Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
We had an excellent tour guide: helpful, informed, receptive and with a good sense of humour. Most of the hotels were excellent....some slightly less so (Nha Trang for example). The service on the trip was exceptional. The support team of transport, bag carriage and a cycle mechanic were also excellent. Vietnam is fascinating and being on bikes we saw all aspects of the country. We saw its beauty, we saw the industry and pride of its people who were universally very welcoming. We also saw all sorts of things normal tourists, arriving in a large group with little language ability, would not be able to see. Some of the best things were stops in markets, or by rice fields, or at very basic homes or cafes. We saw a lot and visited a lot of different places: a 'grand tour' if you can do such a thing on bikes! The country certainly has issues, in my opinion, with rapid over-development (in the south particularly) with endless giant resorts half finished, being built or built and empty. It also needs to address the issue of litter. It is not alone in facing these issues! I am also certain it has the ability and determination to address them.
If you are a true explorer who loves cycling and cooking and are keen to experience life in the countryside of Vietnam, then this tour to Thanh Toan village should be on your “must-visit” list. Explore the peaceful village of Thanh Toan through a number of guided activities including biking, farming, fishing and a cooking class. Take this opportunity to learn about the local life, culture and people of Vietnam and Hue.
8 am: Your guide will meet you to bike to Thanh Toan Village where the famous “Thanh Toan Tiled Roof Bridge” is located. On the way, revel in the views of the bustling morning local market, green rice fields, majestic family temples and local people winding through zigzagging village paths.
9:15 am: Arrive at our Thanh Toan Eco Home for a short rest and welcome drink. Walk or bike along the canal and stop by the local market and mingle with the farmers. Cross Thanh Toan Tile Roof Bridge – a truly unique ancient bridge in Vietnam – and visit Thanh Toan Museum with a wide variety of agricultural tools exhibited showing a glimpse of Vietnamese life and culture.
9:45 am: Row a boat with a villager on Nhu Y River to enjoy spectacular scenery and learn how the locals catch fish. After observing, you can even try to catch your own fish! Take all fish that you have just caught back to our place to cook for lunch.
Either before or after the fishing, take a walk to the rice fields near the eco home where farmers are working on their own land. Learn about rice cultivation from them and see how it's done. Try it out yourself if you like!
11:15 am: Take a cooking class to learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking three Hue speciality dishes. After the lesson, enjoy what you have just cooked along with some other dishes.
2:30 pm: Ride back to the city. End of your Eco trip to Thanh Toan village and see you again.
With 54 ethnic groups, a staggering ecological variety, and a multiplicity of climates and terrain, it's easy to see why Vietnam has long proven irresistible to explorers! The country's S-shaped stretch of coastline and its spine of jagged inland mountains create a cultural and natural diversity with few parallels in the world. Cycling fits perfectly into the local way of life, where the roads are communal spaces shared by all, whether it’s an entire family loaded onto a single motorbike, a wedding tent packed with well-wishers, or a farmer leading a gigantic water buffalo to the rice fields.
Leaving the nation’s capital, we ride among the surreal geological forms of Ninh Binh and delve into the natural refuge of Cuc Phuong Park, where the rare species of the region are protected. Making use of the iconic Vietnamese train system, we rest in comfortable berths and wake up in Dong Hoi, then cycle to preserved tunnels of the Viet Cong and across the wartime dividing line between North and South Vietnam. The imperial capital of Hue encapsulates layers of Vietnamese history that we will discover as we ride among its landmarks and serene rivers. Soaring above Da Nang on the Hai Van Pass, we will enter the heart of central Vietnam in the ancient trading port of Hoi An, with its commingled influences from near and far, and the Hindu Cham site of My Son, which offers glimpses into a lost empire. The abundance of Vietnam’s farmland and fisheries is evident everywhere in the rural regions around Quang Ngai, Quy Nhon, and Tuy Hoa, each of which also has prosperous urban centres that draw us into the exuberant modern side of Vietnam. Dynamic coastal riding offers spectacular views over pristine beaches and hidden coves, while our carefully-chosen seaside resorts allow us to kick back and relax at the end of the day. Along the way, learn the history and perspectives of this complex country that has undergone so much change in the past century. Our journey culminates in Saigon, the country’s elegant and enterprising southern metropolis, a fitting location to celebrate and reflect on all we have seen.
Join us on this 14-day cycling tour from the north to the south of Vietnam and take in all this country has to offer!
From the lofty peaks of the Truong Son Mountains to the sandy shores of the Gulf of Tonkin, this is a Vietnamese road cycling dream come true. Test your endurance over 1,000 kilometers of diverse terrain, uncovering vestiges of former empires, the lingering legacies of the Vietnam-America War, striking limestone formations, shimmering lagoons, and vibrant cultures. We go local in Vietnam’s further-flung regions and enjoy elevated comfort near some of the country’s most treasured UNESCO World Heritage Sites!
Starting with a transfer out of Vietnam’s bustling capital city, Hanoi, the tour is divided into 4 main stages:
Stage 1: Valleys of the North. We kick things off with a climb over the Thung Khe Pass and descend into the Mai Chau Valley, known for its lush rice paddies and charming ethnic stilt house villages. We then follow the course of the Song Ma River into the rolling hills of Thanh Hoa Province.
Stage 2: The Ho Chi Minh Highway. Over three days, we hit the pavement of this legendary highland highway. Constructed atop the trails of the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail, the smooth tarmac allows for a fast-paced journey past jungle-clad mountains and expansive farmlands.
Stage 3: Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. We have a rest day to explore some of the world's most visually striking caves, underground rivers, and limestone formations.
Stage 4: The Central Coast. Over four days, we traverse coastal villages, scenic shorelines, and tranquil lagoons. In Vinh Moc, we visit a fascinating network of war-era tunnels; in Hue, we explore the glittering Imperial Citadel; and in Lang Co, we relax by the beach. After a winding climb up and down the iconic Hai Van Pass, the tour ends in Hoi An, renowned for its Old World charm.
Join us on this leg-testing deep-dive into the heart of Vietnam by road bike! Check out our blog for an insider look into this tour.
Vietnam’s remote north-eastern frontier holds a special mystique, even for seasoned Vietnamese travelers. There is a reverence for the vast scale of its dense jungles, jagged mountain ranges, clear streams and deep canyons; for the sheer number of indigenous ethnic groups, each with distinct languages and customs, different from one valley to the next; and for the region's formative role in the Vietnamese identity from ancient times until the present. This is also the heartland of Vietnamese independence: it was in the gorges and caverns of the North-East that the national hero, Ho Chi Minh, trained and built up his nascent guerilla army to prevail first against the occupying French, then eventually against the Americans and South Vietnamese. Today, this is a peaceful and welcoming land, with smiles aplenty from local denizens as we roll through their small villages and farms. Every bend in the road brings sights and encounters that will stay with us as we pedal our way across this formidable territory.
We first meet in Hanoi, then depart for a day of lakeside riding to Vu Linh. From here, the spectacular territory and tougher cycling begin, as we make our way to Hoang Su Phi and Quan Ba. Stunning geological formations and an array of cultural stops await as we enter the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark. We then enter Cao Bang Province, passing over the famous Ma Pi Leng Pass to arrive in Bao Lac. Approach the Chinese border on remote roads as you make your way deeper into the province, with views of rice terraces and dazzling mountain ranges stretching as far as the eye can see. The Pac Bo caves, favoured hiding spot of Ho Chi Minh, make for an evocative stop before we continue on roads flanked by stilted houses and water buffalo. The towering cascades of Ban Gioc Waterfall greet us in the soft morning light before we ride through charming stone villages and arrive in lively Cao Bang City for a night. Leave town on a sustained climb surrounded by gorgeous countryside, with an equally long downhill as we arrive at serene Ba Be Lake, a favourite natural sanctuary. Our last ride takes us southward out of the mountains towards Bac Kan, and we then return to Hanoi, emerging from this thrilling whirl through the realms of the north!
Join us as we venture to the heights of Vietnam’s frontier on this unforgettable 12-day road cycling journey!