Northern California - Vietnam Cycling Trip

Hello All,

We are trying to put a group together for a cycling trip to Vietnam in 2009. We will meet in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) on March 27 2009 and take off from there. This is 14 day SAG and tour guide supported trip. We are using a company based in Hanoi that has a good reputation for cycling tours. We will cycle the mountain and costal roads all the way up to Hanoi where we will spend a few days touring and relaxing from our two weeks on the road. Hybrid bike are provide by the tour company. Hotels are 2 and 3 star with most meals included. Airfare to Vietnam in not included in the trip price. The cost depends on the number of people in the group. We currently have 4 signed up and have room for up to 16. We are a cycling club in San Francisco Bay Area and are NOT travel agents. We are not selling anything only facilitating this trip because we love cycling. If you are interested in joining our group drop me a line and I can send you more info.

Regards,
Harold

Hey Harold,
Glad you made your way over here. Lots of good peeps here. Hope you find some more interested riders. The trip sounds fantastic. Had a good time conversing with you up Tunnel Rd this last weekend.

Eric

Wow. I wish I had the time, money, and permission from my wife :D

I went on a bike ride in Vietnam a couple of years ago (Saigon to Hanoi). This is a great country to visit. The scenery is beautiful. Food and lodging are very cheap. The locals are very friendly. Roads are somewhat iffy, so don't bring your lightweight racing bikes. This is a somewhat large and populous country. Most tourists stick to the coastal highway north of Saigon. If you really want to see the country, make sure you also visit the Mekong delta and inland mountains as well.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa150/99johnny/bike/511small.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa150/99johnny/bike/468small.jpg

Dang, Plans for Vietnam would be 2010 or 2011 for us. Next year has to be all about the wedding. Have fun though. It is a beautiful country and the food is terrific as well as the vistas. Just make sure the water you get comes in sealed bottles.

Hey there,
Thanks for posting the pics, We will be there in late March and April, the dry season. I did this ride last year and had a blast. We where only rained on once for about 10 minutes on the second day – I don’t think that there will be as much mud to deal with as is depicted in your photo and if there is Yahoo. I haven’t play in mud since I was a kid :-)
HH

Do you have information you can send individuals who are interested?

Yes Print Man, send me an email and I will send you the info.
H

Vietnam, really is, a gorgeous country.

Even the big cities are interesting.

I spent over a year there back in the mid 60s.

Vietnam is a lot different now than during the 1960s. Most of the people you meet on the street were born after the war and really don't understand what it was all about.

There still room for more riders, this is a trip of a life time. If you have never been to Vietnam you don't know what you are missing. It has to be one of the most wonderful countries to bike in.
H

Just trying to keep this thread live and up front. Hoping more folks will be interested.
H

Harold, just a thought. You may want to post this in Southern Calif forums as well. Eric

What is your price? I noticed that vbt.com is offering a 2 week, fully supported, small-group bicycle tour of Vietnam for $3300, including air fare from SFO, all hotels, and most meals.

Hey Johny99

I just check VBT’s price list and it is $3535.00 for 10 day on the ground. They are counting the flight time as part of the tour. We will be in Vietnam for 14 day and are stay in many of the same hotels that are listed on VBT’s web sight. The cost if as it stand right now if the same give or take a few dollars. But if more people sign this will go down. Right now we have 4 people going for sure. I purchased round trip tickets from Cathy Pacific for $1400.00

3-4 = $2020.00
5-7 = $1616.00
8-11=$1520.00
12-16=$1450.00
Single Room Supplement $480.00

Anyone else interested in this trip?
H

There is still time to sign-up for this trip, the cut off date is Feb. 20th.
Harold

Sure wish I could go!!!!!! Just not possible.

Hi.
I just wanted to offer another option through Intrepid: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/VXB

I just finished their 7 day treking through Thailand trip and it was awesome! I am in Pattaya right now, doing my best to undo all the training I put in this year. lol.

Thanks UmneyDurak- we already have a tour company that is basedd in Hanoi. Intrepeid uses lower end hotels.