Vietnam Grand Cycle

17 days, 16 nights 11:56:49 | 3.15.2011

Overview Tour - Images

Guide book

Tour Code: VTL 03
Tour Route: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An town (Charming World Heritage site) Saigon - Ho Chi Minh city, Mekong Delta
Tour Duration: 15 Days15 Days - Discover Vietnam's Highlights Tour Map
Dates: No fixed departure dates. You may go whenever you wish.
Starts/Ends: Hanoi/ Ho Chi Minh City
Tour Type: Landscape and Nature, Cruise Holidays, and Folk Arts
Activity Level: Regular itinerary, moderate walking
Tour Customizable: Absolutely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)

BRIEF ITINERARY:
Day 1 Arrival Hanoi
Day 2 Hanoi City tour
Day 3 Hanoi Halong Bay
Day 4 Halong bay - Hanoi
Day 5 Hanoi fly to Hue
Day 6 Hue
Day 7 Hue - Hoi An
Day 8 Hoi An
Day 9 Hoi An
Day 10 Hoi An - Da Nang fly to Saigon
Day 11 Ho Chi Minh tour
Day 12 Ho Chi Minh - Cu Chi - Cao Dai
Day 13 Ho Chi Minh - Mekong
Day 14 Mekong - Ho Chi Minh
Day 15 Departure

Detail Itinerary

We start our great adventure from Hanoi and cycle southward…This trip offers a great opportunity to explore the outstanding beauty and culture throughout Vietnam. We offer both physical activity and the unique opportunity to observe geographic and cultured differences along of our “S”-shaped country.

Day 1: HANOI ARRIVAL (D)
Welcome by Binhtours upon arrival Noi Bai Airport and transfer to hotel. Depends on your arrival time, a city tour including Temple of Literature, Museum of Ethnology and a pedicab ride around Hanoi’s old Quarter will be arranged. Welcome dinner and overnight in Hanoi after Water Puppet Show.
Summary
Biking: No
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Twin-shared basis at 3-star hotel in Hanoi

Day 2: HANOI – HOA BINH – MAI CHAU (160km) (B, L, D)



Leave Hanoi on our support vehicle, to Hoa Binh for our starting point, this really depends on how fit you are so we can choose the best terrain that suite you, 20 km before Hoa Binh town, and 50 km before Mai Chau valley. Dinner and overnight in Thai’s house on stilts.
Summary
Biking: 20 – 70km depends on your ability
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home stay in a long house on stilts of Thai people

Day 3: MAI CHAU – CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK (120 km) (B, L, D)



Breakfast and ride about 20 km small trails around Thai and Muong villages. Lunch break in Mai Chau. Afternoon, get on your own vehicle as we travel to Lac Son, and we will then cycle 40 km to Cuc Phuong National Park. Dinner and overnight in Cuc Phuong national park.
Summary
Biking: 60 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Twin-shared room at the Head Quarter of Cuc Phuong national park.

Day 4: CUC PHUONG – NINH BINH (~ 60 km) (B, L, D)
Morning visit the Primate Rescue center where you could have much joy with funny languor species and admire the eco-loved scientists working here. We then ride 20km through Cuc Phuong forest to the park center, tea break, then trek in 3 hours round trip to the Tetrameles nudiflora (Sequoia) 1,000 years tree. Transfer out of Cuc Phuong in the afternoon then ride through rice fields, limestone rocks to Ninh Binh. Dinner and overnight in Ninh Binh.
Summary
Biking: 35km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Twin-shared room at the hotel in Ninh Binh

Day 5: NINH BINH - HANOI (~ 100km) (B, L)



Biking from the hotel to Hoa Lu, the first capital of Vietnam date back from 8th century. Visit the temples and climb some hundred steps to the top of a mountain for a great view over the “Halong Bay on the rice field”. After here we bike through an amazing area of limestone mountains uprising on rice paddies. After 1 hours riding we reach Tam Coc. Lunch in local restaurant and then enjoy an interesting rowing boat trip on river to explore the Halong Bay on the rice paddies.
After that, we head back to Hanoi for your leisure evening. Arrive your hotel in Hanoi late afternoon. Free at leisure for your own dinner. Overnight in Hanoi.
Summary
Biking: 35km
Boat trip: 1 hour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Twin-shared basis at 3-star hotel in Hanoi.

Day 6: HANOI – HALONG OVERNIGHT ON BOAT (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we leave Hanoi at around 08.00 for Halong Bay, a World Heritage with thousands of limestone and dolomite island and islets. It will take you roughly 3.5 hours to arrive Halong with stops en route for your refreshment.



Upon arrival in Halong, check-in the Deluxe Junk where will spend your 2-day-1-night trip. Enjoy a lunch of fresch seafood while the boat goes about unusual seascape with thousands picturesque rocks and islets, beaches and hollow islands.
Within your time on boat, you will enjoy the visit to karst grottoes, swimming, and other activities as well as the magnificiant sunset on Halong Bay. Dinner and overnight on the boat.  
Summary
Biking: No
Boat trip: Whole day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Twin-shared basis at Deluxe Junk in Halong Bay.

Day 7: HALONG – HANOI – LATE FLIGHT TO HUE (B, L)
The Vietnamese call the “South China Sea” by a point-oriented name “Eastern Sea”, so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay. Our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscen like Sail island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet etc. Enjoy the brunch onboard before back to Halong Wharf and take your car straight to Noi Bai airport to catch the late afternoon flight to Hue.
Welcome by your new tour guide upon arrival Hue and being transferred to your hotel in the city center for checking-in. At leisure for your own dinner and relaxation. Overnight in Hue.
Summary
Biking: No
Boat trip: Half day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Twin-shared basis at 3-star hotel in Hue

Day 8: EXPLORING HUE ON A BIKE (B, L)



Start the day at around 08:00am, we cycle to visit the Hue Citadel and Imperial City, which will take us about 2 hours and a half. Then we bike upstream the legendary Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda. Continue to the rolling hills of the surrounding countryside where we find the Royal Tombs to the Nguyen Emperors. We visit Tu Duc and Khai Dinh tombs. After having viewed the splendid landscaped gardens and ornate architecture of the kings' final resting places, return to your hotel for relaxation. Evening free for your own dinner. Overnight in Hue.
Summary
Biking: 45km, flat and paved road
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Twin-shared basis at 3-star hotel in Hue

Day 9: CYCLE TO THANH TOAN TILE ROOFED BRIDGE – HUE – HOIAN (B)
After breakfast, leave the center of Hue and its historic buildings for a bicycle ride through the rice fields and the bucolic Vietnamese countryside to the Thanh Toan Village, located eight kilometers away. The village shelters a covered bridge dating back more than two centuries; offered to the villagers by the wife of a high ranking Mandarin. Cycle along the river bank dotted with temples. At the edge of the river banks, you might see the mothers washing their linen while their children are biking back home from school, many of whom will be astonished to see Westerners lost in this corner of countryside.
Back to Hue for checking out and your own lunch break before we heading South via beautiful Hai Van Pass for Hoian ancient town.
Depends on your interests and health condition, we can do another round up to Hai Van Pass - a legendary Pass in the center of Vietnam (20km cycling up and down) from 14th century.



Stop at Lang Co beach - one of most beautiful beaches in the Central part of Vietnam for sightseeing. We would have two more stops at Cham Museum and Marble mountain before arriving Hoian for checking in. At leisure in the evening for your first discovery and dinner. Overnight in Hoian.
Summary
Biking: 40km, up and down hill
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Twin-shared basis at 3-star hotel in Hoian

Day 10: HOIAN – MY SON – HOIAN (B)
Morning ride to My Son world heritage to visit the most concentrative and impressive combination of Cham Towers, 45km from Hoian town, where you can learn much about the Cham culture that once brightly developed in the location of present Central Vietnam. Visit the sites and cycle backroads to reach highway No1, where you will be transferred back to Hoian.



This afternoon, you can choose to cycle with your guide to the beach, which is around 4km from the center of the town and leisurely relax on beach or explore Hoian ancient town to visit Japanese Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, Trading Houses, and the local market located by Thu Bon river. This is also a wonderful town to shop for lanterns, soft silk, raw silk, or order your clothes to be tailored within a day. Overnight in Hoi An.
Summary
Biking: 45km, flat, countryside road
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Twin-shared basis at 3-star hotel in Hoian

Day 11: HOIAN – DANANG – NHA TRANG (B)
After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy some free time in Hoi An before cycling side roads via the Marble Mountains to Danang. A short, afternoon flight transfers you to the white sandy beaches of Nha Trang. Relax and enjoy the sun and sand.
Summary
Biking: 30km
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Twin-shared basis at 3-star hotel in Nha Trang.

Day 12: NHA TRANG BEACH RELAX (B)



Whole day at leisure for your beach relaxation. Overnight in Nha Trang.
Summary
Biking: No
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Twin-shared basis at 3-star hotel in Nha Trang.

Day 13: NHA TRANG – DA LAT (~200km) (B, L)
This morning, transfer past the busy traffic of Highway No1 to the Po Klong Garai Cham towers for the starting point of today's uphill ride. The road is quiet and shady for the most part as you pedal steadily upwards, ascending more than 1000meters! As you near Dalat, the journey is rewarded as the temperatures begin to cool and lush green fields and hills fill your vision. Check-in hotel and free to relax after the long ride or explore the town on your own. Overnight in Dalat.
Summary
Biking: Approximately 100 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Twin-shared basis at 3-star hotel in Dalat.

Day 14: DA LAT – SAIGON (~300km) (B, L)
Rise early for a not-to-be-missed Dalat cycling loop. Pedal the quiet back roads in the shadow of Langbian Mountain, stopping en route to visit a flower farm, and enjoy great views of Dalat.



Then, let the fun begin with the ride to Ho Chi Minh City - downhill all the way and lunch at route- arriving Saigon late this afternoon! Check-in hotel for relaxation. Overnight in Saigon. (Today's ride is about 80km)
Summary
Biking: 80 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Twin-shared basis at 3-star hotel in Saigon.

Day 15: SAIGON – CAI BE – TRA ON OVERNIGHT ON BOAT (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we leave Saigon for Cai Be. It will take you roughly 2.5-3 hours driving there with stop en route for your refreshment and photo opportunities.
- 10.00 boarding LE COCHINCHINE boat. We start exploring the lively Cai Be floating market then taking a short walk to visit the handicraft villages of the local people, pay a visit to a local family and sample various tropical fruits.
- 11.00 Return to the boat as it’s heading to Cantho via Cho LACH and TRAON. Enjoy your first lunch on boat.
- 13.00 onward: Disembark Cho LACH village for a pleasant biking on the footpaths of the countryside to discover tropical fruit orchards and the daily life of local people.

  

The cruise continues to Tra On. Enjoy the magnificent sunset on the river. Isn’t it a wonderful afternoon relaxing on the sundeck, enjoying picturesque ferry crossings over Mekong River branches? Dinner and overnight on board in Tra On.
Summary
Biking: 30 km, countryside road
Boat trip: Whole day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Twin-shared basis on Le Cochinchine Cruise (Joining basis).

Day 16: TRA ON - CAN THO – SAIGON (B)
- The noise of the floating market wake you up early in the morning. Enjoy the magnificent sunrise on the river. After breakfast, the cruise continues to Can Tho. Leisurely cruise up the BASSAC river while enjoying the beautiful scenery

  

- Upon arriving Cantho, a small boat will take you to explore the Cai Rang market, one of the most bustling floating markets in Mekong Delta with hundreds of small boats barging and jostling for space as owners attempt to sell their goods. After the floating market, we continue further through the palm-shaded creek to see local houses and green orchards.
- 10.00 Disembark. End of the trip with Le Cochinchine Cruise.
Your private vehicle is waiting for you at the pier for a short city tour of Can Tho and your own lunch break before bringing you back to Saigon.
Arrive your hotel in Saigon in the afternoon. Overnight in Saigon.
Summary
Biking: No
Boat trip: Morning until 10.00
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Twin-shared basis at 3-star hotel in Saigon.

Day 17: SAIGON DEPARTURE (B)
Depends on your schedule, this day is open to your schedule. You can either:
-    Take your vehicle to the airport for the departure flight leaving Vietnam.
-    Choose a half day or full day city tour to explore Saigon, the biggest city of Vietnam in details.
-    Extend your holiday with us to Phu Quoc or Mui Ne or other beach destination to recover after a trip filled with activities.
Whatever your plan is, we call this the last day of the tour and let’s discuss about your further plan.

INCLUDE:
+ English or French speaking guides (Other languages available upon request)
+ Support vehicle
+ Road bikes
+ Accommodation on Twin-shared basis at 3-star hotels or equivalent.
+ Packages joining overnight boat in Halong Bay and Mekong Delta with full board.
+ Other boat trips as mentioned in the program are on private basis.
+ Domestic air tickets: Hanoi – Hue, Danang – Nha Trang, Nha Trang – Saigon and airport tax.
+ Meals as indicated in the itinerary
+ First-aid kit
+ Water & Snacks
+ Entrance fees & Sightseeing fees

EXCLUDE:
+ International flights to/from Vietnam and airport tax.
+ Travel insurance
+ Visa
+ Tips
+ Personal expenses

What to bring
Sun block, hat, anti-insect repellent, sunglasses, sleeping bag (optional), rain coat, toiletries, original passport.



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