Cycling Vietnam

[Kalidurga]

I just received this month's issue of Cycling Plus UK and it includes an article on cycling through Thailand. Just based on skimming through and looking at the photos, it looks like anywhere in that part of the world would be beautiful and interesting to pedal through. After I read the article, I'll let you know if there's anything in it that might be pertinent to cycling the Orient in general.

[snowtulip]

Hi Sulis,
Unfortunately I haven't been riding Vietnam, YET. But I did a lot of reseach, just haven't been able to afford the plane ticket. Here are a few links I came across.

http://www.handspan.com/?opt=intro&c...egion/vietnam/
http://www.grasshopperadventures.com/kk.html

I hope you get a chance. Vietnam and Cambodia are on my list.

[Cali Sunshine]

I have contemplated cycling Vietnam, coincidentally. I have been to Vietnam twice, once with my dad who was a Vietnam Vet. Visiting the countryside made me think about cycling it. I also recall a while back seeing a website of a guy cycling Vietnam, as well as a site (don't know if it was the same one) talking about his experiences cycling Vietnam. I don't know if that's the same site posted above. I also wonder if there are cycling organizations within Vietnam where you can cycle with other groups.

[Kalidurga]

The one tip from the article on cycling in Thailand was to check out Lonely Planet, which doesn't seem to have much specifically about biking in Vietnam. Through that site, though, I found this: World Adventures: Cycle touring in Vietnam.

This sounds like such a great idea. If you do this trip with your dad, I hope that you take lots of photos and post them here for us to see!

[crazycanuck]

Hi,

Just an idea, why not try a co that does small tours in vietnam & supports the local community

www.intrepidtravel.com

I don't know how expensive it is in US $ but can recommend them.

c

[sulis]

Wow! Thank you everyone. You always provide such great information. I will see my father this weekend and give him some of this info so we can talk about it some more. More than anything, I'm hoping a planned trip like this with his oh so fabulous daughter will encourage him enough to get serious about taking care of himself. He has many health problems right now but they are all related to the extra weight he is caring around. So hopefully this will take care of two things at once - the weight and his dream to return to Vietnam to see how it is now.

And if I do end up going...I will definitely take many pictures and post the adventures!!

[Deanna]

I once read a great book called "Catfish and Mandala" by Andrew X Pham. He emigrated to the US as child and this is story of his bicycle ride through Vietnam when he takes a visit back when he's older. Probably won't offer a lot of advice, but would probably be good reading.