Below are maps of the routes we've taken in reverse chronological order (we will update maps at the end of our time in each country and we will update kilometres somewhat more regularly. Note our kilometres for various days do not necessarily match up with kilometres on maps - this is because sometimes we take back roads or we need to back track somewhat (to find a road we're looking for or a guest house).
Note: There is at least one guest house or hotel in all of the locations below(even places that we camped). While we love camping, we have found that in this heat, we love fans and showers more (especially since the cost is quite low). In Vietnam, we've found that there are more options for guest houses and hotels along the way whereas in Laos our days were somewhat dictated by making it to towns that we knew had guest houses.
Vietnam Route:
View Cycling Through Asia - Vietnam in a larger map
Our Chinese visas took longer to sort out than we thought they would so while we waited, we did a loop from Hanoi to see Ninh Binh and Halong. Our original plan was to cycle up the coast from Halong Bay to the Chinese border but because of our visa circumstances, we had to return to Hanoi to get our visas and then get to the border quickly (because our visas were due to expire).
Halong Bay to Hanoi: 147km
Vinh Dao to Halong Bay (via Haiphong): 109km
Ninh Binh (plus some local exploration) to Vinh Dao: 104km
Hanoi to Ninh Binh (includes exploring local area): 114km
We took a train to Hanoi from Dong Hoi (we needed to get there earlier than anticipated to sort out our Chinese Visas)
Ho Xa to Dong Hoi (with a side trip to Vinh Moc Tunnels): 96km
Hue to Ho Xa: 118km
Lang Co to Hue (mostly on back roads close to coast): 97km
Danang to Lang Co (via Hai Van Pass): 52km
Hoi An to other My Khe Beach (China Beach, Danang): 36km
My Khe Beach to Hoi An (first 40km or so on backroads): 141km
Bong Son to My Khe Beach (near Quang Ngai): 104km
Quy Nhon to Bong Son (a few km north of Bong Son on 1A): 116km (We spent most of the day - from Quy Nhon to Binh Duong - on back roads along the coast - highly recommended!!)
An Khe to Quy Nhon: 84km
Pleiku to An Khe: 91km
Kon Tum to Pleiku: 55km
Ngoc Hoi to Kon Tum: 70.38
Laos Route:
View Cycling Through Asia - Laos in a larger map
We took a van across the Laos/Vietnam border from Attapeu to Ngoc Hoi
Sekong to Attapeu: 79km
Paksong to Sekong: 95km
Tad Lo to Paksong: 83km
Pakse to Tad Lo: 87km
Thaeng Beng to Don Khon: 102km
Pakse to Thaeng Beng: 53km
Pakxong to Pakse (by song taew to recuperate from illness)
Savannakhet to Pakxong (all on back roads mostly along Mekong River): 95km
Nong Bok to Savannakhet (back roads along Mekong River): 83km
Thakhek to Nong Bok (on back roads along Mekong River) : 47km
Vieng Than to Thakhek: 106km
Phonsy to Vieng Than: 34km (boat trip to Nam Kading NPA in the morning)
Paksan to Phonsy: 66km
Pak Ngum to Paksan: 83km
Vientiane to Pak Ngum: 72km
Nong Khai (in Thailand) to Vientiane: 34km (Note: we had no problems riding our bikes over the Friendship Bridge or at the Laos border).
Thailand Route:
View Cycling Through Asia - Thailand in a larger map
Sri Chiang Mai to Nong Khai: 45.6km
Pak Chom to Sri Chiang Mai: 101km
Chiang Khan to Pak Chom: 55km
Loei to Chiang Khan: 49km
Long to Phrae: 41.43km We then took a bus to Loei because at the time we thought we needed to get a little closer to the border and we didn't want to miss out on riding along the Mekong. This would have been a beautiful stretch of riding though.
Lampang to Long: 69.64km (the one guest house in Long is tricky to find - we got a police escort to show us the way)
Jaesom NP to Lampang: 78km
Thong Than to Jaesom National Park (Grunting Granny Gear Day): 31km (camping)
Chiang Mai to Thong Than: 51km (camping)
View Cycling Through Asia - Vietnam in a larger map
Our Chinese visas took longer to sort out than we thought they would so while we waited, we did a loop from Hanoi to see Ninh Binh and Halong. Our original plan was to cycle up the coast from Halong Bay to the Chinese border but because of our visa circumstances, we had to return to Hanoi to get our visas and then get to the border quickly (because our visas were due to expire).
Halong Bay to Hanoi: 147km
Vinh Dao to Halong Bay (via Haiphong): 109km
Ninh Binh (plus some local exploration) to Vinh Dao: 104km
Hanoi to Ninh Binh (includes exploring local area): 114km
We took a train to Hanoi from Dong Hoi (we needed to get there earlier than anticipated to sort out our Chinese Visas)
Ho Xa to Dong Hoi (with a side trip to Vinh Moc Tunnels): 96km
Hue to Ho Xa: 118km
Lang Co to Hue (mostly on back roads close to coast): 97km
Danang to Lang Co (via Hai Van Pass): 52km
Hoi An to other My Khe Beach (China Beach, Danang): 36km
My Khe Beach to Hoi An (first 40km or so on backroads): 141km
Bong Son to My Khe Beach (near Quang Ngai): 104km
Quy Nhon to Bong Son (a few km north of Bong Son on 1A): 116km (We spent most of the day - from Quy Nhon to Binh Duong - on back roads along the coast - highly recommended!!)
An Khe to Quy Nhon: 84km
Pleiku to An Khe: 91km
Kon Tum to Pleiku: 55km
Ngoc Hoi to Kon Tum: 70.38
Laos Route:
View Cycling Through Asia - Laos in a larger map
We took a van across the Laos/Vietnam border from Attapeu to Ngoc Hoi
Sekong to Attapeu: 79km
Paksong to Sekong: 95km
Tad Lo to Paksong: 83km
Pakse to Tad Lo: 87km
Thaeng Beng to Don Khon: 102km
Pakse to Thaeng Beng: 53km
Pakxong to Pakse (by song taew to recuperate from illness)
Savannakhet to Pakxong (all on back roads mostly along Mekong River): 95km
Nong Bok to Savannakhet (back roads along Mekong River): 83km
Thakhek to Nong Bok (on back roads along Mekong River) : 47km
Vieng Than to Thakhek: 106km
Phonsy to Vieng Than: 34km (boat trip to Nam Kading NPA in the morning)
Paksan to Phonsy: 66km
Pak Ngum to Paksan: 83km
Vientiane to Pak Ngum: 72km
Nong Khai (in Thailand) to Vientiane: 34km (Note: we had no problems riding our bikes over the Friendship Bridge or at the Laos border).
Thailand Route:
View Cycling Through Asia - Thailand in a larger map
Sri Chiang Mai to Nong Khai: 45.6km
Pak Chom to Sri Chiang Mai: 101km
Chiang Khan to Pak Chom: 55km
Loei to Chiang Khan: 49km
Long to Phrae: 41.43km We then took a bus to Loei because at the time we thought we needed to get a little closer to the border and we didn't want to miss out on riding along the Mekong. This would have been a beautiful stretch of riding though.
Lampang to Long: 69.64km (the one guest house in Long is tricky to find - we got a police escort to show us the way)
Jaesom NP to Lampang: 78km
Thong Than to Jaesom National Park (Grunting Granny Gear Day): 31km (camping)
Chiang Mai to Thong Than: 51km (camping)
