Vietnam Country Roads is one of Paradissa's cycling tours through Vietnam from the north to the south with leisurely pace. The tour is designed for our travellers to approach Vietnam from an innovative angle. Much of the cycling is done in the countryside of the flat terrain. The tour doesn't involve mountain-biking. The cycling part is done in the countryside back roads where there's not much traffic.
We cover extensively the must-see attractions and the off-the-well-trodden destinations. The tour provides our travellers with the full image of Vietnam and the Vietnamese culture: the natural beauty, the culinary delights and the warmth of the local people.
Most of the accommodation chosen are of 3-4 star standards except for the locations such as Mai Chau, Tam Coc and Mekong Delta where we'd like to engage you in the authentic local life.
Most meals are included into the trip for your convenience and for you to sample to finest cuisine of each region. Some meals are not included for you to seek various independent culinary experiences.
Vietnam Country Roads is a soft adventure tour and would not require much physical strength. Good-shaped is definitely needed though. Still if you look for physical challenges, please contact Paradissa Travel for our other hard biking adventure tours which involves a lot of mountain biking and challenging routes.
Vietnam Country Roads is an innovative way to see Vietnam. We'll explore the areas not accessible by tour buses and we'll meet the locals who are curious at encountering a foreigner. All the back roads are carefully researched by our experienced experts. You'll visit a different Vietnam then. Good biking!
Departure Dates: Feb 20 - Mar. 06, 2008 & Mar 19 - Apr 03, 2008
Hotel list
Ha Noi: 3*, centrally located
Mai Chau: house on stilt (homestay)
Tam Coc: Simple guest house
Hai Phong: 4*, French Quarter
Hue: 4*
Hoi An: 4*
Ho Chi Minh City (Sai Gon): 3*, centrally located.
The tour price includes
English-speaking guide
Transport in Vietnam by private car/van/bus as per itinerary
Airline ticket for Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City as indicated on the tour program
Bicycle for your biking
Air-con soft-sleeper train tickets for Ha Noi – Hue
Ticket for the speed boat from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island
Private boat cruise on Ha Long Bay and on the Mekong River
Music boat cruise in Hue
Accommodation on twin-shared basis and homestay as indicated on the tour program;
Meals as indicated on the tour program: B= Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner;
Drinking water during your cycling
All admission fees during the guided times as indicated on the tour program;
The tour price doesn't include
Insurance of any types;
International airfares and airport taxes;
Drinks or personal expenses;
Others not clearly specified in the inclusions.
VIETNAM COUNTRY ROADS
Day1 ( Wednesday, February 20, 2008 ) Arrive in Ha Noi (D)
Arriving in Ha Noi, you'll be welcomed by our tour guide and transferred to the city. Our group meeting is at 18:30 at your hotel and our welcome dinner is at a local restaurant. Overnight in Ha Noi.
Day2 ( Thursday, February 21, 2008 ) Ha Noi – Mai Chau (B/L/D) (25km cycling)
Breakfast at your hotel.
Enjoy a drive through the scenic countryside of northern Vietnam to Mai Chau Valley inhabited by the Thai minority. Arriving at the village, we'll enjoy lunch on a house on stilt with a local Thai family. After lunch we'll get our bike and drive through the mountain villages of the Thai People (25km). Our homestay accommodation tonight is of simple and basic facilities.
Day3 ( Friday, February 22, 2008 ) Mai Chau – Tam Coc (B/L/D) (12km cycling)
Breakfast at the house.
Travel by car/van to Tam Coc and check into our hotel. After lunch, start riding to visit the countryside with rice fields and towering mountains. Overnight in Tam Coc Town.
Day4 ( Saturday, February 23, 2008 ) Tam Coc – Hai Phong (B/L)
Breakfast at the guest house.
Enjoy a scenic rowing boat trip in the Valley of Thung Nang. After lunch travel by car/van to Hai Phong. Overnight in Hai Phong.
Day5 ( Sunday, February 24, 2008 ) Hai Phong – Cat Ba – Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Take the morning speedboat for Cat Ba Island where we boat our own boat for cruising through the most spectacular area of Ha Long Bay. Lunch is served on board with local seafood. We arrive at Ha Long City and rejoin our car for the road trip back to Ha Noi. Overnight in Ha Noi.
Day6 ( Monday, February 25, 2008 ) Ha Noi – Red River Biking – Ha Noi (B/L) (50km cycling)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transferred out of town and get our bike for the cycling trip through the heart of the Red River Delta. Lunch is at a local restaurant in the countryside. After lunch we'll explore further the village roads and rejoin our car/van for the transfer back to the hotel. Overnight in Ha Noi.
Day7 ( Tuesday, February 26, 2008 ) Ha Noi free at leisure. Night Train for Hue (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day at leisure for self-exploring Ha Noi. In the evening, we'll board the night train bound for Hue. Overnight on board the train. (shared sleepers compartment with air-conditioning)
Day8 ( Wednesday, February 27, 2008 ) Arrive in Hue. Hue Biking & Hue Music Cruise (B/L/D) (15km cycling)
Arriving in Hue, we'll be transferred to the city. After breakfast, we'll start our cycling trip to visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue. Our lunch is at a local restaurant. After lunch we'll get our room and have the remainder of the day for refreshment. In the evening, we'll board our boat for sampling the traditional music of Hue. Our dinner is hosted at a local restaurant. Overnight in Hue.
Day9 ( Thursday, February 28, 2008 ) Hue Biking (B/L/D) (25km cycling)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Have full day cycling to explore Hue Royal Tombs and Hue's countryside. Lunch and dinner are at local restaurant. Overnight in Hue.
Day10 ( Friday, February 29, 2008 ) Hue – Hoi An Walking and Biking (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Travel by bus/car to Hoi An Old Town via Hai Van Pass. Upon arriving, we'll have lunch at a local restaurant and check into our room. In the afternoon, we'll have an oriented walking tour of Hoi An Old Town and enjoy a cycling trip through the fresh countryside which surrounds the town. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day11 ( Saturday, March 01, 2008 ) Hoi An Cooking Demonstration (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy a trip to the market of Hoi and and cooking demonstration by a local culinary expert. Lunch is with the food cooked by yourself. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day12 ( Sunday, March 02, 2008 ) Hoi An – Da Nang – Sai Gon (VN 321: 0800 – 0910) (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Take the early morning flight for Ho Chi Minh City (still called Sai Gon). Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, we'll meet our local tour guide and drive to the city. We'll have an oriented walking tour of Sai Gon followed by lunch at a local restaurant. After checking into our room, we'll have free time at leisure for the rest of the day. Overnight in Sai Gon.
Day13 ( Monday, March 03, 2008 ) Sai Gon – Mekong Delta Biking and Homestay (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Travel by car/van to the verdant Mekong Delta, then enjoy a boat trip to explore the exotic lifestyle on the Mekong River. In the afternoon, we'll have further exploration by bicycle. Tonight we'll stay at the home of a local family on one of the islands. (homestay, simple facilities)
Day14 ( Tuesday, March 04, 2008 ) Mekong Delta – Sai Gon (B/L)
After breakfast with the family, we'll enjoy more of the Mekong River by boat. Then we'll rejoin our car and travel back to Ho Chi Minh City. Our lunch is at a local restaurant. Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, we'll get our room and enjoy free time at leisure.
Day15 ( Wednesday, March 05, 2008 ) Sai Gon – Cu Chi – Sai Gon (morning) (B/D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Have a morning trip by car/van to Cu Chi Tunnel which was famous in the war. After checking these claustrophobic tunnels, we'll travel back to Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy free time at leisure for the rest of the day. Our farewell dinner is at a local restaurant. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day16 ( Thursday, March 06, 2008 ) Depart Sai Gon (B)
We have free time until we transfer you back to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your departure flight. End of service.
