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Just returned from cycling Vietnam, what an excellent holiday we had. The group of 17 was expertly led by Linh Vo and a three person support team. The mountain bikes were in great condition and maintained each evening by the Mechanic ready for each day’s ride. The routes were generally flat and provided a great insight into life in Vietnam taking in all of the popular sights. The south of Vietnam is tropical and the weather was hot, so much so that the screen on my Garmin was burned by the sun when I left it outside for an hour, lesson learned. Linh planned the routes so that regular breaks for hydration were factored in which was appreciated by all. The driver waited ahead at each stop with chilled lime juice (really refreshing) and plenty of snacks, ensuring that everyone was adequately hydrated and fuelled. During the rides there was always a lead rider, typically Linh at the front and a guide at the rear of the group keeping an eye on the riders at the back. The hotels were good and food plentiful and varied with a couple of non-cycling days when we took in some snorkelling and kayaking. Special mention must go to our superb Tour Leader Linh who was simply amazing! He was always available and never ceased to ensure that everyone was looked after and restaurants and hotels were organised, even pitching in to serve food at stops. Early in the tour, my elderly mobile phone charging port failed leaving me without all the things we rely on them for. Linh organised for a replacement part to be sourced and a local repair which involved a good deal of additional work for him and was hugely appreciated. His enthusiasm for his country’s history is infectious and the information he provided covering everywhere we visited was really engaging. I loved hearing about Linh’s early days in a Buddhist Pergoda, his Father’s experiences during the Vietnam war, religion and daily life in Vietnam, even about his family who are charming. We cycled, laughed and sang our way around Vietnam, it was brilliant.
I have travelled with Exodus many times, Linh is without doubt the best Tour Leader I have experienced.
Take plenty of high factor sun screen, maybe some light sleeves for additional protection.
Fast paced and long days in the saddle meant we covered a lot of ground – 480km of this lovely country. Due to snow at home in February, I couldn’t get out on the roads so I got fitter during the rides and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. 6 out of 18 had e-bikes which meant that we kept together pretty well. Lam and his 3 staff took good care of us and we felt safe even in the crazy traffic in the cities. I felt we could have eaten at some better restaurants, especially on the first, second and third nights where the options tasted quite bland and there was little availability on the menus. There were some far better options found via google reviews and the meal in Mui Ne was particularly poor. With greater attention to the evening meals, the trip would be excellent. I loved the variety of sights and Whale Island and Hoi An were highlights for me.
Completing the long days of up to 100km and managing to appreciate the views all around us through hamlets, villages and coastal views.
Excellent. Lam was a great leader and kept us all motivated and refuelled throughout. We were lucky with no wet weather so easier to keep safe on the downhills and see the potholes easier. Lam went above and beyond to make gin and tonics for us on the overnight train - carrying bottles, a tray of tonics and a cool box of ice and limes on top of his own luggage. That was very much appreciated! He also gave us each an annotated map of Vietnam tracking our route by bike and by transfers so we can see our exact route. That’s a 5* effort.
Try to get some training in beforehand as you will get more out of the trip. It’s certainly not for beginner cyclists.
To repeat other reviews – action packed trip – more emphasis on cycling and not on sight-seeing like some other Exodus tours on offer. The distances, pace and elevations are rated moderate, but to some they would be challenging. The pace was faster than we normally go when touring – although there were frequent stops. Excellent organization and leadership from Lam and his team who refreshed us at regular intervals and kept our bikes in good shape. Their support couldn’t have been better or more cheerful. Loved some of the quieter roads and villages but could have missed cycling through the city areas like Hue – unnecessarilly risky, in my view. High quality hotels all the way and some great meals. Not enough time to really see some overnight places like Da Lat. Overnight train trip an adventure but not for the faint of heart (toilets) or light sleepers. Great overnight boat experience in Halong Bay. We certainly saw the country from one end to the other.
Beautiful scenery and the waving children along the way.
5 stars! Excellent group leader (Lam) who seemed to have every last detail sorted out way ahead of time from room allocation/ keys, to restaurants, to luggage, tipping, tickets etc. Also, he was extremely knowledgeable about the country. He helped all the slower members of our group along the way and encouraged everyone.
Be aware of the cycling demands and the risks in a country with crazy traffic and roads (pot holes/ animals/ scooters). A few more people in our group might have enjoyed the tour more with an ebike. Expect long bus rides between cycling (up to 4 hours) so be prepared with something to read etc. Take toilet supplies especially for the train and rest stops - some with very basic facilities. (the bush was often the only option along the way). Some of our bike sizes were not what we expected. Make sure to let the company know not just your height but what size bike you generally ride to avoid this hassle.Easier to start with the right ize than have them adjusting along the way. There is no day pack or pannier with the bikes for even the smallest items. Bring something along. The bus is never too far away.
A fantastic trip, action packed from start to finish. Our Guide Lam and his team worked tirelessly to ensure everything went to plan, which it did. Great cycling days interspersed with a mix of other activities. Vietnam is a beautiful country with warm friendly people and interesting food along the way. I can’t think of a better way to spend two weeks. Memories to treasure for sure.
Cycling over the Hai Van Pass.
Lam was the best guide one could wish to have. He was so knowledgable about all aspects of Vietnam. His smile and affable demeanour touched us all. Also a great cyclist who rode every step of the way with us. He was supported by a great team who kept us refreshed along the way.
Be prepared for an action packed schedule from start to finish.
This was a really well organised trip, full of great cycling, good food, interesting sights, and plenty of adventure. The trip packs a lot into 14 days–cycling, visits to tourist sites, bus rides, meals, etc; sometimes it felt rushed, meaning that we did not have sufficient time to explore the places we visited, particularly Da Lat. Time could be saved by cutting out some of the sometimes interminable cycling through traffic-clogged commercial streets–particularly the first stretch north of Mui Ne.
Cycling up the mountain pass from Hue.
Son was excellent. He was competent, friendly, cheerful, and effective at managing the group. Everything was well organised, and he gave us relevant information throughout. The only room for improvement is that he could have told us more: he could have introduced us to some basic Vietnamese vocabulary (hello, goodbye, please, thank you, key words for food and drink), and he could have given us more information about the architecture and history of places like Da Lat. and Hoi An. The information given was basic, and when one pressed for more details, little was forthcoming.
The trip is packed with activities (and not just cycling), and with the exception of the off days in Hoi An and Whale Island, you are always on the move. That's fine if you want to make the most out of a two-week trip to Vietnam, but it can be a little tiring. Also, while many meals (dinners) are not included, in fact group meals are planned for most of them (though they are optional), and you have to pay for them. This is fine: the food was good, the prices were reasonable, and it was very convenient. Finally, virtually everything is done as a group, so your enjoyment of the experience will depend somewhat on the group dynamics (ours were fine).
This was a holiday that had been on my bucket list for a number of years. a major attraction being the chance to explore parts of the country by bike.
Where does one begin? The satisfaction of all 18 of us completing the 100k day; a first for our group leader The tropical island stay on Whale Island Hoi An, my favourite of the places we visited Struggling my way to the top of the Hai Van pass
Loc Phan was instrumental in the success of the holiday. From the outset he was enthusiastic and positive in his approach, communicating clearly as to what was planned for the day ahead, as well as explaining his country's history, geography and the landscapes we passed through. Organisation was excellent throughout and individual requests accommodated so that everyone enjoyed the experience. I cannot praise him and the members of the support team highly enough.
Do not underestimate the challenge of the cycling on this holiday if you are an occasional cyclist. Due to a variety of factors (weather; road conditions) I had been unable to do any road cycling in advance, although I had done a lot of indoor cycling classes in the lead up to the holiday. I was really challenged by the amount of cycling, particularly the succession of longer rides in what at times was adverse conditions (strong head winds). Having done another Exodus cycling in a similar category I found this one much tougher. Days are long with 6am breakfasts and leaving the hotel around 7am. There are several long transfers so we usually didn't arrive in our hotel until after 6pm, and didn't have much time for exploring. There is one opportunity for laundry, the 2 night stay in Hoi An, so be prepared to wash your cycling kit.
The Vietnam cycling trip was first class. Not only was the cycling well organised and a fun way of seeing the country in a more authentic way. Importantly our safety whilst cycling was always taken into consideration by our experienced and very knowledgeable leader Tong Hoang.
The group camaraderie, enthusiasm and encouragement made the trip memorable.
Tong was superb, his riding skill and awareness for others was first class at all times with everybody’s safety being paramount. As well as his cycling skill, his depth of knowledge and passion for his country was equally important to him and was communicated very well whilst we visited all the different places of interest on route.
Providing you have a reasonable level of fitness and take the advice from the training preparation guide that is provided by Exodus you will be fine. This will enable you to enjoy the trip immensely. .
A great trip starting in Ho Chi Minh where the pace of life is very fast with scooters everywhere. Then cycling through the countryside up 6 mile hills and down 18 mile hills.The scenery is stunning. The locals are always pleased to see you with plenty of waves and hellos. Time to chill out at Whale Island where the snorkelling is excellent and time to chill out on the beach.The overnight train to Hanoi was an experience but with 4 women in the carriage and a bottle of wine the 12 hours went very quickly. The visit to Halong Bay was amazing the boat was very comfortable and food great. The highlight oif visiting Halong Bay was the kayaking and seeing the monkeys on the rocks. Finally to Hanoi and back to the faster pace of life.
Snorkelling at Whale Island where the fish were amazing just like being in a fish tank. Hoi An for the colourful night market and great shopping having your shoes made to measure. The meal with a Vietnamese family at their home. Halong Bay for the scenery.
Linh Vo is an amazing leader who is very knowledgable about the history of Vietnam. He took us to places we would never have gone on our own. He went above and beyond what we would have expected of a tour leader and made us feel very safe. He is well organised and his cycling song made us all laugh.With 8 in our group he made us feel like one happy family. Linh and all his back up team were always helpful shepherding us through the traffic and supplying us with snacks and drinks and a big smile at all our stops.
This is a great trip if you like cycling. A certain amount of fitness is required but there is always the back up bus if needed.Take a raincoat and be prepaired to get wet although the rain is warm . Just enjoy the trip Vietnam is an incredible place.
Superb trip taking in a huge variety of scenery, places and experiences in 2 weeks! Cycling is a brilliant way to travel and interact with different environments and see the friendly locals….lots of waves and hellos! We didn’t see another Westerner between leaving Ho Chi Minh and arriving in Hoi An (5 days) which definitely added to the authenticity of the trip! Everything was amazingly well-organised and the hotels, food and the group fantastic!
Lots of favourites - Whale Island for its beauty and tranquility, Hoi An for its culture and lovely historic merchants houses (and great shopping!), Hué for its fascinating Imperial culture and Ha Long Bay for its mindblowing scenery & geology!
Son Nguyen is amazing and generally a fantastic human being! He's incredibly professional, organised, hilarious, supportive, warm and knowledgeable. We arrived in a restaurant in Hoi An and found the table reservation for "Son & his family" and we certainly felt like part of his lovely family after 2 weeks together, and found it very hard to say goodbye! He and his team made everything possible and were a wonderful support with much-needed delicious refreshments, snacks and bike maintenance when required. We miss you Son, and thank you so much for everything!
Travelling light is good (laundry opportunities on several occasions, and easy enough to rinse out tops and cycle shorts each night) and also has the bonus of allowing you space to bring home any clothes you get made in Hoi An, and other shopping possibilities! (The embroidered pictures on the craft/food outlet stop on the road to Ha Long Bay were exquisite!) There's much been written on other reviews about the overnight train being far from ideal, but really this is just in comparison with the amazing standard of the other hotels in which we stayed. The train cabin was great (though bring extra clothes if on the top bunks as air con is strong!!), the experience a lot of fun (we felt like kids on a school trip!) and pretty comparable with UK overnight trains in my experience.
In my opinion, the success of these trips depends mainly on 3 factors – the itinerary and logistics, the guide and the fellow group participants. For me, the three were excellent. As always, the attention to detail from Exodus’ side was impeccable from the choice of hotels to the choice of snacks in between rides. Yes this is a fast moving full on trip as clearly laid out in the trip notes so if you like lie ins and lazing on the beach type of holidays think again! But to see so much of Vietnam in 2 weeks this is expected.
The exhilarating downhill 30 km ride through beautiful scenery, the snorkelling around Whale Island and the first glimpse of the islands whilst cruising into Halong Bay!
Tung was magnificent! He did his job exceptionally well without being too pushy. He was there to help all of us until the moment we got on the plane back. Great sense of humour and good knowledge of the country’s history. Very streetwise too.
If you love cycling and would like to visit Vietnam then this is the way to do it. Cycling is generally easy except for a few days where there are a couple of long hills. Some fitness is required here. Also, one needs to be calm when cycling in traffic as you have to negotiate and share the road with the million scooters and cars! All part of the fun.