Cycling Vietnam's Central Coast

Vietnam’s Central Coast is a stunning fusion of elements where the Annamite Mountains meet the South China Sea. Pedal along tranquil routes through lush rice fields, past crashing surf on pristine beaches, over challenging mountain passes, and to untouched seaside refuges, exploring layers of history from the Hindu Cham civilization down through the Nguyen dynasty and the war years. You will experience the prosperity and dynamism of the thriving new Vietnam, rest at cozy hotels, and savor meals shoulder to shoulder with the locals.

Our journey begins with an elegant ride in Hue, Vietnam’s capital under the feudal Nguyen dynasty, replete with meticulously-crafted palaces, tombs and gardens designed by geomancers in this serene countryside. Riding south, we witness the awesome scale of Vietnamese fisheries and aquaculture amid a surreal background of jagged jungle-covered mountains jutting high over topaz saltwater lagoons. Soaring above Da Nang on the iconic Hai Van Pass, we enjoy an exhilarating descent and plunge into the exotic atmosphere of Hoi An, redolent with the legacy of the spice and silk trades that continue to shape its identity. We cycle to My Son, the capital of the ancient Hindu Cham civilization, then follow seaside roads into rustic villages on a rugged coastline that sparks the imagination and tests the legs. A visit to the memorial site of the My Lai massacre will connect us to the war years and the ferocious conflicts that consumed this region within living memory. We fittingly relax at the end of the trip with a stay on Whale Island, a sparkling ocean paradise where we can soak in the unmarred natural beauty and truly kick back after our days in the saddle.