This trip exceeded our expectations. We had previously done cycle Cuba and loved it but this trip was better. Everything from the hotels, the glorious food, the mix of cycle days/rest days, the trip leader Long, the endless smiles from children and families as we cycled through their villages and the really lovely group we were part of all made this a trip to remember.
There were 17 in the group which sounds very large but as we all got on, everyone mixed and everyone supported each other, it turned out to be the backbone of why the trip was so successful. The crew lead by Long also made the holiday.
This was our first organized cycling trip, and it was very enjoyable. The group was larger than I expected (18, whereas I had thought we would be about 12), but everyone got along well and our tour leader, Tung, was very efficient and attentive, friendly, patient and entertaining.
There was also more city riding than I expected, through some rather hairy motorbike traffic and roundabouts. Tung and Lee, our tail gunner, shepherded us through them, but it took some guts at first to weave through the scooters and cars and buses. Note that red lights apparently don't apply to motorbikes; they just sail on through. We got used to it after a couple of times and in the end it was rather exhilarating. Some riding on main city streets and bridges, too, and through towns and suburbs. All in all the tour was a bit more urban than I'd hoped. But I suppose if you want to see all aspects of Vietnam... Riding through the rice paddies and the countryside and along back lanes, on the other hand, was quite enchanting. Little children ran out to call "Hello!" everywhere.
I see this tour is rated as 3/9 for activity level. I would say more 5/9, and that's without the (very enjoyable, if you're up for it) 10-km uphill ride one day. On the other hand, the bus is always available and there was no shame in taking a day off.
We missed the Whale Island tour because of a typhoon, but Tung and Exodus rearranged everything seamlessly. The Halong Bay overnight boat tour was a real delight, as was the overnight train to Hanoi. And Hoi An and Hanoi were wonderful, particularly the pedestrian streets (no motorbikes!) on the weekend in Hanoi.
We could easily have skipped the boat trip to the overcrowded beach and hike up to the viewpoint on Halong Bay, however, and the kayaks were uncomfortable, at least for the person in the stern with no back support.
The meals were good, even for us vegetarians, the bikes were clean and very well maintained, and there was lots of juice and water and fruit provided at the frequent rest stops. Nice that they didn't insist on handing out plastic bottles of water! The bus was comfortable and the driver and bike mechanic were friendly and very competent. Definitely a 10/10 for organization.
This cycling holiday was the experience of a lifetime. Some of the cycling was tough, some was smooth, the road surfaces were variable but the countryside and the people were incredible. The team were the best team I have ever been away with. Our guide Linh Vo was phenomenal. We got local history, politics, information and humour every day. We were broken in gently to the vagaries of the Vietnam traffic system and by the end we were part of the general chaos. The food was as colourful and varied as the landscape. We had fresh lime juice and water served at every stop by the cheerful and helpful drivers. The overnight train from Hue to Hanoi was not restful but the karaoke boat trip was very good fun. There was a great sense of camraderie on the trip both when cycling and when visiting pagodas, buddhist burial sites and sea kayaking. All in all a fantastic experience.