A very well organised trip with an excellent balance of cycling and sight-seeing. The route offered a wonderful opportunity to see a variety of countryside, interacting with local people and a good range of cycling experiences.
Cycling Vietnam, departing 0 7.02.2016 A thoroughly enjoyable 2 weeks. We had 8 days cycling on great bikes and with the scenery getting more spectacular as days went on we were treated to an amazing number of different experiences. Our accommodation was of a high standard and lunches and snacks were always awaiting us at the right times. We were a big group (18) but as we all got on well and our leader had great support from his assistant guide and the bus drivers the large number was no problem. At least one supporter was there to guide us/ stop traffic at every junction.
This was a very enjoyable although really quite intensive 2 week holiday with plenty of variety. We covered a long overall distance. The 484k of cycling was manageable with a couple of demanding days . The longest distance cycled in one day was 100k. Most of the cycling was on flattish roads though and only 8 of the 14 days were actually spent in the saddle. There was a lot to do and see. I loved the opportunities for swimming. Most hotels were varied and most had swimming pools. The icing on the cake for me was being able to go swimming in the sea, also the snorkelling and kayaking were great. The time we were there it was Tet, the Vietnamese Chinese New Year Celebration. This added to the atmosphere and vitality of the places we visited but also made the roads more congested. Most Vietnamese road users aren't used to dealing with cyclists. Our support team were very good at protecting us ... very necessary, especially in towns. The Vietnamese people were delightful and I loved Vietnamese food.