Hi, Newby to these forums - thanks for taking the time to consider this post. I'll be in Hanoi, Vietnam at the end of this month and am planning to take my 21 speed touring bike and cycle my way through northern Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia over a ten week period.
I'd love to do the trip to Sapa, but with all the hills I plan on only making it a one way trip. My question is this... Should I take the train from Hanoi to Sapa or Sapa to Hanoi. I'm looking for the least wind resistance and the best descent/ascent combo. I'd prefer more downhills to uphills (I'm funny like that, no?). My plan is to take in the regular stops (Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien Phu, Lai Chau etc; and also a diversion to Tam Coc if possible) and will probably manage only 60 -80km a day.
If anyone has ridden this area and can give advice on terrain or want to share their experiences I'd love to hear them. Also, if anyone has had experience crossing into Laos (north of Lao Bao-Khe Sanh) by bicycle - how did you go? Any problems?
A pretty obscure request I know - any help, or pointing in the right direction will be greatly appreciated. Until then I'll keep scouring Mr Pumpy and Thorn tree sites. Thanks, Terry.
I'd love to do the trip to Sapa, but with all the hills I plan on only making it a one way trip. My question is this... Should I take the train from Hanoi to Sapa or Sapa to Hanoi. I'm looking for the least wind resistance and the best descent/ascent combo. I'd prefer more downhills to uphills (I'm funny like that, no?). My plan is to take in the regular stops (Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien Phu, Lai Chau etc; and also a diversion to Tam Coc if possible) and will probably manage only 60 -80km a day.
If anyone has ridden this area and can give advice on terrain or want to share their experiences I'd love to hear them. Also, if anyone has had experience crossing into Laos (north of Lao Bao-Khe Sanh) by bicycle - how did you go? Any problems?
A pretty obscure request I know - any help, or pointing in the right direction will be greatly appreciated. Until then I'll keep scouring Mr Pumpy and Thorn tree sites. Thanks, Terry.