HCM City – 3 Day Mui Ne Loop
Route Summary
Duration: 3 days - 600 kms
Its always a challenge when putting shorter rides together out of HCMC. Some time is required to deal with the city both ways so day two is the key for the best of the riding experience. This one is no different but off main arterials where practical all three days.Â
NOTES
As always getting out of the city we recommend an early start to beat the rush hours. Â
Extra time you might have can be very well spent around the National Park. Â
If choosing our recommendation for accommodation bicycles to explore in the Park can be hired for a minimal fee. At other accommodation option also I’m sure. Â
Mui Ne also has some interesting attractions including the dunes area to the North where you can hire quad bike or four wheel drives with a driver. Either way if opting for this negotiate price. They will move but start high.
Click for Route details:
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.
Log in below to view full route maps, accommodation and food information.
These are supplied to all our touring bike customers.
(Excluded from the above itinerary)Â
Cat Tien - Mui Ne
Distance: 260 kms
You’ve done the beauty of the National Park. Are you ready for some beach time? Whilst MuiNe is one of the least attractive beach towns in the South this ride to it and the restaurants listed in the food options are exceptional. Opt for a hotel on the beach side of the road if you want beach time, access to it otherwise is limited.Â
(A)Â The bridge to this way point gets you immediately out of town and into farmland.Â
(B)Â A good photo stop overlooking Da Teh LakeÂ
(C)Â Dambri Falls is quite an established attraction and at times quite crowded. The 200k entry is probably worth it only if you have the time to spend on the activities there.Â
(D)Â A good lunch stop I have been using for over a decade. The Chicken Shop, not it’s real name but what its known as in the riding community.Â
(E) Is a detour 10km each way to a dam wall and really worth doing if you have the time. Some great photo stops around a very picturesque lake system. Â
(F) The second lake is worth the short detour but the road into the dam wall is sometimes closed of late. Â
(G)Â Is a way point to take you away from traffic and police getting into town.Â
(H) & (I) Two of many accommodation options in town.Â
Mui Ne is a fishing village with a population of around 25,000 people. With plenty of beachside hotels and resorts it is a popular holiday destination with locals and Kite Surfers particularly.
Log in below to view full route maps, accommodation and food information.
These are supplied to all our touring bike customers.
(Excluded from the above itinerary)Â
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
Log in below to view full route maps, accommodation and food information.
These are supplied to all our touring bike customers.
(Excluded from the above itinerary)Â
Log in below to view full route maps, accommodation and food information.
These are supplied to all our touring bike customers and excluded from the above itinerary.
