Vietnam biking vacation, small group
Highlights
Hanoi | Da River Reservoir | Mai Chau | homestay in the village of Poom Coong | Ninh Binh | Tam Coc | Bai Dinh pagoda in Trang An | ancient capital of Hoa Lu | Hue | Hoi An | Quy Nhon | coastal town of Nha Trang | Dalat | Bau Mai seaside resort near Ke Ga | Ho Chi Minh City
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this vacation or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
Toll free 1-866-821-6866 Calling from outside the US? rosy@responsibletravel.com
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Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your vacation will help support conservation and local people.
As a global operator, we take our role in the tourism industry very seriously. We recognise the impact that tourism has on local communities and the environment, and we plan and operate all our tours with this front of our minds. We believe that every tour operator must be responsible in the way they conduct their business, to ensure the welfare of all people and the conservation of the environment.This comprehensive trip from northern to southern Vietnam has been designed to pass through the country as considerately as possible, while maximising the experience of our group. This is a cycling tour and so the majority of transport will be by bike thus leaving a very small carbon footprint behind.
Where we do use other modes of transport we use local transport, from overnight sleeper trains to public buses and ferries. Throughout, we stay in small, locally owned hotels reflective of the local flavour. This is a vital source of income to the local area ensuring that money is going back into the local economy. This tour features a homestay with a local host in Mai Chau. Here you will stay in a simple style stilt house, traditional to the area. Your hosts will cook a fabulous home cooked meal, a great opportunity for local interaction. Whilst on this tour you will get the opportunity to visit the Cuc Phuong primate rescue center, to see how this organisation work with injured, orphaned and threatened species.
As company our responsibilities don’t stop when our tours end. Our own in house foundation has been in operation for over 10 years; a not-for-profit fund that has distributed over AU$3 million to more than 70 non-government organisations since 2002, from health care, education, human rights, child welfare, sustainable development and in environmental and wildlife protection. Donations come from our travelers and are then matched by us dollar for dollar.
Across Vietnam, our foundation actively supports five different projects and causes. These include Cuc Phuong National Park’s Turtle Conservation Centre) which specialises in breeding and protecting the country’s 23 native turtle species, including training protection officers, and The Nguyen Nga Centre, offering education, training and work placement opportunities to disadvantaged people and people with disabilities.
The Impacts of this Trip
We are committed to operating in a responsible manner, incorporating the principles of sustainable development in the way we provide our travelers with real life experiences. We believe that responsible travel is about the attitude you take with you and the choices you make when traveling - to respect and benefit local people, their cultures, economy and the environment. For example on trips like this one through Vietnam where dress standards are conservative, particularly outside of the major cities, we recommend our travelers (both female and male) wear loose, lightweight clothing so as not to offend, particularly when visiting religious sites.
All produce used throughout the trip is sourced locally en route. We eat at local restaurants, sample street food from local vendors and encourage our travelers to only purchase souvenirs from local artisans. We visit some fantastic traditional markets on this itinerary so the opportunities to support local craftsmen are plentiful. We even recruit our on the ground team (including the group leader) from the local communities that we travel through. All these elements combine to not only give a fantastic insight into the country and a snap shot of day to day life, but also put valuable financial resources back into local economies, creating jobs and supporting local businesses.
As a global operator, we take our role in the tourism industry very seriously. We recognise the impact that tourism has on local communities and the environment, and we plan and operate all our tours with this front of our minds. We believe that every tour operator must be responsible in the way they conduct their business, to ensure the welfare of all people and the conservation of the environment.This comprehensive trip from northern to southern Vietnam has been designed to pass through the country as considerately as possible, while maximising the experience of our group. This is a cycling tour and so the majority of transport will be by bike thus leaving a very small carbon footprint behind.
Where we do use other modes of transport we use local transport, from overnight sleeper trains to public buses and ferries. Throughout, we stay in small, locally owned hotels reflective of the local flavour. This is a vital source of income to the local area ensuring that money is going back into the local economy. This tour features a homestay with a local host in Mai Chau. Here you will stay in a simple style stilt house, traditional to the area. Your hosts will cook a fabulous home cooked meal, a great opportunity for local interaction. Whilst on this tour you will get the opportunity to visit the Cuc Phuong primate rescue center, to see how this organisation work with injured, orphaned and threatened species.
As company our responsibilities don’t stop when our tours end. Our own in house foundation has been in operation for over 10 years; a not-for-profit fund that has distributed over AU$3 million to more than 70 non-government organisations since 2002, from health care, education, human rights, child welfare, sustainable development and in environmental and wildlife protection. Donations come from our travelers and are then matched by us dollar for dollar.
Across Vietnam, our foundation actively supports five different projects and causes. These include Cuc Phuong National Park’s Turtle Conservation Centre) which specialises in breeding and protecting the country’s 23 native turtle species, including training protection officers, and The Nguyen Nga Centre, offering education, training and work placement opportunities to disadvantaged people and people with disabilities.
The Impacts of this Trip
We are committed to operating in a responsible manner, incorporating the principles of sustainable development in the way we provide our travelers with real life experiences. We believe that responsible travel is about the attitude you take with you and the choices you make when traveling - to respect and benefit local people, their cultures, economy and the environment. For example on trips like this one through Vietnam where dress standards are conservative, particularly outside of the major cities, we recommend our travelers (both female and male) wear loose, lightweight clothing so as not to offend, particularly when visiting religious sites.
All produce used throughout the trip is sourced locally en route. We eat at local restaurants, sample street food from local vendors and encourage our travelers to only purchase souvenirs from local artisans. We visit some fantastic traditional markets on this itinerary so the opportunities to support local craftsmen are plentiful. We even recruit our on the ground team (including the group leader) from the local communities that we travel through. All these elements combine to not only give a fantastic insight into the country and a snap shot of day to day life, but also put valuable financial resources back into local economies, creating jobs and supporting local businesses.
3 Reviews of Vietnam biking vacation, small group
Reviewed on 16 Sep 2018 by Michel Bogdan
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Not only one thing to choose: the stunning landscape, the bike group with people who have the same passion for biking, the moment we completed the last
kilometer, the big variation in taste and food, the very friendly people and children along the route etc, etc.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Try to book some extra days before- and after the trip to do the Halong Bay trip and at the end the Cu Chi tunnels trip.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, a lot of times our guide took us to local restaurants to benefit the local people. We also were more conscious to use less plastic bags ans straws.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Very good trip, not cheap, but value for money. However it would be very helpful if there was a little bit of communication possible between the attendees
before the trip starts. This would help to break the ice a little bit in the beginning. But for so-called privacy reasons this was not permitted. The travel agency should facillitate this so attendees can give their permission or not (by ticking a box or something like that).
Reviewed on 22 May 2018 by Neville Douglas
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
A combination of small things really. Cycling in Hanoi the first time. Good companionship. Learning where various fruits and herbs originate.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Read these and other comments and glean as much information as possible. ie seat padding. Rather than build up a lot of dirty laundry. Wash each evening and alternate two sets of clothes.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I only have the integrity of the tour operator to go on. Buying fresh fruit and braving Street Cafes is all an individual can do. In Hanoi, next to the lake school teachers ask you if their pupils can practice speaking English with you. I found that inspiring.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Demanding, enjoyable. I will do another elsewhere.
Reviewed on 20 Mar 2018 by Belinda Sartori
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The whole trip was amazing. The only way to see Vietnam.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Just book it - but pack carefully as you dont need too much and changing hotels most nights.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes definitely
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Brilliant.
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