Vietnam Highlights Tour

INTRODUCTION ITINERARY MAP HOTELS MORE

DETAILS Dates: See Calendar Jan, Feb & March Tours 12 Days/Nights Road Cycling w/ Full Support All cycling abilities 95% Fair Paved Roads Rental Bike: included Airline: ~$1,100 RT LAX Click for Airline Info ITINERARY BRIEF 1 Hanoi City Tour 2 Hanoi to Hue 3 Hue 4 Hue to Hoi An 5 Hoi An 6 Hoi An to Quin Hon 7 Quin Hon to Nha Trang 8 Nha Trang 9 Nha Trang to Dalat 10 Dalat 11 Dalat to Saigon 12 Saigon City Tour X Depart Saigon Detailed Itinerary TOUR EXTENSIONS Kayaking Halong Bay (3 days) Temples of Angkor (3 days) Click Map to Enlarge

Our Highlights tour encompasses the "highlights" of Vietnam and then some. It is a variation of our popular Tet tour, which we have organized for over ten years, but staying in boutique rather than luxury hotels. The weather in March is wonderful and it is a great time to travel Vietnam as the high season and rush of Tet subsides. We recommened you arrive early for kayaking on Halong Bay (see below). On tour, witness the rush of modernization in Saigon and life in agrarian villages where little has changed in the last thousand years. Discover ancient wonders in Cham temple ruins, Buddhist pagodas and ancestor worship at the center of Vietnam's spiritual element.

Our tour in Sawasdee Magazine

Writer Michael Buckley observes "though it's the Vietnam War that lingers with those who know Vietnam through film, television, and personal experience, it's the French presence that strikes those who actually visit. There are stately French-built mansions and tree-shaded boulevards in Hanoi, art galleries in Hanoi and Saigon selling works heavily influenced by French styles, cafés serving French bread and drip filter coffee in Saigon, and French villas dotting the hills of Dalat. The origin of some customs are French, but the interpretation is purely Vietnamese. The people still move at bicycle pace. On the streets, schoolgirls in graceful white ao dais pedal by, and women with conical hats sit on top of loads of produce, being wheeled around in bicycle-powered contraptions."

We'll encounter the legacy of French rule in the elegant colonial architecture and hotels, study the ancient Chinese influence on customs and food as well as the profound effect of the American period on Vietnamese culture, for better or worse. Ancient traditions, foreign influences and dynamic society make Vietnam a fascinating destination.

Along the way we will observe the distinct personalities of Vietnam's provinces, spending quality time in the fertile Central Highlands, pristine coastal regions and the pastoral countryside where vast stretches of rice paddies meet a jungle foliage that is a hundred shades of green. In addition to stunning landscapes, bicycling will provide access to Vietnam's greatest treasure - its people. Their warm greetings and smiles come naturally and their optimism and enduring spirit are inspiring. The Vietnamese are happy to have visitors again, especially Americans, who are now a novelty, yet historically familiar.

Our route travels the length of Vietnam, from the stoic, socialistic capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, through the unique provinces on the way south to capitalist Saigon. The graceful, tree-lined boulevards of Hanoi recall the days when it was the French capital of Indochine, yet it is where a statue of Lenin makes its last stand. Freshly cooked meals and restful nights in charming colonial hotels will restore tired legs. Swimming, snorkeling, and exploration by foot round out our itinerary. The experience of a lifetime? Many of our past travelers have said so.

Many others on the tour agreed — this trip was the most incredible travel experience they have ever had. And it simply wouldn't have been the same without VeloAsia. Thanks!" Ted Foon

Note: You must be a capable cyclist with sufficient bike handling skills to do this trip. The roads of Vietnam have few rules, lots if distractions and you must be comfortable cycling in such an environment. Please do contact us for references if you'd like to contact some of the many people who have ridden this tour for more information.

Note: If you've come this far, we encourage you not to miss the two most incredible sites in Southeast Asia - Halong Bay and Angkor Wat. Both are World Heritage Sites and unlike anything we'll encounter on the cycling trip.

First, we encourage you to consider arriving early for a three-day kayaking trip to Halong Bay we arrange pre-tour. Everyone who does this side trip marvels at the experience (we would be glad to put you in contact with a traveler who has done the trip). Comfortable accommodation is on a private wooden cruiser with delicious seafood banquets. The trip can be appreciated by beginner to those with paddling experience. This World Heritage Site is incredible from water-level with the maneuverable kayaks enabling up-close access. We offer this trip nearly at our cost through a local partner we trust who operates at the highest caliber under our supervision. It's also a great way to get acclimated before your tour.

Post-tour you may want to also consider a non-cycling excursion to the Grand Khmer Temples at Angkor in neighboring Cambodia to visit the greatest Buddhist monument in the world. There is now a convenient, direct one-hour flight from Saigon and accommodations are at the splendid Grand Hotel d'Angkor. The New York Times recently ran an article on this hotel and touring the temples.

Click here for more information on our Angkor trip or here for more info on Kayaking in Halong Bay.