What It’s Like to Ride a Vietnam Cycling Tour from Saigon to Hue

Cycling Vietnam is one of the most immersive ways to experience the country’s landscapes, culture, and everyday life. On this Saigon to Hue bike tour, riders travel from the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City through the cool Central Highlands and along Vietnam’s spectacular coastline to the historic imperial city of Hue.

In this episode of the Active Travel Adventures Podcast, I interviewed two experienced cyclists, Jeff and Ed, who completed a 13-day Vietnam gravel bike tour with Art of Bicycle Trips.

Email Kit for the current, exclusive Promo Code

“Every five minutes you’re riding through something completely different — a village, a farm, a valley, or along the coast. It never gets monotonous.”
— Ed, Vietnam cycling tour rider

Their South Vietnam cycling journey included:

• Riding through coffee plantations and rice paddies

• Cycling quiet gravel roads through fishing villages

• Descending from Vietnam’s highlands to the coast

• Interacting with farmers, villagers, small merchants and schoolchildren

• Exploring temples and imperial mausoleums in Hue

While this particular tour is more challenging than many of the cycling trips I normally recommend, Art of Bicycle Trips offers a wide range of cycling tours across Vietnam — from relaxed cultural rides to adventurous gravel expeditions like this one.  

Be sure to email me for the current Promo Code!

“Almost every day we interacted with locals. Our guide would stop and start chatting with a farmer, and the next thing we knew we were getting a tour of their farm.”
— Jeff, Vietnam cycling tour rider

Vietnam Gravel Bike Tour Highlights

Jeff and Ed described this trip as one of the most varied cycling experiences they’ve ever had.

Highlights of the ride included:

Cycling Through Vietnam’s Central Highlands

The tour begins in the cooler mountain region of Vietnam’s Central Highlands. These hills are covered in coffee plantations and agricultural and fishing villages.

Temperatures here are much more comfortable than the humid lowlands, making it an ideal place to start a cycling adventure.  You generally need a sweater in the evenings.

Descending from the Highlands to the Coast

One of the most thrilling moments of the trip was a massive descent from the highlands down to the coast.

Riders dropped nearly 1,600 meters (about one mile) of elevation over a long downhill that lasted almost half an hour.

“Dropping from the central highlands down to the coast felt like riding in the Alps — nearly a mile of descent in about 30 minutes — an incredibly long and fast descent with stunning scenery. ” – Ed

Cycling Vietnam’s Coastline

Much of the route follows Vietnam’s beautiful central coastline.

Cyclists ride past:

• fishing villages

• sandy beaches

• oceanfront roads

• harbors filled with colorful fishing boats

These coastal stretches provide some of the most scenic riding of the entire trip.

Cultural Encounters with Local Communities

One of the greatest joys of cycling Vietnam is the interaction with local people.

Jeff and Ed described numerous spontaneous encounters, including:

• farmers inviting them to see their crops

• children running up to them after school to practice their English

• visits to local markets and craft villages

These experiences felt authentic because they happened naturally along the route rather than being staged for tourists.

“The encounters we had with local people were completely authentic. They weren’t staged for tourists — we’d just stop and start talking with farmers or villagers along the way.”

Email Kit for an exclusive Promo Code for your Art of Bicycle Trips cycling tour of South Vietnam (or any of their biking, hiking or multi-activity worldwide tours)!

Having a knowledgeable local guide made the trip both easier and more enriching.

“The routes were chosen intentionally so we could experience a variety of landscapes and villages. It wasn’t just riding from city to city — it was about seeing Vietnam.”
— Jeff, Vietnam cycling tour rider

“It opened my eyes to Asia. Now I want to go back and ride in Thailand, Cambodia, and Japan.” – Ed, tour rider

Vietnam Cycling Tour FAQ

Is Vietnam a good destination for cycling tours?

Yes, Vietnam is considered one of the best cycling destinations in Southeast Asia. The country has an extensive network of quiet rural roads, scenic coastlines, and agricultural landscapes that are perfect for exploring by bike.

Cyclists can ride through rice paddies, fishing villages, coffee plantations, and historic towns while interacting with local communities along the way.

Because the scenery changes frequently, cycling Vietnam offers a constantly engaging experience compared with long highway rides in many other countries.

How difficult is the Saigon to Hue bike tour?

The Saigon to Hue gravel bike tour is considered moderate to challenging.

Riders typically cycle between 40 and 60 miles per day on a mix of paved roads, gravel tracks, and rural paths. Some days include climbing through Vietnam’s Central Highlands followed by long descents toward the coast.

However, the tour includes a support vehicle, so riders can skip sections if needed.

Art of Bicycle Trips also offers easier Vietnam cycling tours, including shorter rides and e-bike options for travelers who want a less demanding experience.  Email Kit for an exclusive discount Promo Code!

What is the best time of year for a Vietnam cycling tour?

The best time for cycling Vietnam is generally during the dry season between December and April.  However, most Art of Bicycle Vietnam cycling tours are offered year ’round, and if you go during the wet season, you might appreciate the refreshiing rain.

During the Dry Period riders can expect:

• Lower rainfall

• Comfortable temperatures

• Clearer skies along the coast

Jeff and Ed completed their ride in late January, which also allowed them to experience the festive atmosphere leading up to Vietnam’s Lunar New Year celebration known as Tết.  Check out the dates of the major Vietnam holidays HERE.

How far do you ride each day on a Vietnam bike tour?

Daily distances depend on the specific itinerary, but on this Saigon to Hue cycling tour, riders averaged about 65–95 km (40–60 miles) per day.

Tours designed for beginner or recreational cyclists may include shorter distances of 20–40 miles per day.  Check descriptions and with the tour operator to make sure you choose an appropriate tour for your skill level.

Many tour operators also offer e-bike options, allowing riders to enjoy the scenery without worrying about the physical challenge.

Do you need to be an experienced cyclist to ride in Vietnam?

For a challenging gravel tour like the Saigon to Hue route, previous cycling experience and good fitness are recommended.

However, many Vietnam cycling tours are designed for recreational riders. These tours feature shorter daily distances, smoother terrain, and support vehicles.

Some tours also offer electric bikes, making them accessible to travelers who simply want to explore the countryside without intense physical effort.

What makes cycling Vietnam different from other bike tours?

Cycling Vietnam offers a unique combination of:

• diverse landscapes

• rich cultural encounters

• exceptional local food

• affordable travel costs

Because many routes use rural roads rather than highways, cyclists often ride through villages where tourism is rare. This creates authentic interactions with local people and provides a deeper cultural experience.

How to train for a Vietnam bike tour?

For me, an avid hiker with strong legs, I have to spend more time getting my rear end used to sitting on the saddle for 4-5 hours per day.  You will need to plan your training based on how challenging the tour is that you choose and how experienced you are cycling.

I like to look at what I will need my body to do and then work backwards.  I also like to train for about 10% more effort than the tour will require.  For example:

• If the longest cycling day is 40 miles, I will train to 45 miles.  And if I am currently comfortable cycling 15 miles, I will plan to increase my milage 20% per week.  That means I will need seven weeks to train: Week 1: 15 miles  Week 2: 18 miles  Week 3: 22 miles  Week 4: 26 miles  Week 5: 31 miles  Week 6: 37 miles  Week 7: 45 miles.  Remember that this Vietnam gravel bike tour is for experienced riders and you would need to train to be comfortable doing 65 miles per day!  If you need help figuring out your training program, schedule a free consultaion with my friend and affiliate Becki at Trailblazer Wellness.  Using what you already have access to, she can develop your training program from home or your gym.  Mention ATA to save 10%!

What to pack for a Vietnam bike tour?

Vietnam is humid so plan to pack only performance clothes that wick and dry quickly:

• 2-3 Biking shirts

• 1-2 Bike sleeves for sun protection

• 1-2 Padded Bike shorts

• You can rent a helmet or bring your own

• Consider a bike helmet visor
• Rain jacket
• Wind jacket
• Sunglasses and holder
• If you have a sensitive rear end like I do, consider packing a padded seat cover or bringing your own saddle.
• If you are a hard core cyclist, you may want to bring your own bike monitors, mirrors, pedals and clip on shoes.
• Laundry sheets to wash clothes in the sink or use laundry service
• 2-3 Tops for travel and touring/off days
• 2 slacks or skirts for travel and touring/off days
• Lightweight sweater for cooler evenings
• Undergarments and toiketries

Because many routes use rural roads rather than highways, cyclists often ride through villages where tourism is rare. This creates authentic interactions with local people and provides a deeper cultural experience.

Lodging and Food on the ABT Vietnam Cycling Tour

One of the pleasant surprises on this Art of Bicycle Trips Vietnam cycling tour from Saigon to Hue was the high quality of the lodging and food along the way. After long days of riding through the countryside, it was wonderful to arrive at comfortable hotels and enjoy excellent local cuisine.

Comfortable 4 Star+ Hotels — Often Right on the Beach

Jeff and Ed stayed in a series of well-located hotels throughout the trip, many of them four-star properties with ocean views. Because travel costs in Vietnam are relatively affordable compared with North America or Europe, tour operators are able to include accommodations that feel quite luxurious.

Several of the hotels were located right along the coast, offering beautiful views and easy access to the beach. After a day on the bike, riders could relax in air-conditioned rooms, take a shower, and enjoy a cold drink while watching the sun set over the water.

Even though the cycling itself was adventurous, the lodging provided a comfortable place to recover each evening.

Delicious Vietnamese Cuisine

Food was another highlight of the tour. Vietnamese cuisine is fresh, flavorful, and perfect for active travelers who need plenty of energy for cycling.  

Meals during the trip included a wide variety of traditional dishes such as:

• pho, Vietnam’s famous noodle soup

• rice noodle dishes with fresh herbs and vegetables

• seafood specialties from the coastal regions

• curries and stir-fried dishes

• Vietnamese hot pot

Many meals were arranged by the guide, who ordered a selection of dishes for the table so everyone could sample different flavors.

Jeff, who is vegetarian, noted that finding vegetarian options in Vietnam was surprisingly easy, and restaurants were very accommodating.

Affordable Dining and Memorable Meals

Another thing that surprised the riders was how affordable dining in Vietnam can be. Even meals at very good restaurants were inexpensive compared with prices in North America.  Many of their meals were included with the tour, but they also had the chance to select intriguing restaurants on their own (often with guide tips to great local finds).

The tour even began with a welcome dinner at a Michelin-recognized restaurant, a memorable way to start the adventure.

After long days cycling through rice paddies, fishing villages, and mountain roads, sharing delicious Vietnamese food together became one of the most enjoyable parts of the journey.

Why Vietnam Is One of the Best Countries in Asia for Cycling

Vietnam has quickly become one of the best cycling destinations in Asia.

Here’s why:

Diverse Landscapes

Within a single trip you can experience mountains, farmland, coastlines, and historic cities.

Quiet Rural Roads

Many cycling routes follow small agricultural roads rather than busy highways.

Incredible Food

Vietnamese cuisine is fresh, flavorful, and perfect for active travelers.

Friendly Local Communities

Vietnamese people are welcoming and curious about visitors.

Excellent Value for Travel

Compared with many other destinations, Vietnam offers outstanding value for accommodations, meals, and guided tours.

Key Takeaways from This Vietnam Cycling Tour

Here are the biggest insights from Jeff and Ed’s experience:

• Vietnam is an incredible destination for cycling adventures.

• Gravel routes provide access to rural areas most tourists never see.

• A local guide adds cultural insight and logistical support.

• The scenery changes constantly, keeping every day exciting.

• Vietnam offers exceptional value for active travel.

For experienced cyclists seeking a unique adventure, a Vietnam gravel bike tour like this one can be truly unforgettable.

Planning Your Own Vietnam Cycling Tour

Art of Bicycle Trips offers many cycling tours across Vietnam, including:

• beginner-friendly cultural bike tours

• moderate multi-day rides

• challenging gravel bike expeditions

• e-bike friendly tours

So whether you want a relaxed ride through rice paddies or a demanding gravel adventure like the Saigon to Hue route, there’s likely a tour that fits your style.  Don’t forget to email me for the current Promo Code!

More Cycling Adventures You Might Enjoy

If cycling Vietnam inspires you, here are a few other bike tours featured on the Active Travel Adventures Podcast and in this website:

• Amsterdam to Bruges Cycling Tour and other Bike and Barge Tours

• Cycling the Danube Bike Path from Passau to Vienna (easy!)

• Bike Vietnam and Cambodia (including Angkor Wat)

• Bike Northern Thailand
• Cycle Unspoiled Sri Lanka

Each of these tours offers a different type of cycling experience, from relaxed cultural rides to challenging adventure routes.

Scroll down for the complete transcript of my podcast interview of Jeff and Ed.

(C) Active Travel Adventures LLC – All Rights Reserved

Full Podcast Transcript

Cycling Vietnam: Saigon to Hue Gravel Bike Tour

Below is the full transcript from the Active Travel Adventures Podcast episode about cycling Vietnam from Saigon to Hue. In this conversation, host Kit Parks speaks with experienced cyclists Jeff and Ed, who share their firsthand experience riding a challenging gravel bike tour through southern and central Vietnam with Art of Bicycle Tours (Email Kit to get the current exclusive Promo Code).

Key Moments in This Episode

• Why Vietnam is an excellent destination for gravel cycling

• Riding from the Central Highlands down to the coast

• Authentic interactions with farmers and villagers

• What surprised Jeff and Ed most about cycling Vietnam

• Advice for cyclists considering a Vietnam bike tour

Introduction

Below is the complete transcript from the Active Travel Adventures podcast episode about cycling Vietnam from Saigon to Hue. 

Kit:
Today we’re going to be cycling the rugged back roads and coastlines of southern Vietnam. We’ll see the coffee-growing highlands, shrimp farms, small fishing villages, pagodas and temples, and the historic city that was once home to Vietnam’s emperors. It’s an exciting and authentic experience of southern Vietnam, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

So let’s get started.

Welcome to the Active Travel Adventures Podcast. I’m your host, Kit Parks. Today I’ve asked Jeff and Ed to come on the program to talk about their recent cycling adventure in southern Vietnam.

Now, I do want to give a quick warning: this was a fairly challenging trip. But my affiliate partner Art of Bicycle Tripsoffers many cycling tours in Vietnam, so you can choose one that fits your level of comfort and how much you want to ride. Some tours even offer e-bike options.

So let’s jump into my interview with Jeff and Ed and hear about their experience cycling across southern Vietnam on a 13-day tour.

Meet the Riders

Kit:
I’ve asked Ed and Jeff to come on the show today to tell us about their recent bike tour in Vietnam. Welcome to the program—I appreciate you coming on.

Jeff:
Oh, you’re welcome. Happy to be here.

Ed:
Glad to be here.

Kit:
I actually just met them through the newsletter, so I don’t know much about them yet. Jeff, why don’t we start with you? Tell us how you got into adventure travel.

Jeff’s Story

Jeff:
Sure. I’m 62—turning 63 soon—and I’ve been doing adventure travel for about 15 years.

Before that our trips were mostly family vacations with the kids. But when I turned 50 I started increasing my physical activity quite a bit. I joined a cycling club in Oakville where we live and got into better shape.

I started cycling, running, and hiking more. My wife Diane is also very much into adventure travel, so about 15 years ago we began doing more adventurous trips.

Since then we’ve traveled to places like the Grand Canyon and Sedona for hiking, and we did the Tour du Mont Blanc a couple of years ago. And the more we do, the more we want to do.

Ed’s Story

Kit:
Ed, how about you? How did you get into adventure travel?

Ed:
For me there were two phases: before kids and after the kids left home.

When I was younger I traveled to Nepal and India, went around China, and backpacked through Egypt. But once you’re raising a family, travel changes. It becomes camping trips and Disneyland.

After the kids grew up, I started traveling more again. Jeff and I are about the same age and both retired, and we share a love of cycling.

I’ve been ramping up my cycling for about 15 years now. During the pandemic I rode even more and started doing cycling trips a few times a year.

I’ve ridden in Europe and western Canada, but I’d never been to Asia. So this year we decided it was time.

Why Vietnam?

Kit:
Asia is huge. Why Vietnam?

Ed:
Timing was part of it. Some Asian destinations are too cold in winter—Japan, for example, had snow when we passed through Tokyo.

Vietnam has a tropical climate and a great network of gravel roads. It’s not jungle riding—it’s plantations, farms, aquaculture areas, and rural villages.

Those areas have lots of small concrete or gravel roads, which makes them perfect for gravel biking.

Booking the Tour

Kit:
Jeff, you went with my affiliate partner Art of Bicycle Trips. How was your experience with them?

Jeff:
It was excellent.

Actually, Ed and I had previously done the Camino de Costa Rica, which we found through your podcast. Based on that experience, when Ed suggested Vietnam and mentioned it was with Art of Bicycle Trips, that helped convince me.

The booking process was smooth and communication was good.

Once we arrived in Saigon they partnered us with a local company called Mr. Biker Saigon, which handled the on-the-ground logistics.

Everything was first-rate. They met us on time, the routes were excellent, lunches were ready when we arrived, and there were always snacks and drinks available.

Why a Guide Helped

Ed:
I’ve done bike tours where I navigated on my own, but Vietnam was different.

We didn’t speak the language, and many of the routes went through rice paddies and small dirt tracks. Having a guide made a big difference.

We also had a support driver who met us at rest stops with fruit, drinks, and electrolytes.

That level of support made the trip much easier.

Cultural Encounters

Kit:
One thing I love about adventure travel is how it connects you with local people.

Jeff:
Absolutely. We interacted with locals almost every day.

For example, our guide stopped at a durian farm and started chatting with the farmer. Soon we were taking selfies together.

Moments like that made the trip feel authentic.

The Cycling Route

The trip started in Saigon, which is hot and humid.

Because traffic there is intense, the tour began with a transfer out of the city before we started riding.

From there we cycled into the Central Highlands, where the climate is cooler. After that we rode toward the coast and followed the coastline north.

Eventually we reached Hue, the historic imperial capital of Vietnam.

Riding Through Villages

One of the highlights was riding through rural villages.

Sometimes we’d pass a school just as classes ended. The kids would run out and say “Hello!” and ask our names. They were practicing their English.

We also rode through fishing villages where narrow paths suddenly opened onto wide ocean views.

Food and Accommodation

Vietnam was very affordable compared to North America.

Meals were inexpensive, and because of that the tour included excellent accommodations—mostly four-star hotels, often right on the beach.

The food was fantastic: pho, noodle dishes, curries, and even Vietnamese hot pot.

Training for the Ride

Kit:
What kind of preparation would someone need?

Ed:
For this particular tour you should be an experienced cyclist.

The distances were significant and some sections required good bike-handling skills.

But there are many easier tours available, and some offer e-bikes.

Final Thoughts

Kit:
How did this trip compare with your other adventures?

Ed:
It really opened my eyes to Asia. Now I want to go back and ride in Thailand, Cambodia, and Japan.

Jeff:
The scenery, the culture, the food, and the interactions with local people made it unforgettable. It was my first visit to Asia and it couldn’t have been a better introduction.

Kit:
Thank you both so much for coming on the show.

Jeff:
Thanks, Kit.

Ed:
Nice talking with you.

“This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.”