HCM City – Nha Trang – 6 Day Loop
Route Summary:
Duration: 6 days - 1,180 kms
Its easy to make this a week with an extra night in Nha Trang. There’s quite a bit to do around the area or just a day chilled out on the beach. Up in the mountains and back on the coast. The best of the South done.
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HCM City - Cat Tien via River
Distance - 165 Kms
Over a decade based in Saigon there mustn’t be a route out to the North I haven’t tried. This is one of two favourites and between the two makes the Cat Tien National Park a great weekend escape.Â
The Park covers an area of 750 km² in the provinces of Dong Nai, Bình Phuoc and Lam Dong and preserves one of the largest areas of lowland tropical forests left in Vietnam. Easy to spend some time there if natural beauty in peace and quiet appeals as a nice change of pace.
(A) Is a nice tourist development nicely located for an interesting rest stop with coffee and food available.Â
(B) A coffee shop more a a way point to keep you off the main arterial. Keep at and enjoy the next stop.Â
(C, D and E) are view points to the Tri An Lake. (C) the better of the lunch options in the area.
(F) Just a short, unavoidable stretch on the main road crossing the Dong Nai river. The fisherman live in these shanty dwellings and store their catch live in nets ready for their time at the market.Â
Some great concrete back roads through the farmland. Just the odd local tending to their rice paddies otherwise you have the place to yourself.Â
(G) is this great photo stop just shy of the night destination. This shot is many years ago. Looks a bit different these days.
(H) One of many accommodation options. I use this one mostly for its proximity to the National Park if having a day off to explore. The cabins on the river bank are basic but comfortable and affordable. The restaurant food, mostly Vietnamese is also good and reasonably priced.Â
The park is a great day out with your partner or children. Lots to see and do. The accommodation has bicycles to hire as motorcycles are not allowed to be taken across the river ferry into the park.
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Cat Tien - Ta Dung - Da Lat
Distance: 260 kms
This is a great ride day. Some will see Ta Dung and want to spend a night there. If so, May Farm 0352 649 966 is my latest accommodation favourite up there. Accommodation and views exceptional.Â
(A) takes you over this bridge and immediately into good ridingÂ
(B) is a bridge around behind the Dam Wall. The public are not allowed on the Dam Wall.Â
After this bridge which is now clean again you will come to a dam wall. Worth stopping for some photos there. Its quite impressive especially if letting some water go.
(C) on the map on your way to the Viewpoint is the best lunch alternative if you’d prefer pork ribs and bits.
(E) at Ta Dung is a great Vietnamese food lunch spot with exceptional views.
Plenty of great views with photo opportunity along the way. Some care after lunch the QL28 can in places have gravel kicked out by trucks on a few corners.
(E) Is a fuel stop marked to keep you on the best route
(F) Elephant Falls is worth dropping into. Go where the Buddha Statue is and if you’re up for the stairs great views of the surrounding farmland from her eyes.
(G) Quite a unique and well located accommodation but a plethora of options in Dalat so worth a bookings search.Â
(H) An Australian owned bar well located with good Western pub food. The chicken parmigiana as good as I’ve had anywhere in Vietnam.Â
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Dalat - Nha Trang
Distance: 140 kms
This has been one of the most variable days in the South over the last decade. The road in its best condition in good weather is hard to beat. Over the years though it has been at times in poor condition and with heavy traffic not without risk. Pretty good at the moment as I write this.
Lorelle is your host for breakfast at One More Cafe. Very cheap for the quality of the meals though 8am open so it depends how early you want to get away. Short day if only going to Nha Trang so it’s a good option.
On your way out of the city a great spot at the end of the lake for a photo.
Dalat is 1500 metres above sea level so this run off the plateau particularly if getting away early can be clouded in. Trucks and tour buses use this road and are predictably careless so be aware in those conditions.
I’ve used the best of your photo opportunities as way points but plenty of others. It’s a short day so take it in with no time pressure.
A few off roads if you feel like exploring but some a bit sketchy so I don’t promote them. Depends on your bike and experience really but on the right gear you can fill in the day playing in this area.
The last point on this route is a great beach bar right in the city. Pub prices on the beach and usually a good social starting point.
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Nha Trang - Mui Ne
Distance: 275 kms
The starting point for this map, is for those that might be ready for a Big English Breakfast. All the food is good but the breakfast a standout in Vietnam.
(A) Is one of many view points around what is certainly the best motorcycling coastal stretch in the country.
(B) The viewpoint over a protected fishing village tucked into the mountains.
(C) If up for a coffee or you’re away early this is a great breakfast stop.Â
(D) A salt farm but you’ll see more of them later.
This area to the next cape land is scattered with fish farming, salt mining, wind turbines and solar panels. Not too picturesque but interesting.
(E) The ride around the Cape is up with the best coastal rides in Vietnam. Great road and beautiful views. Â
Use the dedicated bays for photography. They are well placed and safe. Be mindful of sand on corners and often goats and cattle on the road.
Through the salt mine off the cape strong cross winds are usual so keep speed down there if so.
A short unavoidable stretch on the A1 as you pass the Power Station. We get off as soon as possible though back on the absolute coast road.
(F) the bridge out of a larger fishing village. Pretty much last services are there.
(G) is some fun in the dunes. Hire a 4WD with a driver or take your own quad bike. Barter on price. They will get you if they can.
(H) will take you through the fishing township to your night stop.
(I) one of many accommodation recommendations. All good for different reasons.
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Mui Ne - Vung Tau via Coast
Distance: 195 kms
As is my habit, a morning swim in any beach town is a great start to the day. Mui Ne though is not the beach paradise of the last few days if you’ve been coming down the coast.
Some areas are decent but unless staying at the adjoining beachside resort most are inaccessible to the public. In most of the town there simply is no beach at all.
All accommodation options have a good pool to fix this problem and we have a great time here regardless. A big breakfast and we get out of town on the coast.
This is a simple and relaxing relatively short day to Vietnam’s Southernmost beach town on the mainland.
(A) Is a viewpoint to keep you off the A1.
(B)Â At 64 metres high and built by the French in 1899 the oldest and highest lighthouse in Vietnam. A great first stop to have a walk and check out the area.Â
(C) One of two recommended lunch stops. Good VIetnamese menu right on the beach so a swim opportunity also.
(D) If a seafood lunch appeals this is the best of many great restaurants in the area.
(E & F) Takes you through a fishing village.
(G & H) PÃns to keep you on the coast to our preferred accommodation options.
(I) Twisted Throttle Tavern for a few cold beers and great pub food.
Vung Tau, the city I choose to base myself, has over 500,000 residents but doesn’t feel that big. A clean city with a good year around climate and a lot to offer visitors. To date not particularly well marketed but I feel that will change with the development of the beach areas in progress and planned for the near future.
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Vung Tau - Cat Lai Ferry via River
Distance: 145 kms
Most I talk to say how bad the ride to Saigon is and yes the QL51 is up with the worst roads in the country. They have a very different view after taking this. One of my two favourites. Â
We start out through a fishing village then cross the main road for a farmland ride. Later there’s a short highway link to the river tracks all the way to the river ferry into HCMC.Â
(A)Â Is simply a way point to take you out of town on the newly developed Back Beach esplanade.Â
(B and C)Â Are two of my favourite seafood restaurants in the area. (B) on the water, the pick. Marked on this may primarily to take you off the main arterial and through a fishing village.Â
(D) Is a winding bitumen road and the best of the ride if time allows. There’s plenty of off tracks and temples to explore up there also.Â
(E) Is a lovely lake area where we turn West through some tracks back towards the highway.
There is a short unavoidable stint on the QL51 before the left turn which gets you back on some quiet back roads again. The river tracks this side of the highway are very different to the farmland adding great diversity to the day. Â
There’s plenty to keep you interested. This isn’t a fast ride but one to relax and take it all in along the way.Â
(F) This water park is surprisingly busy in holiday times given how remote it is.Â
Historically as some photos show these tracks were unsealed and rough in places. They are almost all concrete now so it’s an option for all bike styles.Â
(G & H) Are two Ma and Pa cafes only marked to get you on the right tracks.Â
If with a group of mates this temple just a few kms before the ferry, roadside is great photo stop.Â
(I) The river ferry before a 12km ride to Saigon Motorcycles at 36 Quoc Huong, Thao Dien, D2.Â
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These are supplied to all our touring bike customers.
(Excluded from the above itinerary)Â
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These are supplied to all our touring bike customers and excluded from the above itinerary.
