Cycling Vietnam’s Central Coast
- Trip Style:
Vietnam
10 days | 9 nights
Hue, Lang Co, Hoi An, My Son, Quang Ngai, Qui Nhon, Tuy Hoa, Whale Island, Nha Trang
On this 10 day coastal Vietnam bike tour, capture an unforgettable snapshot of Vietnam’s shoreline, challenge yourself with scenic climbs, and explore a side of Vietnam unseen by most. Cycle central Vietnam’s iconic sandy-white beaches framed by coconut palms, with the sails of junks and sampans floating on the emerald green horizon of the South China Sea. The narrowest section of this unconditionally friendly country holds an incredible number of sights to feast your eyes on, making your ride worth the effort!
Tackle the twists and turns of the Hai Van Pass and reward yourself with a view of the Marble Mountains, a haunting spot created by a cluster of 5 elemental rocks. Bike past the paddy fields of Hoi An to encounter scenes of Vietnamese rural life. Observe the planting and harvesting techniques passed down through generations that are nearly as old as the Truong Son peaks of the area flowing down into the sea.
Remote, scenic backroads snake us through tribal and Viet villages before throwing us out onto the Hon Gom peninsular road. Here, the dazzling shore is broken up by wild sand dunes and beautiful rocky promontories jutting out into the water. And get away from it all to unwind and enjoy the seclusion of Whale Island for a well-deserved rest at journey’s end.
Trip Highlight
- Visit Hue is the old capital of the Nguyen Dynasty
- Mini mausoleums, pagodas, and war memorials, Phuoc Tuong Hill and Lang Co Beach
- A well-preserved Ancient Town, Hoi An
- Quy Nhon, a coastal city in Bình Định province in central Vietnam
- Danang and Nha Trang with its beautiful coastlines
Inclusions
We start are bicycle tour in Vietnam by meeting in Hue (you can fly to Hue from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi – SpiceRoads can arrange these internal flights). Hue is the old capital of the Nguyen Dynasty. It is worth arriving in the morning, so you have time to explore this wonderfully historic city. If you arrive in time, we offer a city tour by bike. Alternatively, you can fly into Danang and transfer up to Hue (transfer can be arranged at an additional cost).
Emm Hotel
Dinner
We leave Hue and follow the coast as we pass roads shaded by coconut palms, and dunes scattered with mini mausoleums, pagodas, and war memorials. We ride to Phuoc Tuong Hill and then transfer the final 40 km to Lang Co Beach. Here we have lunch and the rest of the day is free to enjoy the resort and beach.
Lang Co Beach Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 65km
Today is a tough start as we have Hai Van Pass to climb today, which is a 10-km climb and ascends 550 m. It is a gradual climb with many switchbacks, and once at the top, you get superb views, well worth the ride. The reward is a downhill to Danang, our destination for lunch. After lunch. We have a flat and very scenic ride to Hoi An. It is just a short distance to the Marble Mountains, an outcrop of five rocks said to represent the five elements, (Wood, Water, Metal, Fire, and Earth). We then visit Da Nang beach, formerly named China Beach, made famous by the American TV series “China Beach”. After a brief stop at the beach, we continue down this country road to Hoi An. The town was known as Faifo to early western traders and was one of Southeast Asia’s major trading ports during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was an important point of call for Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese traders, and the architecture reflects its cosmopolitan past. More than anywhere in Vietnam, Hoi An retains the feel of the past with over 844 structures of historical significance, and most people spend the day wandering around and enjoying the sights and atmosphere.
Pho Hoi Riverside
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 55km
Staying another night in Hoi An, we ride out on small village roads on our way to visit My Son, the ancient centre of the Cham ivilization. The ride is worth the effort and is arguably one of the best of the trip. We cycle along scenic country backroads past paddy fields, passing through secluded villages tucked away in this beautiful area, far off from the tourist track. Eventually, we arrive at My Son, which was once Champa’s greatest city. Although many of the temples were destroyed by American bombs, there is still enough of the archaeological site to impress most visitors. We take lunch before spending the afternoon visiting the site. In the afternoon, we transfer by bus back to Hoi An. Dinner is on your own tonight so get adventurous and try the delicious Vietnamese food Hoi An’s markets have to offer!
Pho Hoi Riverside
Breakfast, Lunch
Ride 55km
In the morning, we have a pleasant ride from Hoi An to Tam Thanh to enjoy the beach and lunch. We then transfer and spend the afternoon at My Lai, where we have a climb to an old temple to visit the memorial and museum. Here we have a guided tour learn about this site of one of the worst massacres of the American War. We then transfer to our hotel.
Central Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 50km
We leave early for the journey to Qui Nhon, the capital city of Binh Dinh province, an American port and supply centre during the Vietnam War and refuge for thousands of Vietnamese fleeing the vicious bombing of the countryside. After we transfer 2.5 hours, we hop on our bikes continue riding toward Quy Nhon. Today’s ride is a treat and is one of the most scenic, through rolling coastal line, rice paddy fields, salt making flats, fishing villages, and mountainous areas. We end the day with a short transfer to your hotel in Quy Nhon.
Royal Hotel Quy Nhon
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 70km
We transfer out of town to avoid the main highway and start riding at Dieu Tri along a remote but well surfaced road running alongside the railway. The terrain is gently rolling, with beautiful views of the highland foothills. We pass a mix of tribal and Viet villages. Ubiquitous potbellied pigs and barefoot children trot across your trail. Soon, we loop back to the main highway with a small climb and descent to finish the ride. We then transfer about one hour to Tuy Hoa, one of the most rural regions in Vietnam.
Kaya Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 80km
Today is the last cycling day and is perhaps the most memorable. We ride from our hotel, and after the first 20 km the scenery becomes very beautiful with looming mountains and a network of lush rice paddies across the valley. Prepare for a brutal hill today as we cycle to Vung Ro Bay and up the challenging Ca Pass. We are rewarded with jungle and bay views and stop for pictures at Vung Ro Bay before pushing through the last 3km and to the top of Ca Pass (10% grade). We make our way to Dai Lanh Beach, where we stop for refreshments and a swim for those who don’t mind getting their bike shorts wet, then transfer to Dam Mon. We may have the option to bike to Dam Mon if the traffic and dust conditions allow. The scenery here is like a moonscape and unlike anything else we have seen on the tour. Here, we swap bikes for boats and head to Whale Island for some well-deserved R&R. The boat journey will take about 10 minutes and we stay at the secluded Whale Island resort for two nights.
Whale Island Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 58km
Today is a free day on Whale Island. You can take the opportunity to relax by the beach or perhaps do some snorkeling or scuba diving. We will all meet in the evening for a farewell dinner.
Whale Island Resort
Breakfast, Dinner
We transfer back to the mainland and then onto Nha Trang for any onward connections. We can assist those looking to stay longer or Whale Island or around Nha Trang with hotel and travel arrangements. Alternatively, for those who want to bike more in Vietnam, we have a four-day mountain bike trip in Dalat or a five-day trip to the Mekong Delta. Please ask for our itineraries.
Additional Information
Similar Trip
The Mekong, Southeast Asia’s longest river, is the lifeblood of southern Vietnam and Cambodia. Its floodplains harbor a cycling paradise, from the braided waterways and lush greenery of the Mekong Delta to the endless rice paddies and heritage sites of rural Cambodia. On this 9-day bike tour, we explore the lifeways, histories, and cuisines spanning the lower reaches of the Mekong as we connect the electrifying modern city of Saigon with the venerable ancient temples of Angkor.
We meet in Ho Chi Minh City (a.k.a Saigon) and head south into the heart of the Mekong Delta, spending three days cycling on quiet backcountry roads in a serene world of coconut farms and rice fields. We rattle over small bridges or hop on local ferries to cross rivers. We also spend time on the water, delving into the aquatic commercial frenzy of Vietnam’s largest floating market at Cai Rang and cruising up the Mekong River on a speedboat to reach Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. From here we head north, layering our tires with grit from the Kingdom’s notorious red-dirt roads, to reach the sleepy backwater town of Kampong Thom and the ancient, jungle-covered ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk. And finally we arrive in Siem Reap where, riding on paths perfect for mountain biking, we’ll explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed, majestic temples of the once-glorious Khmer Empire, including, of course Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. The tour ends in Siem Reap.
9 days | 8 nights
Saigon, Tra Vinh, Can tho, Chau Doc, Phnom Penh, Kampong Thom, Siem Reap
The mighty Mekong spreads into tentacles and tributaries in southern Vietnam, making the delta fertile and the region one of Vietnam’s highest producers of rice, vegetables, and fruits. Cycling through rice paddies, orchards, along and over a myriad of small irrigation canals will let you see this unique area of Vietnam.
We ride from village to village, boarding a few boats along the way, to give you an up-close perspective of Vietnamese life on the river. We stay with locals, learn about their way of life, and enjoy a home-cooked meal they prepare for us. We stop to shop and take in the colorful Cai Rang floating market before heading back to Saigon. This Mekong Delta bicycle tour is perfect for someone wanting to venture off the tourist track and into authentic Vietnam!
4 days | 3 nights
Ho Chi Minh City, Cai Be, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Can Tho, Saigon