| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 739km |
| Time | 9 days |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Terrain | Mixture of flat, rolling and hilly |
| Highlight | Danang to Hoi An |
Overview
The horror stories about QL1 are unfounded. It is busy but not unbearably so - the lorries didn't trouble us so long as we stayed on the hard shoulder. The blaring horns were annoying but they tailed off outside towns, giving way to peaceful countryside. In fact, not all the ride is along QL1: most traffic goes under the Hai Van pass instead of over it (bicycles aren't allowed in the tunnel), between Danang and Hoi An the ride follows a quiet road along the beach, and from Quy Nhon there's another peaceful stretch on new road along the coast. If you time it right the strong north-easterly wind will make you zip along.
It's not worth cycling between Hanoi and Hue - a cyclist who had ridden it told us there was absolutely nothing of interest to see.
Ninh Binh to Cuc PhuongNinh Binh to Hue
Hue to Danang
Danang to Hoi An
Hoi An to Quang Ngai
Quang Ngai to Tam Quan
Tam Quan to Quy Nhon
Quy Nhon to Nha Trang
Nha Trang to HCMC