HANOI TO SAIGON

PEDALLING IN CENTRAL VIETNAM

Vietnam is truly a multi-sport country. It’s geography is incredibly diverse, with expansive mountain ranges and magnificent Halong Bay in the north, flatter areas in the center that include pristine beaches and multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the charming rural countryside of the mighty Mekong Delta in the south.

In this 12 days cycling tour you will visit Hanoi and explore deeply the center of Vietnam. The central region of the country has a sleepy, charming atmosphere. It’s here that several World Heritage Sites and incredible cultural relics can be discovered, from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park to Hoi An Ancient Town, the My Son Sanctuary and the Complex of Hue Monuments, and you will through this exiting cycling trip. What makes this region and tour so great and perfect: Thanks to its flatter topography, the center of Vietnam is perfect for cycling, allowing to explore various areas easily by bicycle and accessing to remote and unique places. Roads vary from tarred to off-road dirt paths that meander through villages. You will visit some small cities like Hoi An and Hue which have a unique charm and are easily explored on walking or cycling and thanks to their colorful facades and quaint architecture make a wonderful photo opportunities along the way. It’s a diverse region in of itself, with mountains, caves, cities, coastal scenery and lagoons.

Itinerary

OVERVIEW

To	Vietnam
Length	11 nights/ 12 days
Start	Day 1 (with arrival in Hanoi)
Finish	Day 12 (departure Danang airport)
Type	Good for Individuals, Small Groups, / possible to privatize the tour. Precisely For people who practice sport all year long and like cycling but also visiting different cultural sights and interact with locals.
Skill	3 ?
Route	HANOI - PHONG NHA - HUE - HOI AN - MY SON
Season	Best time From January to May – possible June, July August but is pretty hot and humid. From October to December is the raining season not suggested.

HIGHLIGHTS

An in-depth and enlightening tour of Hanoi’s main cultural attractions.
An exploration of the beautiful Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Historical insights into the Vietnam War, including a visit to the Vinh Moc tunnels, meeting a Viet Cong veteran couple on their local farm and more.
A discovery of Hue’s impressive historical monuments, quaint architecture and picturesque landscapes.
The privilege of interaction with warm and welcoming local people in their private homes.
Visit the largest lagoon in Southeast Asia and cycle one of the most breathtaking coastal mountain roads in the world, the Hai Van Pass.
Soak up the timeless atmosphere of Hoi An’s charming Old Town.
Explore the My Son sanctuary, the most important Cham archaeological site in Vietnam.

SKETCH ITINERARY

Day 1:	Arrive at Hanoi International Airport, travel to your hotel. In the late afternoon meet your guide and enjoy a welcome dinner. Overnight Hanoi
Day 2:	Hanoi – Walking tour in Hanoi, visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature and the famous Old Quarter. In the evening, have dinner in a local restaurant before heading to the railway station for the night train to Dong Hoi.
Day 3:	Dong Hoi to Phong Nha – meet the guide and transfer to your hotel – explore Phong Nha national park and its caves by foot. Overnight Phnog Nha
Day 4:	Phong Nha – start your cycling tour and explore this incredible National park by bike, cycling on unpaved roads and paths, crossing many rice fields and valleys. Overnight Phnog Nha
Day 5:	Phong Nha – Hue – Travel to the starting point and start cycling toward south in the direction to Hue. During this days you will visit some monuments about the Vietnam wars such as the Vinh Moc tunnel. Overnigh Hue
Day 6:	Hue – discover Heu by bicycle, today will be a very interesting day in which you will visit various cultural sights such Imperial Citadel, Tu Duc Tomb and interact with the local people. Overnight Hue
Day 7:	Hue - Tam Giang Lagoon – today will be more about nature and open landscapes. You will cycling in the countryside to discover the Tam Giang Lagoon. Overnight Hue
Day 8:	Hue – Lang Co / Cycle from the hotel along the village road and discover another site of the Hue countryside pedaling through various local villages with beautiful traditional architecture. Overnight Lang Co
Day 9:	Lang Co - Hai Van Pass - Hoi An // today is the most exciting and challenging day. You will cycling first along the Lap An Lagoon before starting to climb the Hai Van Pass, a scenic costal mountain road with an elevation of 500 meters. Overnight Hoi An
Day 10:	Hoi An – pleasant cycling day discovering Hoi An and its surroundings. Overnight Hoi An.
Day 11:	Hoi An – My Son – Today you will explore the Hoa An countryside cycling toward My Son sanctuary: the most important Cham archaeological site in central Vietnam. Overnight Hoi An
Day 12:	Hoi An – Danang Airport - Departure

Need a detailed itinerary? Write to us at info@offbeat.travel

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1 Relaxed :	Some physical stamina necessary, mostly relaxed pace of activity
2 Easy :	Up to 3 hours of (generally easy) physical activity a day
3 Moderate :	3 to 5 hours of activity a day and/or elevation gain, higher altitude, longer distance, uneven terrain.
4 Challenging :	5 to 7 hours of sustained physical activity, good levels of fitness and technical ability required.
5 Extreme :	More than 7 hours of activity and/or involving high levels of technical ability and stamina. Involves long days and distances, extended camping, high altitude or ascent for extensive days.