HCM City – Ta Dung – 6 Day Loop
Route Summary:
Duration: 6 days - 1,160 kms
This is fitting a lot of good stuff into six days. Some great mountain riding, my of two favourite accommodations in the South, some wilderness, the city of love, some beach. The last day back to Saigon is 300k’s the way I’ve mapped it in the mountains but you can knock 100km off that going direct or opt for a night in Vung Tau to make it a neat week.
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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
Distance: 200 kms
If you’ve ridden with me or followed our rides you’ll know I enjoy the dawn. This is one of the places the early riser is rewarded. The rogue rooster doing his thing somewhere down the river. Some Gibbons singing if you’re lucky. Just do it!
If you’d like to explore Cat Tien a little. The Gibbon Island tour is informative and a great morning walk through the jungle. The first boat crosses the river at 7am. Check with your accommodation for up to the minute on that.
Go early and you’ll still get this day in but if back to nature is your thing a great area to spend an extra day if you have the time.
This map is around 200 km and is all sealed so a leisurely day with loads of great photo opportunities.
Although Google doesn’t recognise it, there is a bridge between (A) and (B) and it’s a nice way to go. Once over the bridge the map will correct your route.
North with a couple of minor diversions until the left turn West. This stretch is up with my favourite roads in the South. Very open and quiet so on the right machine encourages spirited riding.
(C) is a beautiful area. Often paragliding seen here
You’ll run around the back of the Dong Nai River dam wall which creates the lakes system and the beauty of Ta Dung separating the Dak Nong and Lam Dong provinces.
(D) This Waterfall isn’t up with Vietnam’s most spectacular, but a nice ride in, so worth the detour.
From here to the night stay some great views but keep your focus on the job. Gravel at times kicked onto the road by heavy vehicles.
(E) A good first proper look at the lakes system.
(F) Very impressive also from your night stop.
If travelling with ladies in the group I strongly recommend including this in your itinerary as a night stop. The accommodation really isn’t anything special but food and the views are very good and the place is loaded with interesting photo opportunities that the girls tend to love. At least a lunch stop.
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Ta Dung - Dalat
Distance: 100 kms
Ta Dung is most often a lunch stop for me as it’s ideally located for that with great roads around it to and from numerous night stops. If with a partner particularly, a great night stay also. Beds aren’t amazing but food and views make up for that.
A short day to Dalat so plenty of time to take in the lakes system you follow early.
(A) From this point you’ll see some fire spotter towers. Good photos from up above the lake system if you don’t have a drone. Pretty tight through here and trucks will sometimes throw gravel onto corners so mindful of that.
(B & C) Cafes I use. Coffee is better in the first, the view, better the second.
After the lakes it’s farmland on an even better road surface. The gravel is gone and it opens up so if on a big banger its game on. Why anyone takes main arterials to Dalat is beyond me.
(D) another of many great viewpoints along this stretch. The girls seem to like it.
(E & F) Waterfalls. The first worth the detour particularly in wet season the second climb up into the statue for great countryside views if you’re feeling fit. The base is worth a look in any case and around it the best view to the waterfall.
(G) a good detour to a mechanics workshop if any bike tweaks are necessary. Also a Cafe with great food.
(H) a unique accommodation option well located but a plethora of choices in Dalat so worth a Bookings search for a bargain.
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Da Lat - Sorrento Beach Club
Distance: 215 kms
This is one of my favourite ride days in the South. A mix of great mountain and valley riding with some incredibly beautiful coastline thrown in.
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. I recommend a good breakfast in any case as a good lunch spot I’m still yet to find on the route.
The morning ride off the plateau is a ripper.
(A) Some ladies selling fruit and drinks just before the big descent is a great first stop. This lovely lady has been looking after me there for years.
At the bottom of the descent plenty of cafes before the left turn where you start to follow the Cai River.
(B) A waterfall detour. It’s a bit of a trek in and with swim or fishing spots everywhere through there if you’re keen, an easy one to leave out.
(C) On the top of another range with views to the coast on a clear day is a must stop.
A short highway link then the coast ride around the headlands to your night stop is one of the best coastal rides in the country.
D, E, F & G all way points strategically placed as great photo stops before your night stop.
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Sorrento Club - Mui Ne
Distance: 180 kms
Trust me on this. If you don’t party too hard with Rachel and Ty at the bar the night before the dawn here is a nice experience. Not a swimming beach so much but two great pools for that. A good beach walk and on low tide the locals out digging for shellfish.
Breakfast on this ride is recommended starting at 7.30am. Ty’s usually around well before that though to get the coffee brewing. Only Vietnamese offerings through Phan Rang which I don’t map into this day and until you get to your destination really so I tend to go straight through for an early dinner.
(A) The salt farm and fish farming area is far from the picturesque coast line on either side of it but interesting and you’ll see more of them later.
This map pretty much bypasses Phan Rang City. Can go for a look in but really not too much of interest.
(B) This area is stunning. The ride around the Cape is up with the best coastal rides in Vietnam. Great road and beautiful views.
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 mines off the cape be aware 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.
(C) is a pebbly, rugged coastline you might like to check out.
(D) a larger fishing village. Pretty much the last services are there.
(E) takes you right to the beach. You can use that road all the way through if you have the time. You’ll find good isolated swim spots down there if you beat the wind.
(F) 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.
(G) will take you through the fishing township to your night stop.
(H) You might like to check out the Fairy Stream. I haven’t been there for a while but they had Ostrich rides there which were fun.
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Mui Ne - HCM City
Distance: 300 kms
If you opted for a beachside accomodation the sunrise over the water can be worth an early start.Â
There’s the option to follow the coast for a shorter day but if you want a great ride day this is the best option. Don’t be put off by the distance. It’s all easy going but you will want quite a few photo stops so an early start is recommended.
Watch your speed getting out of town but I’ve mapped around where the police usually sit.
Livestock, mostly cattle and goats on that stretch but with better road sense than most scooter riders. After the lakes it continues a nice countryside ride until you join the A1 and the highway leg into the city.
(A) Takes you around Phan Thiet and around traffic the usual police haunts generally.
(B) Is a way point just before a small mountain pass. If you have an on bike camera, get it recording here. With low rainfall and little water reserve this road takes you through one of the most impoverished villages in the South.
(C) Is a good vantage point to view the first lake. Much of its surface these days utilised with solar panels.
(D) to the Dam Wall on the second lake adds 45km to the day, so can be cut, if short on time. It’s an awesome 45k’s though and around the lake, a photographers dream. My favourite stretch on a big bike in the South.Â
(E) A restaurant tagged just to keep you on the right road. The ride to here the top lake is a great wind on mountain roads. From here the unavoidable transit into the city.
(F) Our Saigon Motorcycles, District 2 Location
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