INTRODUCTION


In the fall of 2009 the Cross Canada Cycle Touring Society (CCCTS) announced a planned tour of Vietnam for sixteen participants to take place in November 2010, conducted by Pedaltours of Auckland, NZ. The response was overwhelming in that 48 members signed up! Thus there will be three groups touring. This blog is a rendering of the experiences of the first group who will travel between November 1st and 21st, 2010.

Vietnam is a fabulous experience. We stay at mostly 3* and 4* hotels and beachfront resorts and cycle away from the highway.

Our tour starts in Ho Chi Minh city (formerly Saigon) leading on to the beach resort of Nha Trang, historic Hoi An, and the imperial city of Hue. Thereafter we fly north to Hanoi and spend the next ten days exploring the scenic far North, including Dien Bien Phu. The Northwest is "the roof" of Vietnam, where the Hoang Lien Mountains (Tonkinese Alps) soar to over 3,000 metres (9,900 feet) and some of Vietnam's most spectacular scenery is to be found. This is definitely "the road less travelled"! Much of the area is sparsely populated and the mountains are still home to many ethnic minorities; the Montagnard women still favour elaborate costumes of brightly coloured skirts, tops and hats - each ethnic group favouring its own colour variation and design.

Sapa is an atmospheric former hill station with magnificent views of rice terraces and mountains; the temperature can drop to zero in mid-winter (January, when group three will be travelling).

We will travel by train, boat and bike as we follow the rugged Northwest route right to the border with China at Lao Cai; on several days venturing away from the civilised tourist meccas, cycling through traditional villages and staying in small towns with modest lodgings (Oh, Oh!)

So come prepared for the unexpected, for breathtaking scenery and bring a sense of adventure (and toilet paper!)

Thanks to the folks at Pedaltours for the text above and at the start of each days posts - NB There is no knowing at the start just how often we can update this blog since we don't know the availability of Wi-Fi, but by pre-posting the days activities all you armchair travellers will at least have an idea of what we are hopefully up to. Cheers.


Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Day Sixteen - Tuesday, November 16th, 2010 - Dien Bien Phu to Sin Ho

"This morning we cycle along quiet, winding roads that snake through the beautiful countryside which characterizes this part of the country - undulating, but not too hilly with stunning panoramas. After lunch keen riders can tackle the climb to Ma Thi Ho pass (in fact no one did, on account of time constraints - some did however ride for 30 km from the top of the pass) passing H'mong settlements en route. You will encounter women in traditional H'mong dress of vibrant embroidered skirts and head-dresses with black leggings and aprons. There is a fabulous descent to Muong Lay. A huge new Hydro-Electric dam is being constructed at Muong Lay and the original town will be submerged by 2012. We drive from Muong Lay (possible road works over the first 20 kms - there were, and how!), climbing very steeply up to the small town of Sin Ho".
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