Vietnam Cycling
OVERVIEW
Anthony Bourdain once claimed of Vietnam, his favorite country: “Once you love it, you love it forever.” You’ve heard the stories, of wonderful people, fabulous food, incredible landscapes — all true, and even more so from the vantage point of a saddle. We were the first to organize bike trips in Vietnam, starting in 1994, and since then have organized hundreds of cycling trips for thousands of delighted clients for whom many say, was the trip of a lifetime.
Our Vietnam biking tour takes in the most beautiful and remote areas of the country, with three UNSECO World Heritage sites – the historic cities of Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, and the buzzing food and commercial capital, Saigon. Our classic Ho Chi Minh route is suitable for road bikes, but we can provide private trips for mountain biking or gravel bikes with alternate routes off-road.
Vietnam Trip Highlights
• Travel the length of Vietnam, from the rustic, traditional north, central twin jewels Hue and Hoi An and, at trip’s end, buzzing modern Saigon. • Explore Vietnam’s most picturesque riding landscapes in the northwest hilltribe country. • Savor some of the world’s most delicious street food and finer world-class venues, private cooking and cooking lessons. • Stay at Vietnam’s finest hotels, including Hanoi’s legendary Metropole and Hue’s La Residence. • Ride quieter little traffic • Trace Vietnam’s historic Ho Chi Minh Trail • Ride through and visit numerous small towns few other travelers ever see. • Professional local guides & stocked sag wagon • Visit Halong Bay before the trip and the magnificent temples of Angkor afterwards, both side trips we can plan for you.
Guides
Le Van Sinh
Sinh single-handedly jump-started Vietnam’s tourist industry in 1990, establishing the seminal Sinh Cafe which arranged trips for tens of thousands of the very first travelers through his newly-opened country.
A former engineer, Sinh served as a map researcher for Lonely Planet Guide book. Sinh explored and pioneered countless new routes through the country. He has lead cycling trips for over 20 years also within Cambodia and Laos. In his spare time Sinh participates in triathlons and enjoys working on his fleet of bikes (he is one of the best mechanics in the country).
Why Us
Experts with over 25 years organizing cycling trips of Vietnam
Why us? We organized the very first cycling trips in Vietnam back in 1994, and since then have consistently updated routes, places and more to keep our trips as fresh and unique as they were then, and of the highest quality of any company in Vietnam. Our most popular trip over these decades has been our Iron Chef Vietnam, equal cycling and culinary adventure. Your trip will seamless and we will arrange each and every detail, from visas to all transfers needed, even outside the tour, as well as side trips, such as Angkor, and can also provide international airlines at competitive pricing. Safety has always been paramount, and nobody is more experienced. Please call and ask us for more details, test our knowledge, and why you should come to Vietnam with us.
Destination and Trip Details
In our 28th year of cycling Vietnam, we’ve refine every trip’s routes, places to stay, dining, and training of a world-class support crew with over years of experience leading the highest caliber of trips trips. This ten-day journey is fully-supported. Riders can expect beautiful, safe rides, plenty of some of the world’s most delicious street food and finer dining , hot showers, and cultural activities on the side. This 10-day trip is limited to only 12 riders. This trip may be also organized as a private, custom tour for you and your friends or family. Contact us for full details.
Pre-Departure
In addition to a pre-tour preparation packet for Vietnam, all riders will be added to our WhatsApp trip chat in advance of the trip, for questions and information they may need
Arrival & Departure
We encourage you to arrive earlier, for more time in Hanoi, and to kayak the amazing karst water world of UNESCO World Heritage Halong Bay, which we can arrange. Please contact us before arranging your flights for recommendations, and even for booking a ticket. If you are flying in, you’ll want to arrive into Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport, with departure from Saigon (or Bangkok if you’re visiting Angkor). We will arrange transport from and to all airports.
Day-to-Day
Our Vietnam trips are designed for moderate to advanced riders comfortable riding 2-5 hours at a steady pace, though all riding is optional—our Sag wagon is always nearby, even for a catching a quick lift up climbs. We ride as a group, though faster riders may ride ahead if desired or add additional mileage. We typically depart mid-morning around 9 AM each day, with a break for a pleasant lunch. Afternoons after arrival with include some time free, or we will have scheduled sightseeing, such as visiting many of Vietnam’s exceptional historical sites along our route. Mornings before we depart also provides some time to see local sights.
*
Our PRO trips feature longer, faster, and typically paceline riding, accompanied by ex-pro racers and coaches.
Covid-19 and other Safety Issues
While we are optimistic a vaccine will free us for safe and healthy travel again, regardless Vietnam has always been the safest places for travel.
Weather & Climate
The weather in Vietnam during our touring season is typically sunny and warm, though some light rain can expected, and typically reaching into the 70s to 80s midday, and pleasantly humid.
Dining
Our past travelers will tell you our trips are as much as about the food and culture as the riding. In fact, after 20 years our Iron Chef Vietnam culinary cycling trip remains our most popular. Our meals feature a variety of the best of Vietnam, from the most delicious street food in the world, fresh seafood, Our van is stocked with typical rider’s fuel, including carbo mix, bars, bananas and other fruit, but also a variety of cold beverages and local snacks popular in each location.
Hotels
In places with options, such as Hanoi and Hue, we stay at the best properties available, including the legendary Metropole and in Hue, the elegant La residence. In the countryside, we stay in the only hotels available, rustic yet comfortable.
Money Matters
ATM’s are ubiquitous along our route and credit cards widely accepted. Aside from alcoholic drinks and souvenirs, you will need only small amounts of pesos mostly for hotel staff and tips. We recommend allowing for about $10-20 per day for such expenses.
Community
A portion of trip fees have supported the University of San Francisco Vietnam Nursing Project founded by Gregory Crow.
Velopura also supports the Tadej Pogačar Cancer Research Foundation which was founded by the Tour de France champion to expand on promising, but underfunded research in cancer metabolism.
Related Trips
Many aspects of our Iron Chef Vietnam culinary trips are blended into our Vietnam trips, including street food crawl of Hanoi, and dining at the very best restaurants along our route. For a culinary only focused trip, we recommend Atlas Obscura’s popular Hanoi to Saigon culinary adventure trips.
Vietnam Cycling: What’s Included
Included with trip:
- Comprehensive pre-tour packet
- Snazzy Velopura Jersey
- All airport transfers
- Required Visas
- VIP/expedited airport immigration
- Pre- and post-tour travel arrangements
- Covid-19 safe travel procedures*
- All accommodations
- All transportation and entry fees
- All snacks, water, meals and non-alcoholic beverages
- Bike assembly, disassembly, and maintenance
Not included with trip:
- Rental bike (available below)
- Required visa fees ($25)
- Single room (+$1,280)
- Airport transfer at end of trip
- Alcoholic drinks
- Customary guide gratuity
- Trip cancellation, travel, emergency medical insurance (request information)
*Covid-19 Travel Safety Procedures
While we are optimistic a vaccine will free us for safe and healthy travel again, but Vietnam has always been one of the safest destinations in the world for travelers, where petty crime is extremely rare and physical crime unheard of. We cycle safer routes away from traffic, and often take village paths with little or no motorized traffic. With over two plus decades we’re the most experienced and professional bicycle tour operator in Vietnam.
Contact us for more details at (415) 680-3788 or by email: info@velopura.com
Private & Custom Trips
Travel with your club, friends, or family. Customize this trip to your specific preferences—we’ll work with you to make it the trip of a lifetime.