Vietnam Highlights: Cycling South to North – 10 Days

After breakfast, take a morning flight to Lien Khuong Airport, where you will be welcomed by the Vietnam Backroads team. The ride begins in a small village about 14 km from the airport. After picking up your bikes and completing a brief test ride, set off on a half-day cycling journey through hilly back roads and scenic valleys, with some gentle climbs along the way.

Enjoy the stunning landscapes of the Central Highlands as you pass colorful pagodas and tea plantations, eventually descending toward Elephant Falls. Here, take a break to explore the waterfalls and visit the nearby pagoda.

Afterwards, continue uphill to Ta Nung, where you will visit a local family business to learn about weasel coffee production and traditional silkworm farming. The day concludes with a shuttle transfer to Da Lat.

Begin the morning with a one-hour transfer to Bidoup National Park, where we’ll collect our bikes for an unforgettable day of mountain biking from the Central Highlands down to the coastal city of Nha Trang. This newly opened route winds through spectacular mountain scenery, offering gentle undulations and small climbs as we gradually ascend to the summit of Khanh Le Pass. Along the way, take in sweeping views of the Truong Son mountain range, stretching from peaks over 1,700 meters above sea level down to the vast coastal plains.

From the top, prepare for an exhilarating descent through Khanh Le Pass. The 29 km downhill ride to Suoi Loi provides countless opportunities to capture breathtaking landscapes—dramatic valleys, cascading waterfalls, and lush tropical forests.

Enjoy a delicious lunch at a cozy riverside restaurant before a 45-minute shuttle transfer to Khanh Vinh for the afternoon ride. We continue pedaling through idyllic villages, crossing rural suspension bridges, and passing local brick factories. Follow peaceful dirt tracks along tranquil rivers, through sugarcane fields, and across the countryside, soaking in the serene rural atmosphere. Visit an ancient house and explore Dien Khanh, the historic citadel, before concluding the day with a transfer to Nha Trang City.

After an hour transfer north of Nha Trang, we start the day ride to Dai Lanh beach is on the flat countryside with undulating paths and some small hills; through the iconic fishing villages along the coast, see locals harvesting seafood, villagers collecting salt from the fields, and women drying fish along the routes before we cross the railways to Dai Lanh beach.

The afternoon makes the ride easier as the sun is behind and the temperature is almost down. We mingle with locals on pushbikes on country roads and the gentle mountain, experience local culture along the lagoons, and see farmers harvesting tapioca and sweet potatoes. We continue to bike to the coast, have a water stop, walk along the fishing villages, and capture photos of bamboo baskets, boats, and colorful boats anchored near the fish farmings. Afterward, we continue the rest of the day on tracks to the river and cycling on the longest wooden bridge to Ganh Do, where we take a shuttle to Quy Nhon.

After breakfast at the hotel, have a support vehicle that takes us to the peninsula of Nhon Hoi. We cycle on undulate roads, past sand dunes, tiny villages, small towns until Cat Tien. Followed by the beautiful coast to De Ghi, the routes run along with mountains, some quaint fishing villages,  with incredible landscapes—great places for mountain bike and nature lovers. We continue to explore the rustic countrysides and authentic villages before having lunch at a local restaurant.

Take a 1-hour rest on the vehicle to shorten the routes to the next town, where you ride to the lovely fishing village hidden town. There are many little circular boats, fishing boats in different colors on sand beaches. Most people live mainly on fishing, but they could not afford big ships. Afterward, carry on biking to experience the local culture, the life of people along the villages to lake/lagoon, enjoy the lovely scenery of the largest lagoon in the afternoon. The landscape along the lake is beautiful, with gentle mountain views and lush cultivating lands before the ride down to the coast,  past shrimp farms along the way. Your guide will figure out the last transfer to Quang Ngai in the late afternoon.

After a leisurely breakfast, we transfer to My Lai Village for a short visit, then continue with a one-hour shuttle to a local market—the starting point for a full day of scenic backroad cycling to Hoi An.

We hop on our bikes and ride through quiet rural paths, passing riverside communities, fish f

arms, rice paddies, and small village markets. After crossing the Truong Giang River, we follow peaceful country lanes through traditional fishing villages. The mostly flat terrain allows for a relaxed ride at your own pace, past homes with stacks of straw for buffalo and cows.

We continue along the sandy coastline of Tam Thanh, where we stop for lunch en route. Along the way, there are opportunities to engage with local culture—meeting friendly villagers in their homes and experiencing daily life in riverside fishing communities.

Enjoy the ever-changing landscapes of quaint villages, lush rice fields, and charming “monkey bridges” linking creeks and rivers across the vast green countryside. After the ride, a short transfer brings you to your hotel in Hoi An.

Enjoy a free day at your leisure in Hoi An—wander through its charming streets, discover its rich cultural heritage, chat with friendly locals, and unwind by the resort’s swimming pool.

Depart from Hoi An today by shuttle toward the famous Hai Van Pass. Opt to challenge yourself with the mountain pass or transfer comfortably to the summit. Once a fortified gateway protecting the southern approach to the Hue Imperial Citadel during Vietnam’s feudal era (which ended in 1945), the pass offers both historical significance and breathtaking views.

Take on the winding climb to the peak and enjoy spectacular panoramic scenery overlooking Lang Co Beach and the southern outskirts of Da Nang. Pause along the way for photo stops before descending toward Lang Co, where a fresh seafood lunch awaits at a beachfront restaurant.

In the afternoon, continue your journey toward Hue. Cycle along a scenic coastal route and lagoon, venturing off the main roads into peaceful seaside countryside. Ride through small fishing villages, past vibrant pagodas and lush green farmlands. Enjoy fruit stops along the way and take in the local way of life. at the day come to end, we'll take a support vehicle into Hue City.

Imperial Citadel was established as the feudal capital of unified Vietnam in 1802. Hue was the political and cultural, and religious center under the Nguyen dynasty that ended in 1945. The South Vietnamese was celebrating Tet Holiday in 1968, and the capture also began by Viet Cong. Later the Imperial Citadel was almost destroyed during the Tet Offensive.  

We’ll begin by exploring the Hue Imperial Citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda, then continue our final day’s adventure along rustic paths as we ride to Khai Dinh Tomb. Along the way, we’ll stop at villages that produce incense sticks, visit traditional mandarin houses, and admire Hue’s peaceful countryside before reaching Minh Mang Tomb, with lunch arranged en route. 

After the visit, we’ll return to the hotel to rest and prepare for a late check-out at 6:00 pm. In the evening, enjoy dinner with your team before boarding the night train to Hanoi.

The train arrives at Ha Noi Railway Station around 6:00 am. Be welcomed by Vietnam Backroads' team, and taken to a local restaurant for breakfast before a full day to explore Ha Noi Capital City. 

Visit the Temple of Literature, which was a truly unique experience as it was the first university in Vietnam. The temple, dedicated to the revered Chinese scholar Confucius, offers a fascinating glimpse into the early 11th century. Uncover the teachings of Confucius and his four exceptional students. We then travel to the Ethnology Museum, which displays the traditions and customs of the country's 54 ethnic groups. The next visit is Ngoc Son Temple, a serene oasis on a small island in the middle of the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake. Here, you'll be captivated by the legend of an emperor, a magic sword, and a giant turtle that gave the temple its name. 

After lunch, the team will transfer you to Noi Bai Airport. Tour Ends!