Day by Day

Day 1: HaNoi to CucPhuong national park.

Day 2: CucPhuong to NinhBinh, on to YenCat.

Day 3: YenCat to PhoChau/HuongSon

Day 4: HuongSon to PhongNha.

Day 5: Around PhongNha & west branch Ho Chi Minh trail.

Day 6: PhongNha to Hue.

Day 7: Around Hue royal citadel.

Day 8: Hue to HoiAn.

Trip Description

• Distance of biking: ~ 860 km. (full time van support).
• Difficulty : Moderate with some challenge hills.
• Features: Limestone Karst mountain, CucPhuong park, PhongNha cave, former battle fields on Ho Chi Minh trail, World Heritage Sites, best coastal scenery.
• When to ride: November to May.

See below: Cycling from Hue to LangCo beach and to HaiVan pass to Danang and Hoian.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Hanoi – to CucPhuong National Park.

This morning we take a van transfer outside Hanoi to Luong Son. We start cycling 40 to ChoBen on Ho Chi Minh trail highway, then we turn off to Chine, this is a quiet road through scenic rice fields and Karst mountain area. We warm up our legs with good hill up to Cuc Phuong National Park for the evening.

Cycling distance : 80km – 95km (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 2 – CucPhuong National Park to NinhBinh and on to YenCat.

Wake up early for a jog around the park, or just listen to birds and the Gibbon at the Primate rescue centre nearby. Put on your tough suit today – Itʼs a long day, but we are well ready for it. We ride on a small broken tarmac road, which winds around the lime stone mountain ~ 10km through the buffer zone of CP Park. Make sure your tyres are thick enough for this road, slowdown and avoid the pot holes. We enjoy a down hill and nice country ride to TrangAn and on to TamCoc of NinhBinh town. We ride through the limestone mountains being in the film “Kong island”, then we have a lunch break at local restaurant.
In the afternoon we have a short transfer to LamSon. From here, we have a fast stage on smooth tarmac along the HCM highway to Yen Cat. Today offers some gentle hills, but not much climbing. We stay in YenCat town for the night.

Cycling distance 60 ~ 80km  (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 3 – YenCat to PhoChau

Today offers up to 180km of riding over four stages. We will see the sunrise from our saddles, starting the first stage to Nghia Dan. We slow down for the touring stage to Tan Ky, the start point of the historical Ho Chi Minh trail in the war time. It used to be the main junction of the supply line during the war. American aircraft heavily bombarded the area in repeated efforts to destroy the junction. We continue on to Tri Le and start a long stage to PhoChau. We break the distance into manageable segments with restful recovery stops.

Cycling distance: 100km ~ 180km. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 4 – PhoChau to PhongNha

We travel in the van, uphill for approximately one hour to Kheve junction. This is the famous intersection of the Ho Chi Minh trail and road No. 12 where east and west connect with the TruongSon mountain range. Khe Ve, CaTang, Khe Nung were fiercely bombed by the US Air Force from 1965 to 1973. The Front Command of Truong Son Troop Headquarters were located at Hoa Tien commune in 1965, 3km south of Khe Ve. This is a starting point of the petroleum pipe line, communication line and liaison line during the war time.

We take a fast stage 25km to Pheo, followed by 20km to Da Deo mountain pass, finally crossing over the Truong Son mountain range we have a wicked descent into Khe Gat (former airbase) where we have a picnic lunch break. During the afternoon we cycle to Xuan Son bridge (Xuan Son ferry was heavily bombed from 1965 to 1973). We keep on to PhongNha town for overnight.
Cycling distance: ~ 86km. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 5 – Around PhongNha & West branch of Ho Chi Minh trail

Relaxing day with sightseeing in PhongNha national park. We cycle on west branch of Ho Chi Minh trail, this is the most beautiful route of the trip. We ride to visit ThienDuong cave, time to explore the limestone cave. Then we ride down to TraAng intersection, a historical site during the war time. Connecting point with road 20 to Laos. Then we ride back to PhongNha. Please check with our guide for time enough to visit Suoi Nuoc Mooc, a cool place for swim, kayaking, zip-line jump, other water activities. Overnight in PhongNha.

Cycling distance: ~ 50km (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 6 – PhongNha to DMZ and to Hue

We have a flat to undulating day, with a quiet start inland on country roads for 24km through a scenic pine forest and eucalyptus plantation planted after the war time. After lunch it’s a fast blast along a smooth 11km to Ben Tat bridge (the old Ben Tat suspension bridge over Ben Hai river, parrallel 17th ), we pass by the Truong Son National Cemetery, (the cemetery for over 10,300 martyrs, mostly soldiers of Corp.559). We enjoy a fast stage of 20km to Cam Lo. From here, we turn to highway 9 for 15km to Dong Ha. Our van will pick up for transfer 1.5hours to Hue. If time permitting, we can have a visit to ancient PhuocTich village. Then we cycle along TamGiang lagoon to Hue.

Cycling distance:  70 ~ 160km in four stages. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 7 – Around Hue

Easy day for cycling around Hue Citadel and Royal King’s tomb. Visit the city Citadel, cycling along Perfume river to ThienMu pagoda, following up small road to KhaiDinh tomb, ThieuTri tomb and Tu Duc tomb. Back in town, we enjoy a promenade around the town with a stop over Hue’s sweet soup taste.

Cycling distance: ~ 50 km. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 8 – Hue to HoiAn

We cycle outside Hue followed by 30km on a quiet country road outside Hue. The first stages are fast over Phuoc Tuong Pass (4km +60m), and off highway again to LangCo beach. We take a lunch break at Lang Co beach before kicking the afternoon off with a 10km ride up the beautiful Haivan pass. We climb to the summit +496m, followed by a fun and furious 10km descent to Nam O beach. This is followed by a 50km touring stage to Hoian via Danang City. Farewell dinner in Hoian, then we enjoy a night walk around the ancient town.

Cycling distance: 100 ~ 160 km. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Price & What included

• 62.400.000 vnd /person ($US 2,600) (group of 2)
• 40.800.000 vnd /person ($US 1,700) (group of 4)
• 36.000.000 vnd /person ($US 1,500) (group of 6)
• 34.000.000 vnd /person ($US 1,400) (group of 8).

Single supplement: 9.000.000 vnd ($US 375).

Services included:

• All entrance fees for sightseeing.
• Transport: A/c bus support with snack, drinking water, towels.
• Accommodation twin / double room with bf.
• Meals full board : breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Meals: B,L,D as mentioned in program. Drinking water during trip.
• Guide: experienced cycling guide.

Not including:
Insurance, personal expenses, flight fares, bicycle rental.

Hotel list:

– CucPhuong national park guesthouse. Best room in the park.

– Nhu Xuan hotel : Basic hotel with aircond, hw room.

– PhoChau / HuongSon: PhoChau ***  aircond, hw room.

– PhongNha: Heritage by night *** http://phongnhatourism.com.vn/vi/khach-san-heritage-by-night/

– Hue: Eldora Hue **** http://eldorahotel.com/

– Hoian: Green Heaven Hoian **** http://hoiangreenheavenresort.com/

Please let us know if you need some night pre-tour in Hanoi, or extend nights in HoiAn. Our driver can pick you up at airport and transferred to Hanoi.

See other Cycling central Vietnam tours:

– Cycling central Vietnam coast – Best coastal scenery 6 days

– Cycling Hue to Hoian 2 days – World Heritage road.

– Cycling Cat Tien national park 2 days

– Cycling Cat Tien national park to Mui Ne beach 3 days