of good, plentiful food. We then celebrate the end of our adventure over dinner before our farewell the

Facts and Information

Style - fully supported cycling  
Inclusions - support vehicle, local guides, tour leader, most meals, entry fees
Group Size - minimum 2, maximum 14  
Accommodation - 10 nights comfortable hotel, 1 night guesthouse
Meals Included - 11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners
Days Cycling - 7
Kilometres Cycled - approx 490km
Difficulty - moderate (customer rating: 3.2 out of 5 - the hardest being 5)
Bikes not included - bring your own or rent a quality mountain bike for US$140
Cycling Conditions Cycling Conditions - We cycle on well-made back roads for most of this tour. There are some short sections on well-surfaced dirt roads. This is a generally flat ride apart from Hai Van Pass and some undulating coastal roads.

Operated by Grasshopper Adventures - trip code GHVC07

Departures: November through to June , and August