Bangkok and Vietnam

Fuck yes

Are you going North of Hanoi too? HIGHLY recommended!

Sadly not. Crossing the border into Cambodia at Bavet and only have 15 days left on the visa so just heading south. Will have to save north of Hanoi for next time.

It’s hilly in the central highlands. Insta is @t____unit if anyone’s interested and I’ll stop spamming this thread. Cambodia tomorrow

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We're thinking of going to Vietnam in March for a cycle tour, would appreciate any feedback on the route route I've got going - basically a loop north from Hanoi to Ha Long via Ma Pi Leng pass.

Got a few things I've got no idea about:

• How decent quality are the roads? A read through the thread suggests they look on-par with the UK, probably will take gravel bikes though.
  
• We're thinking bringing tents & (wild?) camping where necessary but hotels where we can - reasonable approach?
  
• I'm vegetarian - how hard is going to be for food?
  

• haven’t done this route but have cycled from Hanoi to HCMC and overall road quality is good with some poor bits, generally smooth tarmac, not much gravel. I managed fine on 32mm.
  
• Drivers are terrible, no looking, wrong side of the road, don’t notice cyclists at all, be careful!
  
• Hotels are v cheap and all land is used so wild camping tricky. Maps.me has wild camping spots marked.
  
• vegetarian food is available but we found that out of the cities food choices are limited, generally pho or fried rice. We struggled to get enough calories and lost a few kg each in a month.
  
• this guy has lots of useful info
  
  

When I was there i didn't take a tent although I was travelling roughly along the coastal road where accommodation was presumably easier to find.
I was a vegetarian when i went but decided to put it on pause when I toured through Vietnam (Danang to Saigon) years ago. I found this approach good as it meant that it was easier to consume street food where vendors typically sell one thing which inevitably has some mystery meat in it.
I took my own bike out there and one of the challenges i found was how to transport my bike back. What I did in the end was sent the bike box (essentially cardboard box from bike store in London) poste restante to Saigon. Apparently it's not easy to track down such a box in Vietnam although this was over 10 years ago now so things may have changed

I’m cycling in Vietnam now.
I’d say that dropping into Buddhist temples is a good way for somewhere to stay. They’ll let you put a tent on their grounds or probably give you a room for the night. Also their food is vegetarian. You can offer to make a donation to the temple that can be some cash or even some food.

Halfway round this, is nice. Hot and hilly, 32mm tyres just about doable. One day I’ll buy a grvl bike
https://bikepacking.com/routes/the-lanna-kingdom/

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I love this thread… been on my bucket list for almost 40 years.. we attended a Vietnamese wedding in Central London yesterday, embraced by both families and close friends

When I suggested we are overdue our first time visit, me touring via motorbike, Mrs M staying in a luxury resort with two city breaks.. they basically said ‘anything is possible’ here’s my number come visit.. and if you want stag-do here’s my number we can have a wild time