Detailed Itinerary

Vietnam Smile Bike Tour 

Itinerary in brief
Day 1: Arrival - Ha Noi  
Day 2: Ha Noi
Day 3: Ha Noi - Lang Son
Day 4: Lang Son - Cao Bang
Day 5: Cao Bang - Ha Noi (270 km) - Hue
Day 6: Hue
Day 7: Hue - Hoi An
Day 8: Hoi An
Day 9: Hoi An - Qui Nhon
Day 10: Qui Nhon - Nha Trang
Day 11: Nha Trang
Day 12: Nha Trang - Phan Thiet
Day 13: Phan Thiet - Ho Chi Minh City
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi - Ho Chi Minh City
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City departure

Detail Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival - Ha Noi
Arrive in Ha Noi. Meet your guide and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 2: Ha Noi
A full day City tour of Vietnam 's capital including such sights as Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum , the Temple of Literature , the Lake of the Restored Sword and the Old Quarter. In the evening: enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 3: Ha Noi - Lang Son (165 km)
Leave Ha Noi early in the morning for Lang Son, nestling on the Chinese border, 150km north of Ha Noi. Travel by bus and bike. Transfer to hotel on arrival and in the afternoon visit the colourful market, Tam Thanh grotto and Tien Pagoda. Overnight in Lang Son.

Day 4: Lang Son - Cao Bang (135 km)
Leaving Lang Son after breakfast, head northwest by bus and bike through the spectacular mountain landscape to Cao Bang. Transfer to guest house on arrival and in the afternoon visit Pac Bo Cave. Overnight in Cao Bang.

Day 5: Cao Bang - Ha Noi (270 km) - Hue
Return to Ha Noi by bus and bike and transfer to the station for the overnight train to Hue . Overnight on train.

Day 6: Hue
Arrive in Hue mid-morning and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon cycle to the Imperial Citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda, on the banks of the Perfume River . Overnight in Hue .

Day 7: Hue - Hoi An (135 km)
Hue was the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty of emperors from 1802 till 1945. In the morning cycle to the elaborate mausoleums of Emperor Tu Duc and Khai Dinh along the banks of the Perfume River . Leave Hue in the afternoon for the ancient trading port of Hoi An 120km to the south via the spectacular Pass of Ocean Clouds . Arrive in Hoi An late afternoon and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8: Hoi An
Leave Hoi An after breakfast and cycle to the sacred Marble Mountains where caves contain dozens of Buddhist shrines. Stop off at Da Nang to visit the famous China Beach , once a 'rest and recreation' resort for American servicemen. Return to Hoi An for lunch and spend the afternoon discovering the delights of Hoi An's historic town centre or perhaps cycle to Cua Dai Beach

Day 9: Hoi An - Qui Nhon (280 km)
It is just under 300km down Highway One to Qui Nhon. Travel by bus and bike as the scenic highway follows the coast southwards. Transfer to hotel on arrival in Qui Nhon. Overnight in Qui Nhon.

Day 10: Qui Nhon - Nha Trang (240 km)
Continue down Highway one by bus and bike to Vietnam 's premier beach destination, Nha Trang. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 11: Nha Trang
In the morning take a cruise on Nha Trang Bay to visit some of the offshore islands with time for swimming and snorkeling. Return to shore after a seafood lunch. Afternoon cycling around Nha Trang to visit the 9th century Po Nagar Cham Towers, Long Son Pagoda with its enormous Buddha statue and the interesting Dam Market. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 12: Nha Trang - Phan Thiet (250 km)
Leave after breakfast by bus and bike for Phan Thiet breaking the 250km journey at Phan Rang to visit the spectacular Po Klong Garai Cham Temple. The landscape between Phan Rang and Phan Thiet changes to an arid semi-desert with sandy soil and prickly pear cactus. In Phan Thiet turn off to the Mui Ne Peninsula with its sandy white beaches and swaying coconut palms. Overnight in Phan Thiet.

Day 13: Phan Thiet - Ho Chi Minh City (200 km)
A morning free to relax at the beach or perhaps explore Mui Ne and its spectacular sand dunes. Leave after lunch for the final 200km passing through dense rubber plantations before reaching Bien Hoa and the outer suburbs of Ho Chi Minh City . Transfer to hotel on arrival. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City .

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi - Ho Chi Minh City (120 km)
A morning City tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, takes in the former Presidential Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, a lacquerware factory and Thien Hau Pagoda in the City's bustling Chinatown. In the afternoon visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City .

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City departure
At leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for onward flight. 5km away. Overnight in Hoi An.

Before you go

BEFORE YOU GO ON CYCLING TRIP VIETNAM - CAMBODIA AND/OR COUNTRY AROUND

Check your passport
It is a standard requirement for entry into any country in the world that you have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you complete your travels. If your passport has only a few months' validity or only a few pages remaining, you should to apply for a new one before you start your trip. If you need to apply for a new passport, make sure you can get it before your travel date. In most parts of Vietnam, Laos ,Cambodia and/or countries around you will have to show your passport when checking in to hotels and resorts, buying airline tickets, changing airline date or changing money.

Make a copy
Cycling thought Vietnam, Cambodia and/or countries around, we are highly recommended that you make a note of your passport details: passport number, visa number and place and date of issue of both, or even better, take a photocopy. Keep this information separate from your passport. If you lose your passport you must report it at once to your local Guide or Tour Leader, the local police and the nearest embassy or consulate of your country.

Visas
Most travelers to Vietnam need to apply for a visa. ''Green Trail Tours Co., Ltd '' help you arrange it.

A Vietnamese entry visa is required for all foreigners wishing to visit Vietnam except for citizens of countries with visa exemption agreements who may stay up to 30 days without a visa. Exempted countries include most Asean countries, Korea, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. All other citizens are required to get an entry visa before arrival or a pre-approved entry visa (a visa that is issued on arrival at Vietnam’s international airports but which must be arranged before arrival in Vietnam).

Visa Services
There are two ways to apply for your visa to Vietnam:

First: Apply by yourself at the embassy or consulate of Vietnam in your country or to any one of the Vietnam embassies and consulates around the world.
Documents needed: Passport of six months’ validity, visa application forms, and any other documents requested by the particular embassy or consulate. Visa forms are available directly at the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your country or by sending the embassy or consulate a stamped, self-addressed envelope addressed to the Visa Section. Fees vary between embassies. It will take 4 to 10 days depending on your country of origin.

Second: Get your visa instantly by using ''Green Trail Tours Co., Ltd ''
In the event that there is no Vietnam embassy or consulate in your country, or you just want to make Vietnam part of a multi-destination trip, then we recommend Visa on Arrival as your best option.
This is most likely the easiest way to obtain your visa without having to chase down embassies, consulates and the like prior to your trip, and is a valid alternative when applying for a tourist visa. The entry visa will be stamped on your passport as you pass through our immigration checkpoint at the airport. Though valid for thirty days, it can be extended once you enter Viet Nam. With this type of visa, you only can enter the country by air.
This is where the service at ''Green Trail Tours Co., Ltd '' comes to the fore. We are one of best travel agencies to offer this kind of service, whereby we will obtain what is called an “Approval Letter” for you from the Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi. After we obtain the approval for you, we will forward you a copy by fax or email. Copies of the same document will be forwarded on your behalf to Vietnam immigration checkpoints at International Airports, so that when you arrive in Vietnam, the immigration officers will have those documents on hand and will be able to issue your entry visa expediently. For further information please click here...

Travel Documents & Vouchers
When you book a tour you will be issued with a Confirmation Invoice. Please ensure that all the services which you have booked and paid for are shown on your travel documents and that all names have been spelled correctly. If you have booked additional services like extra nights' accommodation, transfers or excursions, please make sure that these are shown on your Confirmation Invoice and that you have been issued with a voucher for these services. (please contact to the sales agent for your service voucher)

Money

Currency Exchange
There are a wide variety of different ways that you can obtain or carry money overseas, including credit cards, ATM cards and cash. Traveller's cheques are a useful back-up which are popular for security reasons. Foreign currencies and tourist Traveller's cheques can be exchanged into Vietnamese Dong or Cambodian rail at all banks or foreign exchange agencies in most City in Vietnam and Cambodia. Credit cards are popularly used, especially in cities and big tourist centers. Before leave Vietnam Cambodia , Vietnamese dong or Cambodian Riel can be changed into foreign currencies at the airport.
Do carry some cash – a small amount is often useful in more remote regions. It is a good idea to obtain a small amount of the currency of the country you are visiting prior to arrival as this can be very useful for any immediate expenses. If you can’t obtain currency in advance, you will usually find banking services in the Arrivals Hall of the airport, port or border post, though these won’t necessarily be open 24 hours a day.
You should try to carry at least some of your money in small denominations so that you can change only the amount you will actually need. US dollars are widely accepted in all city of Vietnam ,Cambodia and/or countries around. This is particularly important near the end of your holiday as it is sometimes difficult to change back surplus local currency.

Safety
By choosing to cycling with ''Green Trail Tours Co., Ltd '' you can be sure that your safety and well-being is our prime concern. Over the years we have built up a network of local offices, and local staffs enable us to maintain constant contact with events on the ground in each of our destinations, and to ensure that every aspect of your tour runs as smoothly as possible.
If you find yourself worrying far too much about all the terrible things that might happen to you while traveling in Vietnam and Cambodia, remember that generally Vietnam and Cambodia cycling travel is safe and group travel even more so. If you would like us and advice please feel free to contact at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Insurance
Our tour prices do not include insurance. However, it is a condition of joining our tours that travelers are fully insured for any medical expenses they might incur while traveling. At the start of your tour the Tour Guide will ask to see your insurance documents and will note down the policy number and emergency contact number.
Travel insurance is compulsory for any participant. It is advised that all travelers should have travel insurance covered before your departure. This will be really helpful in case of medical emergency evacuation. It is with go safe. The travel insurance will cover against Hospital and Medical expenses, the cover relates to expenses as a consequence of accidents occurring to the bearer during the period of Insurance and/or unforeseen illnesses which arise during that period as well.

Entrance Fees
Concessions are available on some entrance fees for holders of some student and youth cards. If you have a card, or are entitled to one, you should bring it along so you can take advantage of any discounts.

Health & Medical

Vaccinations
Vaccinations are officially required by the Vietnamese authorities, however immunization against cholera, hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus, polio and Japanese encephalitis is advised. Please consult your doctors for further medical advice. Also plan to bring mosquito repellent. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and slacks from dusk onward and avoiding perfume is also recommended. In addition to an ample supply of any prescription drugs you are taking (and a prescription which can be filled in case your pills go missing) bring medicines for: Headaches, diarrhea, constipation, insect bites, sore throats, eye drops, cuts, etc. Medical standards outside Hanoi and Saigon, Siemreap and Luangprabang are lower that those found in western countries.

Personal Medical Kits
It is up to you to bring along a personal supply of basic medical items like plasters, aspirin, insect repellent etc. In areas of limited or suspect medical facilities, some travellers also like to take their own emergency medical kit which can be used by the local medical staff in case of accident or illness. Our cycling Tour Leaders carry a comprehensive First Aid Kit (including a sterile pack) for emergencies, but do not dispense medicines.

Existing Medical Conditions
All persons joining our tours are assumed to be in good health and to have a sufficient level of fitness to complete their chosen itinerary. If you have an existing medical condition or disability you must make this known at the time of booking. If accepted on the tour, you must also make your condition known to the cycling Tour Leader.

What to Pack

Travel Light
The first thing to remember when you are packing for your trip is that your airline baggage allowance is almost certainly going to be no more than 20kg. The next thing to remember is that apart from a few occasions when hotel porters will take your bags from the hotel out to a tour bus, you will have to carry your own luggage.

Luggage
For ease of use, the best type of bag to bring is a backpack or a hold all, preferably with some sort of shoulder strap. This type of bag tends to be less bulky and easier to handle than rigid suitcases. Wheeled suitcases might be useful for airport concourses, but not for anywhere else.

In addition to your main bag, we also recommend that you bring:
A smaller day pack for items like camera, water, sun cream, hat, etc.
A money belt or waist pouch (bum bag) for your travel documents and money.
Your luggage, bags and personal belongings are your own responsibility at all times.

Luggage Requirements checklist
As a guideline we have compiled a list of things that you might need on tour. Naturally you will have your own ideas so please remember that with the exception of The Essentials these lists are only intended as a guide and you should choose which items you wish to bring.
-Passport
-Money
Keep a note of the emergency contact number for your Visa or ATM card, and the serial numbers of any traveller's cheques, if used.
-Travel insurance
-Take a photocopy of your policy with you and make sure you leave a photocopy at home.
-Airline ticket
-Travel documents / service vouchers
-Comfortable clothing for cycling allowing your legs to move freely
-Helmet
-Cycling gloves
-Stiff soled cycling shoes
-Insulated water bottle
-Waterproof jacket (rain is always possible in South East Asia)
-Spare inner tube
-A Bike (please see below for more details)
-Front and rear bike lights
-Cycling Water bottle
-Money belt or pouch
-Torch and batteries
-Personal washing / shaving kit
-Camera and film / memory cards
-Sunglasses
-Swiss Army Knife / Leather-man
-Lightweight wind / waterproof jacket

 Medical / Personal
-Insect repellent
-Sun cream or sunblock
-Lip balm
-Moisturizer / After Sun lotion
-Personal medical supplies
 Aspirin, paracetamol, plasters, bandage, safety pins, antiseptic cream, diarrhea tablets, tampons, etc. Our Cycling Tour Leaders carry comprehensive First Aid Kits but these are for emergency use only.
-Antihistamine / insect bite cream
-Dehydration solution
-Personal medication
If you are taking any medication or have a condition that needs specific medicines (e.g. asthma) you must take all necessary medicines with you. You must also inform your Cycling Tour Leader of your condition at the start of your tour.

Clothing
As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, hard-wearing and easily washed. Almost everyone brings too many clothes so try to travel as light as possible.
you should not forget that special cycling clothes and shoes are not easy available in Vietnam, Cambodia and/or countries around. You may want to bring SPD shoes or sandals with overshoes. You will be not able to buy specialized cycling clothes during your journey in Vietnam, Cambodia and maybe in some Asian cities (Bangkok, Hong Kong, Penang) but don't count on it. Shoes can be outside the western world a problem since the sizes are limited. If you have big feet, buy your shoes at home.

Our Bikes
We generally use TREK mountain bikes as they have high quality, durable pieces of equipment. However, we also use others kind of bike depending on the grade of the tours and places. Please be advised  that a certain frame model is not guaranteed.

We prefer the Trek mountain bike as it has been special designed to deal with different types of road and riding.  Even on a our road trips, the asphalt can often be broken or potholed, and there are usually unsurpassed sections included, so mountain bikes are the most suitable. The bike has 24 and 27 gears, which you can change easily when padding up hill or down trails.

As the case of soft cycling in the country side, where the road is paved and flat, we general use simple Japanese pushed bikes.

Bike Sizes
We provide mountain bikes on all our tours (except Tibet). Available sizes are 15"(38cm), 17"(43cm), 19"(48cm), and 21"(53cm). If you normally ride a mountain bike you simply need to tell us its size. If you are not sure, have a look at the table below for our suggestions. If in doubt it may be a good idea to visit a bike shop and try a few mountain bikes to find a comfortable size.

Photography

Special Permits
Occasionally some historical sites have a charge for taking your camera on site, and others prohibit cameras altogether. Often flash photography is prohibited (even if you have bought a permit). Rules for video cameras are usually more restrictive than for still cameras. Video cameras must be declared to customs on arrival in many countries and special permits are often necessary for use at historical sites.
Film & Digital
Film may not always be available locally and can be of variable quality, so you should bring plenty with you. If you use digital, ensure you have an adequate supply of memory cards. Many internet cafés or photo shops can burn memory cards onto CD, but do not delete any images from the card until you have seen the CD on a different computer. Take spare batteries, especially if they are of an unusual size. Two sets of rechargeable are best so one set is always full. Don't forget to take the charger as well as a travel plug adapter.
Emergency Contact
If someone needs to contact you while you are on tour, the best method is for them to contact your sale agent, who can then pass on a message. If your sale agent is closed and someone needs to make contact with you urgently, they should telephone our hotline in the tour operation department in ''Green Trail Tours Co., Ltd '' . Emergency Contact details are shown in each service voucher. We recommend that you leave a copy of your Trip and Service Voucher and details of your booking agent with someone at home.
Phoning Hotels
We do not recommend that you ask friends and relatives to contact you by phoning tour hotels. Receptions are often manned by non-English speaking staff and it is highly unlikely that the person answering the phone would be able to locate you. In addition it is also not possible to give out details of hotels before the tour starts (except for the Meeting Point hotel) as these may be subject to change.
Email
The internet is everywhere, Vietnamese people adopted it massively. E-mailing and chat gather several thousands of people in the Internet Cafes now equipped with ADSL, which is convenient when we use vocal chat and webcam. Using the internet in Vietnam is cheap, about 3000-4000 dong / hour depending on the place where you go.
Mobile Phones
You can use your own cell phone if you come from a European, Asian country or Australia (GSM 900/1800). If it isn’t yet unlocked, it’s going to be easy to do it here. For those who come from USA or Japan, you will need to buy a new cell phone.

Three telecom companies are sharing the market, Vinaphone, Mobiphone and Viettel. They propose prepaid cards and pay as you call solutions (You receive a bill at the end of the month). But whatever solution you pick, you will need to get a SIM card (your telephone number), about 300.000 VND.

Cell phone shops can be found very easily everywhere in Vietnam and/or countries around, even in the most remote part of the country.

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Set Departures

>> MINIMUM 04 PERSONS <<

>> MAXIMUM 10 PERSONS <<

INCLUDING

 * English Speaking tour leader (other languages upon requests)
 * All accommodations base on twin-share at hotel, guesthouse and Home stay.etc…
 * Meals detailed in the itinerary (B = Breakfast , L = Lunches ,D = Dinners)
 * A/C transfers and transportation.
 * Boat trip mention in itinerary
 * Sightseeing excursions as outlined in itinerary
 * Train Ticket Hanoi to Hue
 * Pump, bike tools, spares tubes.
 * Spare bike
 * Mineral water drinking.
 * Seasonal fruits.
 * Snacks

NOT INCLUDING
 * International airfares
 * Travel insurance and bike helmet (compulsory)
 * Items of a personal nature
 * Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
 * Mineral water beyond that supplied
 * Single Supplement
 * Optional excursions
 * Additional transport required due to any emergency situation
 * Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills
 * Mountain bicycle
 * Visa fees
 * Departure taxes
 * Tipping for guiding