Cycling Vietnam - Premium Adventure

• 11 nights in premium accommodation including one night on a handcrafted boat on Ha Long Bay, one night overnight sleeper train
• Nine days of cycling (including one optional ride) with 90 percent vehicle support. Roads nearly all well paved
• A generally flat route with some undulation with the exception of Dalat and the Hai Van Pass
• Travel by private air-conditioned minibus; one overnight sleeper train
• Group normally 4 to 16, plus local leader
• E-bikes available for an additional cost

All breakfasts, nine lunches and seven dinners are included. Thanks to the tropical climate, the long coast and the gigantic range of mountains, Vietnam is blessed with a large variety of culinary offerings – maintaining a reputation as one of the healthiest, most delicious cuisines in the world. Vietnamese food relies on fresh fish, vegetables, rice and a myriad of verdant herbs and spices; lemongrass, ginger, basil and lime all play an important role in the cuisine. The Chinese and French influence is felt throughout the country, where you are just as likely to be offered banh mi (stuffed baguette) as you are a steaming bowl of pho (noodle soup). Each dish is prepared with the Asian principle of Wu Xing (five elements) in mind; meaning the perfect combination of spicy, sour, bitter, salty and sweet is the aim. Be sure to also seek out the national beverages. Vietnamese coffee is served iced and sweet with condensed milk, a real sugar and caffeine hit, and beer hoi (local beer, brewed daily) is served on most street corners in the north out of large plastic jugs perfect for sharing. Food is cheap and you can generally avoid the spicier dishes if you wish. Western food is readily available almost everywhere. Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note that in Southeast Asia the availability of certain specialised products for restricted diets (eg gluten-free or dairy-free) is minimal or non-existent and we strongly recommend you bring these specialised dietary items from home. You may find it beneficial to bring some cycling snacks with you from home if you have energy bars or gels you like to use during a ride. For those who wish to contribute, a kitty is normally arranged – fresh fruit, nuts, biscuits and local snacks are all provided from the snacking kitty along with homemade lemonade if the season is right.

The weather will be hot and humid throughout with daytime temperatures usually between 28C and 34C (82F and 93F). It is only a little cooler at nights.

There is quite a range of seasons between the north and south: the south up to Hue has a distinct dry season between December to April and then a rainy season from May to November when it tends to come in short, heavy bursts with bright sunshine in between. Hanoi is cool in autumn, and even gets chilly between November and February (with a drizzly rain).

There is no ideal time to visit Vietnam, it is quite pleasant year-round; however, due to the shape of the country, it is unlikely the weather will ever be perfect for the entire duration of any trip.

The Ha Long Bay boat trip can be subject to change at short notice if certain adverse weather conditions develop. These could occur year-round, but especially in monsoon season (October to April). Ha Long Bay boat trips are governed by local authorities who are authorised to make appropriate safety decisions. If your Ha Long Bay trip is affected by adverse weather, this could either result in a reduced excursion on Ha Long Bay for your group or (less likely) the need to re-arrange the itinerary if it is not possible to go out on Ha Long Bay. While this is not a frequent occurrence, our local team and leaders are well equipped to handle such situations and have long offered appropriate options to groups in the instances where this may occur.

This Premium Adventure is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate) and classified Road.

Nine days of cycling (including one optional ride)

Average 43mi (70km) per day with 90 percent vehicle support

Terrain and route: The roads are mostly well-paved and the route is generally flat (with some undulation) except for Dalat and the Hai Van Pass. Vietnam can be very hot and humid, which can make cycling more demanding, but rests and water are readily available. You should be comfortable riding in traffic.

This is a busy trip with early departures on cycling days; anyone not wanting to cycle all day can use the support vehicle.

Please note, if your leader feels the itinerary is running behind schedule on cycling days and has concerns about arriving at the hotel on time, they may ask some or all members of the group to finish their riding for the day and transfer to the support vehicle. This will ensure the group still arrives on schedule around the approximate expected arrival times communicated to the group in your daily briefings with your leader.