OUR CYCLING TOUR IN VIETNAM

To make your vacation the best it can be is still Viettours’ motto after two decades on the road. Our goal is to create one-of-a-kind journeys for active people who value their freedom and want to see the world little differently. We have done successfully the tours for many travel agencies in the U.S.A, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K from 1990. In late 2006, we decided that we would advertise on Bicycling Magazine so our clients can book directly with us. Our tour combines cycling, sightseeing and the many culinary and cultural experiences that Vietnam – Laos – Cambodia can offer. You will have more time to meet many of the friendly and wonderful people here and would enjoy the highest quality of hotels and resorts and fine food in cheaper prices.

Viettours is the local company so we believe that we know our destinations better than anyone and are ready to share our experiences in Vietnam and Indochina to deliver a personal and unique travel experience. With Viettours you will travel in your own style and at your own rhythm.

Grand Tour of Vietnam / Celebrate the Tet Holiday with Local Vietnamese:

Trip Length: 18 days / 17 nights

Start/Finish: Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh

Departure Date: Feb. 02, 2007 – Feb. 19, 2007 (solo dates available)

                        Jan. 23, 2008 – Feb. 09, 2008

                        Jan. 11, 2009 – Jan. 28, 2009

                        Jan. 30, 2010 – Feb. 16, 2010

A refreshingly diverse country, always changing, never losing its historical flavor. Vietnam is perfect to visit for biking, adventure, or luxury getaways. From the grandeur of the Mekong and Ho Chi Minh City in the South, to the diversity of Hoi An and Hue in the Centre, and the Historic charm of Hanoi and Sapa in the North, everyone can experience something amazing in Vietnam. More details…

Trip Highlights:

• Gather in all the sights and smells as you ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

• Tour UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Imperial City of Hue, Hoi An and My Son.

• Indulge in luxury at the Six Senses Spa, sip champagne from the privacy of your boat-access-only beach villa as you take in an unforgettable sunset.

• Bike through Dalat, a town bursting with fresh produce and then dine on duck salad at Le Rabelais restaurant at Sofitel Dalat Palace Hotel, a traditional French elegance blends with Vietnamese graciousness.

• Visit a local family on the first day of Tet holiday in Saigon, the most important day in the whole year of the Vietnamese.

Explore the Mekong Delta / Vietnam Through the Back Door

Trip Length: 12 days / 11 nights

Start/Finish: Ho Chi Minh / Ho Chi Minh

Referred to as “Vietnam’s Rice Bowl”, Mekong Delta is one of the most fertile areas in Southern Asia, supplying the country with most of its rice, fruit, and seafood and affording foreign visitors a wonderful insight into the real Vietnam. In addition to viewing a countryside little changed by the centuries, and riverside villages assessable only by boat or bike, you can experience the warmth and friendliness of the local people. More details…

Departure Date: Jan. 14, 2007 - Jan. 25, 2007 (solo dates available)

                        Feb. 12, 2008 - Feb. 23, 2008

                        Feb. 01, 2009 - Feb. 12, 2009

                        Jan. 12, 2010 - Jan. 23, 2010

Angkor Wat, A Temple City Reborn

Trip Length: 4 days / 3 nights

Start/Finish: Chau Doc or Ho Chi Minh / Ho Chi Minh

After the Mekong Delta cycling tour, if you have time, you should visit the Khmer kingdom. After decades of war and strife, its temples and monuments are once more open to travelers, and are among the world’s premier architectural sites. When you’ve come this far, Angkor should simply not be missed. More details…

Departure Date: Jan. 24, 2007 - Jan. 27, 2007 (solo dates available)

                        Feb. 22, 2008 - Feb. 25, 2008

                        Feb. 11, 2009 - Feb. 14, 2009

                        Jan. 22, 2010 - Jan. 25, 2010

Halong Bay – The Mythical Bay of Dragons and Sapa – The Tonkinese Alps

Trip Length: 6 days / 5 nights

Start/Finish: Hanoi / Hanoi

Magnificent Halong Bay, with its 3000-plis islands rising from the clear, emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin and covering an area of 1500sq km, is one of the natural marvels of Vietnam. And another place you should not miss when you are in the North, it is Sapa. Sapa is spectacular, full of colorful minority peoples and frequently shrouded in mist. More details…

Trip Highlights:

• Cruising onboard the gracious Emeraude, a luxury replica paddle steamer.

• Exploring the limestone islands and emerald green waters of UNESCO World Heritage Listed Halong Bay.

• Gazing at SAPI’s beautiful mountainous landscape - nestled on China’s border - and meeting wonderful ethnic minority groups.

• Trekking or mountain biking through the hills surrounding Sapa Valley.

• Absorbing the atmosphere of Hanoi’s Old Quarter on a leisurely cyclo ride.

Departure Date:   Jan. 28, 2007 – Feb. 02, 2007 (solo dates available)

                        Jan. 17, 2008 – Jan. 23, 2008

        Jan. 06, 2009 – Jan. 11, 2009

                        Jan. 25, 2010 – Jan. 30, 2010

CYCLING TOUR INFORMATION:

The Typical Days on Your Biking Trip

We would like you to take your time to experience the rhythm of the culture so we will provide the options, you make the choices. Depending on your choices, your day might look like this:

8:00pm: It was a long day today. Have dinner at Le Rabelais Restaurant. Alex is the toast of the other tour members, he was the first one who conquered the highest pass today.

11:00pm: Tuck into crisp white sheets with Dane Brown’s latest. My with grabs the book and throws it under the bed. She says there’ll be plenty of time for reading tomorrow.

08:00am: I roll out of the bed in Sofitel Dalat Palace, the one-time residence of the French Governor of Indochina.

08:30am: Have breakfast, the restaurant view overlooking to the beautiful lake.

10:00am: The weather is good today, not hot and not cold. Walk to the market, the flowers here are beautiful. Stop and have a sip of Trung Nguyen coffee.

12:00pm: Have a French baguette at Cafe de la Poste and a cup of hot chocolate.

01:00pm: Have a siesta.

02:00pm: Join the group for a sightseeing tour: visit a Zen temple by cable car, a waterfall…

05:30pm: Back to the hotel.

07:00pm: Join the group for drinks, have an interesting chat with the two physician from Fresno. Play snookers with them.

08:00pm: Have a Vietnamese dinner with spring rolls, pancakes…

09:30pm: My tour guide has a briefing about the cycling day tomorrow with a large scale map. Next stop is Phan Thiet – a coastal town. A good news to me, no more hill tomorrow!

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08:00am: My bike is ready, the map booklet is on the handlebar bag, water bottle has been filled, guide has adjusted seat.

08:15am: On my bike, follow the route suggestions and our ride leader to go out of the town. Rather, following my wife following the route suggestions.

09:00am: The first A.M water stop, we have some snacks and fill the water bottle. Take the picture with local children and give them some pens and pencils which I bought at One-dollar-tree.

10:30am: The second A.M water stop, take the picture with terrace farming.

12:00pm: Have a picnic lunch.

01:30pm: After lunch, my wife wants to ride the van instead of the bike to have time and take more picture!

03:00pm: P.M water stop at km25 of the new highway.

04:00pm: Ride the bus to Phan Thiet hotel with my wife. A nice hotel by the beach.

05:30pm: The last member arrives at 05:30pm.

07:00pm: Have cocktails at the hotel’s bar by the pool.

08:00pm: Dinner.

Activity Levels

Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos use the metric system. All most all of the highways have kilometer markers. You will be riding all day and stop for water stops, lunch, historical visits, shopping and whatever else inspires you along the way. You move at your own pace, stop when you want, and hitch a ride in the van or bus when the pool beckons. So it really does not matter how fast or slow you are.

Our tours such as The Grand Tour of Vietnam and Laos Cycling are the tours with many hills. The tour of Explore the Mekong Delta is quite easy with a few small hills on the last days.

• EASY GOING: 40-48km (3-5 hours) a day with a few small hills.

• MODERATE: 40-48km a day with some longer climbs.

• CHALLENGING: 48-72km a day over rolling terrain on a variety of road surfaces.

• EXTREME: 72-120km a day on hilly terrain.

What’s included and not included?

*Included in the tour price:

Transportation, Vietnam visa approval, Cambodia and Laos’s visa fees, accommodations, meals as mentioned in the tour itineraries, tour guide, admission fees, support vehicles, bike mechanic, water and snack at the rest stops.

*Not included in the tour price:

International air tickets, airport departure tax in Cambodia and Laos, tips for the support crew, hotel and airport porter fees, additional hotel fees and other expenses that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or extension of stay or factors beyond our control, admission fees to optional exhibitions or activities, personal telephone calls, faxes, email, hotel mini bar, liquor or other drinks not included as part of meals, medical immunizations, travel medical and cancellation insurance, laundry, items of a personal nature, etc.

Meals

If cooking were painting, Vietnam would have on of the world’s most colorful palettes. Practically anything can be grown in its diverse climate and, because the people have no inhibitions, anything goes. You are about to embark on an unforgettable culinary adventure with us.

All of the meals will be provided during the cycling days, lunches of the off-days will be arranged by yourselves.

Breakfasts are usually all-you-can-eat style which you can choose your selection or western style at the smaller hotels or resorts (you have the choice of eggs, bread, butter, jam, fresh fruit, juice, coffee and tea).

Luncheons and dinners are a wide variety of the best Vietnamese cuisine. We will have some picnic luncheons on the cycling days, French style sandwiches, noddles and fresh fruit will be provided. If you need special diet meals or vegetable foods, please let us know about that.

*Every ~25 kilometres (15.5 miles) for the Mekong Delta trip or ~30 kilometres (18.6 miles) for the Grand Tour of Vietnam, water stops will be set up for a short rest. You can take pictures, give candies to the kids or relax with the friendly local people. Snacks, fresh fruits, bottled water will be provided. In short, we are always with you, just tell us what you need!