Cycling Vietnam - Premium Adventure

Ho Chi Minh City is an exciting, absorbing destination, where bicycles battle with lorries and temples stand alongside modern developments. Devastated by the Vietnam War, Ho Chi Minh City is now a bustling free-market city where anything goes. The Ben Thanh market and Notre Dame Cathedral are within walking distance from our hotel and are highly recommended. This evening there will be a welcome briefing with your leader followed by a group welcome dinner where you can try local specialties. Premium accommodation: The Odys Boutique Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City (four-star)

This morning we drive out of the city, before riding to the Cu Chi tunnels. This offers a great introduction to cycling in Vietnam and a chance to tune the bikes. The tunnels were Viet Cong sanctuaries, used by the guerrillas as living quarters and escape routes. The network covers three levels and approximately 150mi (240km). Some parts have been widened for tourists, but the tunnels were originally very narrow and it is still necessary to crawl on hands and knees. People with claustrophobia may prefer to stay outside in the sunshine. If you prefer not to visit the tunnels, you can have an unguided free day in Ho Chi Minh City. Places of interest include the Emperor of Jade and Giac Lam pagodas, the former Presidential Palace (now the Reunification Hall), Ben Thanh market and the War Remnants Museum. Premium accommodation: The Odys Boutique Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City (four-star)

After an early breakfast, we head out of Ho Chi Minh City by bus and then cycle towards the coast. We hit the backroads and head through tropical fruit and rubber plantations, passing fishing villages as we make our way closer to the coast, finishing our ride in time for lunch. We then transfer approximately three hours to Mui Ne, a tranquil white-sand beach where we could witness our first sunset over the Eastern Sea. We spend approximately four to five hours on the bus today. Premium accommodation: Sea Links Beach Hotel, Mui Ne (four-star)

We cycle towards Dalat; the route is undulating with occasional climbs. Along the way, we pass coffee and tea plantations, flower gardens and pine forests as we reach higher altitude. We rejoin the bus before the road climbs steeply to the mountain town of Dalat. We spend approximately 3hr 30min on the bus today. Dalat is a pleasant hill station, formerly known as Le Petit Paris, and has been described as the most beautiful town in Vietnam. It was favoured by the French for its climate and is now a popular honeymoon resort for the Vietnamese. Premium accommodation: Golf Valley Da Lat Hotel (four-star)

Today's ride is predominantly undulating and approximately 18.5mi (30km) downhill through pine forests and paddy fields as we descend nearly 4,920ft (1,500m) travelling through the Bidoup Ba National Park. This area is home to rare pine forests plus villages inhabited by the minority ethnic people of the central highlands. Once we arrive at the coast, we head by bus (approximately 1hr 30min) to the coast near Nha Trang before boarding a boat (approximately a 10-minute transfer) to our tropical island paradise of MerPerle Hon Tam Resort where we stay for the next two nights. Dinner is included at the Sea Breeze restaurant in the resort, which offers views of the ocean and islands. Today you can cycle up to 62mi (100km) according to preference. Premium accommodation: MerPerle Hon Tam Resort, Hon Tam Island (five-star)

Having a rest from the bikes today, we can relax and unwind. We will join a boat trip in the morning for snorkelling and swimming in the turquoise sea before a seafood lunch. Returning to the resort, the afternoon and evening is then free for you to relax and enjoy the world-class service and facilities at the resort. Premium accommodation: MerPerle Hon Tam Resort, Hon Tam Island (five-star)

We set off early, taking a short boat transfer from Hon Tam Island back to the mainland. We then transfer through Dai Lanh and Ca Pass before setting off on our bikes at Vung Ro Bay, where we ride along the coast to Tuy Hoa and O Loan Lagoon to Chi Thanh. In Chi Thanh, we stop for lunch and a short rest before continuing to ride to La Hai where we complete today’s cycling. From La Hai, we then transfer one hour to our hotel in Quy Nhon. (We spend approximately two hours in the bus today). Premium accommodation: Seagull Quy Nhon Hotel, Quy Nhon (four-star)

Leaving Quy Nhon, we travel through a new economic zone over the Thi Nai Peninsula and Nhon Hoi Bridge, the longest sea bridge in Vietnam. The coastline features secluded bays, dunes and beaches with colourful fishing boats bobbing on the Eastern Sea. We cycle to Phu Ly and then drive to Hoi An. If time permits, we will cycle the last 7.5mi (12km) once we turn off Highway 1 into Hoi An. Hoi An, the original European trading port in Vietnam dating back to the mid-16th century is now a living museum, with attractive wooden merchant houses and pagoda-style temples with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European architectural influences. It is also an atmospheric place to explore and enjoy the thriving riverside market. This evening, the group will dine at a local restaurant with a fusion menu of central Vietnamese dishes. We spend two nights in Hoi An, a fantastic location to buy local art or tailor-made clothes. It’s best to bring a picture or a sample of what you want made. We spend approximately six hours on the bus today. Premium accommodation: Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa, Hoi An (four-star)

This morning we take a guided walking tour of Hoi An to explore some of the structures of historical significance in the Old Town, including bridges, temples, wells and houses. Alternatively, you can cycle the 3mi (5km) to the lovely Cua Dai beach or Marble Mountains, which are 12mi (19km) from town. These five marble hills, formerly islands, contain many caves, some of which were used as Buddhist (and Viet Cong) sanctuaries. Also nearby is My Khe beach, an R&R spot for the US military during the war, and Da Nang, home to a Cham museum, which is very interesting despite being in poor condition. It is also possible to visit My Son, one of the most important Cham temple sites in Vietnam, where Cham kings were buried as early as the fourth century. Although bombing has destroyed much of the site, there are several interesting stone towers and sanctuaries. Premium accommodation: Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa, Hoi An (four-star)

Today we turn north again for the drive/cycle to Hue. The route traverses the spectacular Hai Van Pass – the Pass of the Ocean Clouds. The views are stunning. Those who prefer to avoid the 1,900ft (580m) climb can always take a lift in the support vehicle. It will all seem worth it at the top, as you cruise back to the ocean, then continue through small villages and timeless rural scenes to the outskirts of Hue, from where we transfer to our hotel. In the evening, the group will enjoy dinner at a restaurant in the heart of Hue. We spend approximately 2hr 30min in the bus today. Superior accommodation: The Thanh Lich Royal Boutique Hotel , Hue (four-star)

Hue is often named the cultural and historic centre of Vietnam. We take a guided tour of the city and surrounding tombs – the most memorable site is the citadel, which has 6mi (9.5km) long walls: inside are the palaces and halls of the Mandarins, and the remains of the Forbidden Purple City, where only the emperor and his eunuchs and concubines were allowed. We then take a boat along the Perfume River to the elaborate tombs of the Nguyen emperors, who ruled Vietnam from Hue. Tu Duc's Tomb is particularly intricate and set in beautiful gardens. Along the way, we visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, a centre for anti-government protests in the early 1960s. It houses the Austin car that transported a monk, Thich Quang Duc, to Ho Chi Minh City in 1963 where he burned himself in protest against the president. The photograph of his self-immolation was printed in newspapers around the world. In the evening, we board the Reunification Express for the overnight ride to Hanoi, 428mi (688km) to the north. Simple accommodation: Overnight train (four-berth cabin)

We usually arrive in Hanoi in the early morning and stop for a local breakfast of pho and a chance to taste delicious Hanoi coffee (while also stretching our legs) before we are met by our bus for an approximate four-hour drive to Ha Long Bay. This is one of the most beautiful sights in Southeast Asia with around 3,000 limestone peaks rising directly from the emerald sea. We cruise among this amazing karst scenery, stopping to kayak in the sea and reach places inaccessible by the boat (weather permitting), before a seafood lunch on board. Later in the afternoon, join your expert leader and group for a drink or two on the top deck while watching the sun set in the bay before spending the night in twin-share cabins. Premium accommodation: Le Journey Cruises, Ha Long Bay

We continue our Ha Long Bay cruise this morning before returning to port. Your leader will then introduce the group to the Ha Long Women's Association in the Hon Gai township, a local sustainable initiative committed to cleaning waste in Ha Long Bay and upcycling usable waste into items of value. You'll meet the local women and witness how they turn trash into beautiful, handcrafted products and may have the chance to try upcycling as well. We then drive back to Hanoi for our final evening together with a farewell dinner at KOTO (Know One, Teach One), a well-established training restaurant for disadvantaged youths where you'll be served a blend of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian foods. Premium accommodation: Le Jardin Hotel Haute Couture Hanoi, Hanoi (four-star)

The tour ends this morning in Hanoi after breakfast. If you'd like to extend your stay and discover more of this charming city, please enquire with your sales representative about additional accommodation after your tour.