Vietnam in top 10 cycle routes recommended by National Geographic

The road from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam is recently listed as one of the best cycle routes in the world by the National Geographic. 

The prestigious National Geographic travel guide, Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips, cataloguing the most famous and lesser known trips of a lifetime picked the World’s Top 10 bike trails on the planet, chosen for their beauty, length and excitement.

According to this list, Vietnam ranked fifth in the list, follow by Canada, Chile and Australia. It is described as suitable for who want to mix the bikes and beaches. Traveler will be passing through the 746 mile- (1,200 kilometer) route, between the country’s two biggest cities, taking along vast stretches of sandy coastline; it’s no picnic, as road surfaces vary considerably and there are many natural obstacles like the Hai Van Pass, the historical division point between North and South Vietnam. 

Recommended cycling tour by Active Travel Asia

With 8 Years of local travel Expert’s experience, Active Travel Asia (ATA) has a
deserved reputation for innovation, for quality of service and for providing once-in-a-lifetime active holidays including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, kayaking, overland tours and family travel packages in Indochina. ATA's accumulated expertise allows travelers to maximize traveler’s precious holiday time and to experience the very best of traveler’s chosen destination. The tour packages and custom itineraries will take travelers through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Asia.

ATA would like to suggest the most impressive cycling tour for travelers who want to explore Vietnam by bicycle. The Biking Ho Chi Minh trail tour brings travelers a great chance to learn about the Vietnamese modern history and see it beautiful nature.

The so-called Ho Chi Minh Trail is one of the most renowned legends of the American War. The complicated road system winds along the Truong Son Range, which that facilitated movement of soldiers and war supplies from North Vietnam to battlefields in South Vietnam. Now the historic trail is being turned into a highway and hotels and towns are springing up speedily beside it. The route is incredibly beautiful with new mountain views around every corner, very little traffic, and virtually no tourists.

On the way, traveler will have chance to explore Pu Luong nature reserve, or amazing caves at Phong Nha Nation Park. The trip concludes in Hoian, a charming ancient town in centre Vietnam. 

When to travel: The custom trip is offered weekly year-round. But the best time to travel is from Sep to May. This trip is private and travelers can start any time they want.

Price: Starting at $1,425 per person for the group of seven. It includes AC bus for the whole trip, bike truck for the biking section, mountain bikes with helmet and biking gloved, boats in Phong Nha & Hue, hotels based on twin shared, mechanic for the biking section, English speaking guide for the whole trip, meals as indicated in the itinerary, water and snacks every day, sightseeing fees and entrance fees.

More information at http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=65 

Supported by Active Travel Asia – Explore the hidden land!

Hanoi Office:

Add: Floor 12 Building 45 Nguyen Son Street, Long Bien district, Hanoi, Vietnam

Tel: +844 3573 8569

Fax: +844 3573 8570

Email: info@activetravel.asia 

Website: http://www.activetravel.asia/

Specialties of the Southwestern region

The stretch of road from Ho Chi Minh City, going along National Highway 1A, which runs from Long An Province to the southern most province of Ca Mau, offers a number of specialties.

Stalls foods and fruits unique to this part of the country are to be seen all along this route.

Before passing over My Thuan Bridge to Vinh Long Province, for example, visitors are treated to feast for the eyes. The stalls overflowing with the products of the area, including fruits such as mangoes, oranges and guava and the famous candy of Ben Tre and Soc Trang like sweet coconut, Lai Vung meat rolls and bia cakes (made from durian, wheat powder and egg).

Mrs. Thu, a traveller from HCM City, said this was her first time visiting the region, and that she was impressed with the abundant rivers and wide variety of fruits displayed so well.

“I pay so much attention to the stalls themselves that I forget to buy anything," she said.

 

Mrs. Trang checks the stall display

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Vy and her mother

 

Attracted by stalls

 

Bia cake in Soc Trang

Lai Vung pork rolls in Dong Thap

 

Various kinds of specialties for customers to choose from

 

Candy and cakes accompany the fruit

 

“Grape fruit towers” in O Mon, Can Tho

 

In Tien Giang fruits are sold by basket

It's boom time in Sa Pa's hills

As many as 10,000 visitors are expected to travel to the highlands of Sa Pa on the coming National Day holidays this weekend, said Lao Cai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism director Tran Huu Son.
Situated in a picturesque part of the northern province of Lao Cai, Sa Pa was the site of a French resort during colonial times, and has since become one of the most popular travel destinations in the country, said Son.
He added that visitors to Sa Pa Township were increasing thanks to expanding homestay services; about 40 per cent of visitors had registered tours to Sa Pa's villages, a 20 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2010.
About 100,000 visitors came to the area during the first six months of the year, which is as high as the total number of visitors throughout 2008.
Son said nearly 100 households in Sa Pa were running homestay services which can serve a total of 1,000 guests.
Communes with homestay services include Ban Ho, Cat Cat, Ta Van and Ta Phin.
Nong Van San, who has been running a homestay service for three years, said visitors staying at his home had helped to increase his family's income. The service had actually brought the family more than incomes from other traditional jobs.
Communes in Bat Xat and Bac Ha districts located 20km and 70km from Sa Pa have recently developed homestay services and can serve up to 100 guests at a time.
According to Luc Xuan Thuong, a senior official of Bac Ha's Ta Van Chu Commune, running a homestay service is not difficult, and about 70 households in the commune are running the business.
"Traditional wooden houses which are equipped with mattresses, blankets, pillows and a clean toilette can be used for a homestay," said Thuong.
Lo Thi Mao, a tourguide from the Viettravelmate company, said many foreign tourists were also opting to stay at ethnic people's houses in villages to get an insight into rural life.
 
Source: VietNamNet/VNS

Tourism year to highlight Red River civilization

 

The National Tourism Year 2013 themed “Red River Civilisation” will kick off in the northern port city of Hai Phong on May 11 next year.

Following the opening ceremony, which will take place on the occasion of the 58 th anniversary of the city’s liberation day, there will be a festive week with a wide range of activities, announced the event’s steering and organising boards at a meeting in Hanoi on July 25.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh said the National Tourism Year 2013 is organised in coherence with the implementation of a socio-economic development programme in the Red River Delta.

Hai Phong and other localities nationwide will join hands to promote the country’s tourism sector in the international arena, Anh said.

He expressed his hope that other cities and provinces in the region will closely work with the northern port city to successfully organise the National Tourism Year 2013.

A broad range of activities will be held during the event, including a cuisine festival, a photo exhibition, arts performances and seminars. All aim to promote the quintessence of the time-honoured Red River civilisation.

(Source: VNA)