Highlands Coast of Vietnam

We start off with a morning flight from Saigon to Dalat. After lunch and a briefing, we take to our bikes to explore. Dalat is a town full of character, and a great place to start our adventure. This hilltown was popular with the French during colonial times due to the climate but has since become even more well-known among middle-class Saigon folk who head for the romantic cool of the hills. The area is also known for some of the best coffee in Asia, a great way to fuel the day’s ride. We’ll start with an exploration of Dalat, cycling on sealed roads and unsealed trails through beautiful pine forests, flower gardens and coffee plantations.

25km ride (L,D) 

Today we are in for a great ride as we pedal our way from the highlands to the sea. Enjoy cycling both ascents and descents along quiet secondary roads that eventually lead all the way to sea level. We drive some of the distance to ensure we arrive in Nha Trang with time to spare for lounging on the beach or perhaps sampling excellent craft beer at local brew pubs that have popped up.

75km ride (B,L,D)

It’s a day off the bikes today to rest our legs, with the morning free to explore Nha Trang, relax by the pool or along the beach, or to try your hand at one of the many activities along the waterfront.

After lunch, we board the train for a fun, easy-going journey by rail up the coast. This is a much more relaxed way to travel than by road. Make sure you look out the window to catch the beaches, villages, rice fields and mountains we pass slowly by! Most of the other passengers are Vietnamese and the buffet car is a good place to strike up some conversations with the locals. We arrive in Quy Nhon in the early evening, transfer to our hotel and then enjoy dinner in town.

(B,L,D)

The coastal section of the cycling journey begins today as we leave Quy Nhon on a quiet back road along a sand dune peninsula with great views back over the bay and the mountains. We see lots of coast today as we undulate along the well-made road with friendly villagers waving and cheering us on as we pedal by. We take a short drive at the end of the day to get us into the tiny village of Tam Quan.

75km ride (B,L,D)

A varied and highly enjoyable day lies ahead of us. We spend the morning riding along the coast then head inland to see an array of new scenes. Challenge yourself by climbing some hills today as we cross rivers on small wooden bridges and pass farmers tending to rice fields and water buffalo. Our home for the night is Quang Ngai, a small city of little note. Even so, the comfortable hotel, nice river view and an abundance of cold drinks make Quang Ngai a pleasant place to stay.

85km ride (B,L,D)

We start today with a visit to one of Vietnam’s more sobering sites, the My Lai Massacre Memorial. It was here that the tragic massacre occurred that, once exposed, caused a turning point in American public opinion to the American-Vietnam war. From here we continue on two wheels along the coast and visit a rice paper maker and a mat weaver along the way. Both are traditional forms of industry that are harder to find in cities, but here in the village, the skills are still very much in use. We enjoy a lunch of the freshest seafood possible and stay in the town of Tam Ky.

96km ride (B,L,D)

Today’s ride is one of the highlights of the trip. We start with a visit to a fresh market where the fish come straight out of the South China Sea and into the baskets at these stands. The vendors will be just as interested in you as you are in their products 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. Next comes a boat ride to reach Hoi An, a fitting way to enter this ancient port town and to conclude our adventure.

55km ride (B,L)