5 Cycling Tours of Vietnam

The Vietnamese are no strangers to cycling and you’ll see well-practiced locals effortlessly pedalling bikes piled high with produce through the busy laneways and quiet country roads of Vietnam. Watching the traffic jostle through the city streets may be overwhelming initially, and as you wade across a surging river of oncoming vehicles for the first time, you’d be forgiven for wondering if there are actually any road rules here. You know what they say, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! Saddle up and take on Vietnam by bike and you’ll soon realise that there is a method to the madness - and why it is such a popular way to tour Vietnam!

The steady stream of bikes flow from the city streets into the smaller estuaries of the Vietnamese countryside where you can explore happily on two wheels. Trails spider leg out into the agricultural farm land, past terraced rice paddies and sheer karst cliffs, and through small villages steeped in regional charm. To discover all this and more, choose a guided cycling tour of Vietnam. Here are some itineraries to consider for your next adventure.

Cycle Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Start your trip exploring the boulevards and street stalls of Hanoi by foot or by bike, stopping to devour a steaming bowl of Pho or down a fresh coconut before heading south. Pass through lush rice paddies and by sauntering water buffalo as you make your way to Hue, where treasures of the past await discovery. Strap in to explore the landmarks and remarkable sights, including ornate temples, historic tombs and the Imperial Citadel. Perhaps make a trip to the Dong Ba Market and shop for snacks and handicrafts, but make sure to leave some room in your suitcase for the treasures of Hoi An!

Cycle through charming villages and over the famous Hai Van Pass en route to vibrant Hoi An, where lantern lit streets illuminate gorgeous materials and tailors’ hands flit quickly across colourful silks. Continue to the tree-lined beaches of Nha Trang to soak up some sun and perhaps explore the nearby islands, before Ho Chi Minh City bids you farewell in flurry of markets, tuk tuks and charisma.

If you are taking on Vietnam by bike with G Adventures, you’ll fly the last leg between Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City after cycling through Hoi An, Tam Ky, Quang Ngai, Quy Ngon, and Tuy Hoa. On this itinerary you’ll stay in a series of hand-picked hotels, except for one night which you’ll spend rocking your way from Hanoi to Hue on an overnight train before jumping on your bike. You’ll cover roughly 570 kilometres (354 miles) in the saddle, earning plenty of spring rolls and some street side bia hoi (freshly brewed draught beer) for your efforts.

If you are planning to cycle Vietnam with Intrepid you’ll cover a bit more ground, pedalling roughly 645 kilometres (400 miles) during your travels. You’ll cycle the last leg from Nah Trang rather than fly, bidding farewell to your bike in Cu Bi outside of Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll also jump on your bike earlier, strapping in outside of Hanoi and cycling into the Mai Chau valley for a homestay in the village of Poom Coong. Enjoy the local hospitality as you indulge in a home cooked meal and rest your head in a traditional stilt-house for the night. Pick up the overnight train in Ninh Binh through to Hue, before cycling Hoi An, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, Dalat, and Ke Ga en route to Ho Chi Minh City.

On these itineraries you’ll go from cyclist to passenger on some parts of the trail, when the support vehicle will whisk you through stretches that are unsafe or unplanned to cycle. The support vehicle will accompany you for the duration of the journey, so if the weather turns or you begin to tire, there is always a backup to call on!

Cycle Vietnam and Indochina

Wind your way from Vietnam through the treasures of Indochina. Join G Adventures on a 10 day cycle through Vietnam and Cambodia to discover the history behind the Cu Chi Tunnels, enjoy warm local hospitality at a homestay in Can Tho, and check out the floating markets of the Mekong Delta. In Cambodia you’ll uncover the turbulent history of Phnom Penh, cycle the Oudong Trail through the countryside, and witness the spectacle of sunrise over Angkor Wat – a sight to behold. Pedal to Tonle Sap Lake to get an insight into the floating life of the communities that call it home and reflect on the time spent with your two-wheeled steed before bidding it farewell in Siem Reap.

Follow a different route between destinations as you cycle Indochina with Intrepid from Ho Chi Minh City, through the Mekong Delta and Phnom Penh, and on to Siem Reap. This itinerary continues into Thailand where you can take a dip in Tha Kabark Dam, pedal your way to Sa Kaew, and enjoy a sunrise visit to the local market where Buddhist monks exchange blessings for food with the villagers. Pass through rice fields and tapioca plantations en route to Kabin Buri, and wind through small villages and farmland as Bangkok looms. Swap two wheels for four as you are transferred into the bustling capital where your journey draws to a close. If you are up for a challenge, a variation of this tour is combined with Intrepid’s Cycle Vietnam itinerary for a complete 27 day cycle through South East Asia.