If anyone is considering doing something similar (Hanoi to Ho Chi Min), here is our route, distance travelled each day and our kit list. If you need any more help or information, feel free to get in touch.
Route:
Ho Chi Min Highway & A1 Highway
Distance:
Day 1: 92km – Destination: Hang Tram, maybe Hoa Binh?
Day 2: 69.5km – Destination: Roughly Lam Son
Day 3: 83km – Destination: somewhere near Thai Hoa
Day 4: 113km – Destination: near Phou Chau
Day 5: 83km – Destination: Huong Khe
Day 6: 132km – Destination: somewhere after Phuc Trach
Day 7: 59.5km – Destination: near Cam Lo
Day 8: 82km – Destination: Dong Ha
Day 9: 70km – Destination: Hue
Day 10: 100+km – Destination: Da Nang
Day 11: Rest Day
Day 12: 68km – Destination: Tam Ky
Day 13: Day off (sick)
Day 14: 98km – Destination: near Quang Nga
Day 15: 89km – somewhere on the highway
Day 16: 93km – Destination: Song Cau
Day 17: 132km – Destination: Dai Lan
Day 18: – Destination: Nha Trang
Day 19: Rest Day
Day 20: 92km – Destination: Phang Rang
Day 21: 82km – Destination: Phang Rang/Phang Thiet
Day 22: 77km – Destination: Phan Thien
Day 23: 75km – Destination: Long Khan
Day 24: 84km – Destination: near Bien Hoa
Day 25: – Destination: Ho Chi Min City
Kit List:
- Unlocked IPhone with Vietnamese sim-card.
- 2x panniers – (Oxford Low Rider Rear Panniers 36L)
- 2x pairs of cycling shorts
- 2x cycling t-shirts
- 5x knickers/5x socks
- Baseball cap
- T-shirt and light pants for evening wear
- Cycling boots with cleats (Shimano Gore-Tex Mountain bike boots & pedals)
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Canon 700D camera & Tripod
- GoPro camera
- 2x Waterbottles
- Phone/camera chargers
- Small towl
- Shampoo/conditioner/hairbrush/suncream
- Garmin Sat Nav
- 4x bungee cords
- Small pack of cable ties
- 2x Touring bikes (bought on Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi)
- 2x Buffs
- 2x standard bike lights
- Pump
- 2x spare tubes
- Chain link
- Allen keys
- Mileage clock
- Water bottles
- Medication: Immodium, parcetemol, motillium, insect repellent, amoxicillan, dioralyte, bandages, plasters, antiseptic cream.
- 2x Helmets
- Map of the entire country
- Sunglasses