Saigon to Hanoi Express

We start with a flight from Saigon to Da Nang and then transfer by private van to the central coast town of Tam Ky. Arriving just before lunch, the afternoon is free to rest, adjust and maybe explore this town where tourists are a rarity. We stay this evening in a pleasant small scale hotel. Meals: D

The cycling starts with one of the highlight days of riding. We start with a visit to a fresh market where the fish come straight out of the South China Sea and into the baskets of this small market. As you are interested in their fish, the vendors will be just as interested in you and will be more than happy to pose for a photo, a real novelty in this well off the beaten path location. We ride dirt roads through sleepy fishing villages with friendly faces popping out to say hello. We then take a boat ride to reach Hoi An, a fitting way to enter this ancient port town. Meals: BLD

An early start today takes us inland from Hoi An into the low hills of the hinterland. We ride on country trails through cornfields and small communities and by late morning reach the Cham Towers of My Son. This impressive collection of clay towers that still stand somewhat intact are the remnants of the once mighty Kingdom of Champa, a Hindu cultural group who ruled the southern coast of what is now Vietnam. After some time exploring the ruins, we have a bite to eat, then return to Hoi An where you can spend the afternoon exploring this heritage listed town. Hoi An has a long history dating back as far as the first century but is known mostly for its role as a trading port for Chinese and Japanese sea merchants during the 17th and 18th centuries. The beauty of the town was miraculously spared the damage that many towns suffered during the American-Vietnam war and today Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed town that cannot be compared to anywhere else in Indochina. It is an intriguing, photogenic old town, located just a short distance from a beautiful beach where you can sit and sip a coconut. Meals: BL

Today is the most scenic day of the ride as we ride through Danang and then climb Hai Van Pass, a 10 km long, winding road on a gradient averaging 5.8%. At the top, we enjoy some amazing views over the coast before we take the thrilling descent into the charming beachside town of Lang Co. Our resort this evening is right on the long beach with white powder sand. Meals: BLD

Cycle through small back roads to the last Imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue. Along the way, we pass many cemeteries as this is considered a suitable place for burial by the ocean with a mountain backdrop. In addition to graves, there are a number of memorials for those who, in attempting to flee after the fall of Southern Vietnam, were taken by the ocean. Relatives who resettled in other countries have since returned to construct these memorials. Meals: BLD

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. Meals: BL

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 delicious, plentiful food. The tour concludes at the door of your hotel. Meals: BL

Apart from a rather large hill (Hai Van Pass) the riding is achievable for anyone who rides regularly as a commuter or recreationally on the weekends. Most of the roads are paved back roads with minimal traffic. We encounter only a couple of dirt roads and these are not hard riding at all. There are often sea breezes to keep the temperature down a little. Hai Van Pass is a sustained climb of 10 km with a lovely descent of the same length immediately after. The gradient is not steep, and once you find a rhythm, it is actually an enjoyable ride with some great views. There are a few other small hills, but we always return to sea level, so the up is a nice trade-off for the down. There is a support vehicle on hand at all times so if you need a break or a lift up the hill just jump in the van and relax.

Being 1650 km from north to south Vietnam's seasons vary across the country, making it a year-round destination. This also means that you will probably encounter some rain if you are traveling extensively, regardless of your month of travel.

Northern Vietnam (Hanoi & Ha Giang) is cold in the winter months (Nov-Mar), and can be damp and misty, although there are also beautifully sunny days at this time of year.

The central region (Hoi An, Hue & Nha Trang) is wettest from September to December with occasional typhoons, which can occasionally disrupt travel.

The south experiences the regular Southeast Asian monsoon between June and October, with dry sunny weather from November to April. December and January are the coolest months with temperatures rising during April and May leading to the onset of the rains.