HCM City – Ta Dung – Mui Ne – 4 Day Loop
Route Summary:
Duration: 4 days - 770 kms
This should be a popular choice. The National Park, an amazing lakes system and the beach your three overnight stops. The last leg is the only big day so add Vung Tau if you have the time.
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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 - Mui Ne
Distance: 240 kms
The morning coffee with this view isn’t the worst thing in the world.Â
(A) and (B) is a nice little side excursion to check out a lake.Â
(C)Â You can ride up onto the dam wall and the village is quite interesting. A pretty ordinary road through there but well worth it.Â
(D) just gets you around the usual police stop and avoids Phan Thiet city.Â
(E) The Red Sand Dunes is worth a look or some fun in the dunes. Hire a 4WD with a driver or take your own quad bike. Barter on price if going this option.Â
(F) and (G) to your destination is a nice coastal section. A photo shot over the ocean or a walk up the Fairy Stream on the way in a nice way to conclude the ride.Â
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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
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.
