Vietnam Countryside Discovery - Saigon to HaNoi

The trip was fantastic, Van. Your choice of places to buy fruit, see sights and people, to eat in restaurants, and to interact with local population was exceptional. We appreciated your flexibility about length of rides and changing agendas to see sights or eat at more interesting restaurants. We enjoyed learning about the country and culture your perspective. The bike maintenance was impeccable, as were the bike refreshments. The bike equipment was high quality. We love the jerseys. Fantastic! Cycling Vietnam Backroads 13 Jan 2012.

Happy New Year. Don and I hope we can ride with you again someday!

Christina and Don from the US

Mr Nghi is an excellent guide. He meets us every day with a smile and was available at all times. He’s an excellent cyclist and always ready for a hard & challenging ride. He was attentive to our needs and accommodating to special requests. Our driver Thao is also a very good driver, very safe and always prompt. He also kept the van very clean and supplied with drinks. The quality of the food choice overall was excellent. Some of our very best meals were arranged by Mr Nghi in small villages for our lunches and gave us a great insight into the culture. If we had any constructive feedback, maybe the van could sometimes be closer on long rides and maybe the guides could be supplied with modem mapping technology like GPS or smart phones, for the most efferent routing and use of time. This is one of the best trip we have ever taken and our first bike tour, and we are extremely happy with experience. We have many wonderful memories and photos. We would highly recommend Vietnam Backroads to our friends. We are already looking forward to our next trip with Vietnam Backroads. 24 Dec 2012 - 04 Jan 2013.

Aaron and Laurence from the US

Yes - now safely back in the UK. Although there was some snow on the ground when we arrived home last weekend the temperature has just warmed up here and it is now slightly warmer than it was on our first day in Hanoi (17 degrees)!!

We continued to have a great time on our Halong Bay cruise and were looked after well by your guide in Hanoi who also organised a final airport transfer for us.

Mike and I have now reflected on the holiday and both of us were profoundly moved by the whole experience of Vietnam and Cambodia. In particular we found Vietnamese people to be very friendly and welcoming, the food amazing and the scenery spectacular and varied.

We were delighted with the service we received from Vietnam Backroads right from the first contact with you through to the biking trip and the end in Hanoi. It is hard to be critical because we know how much effort you all put in and we feel the trip was really good value for money. Mike and I both think that the trip was even better because Van was with us. As the owner he was able to decide to give us even more out of the trip (e.g food stops) than perhaps Harry could decide on his own on a set budget. The bikes were great, well maintained and the team did everything for us including lending us gloves/sleeves! We went to some wonderful restaurants which we would never have found on our own and were amazed at the quality and quantity of food we were able to order within the package price (and more importantly Van/Harry would order for us which made life really easy and ensured we got to try local specialities). Similarly the drink stops were well organised and much more frequent than we anticipated and the unexpected fruit stops were great. The biking routes were brilliant and we felt we really got a chance to see the 'real' Vietnam. Finally, the team were very flexible in changing itinerary/hotels (e.g Hanoi) at short notice.

It is very difficult to find areas for improvement....on a minor point the hotel we moved to in Hanoi, although set in a spectacular location, was a bit run down and unfortunately they had drained the swimming pool for the season. However this had no impact on the trip as the weather continued cloudy until we left! We cant think of anything else we would change!!

All in all a brilliant trip and we hope to come back and do Laos at some time with you. Please give our regards to Van and Harry and show them the attached pictures. We would recommend Vietnam Backroads to anyone travelling to Vietnam and if you are able to send us some of your new cycling shirts we would happily wear them as an advert for the company. 1st - 14th April 2013.

Sarah Harrington and Mike from the UK.

See Vietnam's Four UNESCO World Heritage Sites - 15 days

We are back in the flatlands, in Holland. We have wonderful memories of our trip in Vietnam, we are very happy about the holiday. This was the first time we were on a biking holiday and we were very impressed by the smooth organisation of Vietnam Backroads. We are very happy about every aspect of the holiday and don't know anything we are not happy - not even when we think very hard on it.

To be specific we are very happy about:
- the information before the trip (website, e-mails, adjustments on standard program).
- the bikes were of high quality and well maintained.

To be honest we were a bit worried about it in advance as it is so important for the quality of the trip. Even when the bike size was not correct for me on the first day it was solved the next day with a larger framesize.
- the mechanical skills of Van and Trang. They continously optimized the bikes for us.
- the routes and the maps by Van - they were really the backroads of Vietnam and we never had to bike on the busy and dangerous highways. The routes were easily adapted to the circumstances (longer or shorter trip). Combined with the mechanical skills this is for us the most unique features of this company.
- the chosen hotels. The only hotel which fell al little out of tune was the one in Hanoi.
- the information Trang gave to us about the history and culture of Vietnam.
- the safe driving of Mr. Huang. In a way we were always happy to see him as we knew that he would have fresh water and fruits for us ready. During transfers we felt always very safe.

One advice for booking the flight tickets: ask for the names as given in the pasports, since a change can cause problems at in checking for the flights. Another thing is that one request for not taking any more pictures of your guests should have been enough, and three requests is too many. We're happy to recommand your company to anyone who wants to cycle in Vietnam. We're certainly to return to your company one day to have another trip in Vietnam or Cambodia

Best regards, 23 May 2012

Jos & Monique from Netherlands

We are home now unfortunately, having just spent our first week back at work.
Matt and I thoroughly enjoyed our Vietnam Backroads trip, despite my feedback. Our tour guide Dat and Mr Van were fantastic in immediately recognising my limitations and adjusted the cycling routes and distances accordingly to more closely suit my abilities. The tour itself was good value for money and extremely well organised with high quality, centrally located hotels and a never ending supply of delicious local food!
We loved our time in Vietnam and agree that cycling Vietnams Backroads is definitely the best way to see the country. We would certainly consider another trip with you (at a shorter distance!) and recommend Vietnam Backroads to friends and family. 16th - 29th Mar 2014

Elle and Matt from Australia

Cycling from Saigon to Ha Noi 12 Days/ 11 nights

I was just looking at our photos and everything from the bike trip from Saigon to Hanoi. The pictures are awesome and we keep talking about how great it was to see Vietnam on bicycle. Everyone is very impressed with our stories and experiences. We really had a wonderful trip! Thank you so much. Vietnam Backroads 03 Mar 2011

Randy & Yaacove from America

Hi Van,
we've just finished our a wonderful trip, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Thai and Mr Hoang looked after us beautifully, and the scenery was fantastic. It was a great way to experience Vietnam.
Now, we are now keen to do a cycle tour (4 days/3 nights) in the Mekong Delta from 18 January to 21 January 2012.

Jessie Harman family from Australia

Biking Mekong Delta -Caibe homestay

Ms Katie:
I have enjoyed every minute and have been very impressed with all the staff. From when i booked, I always had very quick responses to my emails. Our guide, Nghi was very knowledgeable and did everything. He could make our stay as enjoyable as possible. Thanks you very much! Our driver was excellent too!

Mr Luke:
Very enjoyable tour, well organized and got to see lots of things we would not otherwise have seen on our trip. 20 -21-22-23 Step 2013

Katie and Luke from UK

Cycling Vietnam to Cambodia - Saigon to Siem Reap

Hi Van,

It was good to be able to get on the bus to skip a section of the day's ride when it was very hot or an uninteresting bit along the tar road.
The back roads through villages and countryside were excellent, very interesting. The guides were all terrific, also the drivers.
Vietnam Backroads did a great job returning our luggage that was lost by Malaysian Airlines.
Colin & Joanne Burke, November 10, 2013

Leonie's group from Australia

Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh by bicycle & by boat

Thanks, this was amazing. I will rave about it. Now we have done the best bike trip in the world we can retire! Great variety of scenery. December 22, 2013

Walter Shepherd from Australia

Great trip. Thang is wealth of knowledge + food choices were brilliant. Cuong- the driver was great, friendly and really knew his way around! All around great time. Some bum but enjoyed it immensely.
You guys rock! April 18, 2014

Joe and Allan from Australia

Back roads of Ben Tre- Tra Vinh - Can Tho

Hi Van, We loved the route - it was lovely to be on quiet back roads away from the traffic, and the scenery was amazing. The scenery was also very varied which made it so interesting, from rural villages to sunny rice paddies, shaded coconut plantations, and villages along the river - it was all just quite fascinating to see, and we really felt we were seeing a very different side of Vietnam from that which you see from a vehicle on the road. Our guide Thai was excellent. That's all I can think of for now, thanks again for arranging our trip - we have great memories (and photos)! 14 June 2011

Emma Partridge from Australia

Thanks for your e-mail. We really enjoyed the trip! Bobby (as we called him) is a good guide and he knew where to go. Never been lost in the kampong! Your tour is really off the beaten track which we like! Good that you ask for recommendations because that will help your company. We all have cultural differences and people from Europe (like us) will appreciate other things than people from Vietnam or other Asian countries. I will list them:
- we appreciate taking backroads where no tourists are (this is all done by your company)
- we like the flexibility in distances on a day
- bikes are ok
- plenty of drinks available
- Bobby is an honest guide and he calculated costs of diner etc very well!
some advices from our side (do not take it personal)
- drinking sugar cane is very good, but we prefer to drink it in the Kampong green instead of a busy street or a big empty restaurant
- we value the authentic living style of the Vietnamese so we therefore like to sleep in the Kampong; e.g. home stay
- we think you can make a lot of money by opening a small guest house at a nice spot in the Kampong. Just explore 5 to 10 rooms. Simple western breakfast (no buffet) with baguette, egg, orange juice, jam, butter and some yoghurt, make sure that it is clean. It can be very simple and keep the idilic spots of having hammocks, table and chair outside, just like the other people live. There aren't many hotels and the available hotels are more business style hotels which we don't like. They are too big, have no atmosphere and they are not in nature and the kampong....
- we prefer having lunch and dinner in small eateries, not in the big very empty restaurants offered in the tour. Let the tourists eat where the locals eat in the kampong with a nice view over the rice fields or palm plantations. make sure food is hygienic and it can be Vietnamese and simple. Do not offer complete chickens as they are too 'rough' for us.
Thanks again Van and we will recommend your organization to our friends. 18 -19 - 20 Mar 2012

Maaike party from Nederlands

Ho Chi Minh to Phu Quoc Islands by Bike

The restaurants were fantastic! Great food and refreshment. The guides were so nice and funny, they make everything very easy. We will recommend your tour to friends. The routes were amazing. Everything was fasunating. I love my ride. 07 - 08 - 09 - 10 Feb 2012

JENNIFER HATCH and SUE SMITH families from US

This was a fantastic trip professional organized accommodating and fun. We strongly recommend this to anyone considering a bike trip. Thank you for the amazing time! 07 - 08 - 09 - 10 Feb 2012

Shawn Davidson family from US

Bike trip from Ha Tien- Ho Chi Minh

Ms. Hue, My sister and I just got home after our month-long travels in Southeast Asia. We had an amazing trip! We really enjoyed our experience with Vietnam Backroads Bicycle Tours. Our guide, Nghi, and driver, Mr. Loc, picked us up promptly from our hotel in Ha Tien. Mr. Nghi showed us how to adjust the bicycles and then we were off on our adventure! The bicycle tour was a great way to experience the Mekong Delta. We biked through many villages and saw the surrounding countryside that we probably wouldn't have seen otherwise. It was an eye-opening experience as we biked through villages and greeted the local people- many of whom had not seen a foreigner in a long time. We would highly recommend Vietnam Backroads Bicycle Tours! We would suggest that drinks be included in the price of the tour for lunches and dinners. Also, if it would be possible to set up payment through credit card on your website that would be a lot easier than the hassle of the money transfer. 6 - 7 - 8 July 2012

Erica Kaser & Danielle from USA

I am sorry it is not more constructive but really I have no criticisms. For us we were very lucky as you we incredibly flexible and could be as there were just the two of us. You have two converted bike tourers! As for value for money it is certainly not the cheapest trip but good value for what we do, the quality of equipment and for 2 comfortable hotels. However payment is tricky! I understand the need for a deposit but it was surprisingly difficult to do an international bank transfer. None the less I was more comfortable with doing that than supplying my card details. Payment of the balance at the end would have been much easier to do with a card or knowing dollars was your preferred method of payment I would have taken dollars out in Cambodia and carried them with me. So maybe some more info on that before the tour could have been helpful. Anyway thank you again for a fantastic few days - a real highlight of the trip as a whole! I hope it is ok but I suggested my biking friends from Cambodia get in touch if their tour is taking them through Saigon. Feb 2012

Lucy Davies from UK

Biking to Cao Lanh - Sadec - Can Tho

Hi Vietnam Backroads,
An amazing way to see the real Vietnam with a fun, friendly + very knowledgeable guide. Thank you very much for providing such an excellent bike tour. We were very sad when the end of the third day came + hope to book another tour soon. May 1, 2014

Nisha Lucy Taylor from New Zealand

Meandering the Mekong Delta 7 days

Recently returned home from 7/day Vietnam backroads bike tour (march 2017 ) of the Mekong river delta area .Did not know what to expect and was blown away by the biking experience , scenery , challengers , and plentiful food and fruit . Our tour guides Dat and Loc offered great company , knowledge of the area , experience , joviality and lots of care . It was great to get out of the city and bike through the backroads and view the rice paddies , vegetable and fruit plantations , the mighty Mekong River and in general how the Vietnamese people live and produce to survive .Our tour started in Ho Chi Mihn city , travelled southwards & visited cities Tra Vinh , Pach gia , Chau Doc , Cao Lanh , Vihn Long and finally back to Ho Chi Mihn city . Our tour group of eleven people thoroughly enjoyed this unique holiday . I fully recommend this tour and company for a great experience . Well done Mr Van and staff . 20 -26 Feb, 2017

John Novak from Swie land party

Cycling Mekong Delta to My Tho

Dear Ms Hue, I'm still in Vietnam, but it will be my last week here before I go back to Malaysia :( Anyway, here is my comment: This is my second time biking with Vietnam Backroads and Mr. Van. As expected, the experience was great. Although we didn't bike as much as I had expected, the boat trip through the canals was extremely fun too. I enjoyed the the coconut candies, the honey tea, taking pictures with the tame python, the sampan ride and the food. This trip was meant to be a graduation trip with my friends, and I strongly believe that it will be a trip that all of us will remember for many, many years. Hence, thank you very much Vietnam Backroads! If I were to be back in Vietnam again, I would definitely sign up for a longer trip and challenge myself :) Ms Hue, please pass my appreciation to Mr. Trung (spelling?) and Mr. Van. Thanks to you too for the great service! ^^ Sincerely,Wei Syn A day trip cycling to My Tho on June 4th 2012

Wei Syn party of South Saigon International School

Rider's Reviews