From Vietnamese north to south, the climate varies heavily. As a result, finding the right season to take Vietnam cycling tours is a bit difficult. The north is cyclically humid: chilly from November to April and very hot from Mai to October. On the contrary, it is tropical in the south: warm to very hot all year long, but monsoon season from May to October.
From North to South
Your cycling Vietnam tours start in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, where you will get overpowered by the traffic. It is already very crowded on the highway from the airport into the city. And the streets are lined with thousands of scooters. The closer you get to the city center, the fuller the streets get, although it is almost impossible.
You can take a tour up north from Hanoi to Sa Pa. It takes about 10 hours to reach the destination, Lao Cai. The highlands are located very close to the Chinese border and full of endless beauty: luscious landscapes, cascading rice terraces, and mysterious minority cultures. You had better bring warm cloth when you visit off-season because it can get down to 0°C. You will go on a day-long cycling trip across Sa Pa in a very small group of people accompanied by H’mong women.
Going back via Ha Noi your cycling Vietnam routes in the north might take you to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You instantly feel like being part of Walt Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean on arriving at the bay. It is incredible, just like in the movies! From Ha Long Bay, you can ride to Ninh Binh and desire to visit the so-called Dry Ha Long Bay – Tam Coc.
The former imperial capital Hué might be the next destination of your Vietnam cycling tours in the north. It is packed with temples, tombs, palaces and pagodas. In here you may find glad to unpack your sandals. Then you might want to cycle around so that you can have a wonderful view onto the sea. The train takes you to the picturesque town of Hoi An, known as the highlight of any trip to Vietnam.
From the South to North
Ho Chi Minh City and is a quintessential busy South East Asian hub and is worth visiting during your Vietnam adventure holidays. It has careening traffic (you WILL get to know how to dodge numerous motorbikes), great bars, nightlife and more attractions than you can expect. The War Remnants Museum is a poignant reminder of the horrors of the Vietnam War (known in Vietnam as “Resistance War against America”) and essential for a deeper understanding of the history of the country you’re about to travel through. This big city is also the jump off to visit the fascinating Củ Chi tunnels and for trips down to the Mekong delta.
Taking a 7 – 9-hour ride from Ho Chi Minh City, you will reach the intriguing inland town of Da Lat. This is an odd place where you can feel like more of a European alpine center than a South East Asian town! The mountainous countryside around the city is beautiful so you should make sure to take cycling tours to tourist attractions in Vietnam like the Thien Vien Truc Lam monastery and check out the Datanla waterfall of the south.
After 3 hours from Da Lat (or a 6 – 8-hour train journey from Ho Chi Minh City if you choose to miss out the Vietnamese Alps), you will see the lively seaside town of Nha Trang is a mainstay during your cycling in Vietnam tours. Just kick back and relax on the golden beaches during the day before you go to one of the many friendly bars when the sun goes down to grab a tasty Hanoi or Saigon beer.
Moreover, you can jump on a boat to explore the nearby islands or discover the underwater world of the South China Sea on a scuba dive course. Also, you can find quieter stretches of sand further up the coast including the white sands of Doc Let which is ranked as one of Vietnam’s best beaches.
In the end, Vietnam is a country of beauty. Whether you decide to take Vietnam cycling tours in the south or the north, you will always receive a worth reward: beautiful scenery, friend locals, delicious food and other unexpected but memorable experience.
