14-Day Vietnam Adventure Tour from Saigon with Cycling and Halong Bay

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Day 01

Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City

• Welcome to Saigon and settle in at your hotel during the day. Later, at 6 p.m., meet your tour leader for a brief lowdown on the tour.
• Once you are done with the formalities, follow them around the neighbourhood to get a sense of the place and see Vietnamese fare.

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Day 02

Cycle to Ben Tre

• It's time to test your wheels as you head off to Ben Tre in the morning. Fringed by green surroundings, cover the first 25 km of your ride, rolling to a stop at intervals to witness villagers going about their daily tasks of weaving mats out of coconut straw, as well as making the famous coconut candy produced here.
• Negotiate your way on board a traditional sampan after lunch, and when you step onto terra firma on the other side, continue on your bikes to Le Jardin du Mekong, your accommodation set in the midst of orchards.

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Day 03

Cu Chi Tunnels and Return to Saigon

• After a hearty breakfast, supplemented by a restful night and a quiet, peaceful morning at the lodge, make for the Cu Chi Tunnels to learn the ingenious methods employed by the Viet Cong soldiers to evade American troops during the war.
• Get a first-hand experience of the tunnels by walking through one of its sections, which was part of an extensive network and served as a veritable underground city.
• Once you've had your questions answered and satisfied your curiosity here, swing back onto your bike and head for Saigon.

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Day 04

Ride North to La Gi

• Steer towards the north of Saigon, past villages and a rural backdrop, to ultimately halt for the night at the laid-back coastal town of La Gi.

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Day 05

Coastal Ride to Cam Ranh via Vinh Hy

• Thread your way along the La Gi coast for a warm-up ride of approximately 20 km, and then take a transfer to Vinh Hy, one of those gems ferreted secretly away from the prying eye of tourism.
• Once you get to Vinh Hy, get out on your saddles again and pedal through a jaw-dropping landscape bordered by mountains, a blue expanse of sea, green grape fields, and salt flats until you reach Cam Ranh, your halt for the night.

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Day 06

Leisure Day in Cam Ranh

• Take a break from cycling today and spend a lazy day combing the sandy white beaches or exploring the area around Cam Ranh Bay. Make a splash in the clear blue waters or cast an eye over the coral reefs as you go snorkelling.
• Polish off the afternoon by listening to the lives of the locals here as you eat your traditional lunch, prepared by a family that owns a fish farm.

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Day 07

Ride and Transfer to Quy Nhon

• Extract just a little more out of Cam Ranh in the morning as you bike around the area to sample more of the simple life around here.
• Transfer to Vung Ro, another equally attractive bay with three mountain ranges converging upon it, the starting point of the second half of your ride.
• After riding through 50 km, much of it accompanied by spectacular scenery, hitch a ride back on the van to Quy Nhon, where you'll be bunking down for the night.

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Day 08

From Quy Nhon to Hoi An

• Largely escaping the radar of tourists, Quy Nhon is a delight, with its coastline marked by pristine beaches and a sea dotted with fishing boats bobbing and swaying hypnotically, as if replicating the city's steady, unhurried pace.
• Catch these sights, along with those of the traditional aquaculture methods practised in the Thi Nai Lagoon, in the morning before setting your sights on Hoi An.

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Day 09

Explore Ancient Hoi An

• Wake up to explore the treasures of Hoi An as you follow your tour leader through the nooks and crannies of this ancient town shaped by the cultures of France, China, and Japan. An important port a few centuries ago, Hoi An still preserves no fewer than 800 buildings that stand witness to its history and age. Work your way around those accessible to the public, or wander through this charming town, gazing every so often at the many shrines, pagodas, and especially the Japanese Bridge that swings across its canal.
• For those still itching to get on their bikes, Hoi An harbours some of the most beautiful scenery and beaches in its surroundings, ideal for cycling. Check with your tour leader on how to approach these and the other options available during your time spent here.

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Day 10

Scenic Ride over Hai Van Pass to Hue

• Today is the longest day in the saddle, yet one that doesn't feel like it because of the spectacular scenery accompanying you as you crank up the gears and edge up to the crest. A strip of beige sand heads off the sparkling blue waters on one side, and a sea of green forest covers the other, while the mist-covered hills watch your steady progress.
• Once over the Hai Van Pass, wheel onto the smaller roads, taking a break at the picturesque Lap An Lagoon and then continuing through the countryside, past tiny villages, before calling it a day in Hue.

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Day 11

Hue Heritage and Overnight Train

• Founded in 1601 and constructed later in the 1800s, the Thien Mu Pagoda indicates Hue's importance during the old days. Saddle up and head to this site, taking in its interiors as well as the views of the Perfume River before riding to the Imperial Citadel to get a deeper insight into the world of kings, queens, and courtiers who walked along the palace walls, temples, and shrines.
• There's still a lot to do here in Hue, including a visit to the Tu Duc Tomb or simply wandering around the ancient streets and sampling the food and markets in equal measure. Take pointers from your tour leader to ascertain what fits into your schedule before you board the overnight train tonight that sets you up for your next destination.

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Day 12

Travel to Halong Bay Cruise

• You'll be arriving quite early in the morning in Hanoi, so go directly to your hotel, where you can freshen up and have breakfast before journeying on to the spectacular Halong Bay.
• Board your cruise and enter the magical realm of karst mountains rising resplendent from ethereal emerald waters. If the weather permits, take a dip in these waters or slice through them with your paddle as you kayak under caves and other equally fascinating geological formations.

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Day 13

Halong Bay to Hanoi Old Quarter

• Rise to the sound of water lapping against your cruiser and dawdle around for just a little while in the true beauty of the bay until it's time to get back to Hanoi. Once in Hanoi, join your tour leader to explore the Old Quarter - a maze of small alleys housing colonial buildings, sidewalk cafés, pagodas, art galleries, old-style houses, and so much more.
• After you've had your fill of the Old Quarter, get together for a final dinner with a Bia hoi to wash it all down - a perfect way to cap your adventures in Vietnam.

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Day 14

Departure from Hanoi

• It's time now to bid farewell to your group leader and new friends, but not without a backpack full of memories.