This 13-day e-bike cycling journey traces Vietnam's central spine from Saigon to Hue, covering around 605 km (376 mi) of highland climbs, coastal roads, and everything in between. We start in the Central Highlands with tea and coffee plantations as the backdrop, descend to the beach at Nha Trang, then push north through fishing villages and rice paddies before a rest day in Hoi An. The hardest ride comes last: the climb over Hai Van Pass and into the former imperial capital of Hue. Four-star hotels, an e-bike, a support van, a mechanic, and most meals are all included.
We arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, better known as Saigon, check into the hotel, and meet the guides, mechanics, and support team who’ll be with us for the journey ahead. A bike fitting is scheduled for 4 PM at the guide’s local base, followed by a welcome dinner where we get to know each other over local food.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: The Odys Boutique Hotel or similar
We leave the hotel by 6 am, stopping for breakfast along the way as the city fades behind us. The ride officially begins in Đinh Quan District, where banana groves, mango orchards, and black pepper vines frame the road. Local farmers and curious kids wave as we pedal toward Ta Lai Village and the edge of Nam Cat Tien Forest, through land traditionally inhabited by the Cho Ro and Ma ethnic groups. After a riverside lunch, one final easy hour of pedaling brings us to Bao Loc, a highland tea town where the air already feels different.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Sandals Vista Hotel or similar
Cycling: 60 km (38 mi)
Elevation: +750 m (+2,460 ft)
Today the Central Highlands deliver their best. We ride toward Da Lat, a highland city known for its cool climate, French colonial architecture, and flower-filled gardens, with coffee and tea plantations rolling past on either side. The climbs are real but the views are worth it. We stop for a picnic lunch en route and arrive in Da Lat in the late afternoon with time to explore before dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Colline Hotel or similar
Cycling: 50 km (32 mi)
Elevation: +1,000 m (+3,280 ft)
From the highlands, we begin the long descent toward the coast, swapping cool mountain air for tropical heat. The ride mixes long downhill sections with flat stretches through the lowlands before Nha Trang comes into view: a beach city known for its long white sand, clear water, and lively waterfront. We check in, clean up, and sit down for a well-earned dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Sunrise Nha Trang or similar
Cycling: 80 km (50 mi)
Elevation: +800 m (+2,625 ft)
A day off the bike on the coast. The morning is a good time to visit the Po Nagar Cham Towers, among Vietnam’s oldest religious sites, dating back to the 8th century. Otherwise, swim, wander the markets, or find a café and do absolutely nothing. Breakfast is provided; lunch and dinner are on your own, a good excuse to dig into Nha Trang’s seafood.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sunrise Nha Trang or similar
After an 80-minute transfer to the Hon Gom Peninsula, we hit the road along the coastline, passing active shrimp farms and some of central Vietnam’s largest rice paddies. The route mixes gravel and dirt tracks through working countryside, with farming communities and traditional agricultural life lining the way. We overnight in Tuy Hoa, the coastal capital of Phu Yen province.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Sala Tuy Hoa Grand Hotel or similar
Cycling: 80 km (50 mi)
We cycle along the coast to Quy Nhon, capital of Binh Dinh Province. Fishing is the dominant economic activity through this stretch, and it shows: boats hauled on the beach, nets drying in the sun, and the region’s iconic round basket boats lining the harbor as we roll in. These handwoven vessels are unique to central Vietnam and a fixture of the coastline throughout the day.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Fleur de Lys Qui Nhon or similar
Cycling: 65 km (40 mi)
After a van transfer out of Quy Nhon to avoid rush hour, we settle into a long coastal ride north. The 80 km passes shrimp farms, salt flats, and local farmland, with friendly farmers as regular company along the road. After lunch at a local restaurant, a scenic transfer brings us into Quang Ngai for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: New CC Hotel or similar
Cycling: 80 km (50 mi)
The morning starts with a guided visit to the My Lai Memorial, the site of the 1968 massacre in which US forces killed hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, one of the most documented atrocities of the Vietnam War. Sobering and important. After, we cycle quiet village roads past rice paddies and colorful fishing harbors before transferring to Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose ancient old town glows with lanterns after dark. Dinner together, then the evening is yours to explore.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Anmira Resort & Spa or similar
Cycling: 60 km (38 mi)
A full rest day in one of Vietnam’s most beautiful towns. Hoi An’s UNESCO-listed old town rewards slow exploration: painted merchant facades, riverside cafés, tailor shops, and nearby beaches. We’re on hand with recommendations for where to eat and what not to miss.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Anmira Resort & Spa or similar
The hardest day on the trip, and the best. A short van transfer out of town leads to a coastal ride toward Da Nang, where the real work begins: the climb up Hai Van Pass. The road winds through switchbacks to 480 m (1,575 ft), with views of the East Sea spreading out in every direction, often cited as some of the finest coastal scenery in Vietnam. Descending is the reward. In the afternoon we ride 44 km (27 mi) of coastline into Hue, the old capital of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, farewell dinner
Accommodation: TTC Imperial Hotel or similar
Cycling: 100 km (62 mi)
Elevation: +650 m (+2,130 ft)
We begin the morning with a boat cruise on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, a seven-story tower and the most important religious building in Vietnam, before riding upstream to the Mausoleum of Emperor Gia Long, the first emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. From there, 3 km (1.9 mi) further brings us to a hidden farm for a farm-to-table lunch and organic workshop. The afternoon is free to wander Hue at our own pace.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: TTC Imperial Hotel or similar
Cycling: 30 km (18 mi)
Elevation: +200 m (+655 ft)
Breakfast is included before checkout. The day is free to explore Hue’s remaining sites independently, join a local city tour, or prepare for onward travel. Hanoi and Ha Long Bay make natural extensions for those looking to keep going.
Meals: Breakfast
Included:
Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):
Not included:
To join this Vietnam cycling holiday, good fitness is required. Expect daily cycling of 30–100 km (18–62 mi), with up to 1,000 m (3,280 ft) of elevation gain on the harder highland days, spread across 9 cycling days total.
E-bikes are provided throughout, which significantly reduces the effort on climbs. The hardest day is Day 11: 100 km (62 mi) over Hai Van Pass.
Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover more cycling tours in Southeast Asia here!
Most nationalities require a visa to enter Vietnam. The simplest option is the Vietnam e-visa, applied for online before travel and typically processed within 3 business days. Check current requirements for your nationality at the official Vietnam Immigration Department website.
We ride the Giant E+ Fathom, a reliable electric mountain bike built for exactly this kind of trip. The electric assist is smooth and unobtrusive, taking the edge off long climbs and extended distances without turning the riding into a passive experience.
The geometry is well-balanced for long days in the saddle, and the handling is stable across the mixed terrain this route throws at you, from gravel tracks and rural roads to coastal tarmac. It’s a bike designed to keep you moving comfortably all day, not to do the riding for you.
Clothing:
Gear:
First aid kit:
Optional:
Dress comfortably and for the weather. Layers are particularly useful in the highlands early in the morning, where temperatures can be noticeably cooler than on the coast.
Your main luggage travels in the support van, so you only need to carry a small day bag while riding. The welcome kit includes a cycling jersey, T-shirt, water bottle, and backpack. Bike, helmet, tool kit, and water cage are all provided.
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Group sizes and pricing
A Vietnam cycling holiday can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The price for this Vietnam cycling holiday is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout.
Solo travelers are welcome—they can either share a room with another same-gender solo traveler at no extra cost (subject to availability), or guarantee a private room by paying a single occupancy fee.
The starting point of your Vietnam cycling holiday is Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). To get there, most people fly into Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN). From there, you can take a shuttle service, public transport, or rent a car to reach Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
You will meet your guide on Day 1 for the bike fitting at 4 pm.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.