Overall the trip exceeded my expectations. Phong was a great guide who always made us feel safe. He was very knowledgeable about Vietnam’s culture and its history helping to make the trip so much more than just cycling. One of my favorite parts was getting invited into the house of a local family and seeing how they lived.

Another outstanding redspokes trip. The scenery was great, and we got amongst the wonderful people.

Phong was a very helpful guide.

I rarely bother to give post-trip information, but I wanted to make sure you know how amazing Phong was as a leader. He was compassionate, enthusiastic, funny, and absolutely always attentive to our needs. I felt absolutely spoiled by how well he treated all of us. He is a true professional and represents your company very, very well! 

Excellent trip into the remotest part of Vietnam. A chance to see how Vietnamese people live and work. Also the scenery was amazing. Guide very knowledgeable, which added to the experience.

If you think you know Vietnam and it’s history, think again. This a wonderful trip into the Northern mountains, rightly classed as difficult, but very rewarding. Phong was an excellent guide, often adding his local knowledge to the Vietnam way of life in this region, across then multitude of ethnicities. Who knew cinnamon leaves smell so pungent, and of the abundance of butterflies in that accompanied us. The Sea Lions were a surprise though!

Our senses were filled with smells, tastes, sounds and textures from this rich scenic area. With ever friendly people, local towns that are welcoming, excellent food in the places locals eat, this tour delivers an experience for all.

Our e-bike made it accessible to cyclists who are more used to pootling along and is mainly on quiet roads. And the support vehicles are always there to help. It’s another excellent RedSpokes trip, and one not to be missed.

The trip to Vietnam was everything we had hoped for. Phong and his team were excellent hosts ensuring that our trip went without a hitch. They were particularly keen to show us the ‘real’ Vietnam.

We would thoroughly recommend this trip.

This trip was such an adventure for us. Vietnam is an amazing and interesting place. The people have had to deal with so much recent history of battles and wars yet they are not resentful -they are friendly, lively, fun,positive, forward thinking and proud of their country. The scenery and countryside was varied and spectacular- made so much more interesting by Phong our guide who seemed to be able to answer all our many questions be it flora,fauna,history geography economics etc.-his command of English even allowed him to joke and tease- quite remarkable when it is not your first language.

The cycling lived up to expectations- and for me was quite a challenge but I’m proud to say I completed it without having to resort to the support van -even the 26km climb. The downhills and stunning views were well worth the hard toil up hill. I would certainly recommend this holiday to anyone who cycles-a fabulous introduction to Vietnam.

A fantastic trip in all aspects! As a veteran of ten guided cycling trips so far with several tour companies, I can attest that redspokes certainly has it’s act well together. There were rarely any issues or unexpected changes in the trip; and when they did occur on occasion, the guides and staff adjusted accordingly without any problems. 

The concern and attention for the riders by the staff was always apparent, and the smiles and helpfulness of Mr. Phong were always such a pleasure. Even during the rest days, Mr. Phong was always present to accomodate us with any and every detail. Mr. Trung’s bikes were first class as well!

The riding was at times very challenging, but the payoff was cycling through incredible scenery and fascinating villages, with a true sense of accomplishment culminating each day. I can heartily recommend this trip to anyone wishing to see rural Vietnam up close on two wheels!

We have had the best holiday ever, it will live with us always. The people on the trip were fantastic & the support from the team couldn’t have been better.I only hope Vietnam doesn’t change too much over the next few years as I would love for more people to experience what we have. Thank-you for an unforgettable experience.

This was a fantastic trip, which included the hustle and bustle of Hanoi, and remote countryside. The contrasts were great, from rapid development with new roads and dams, to quite rural communities. I loved the climate, hot and relaxing. The food was interesting, including the deep fried grasshoppers and snakes in wine! The cycling group soon formed a close knit supportive team and the leaders and back up team were great. This trip is a brilliant challenge, and the rewards, including the friendliness of the local Vietnamese people added up to a most memorable holiday.

Vietnam was memorable… for its ‘off the tourist trail’ cycling, its stunning rural scenery and the genuine welcome of its people. What do I most remember?  Mountain scenery, especially the lush greens of terraced paddy fields clinging vertically to the hillsides. Chance encounters on the road with exotically dressed hill tribe people and a run in with a stubborn road-blocking buffalo. And above all the camaraderie of the road – cycling and sharing experiences with like-minded people. 

A once in a lifetime holiday (at a bargain cost)… that is etched permanently in my memory banks.

Had the greatest time, made some new friends. Vietnam was lovely, people so friendly.. Not a day went by without being inundated by hello/goodbyes from the locals especially the children. With an occasional high five for good measure. Certainly put a smile on my face on some of the more difficult days. Brilliant way to see the country. Definitely recommend.

As ever excellent red spokes tour. Amazing scenery good route.

Very well organised.

redspokes, you did it again! Trip three with you and once again, the result is an environment where we become a “family” cycling around a new country, with a local guide and a support team that join in the spirit of family as well.

There are so many good memories, in all, the trip was a remarkable experience. Highlights include climbing the famed highway up and over a mountain pass. Stopping and learning about a family in the countryside growing rice, thanks to Phong’s dedication to connecting us to Vietnamese culture, was another of many highlights.

Thank you, redspokes! Now, will it be Tibet, Peru, or Kyrgyzstan… See you soon.

I have been on several trips before but I rate this one the best ever. It was well run the hotels and guest houses were clean and very welcoming. Vietnam has to be one of the cheapest places to visit in the world, the food was great and the beer is cheaper than water.

The people are the most friendliest I’ve ever met and the women are the prettiest. The views were spectacular and the cycling was hard but we all made it. I’m now looking forward for my next trip with redspokes to China.

This was my first redspokes experience even though I’ve been on several cycling tours before. This NE Vietnam tour was certainly one of the most memorable and exceeded all my expectation (not that I had that much).

First of all, my one other tour buddy and I were spoiled rotten with all the extra attention. Second, our tour leader Phong was everything you’ve read in these testimonials and much much more…I felt I’d learnt just that much more about Vietnam despite having visited this beautiful country many times either on business or for pleasure. One other fun fact, apparently I had the honour of being Phong’s first customer from hustle bustle Hong Kong which made this experience even more special. 

This was a sensational trip in a world class stunning location. The organisation was faultless, the itinerary was great, the route beautiful and the whole trip was so much fun. I loved the fact that the location had virtually no western influence and we saw very few other “tourists”. The local people everywhere were lovely. All the accommodation was spot on with big clean comfortable rooms and the local food was continually delightful. The cycling was spectacular, exhilarating and tough with some huge demanding climbs and speedy exciting descents so thank you for choosing such a great route and providing such a great bike which made it all possible.

Finally everything above was made magical by our wonderful guide and friend Phong. He was fun, caring, knowledgable, fixed any problems (of which there were few) and always ordered brilliant food wherever we ate, and lots of it! And when there were no places to eat on the route during to day he always prepared a great picnic supplemented by coffee & snack breaks. He made sure I tried lots of new fruit & vegetables and the yummy rice cake! Mr Ming our driver also did a great job transporting all our gear and helping Phong wherever possible. I very much hope that I will have another opportunity to go cycling with Phong and experience his lovely company & sense of humour! Thank you everyone at  redspokes & I look forward to joining you again!

NE Vietnam offers spectacular scenery in an ideal climate, with an outstanding guide, good food and comfortable accommodation. The climbs were challenging but it was all manageable; the roads were generally good.

This trip was a brilliant way to see Vietnam in an active way. The group was friendly and good company and I felt privileged to witness the rural communities in the north that very few tourists will see. The cycling was mountainous but enjoyable and the scenery spectacular. Thoroughly recommended.

What a great place for a cycling holiday. A mesmerizing hidden corner of Vietnam, totally unspoilt, notraffic, no tourists and undoubtedly the most spectacular scenery in the whole country. Cycling among the different hill tribe people, seeing close up, how little their lives had changed over the generations, was truly a fascinating experience. For me that’s what cycling adventure holidays are all about. Well done redspokes.

What a great part of Vietnam to cycle, empty roads, stunning scenery and great craig with a nice bunch of people. For me the essence of travelling is getting on roads less travelled and meeting different cultures and experiencing their warmth and hospitality, well done for helping me achive this.

This was my first guided cycling adventure and I was in this tour with my daughter. We had great time cycling in beautiful Vietnamese country side. The support team did a good job and we could really just focus on enjoying the ride and had no worry about the arrangements. We got also enough information about the local culture and had a chance to work at the rice field also. As we enjoyed this tour a lot we look forward to next adventures.

Another fantastic, well organised trip by the redspokes team, the local knowledge & guide Phong was exceptional. Varied accommodation & local cuisine dishes every day along with beautiful outstanding scenery every inch of the way made this trip truly memorable.With redspokes great value & attention to detail I will certainly be booking up with them again.

One of the great aspects of the trip was that you are on the bike all the time which allowed you to experience the contrasting landscapes – rice fields, mountains, villages and towns. You get a real taste of daily life – you happen upon events – stop to admire someone’s pig, watch rice pickers, sample some local food. 

Some of the days I found tough but Dermot and his crew were there to keep me moving and there were carefully planned ‘strategic’ stops where you can see the table with refreshments up the hill/mountain that you need to get to. Going on a redspokes holiday (this was my second one) is like going away with friends on an adventure!

North Vietnam is a beautiful part of the world and excellent for mountain biking! The hills were challenging- the views were worth it and the downhills exhilarating. Culturally, we were lucky enough to have our trip coincide with the 60th commemoration of Dien Bien Phu, meeting interesting groups of veterans en route in local hotels. Their interest and generosity was touching- plenty of shared rice wine!

Phong and his crew were first rate: helpful, patient and always available to help us experience interactions with the local culture and people. hotels and food were great.

I loved everything about this trip! We were lucky that our small group size allowed for highly personalized attention from our guides. In fact, our tour leader, Phong, felt more like a knowledgeable friend and travelling companion than a paid guide. His outstanding command of English allowed for lots of fun banter as well as meaningful discussions, especially about Vietnamese history and culture.

I learned so much. I found the cycling challenging in a positive and often exhilarating way. I’ll be coming back again to do the North East Vietnam trip with Phong for sure!

An excellent and memorable trip. As many others have commented Phong our guide is just great. Friendly, encouraging, knowledgeable and rightly proud of his country.

We all really enjoyed the whole trip, great views, lovely people, enough of a challenge without being impossible and a feeling of really being in Vietnam and not viewing it from within a tourist bubble. We loved it.

Hard to ride fast because there was always something interesting to look at. Friendly people. Excellent “pit crew”!

What a wonderful trip. A combination of camaraderie from others on the tour and welcome from the local peoples in an astounding geographical area less travelled made the whole experience truly memorable. 

Organisation was good but not intrusive allowing for flexibility and time to stop and meet the local people along the way. My photos really don’t do it justice. Looking forward to another trip with redspokes in another part of the world… just can’t decide where.

Our private tour of the North of Vietnam with our 14 year old daughter was so much more than we were expecting. Every day was interesting to the degree that it was hard to know what to look at: mountain people in traditional dress, a couple ploughing with a buffalo on a scarily steep slope, the school children trying out their English and easily keeping up with us on their vintage bikes, and beautiful scenery of mountains and rice fields. Our daughter managed extremely well with the help of our tour team and we only used the van on some of the steepest climbs. A totally brilliant trip.

This was my third redspokes trip. The first of its kind to NE Vietnam was the attraction for me. This must be one of the very few areas of the world where tourists and tourism have not yet had an impact, changing the people and the experience of how life is.

Cycling through remote villages along tracks and roads devoid of traffic with wonderful vista around very bend was truly bliss. However, hurry up if you want to experience this as it won’t be long before it’s gone for ever! As on the previous trips redspokes organisation and care were excellent. I have no hesitation as before in recommending this trip and redspokes to whom I extend by grateful thanks for another great tour.

One of the most enjoyable trips I have done. Stunning landscapes, challenging cycling, friendly happy people and the best tour leader.

I would definitely do another trip with Phong, great sense of humour, never got rattled and nothing was too much trouble.

Had a brilliant time on the trip. Everyone was so helpful, nothing was every a problem. Thanks a million for a great trip.

We cycled through a unique landscape in the Geo park. Kien made sure we had everything we needed and was excellent at doing first aid on my bruising after a fall. We had a great time.

I had not realised that there had been another long war with the Chinese since the American departure. Such a beautiful country with gracious people but a tragic recent history.

We are back from a wonderful holiday with redspokes in Vietnam and Cambodia. We had the best guides we could wish for, Le Trung Keen in Vietnam and Art Ourn & Phea (Sim) Ousaphea in Cambodia and fabulous drivers/back up support – a lot of knowledges, very kind, everything you asked they arranged, nothing was too much or impossible. We loved it! Despite the weather, rain at the first three days, we enjoyed the Vietnam N.E. tour.

Magnificent scenery when the clouds were gone and not much traffic on most of the tour – it felt like we did get to see unspoiled Vietnam. And the culture tour in and around Siem Reap was great! We did get to see Angkor Wat and other nice temples, seen how the mushrooms are grown, visited the village on stilts and were moved by the personal account of our guide at the war museum. And this all with the most beautiful tracks to cycle on!

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Dermot (specifically) for getting the balance right on this trip. The independence we are given as riders on this trip is just right, and I was glad to not find to rigid a timetable each day. I lost my dad a couple of weeks before this tour started and naturally debated as to whether or not it would be a wise move to go – but I found I could ride on my own for most days if I wanted to, or ride as part of a larger group – it was ideal ‘thinking’ time for me, and for that I thank the ethic on which redspokes is clearly founded.

The whole experience was just glorious and I truly think Dermot has a lot to be proud of in the ‘redspokes’ company. I’d like to wish both him and all of the team a fruitful future. Really hope to be in touch again at some point in the New Year to book up Peru! Best get writing to Santa…

A great trip! If you’re looking to travel beyond the guide books and get a real insight into remote village life in Vietnam, then this is the ideal tour.The informality of a redspokes tour is one of its greatest aspects, giving the opportunity to stop and meet locals, share a cup of tea and cycle along with groups of children, all of which gives a snapshot of the way of life in some of the villages we pass through.

The cycling did have some challenging climbs but these were broken up into manageable chunks and for every uphill, there was always a great downhill ride just around the corner!I’m just trying to decide which trip to do next now.

This was an excellent trip. North East Vietnam was far more beautiful than I expected and offered some excellent riding.

The guide was great and the support crews were top notch.

Our trip to northern Vietnam was a true adventure… biking up and down mountains offering spectacular scenery, winding our way through valleys where terraced paddy fields and tea plantations cling to seemingly impossible terrain, being invited into people’s homes and experiencing their generosity and ingenuity, eating meals in local people’s living rooms (cum cafes), laughing with children… laughing with each other.

Dermot and redspokes did a brilliant job… establishing the culture within the group, ensuring the organisation ticked over smoothly. I can’t imagine any better way to experience the people and the countryside than biking it with a group of like-minded people. Well done Dermot: the fact that nine of us had travelled with redspokes before says it all. The big question is – where to next?

This is an extraordinary trip with challenging uphill cycling but you are rewarded with stunning scenery, adventurous cycling, unbelievable terrain from mountains to rivers. An insight into how the people live in the countryside in north east Vietnam are so reliant on their annual crops and community.

Phong is an amazing guide and such good company. He makes everything seem effortless but you know there is a lot of work behind the scenes.

Halong Bay was a great addition. Very touristy but so beautiful and the overnighting on the junk was a great way to end the trip. Thanks very much.

A superb trip, please send a special thank you to Phong and his team. Even after the trip had finished Phong was very helpful and arranged our train trip and attended it with us. Maybe it was the Fresh beer !!!!!. That we had promised him…..Once again thanks to all the team in London and Hanoi.

Amazing scenery, friendly people and redspokes guides and support crew made this a memorable trip for me. Highlights include cycling in misty mountain foothills and the kids shouting “Heeeeloo” at every village.

Yet another wonderful trip from the folks at redspokes, one that allow’s you to see the real essence of the country and it’s melting pot of people. The North of the country is for the most part off the regular tourist trail and better for it, the people are friendly, receptive and not averse to inviting unusually clad, complete strangers into their home for a cup of green tea. Great company with like minded souls who enjoy riding and something a little different in a holiday. Another winner from the team at redspokes.

Just loved it! Perfect balance of sport, culture, contact with local people, stunning landscapes off the beaten track, fun, chilled beer time and great fun. Can’t recommend it enough.

The weather did not bode well for this trip when we set off, but the clouds and mist lifted, the sun came out, and the beauty of the terrain we were cycling through was revealed in all its stunning glory.

This is not an easy trip, but the rewards – scenery, food, cultural experiences, and the excellent Mr Phong and team – make it worthwhile.

Northeast Vietnam had it all! The landscape was fantastic with mind blowing views and scenery including killer climbs to make the riding interesting and challenging. Nothing was more spectacular than cycling by the local people as they smiled, waved, and carried on with their daily lives. 

Let’s not forget, meeting other wonderful cyclists from all over the world that were loads of fun that led to much laughter and new friendships. Guides that loved their country and wanted to share it. Another great tour from redspokes and it is clear to me why there are so many repeat clients.

This was a trip with contrasts. Fly into Hanoi with its c7 million people & 4 million motorbikes, wander around the shops of the old quarter and pluck up courage to try and cross the manic roads! Then go north to the highlands and cycle on fairly quiet roads up big hills (with equally big downhills) through small villages with the women of the various hill-tribes in their colourfull dress.

One day we cycled off road (well dirt road) and I got the impression that they hadn’t seen many, if any western cyclists before. The scenery was impressive with big peaks and terraced paddy fields climbing up their slopes. A very enjoyable experience.

This was the toughest tour I have done so far but well worth it. Phong was a great local guide. I learned a lot about the fascinating history – not just about the American war, but the relationship with China and Cambodia too.

Witnessing the remote mountain people’s simple lives was special. Thanks again Dermot for introducing us to such treasures.

Berta and I commend Dermot, Phong, Mr Trung and the rest of our wonderful support team for yet providing us with another unforgettable adventurre. Vietnam is truly a magical place that overloads one’s senses. The awe inspiring scenery is superseded only by the hospitality of the Vietnamese people. We both very much look forward to our next redspokes cycling trip.

This is a great trip – go now before everyone else gets there! You quickly get away from the towns and into areas where you’re a curiosity, greeted by excited children who just want to say hello, not ask for sweets or dollars.

It’s hilly but worth the climbing for the views. The local team are fantastic, and of course having Dermot there always adds to the experience (but avoid any dice games or snake drinks, and most especially in combination).

A real privilege to travel through an area so little touched by tourism. Get in before it all changes! Yet another fabulous redspokes Tour.

I felt it was a real privilege to visit such an unspoilt part of the world. The people in this area of Vietnam live a way of life so different from my own – it puts a whole different perspective on my own life back here in Britain. Overall it was a fantastic experience I’d recommend to anyone.

Fantastic trip, well organised, great support crew, and the country itself was unbelievable.

An amazing way to have a group experience paired with hours of peaceful riding surrounded by wonderful landscapes and cheered along by generous, spirited people.

Highly recommended – stunning scenery, lovely people, great guides!

Great trip. Very well organized trip. Spectacular views and great riding!

Another fabulous trip from red spokes. Our guide Waruna and all his team couldn’t have been more helpful. Lots of water stops and snacks en route were amazing, they took great care of us. Loved staying in the tea plantations and visiting homesteads for fabulous Sri Lankan cooking.

We had the opportunity to visit a reserve where we saw elephants and crocodiles in the wild and lots of amazing birdlife. Really feel Waruna and the team wanted to show us the best of their country which is totally beautiful. Waruna is very knowledgeable about the wildlife and gave us a good insight into the culture and religious beliefs in Sri Lanka Can’t recommend it enough!! Fabulous Thank you all.

I found the Vietnam tour with Phong, up there with all the redspokes trips that we have been on. The way that he had organised the meals , snacks, accommodation and the other staff was excellent and made for a fun relaxed group of riders. We were lucky with the weather as there were no wet days so all up another typical redspokes bike trip. Awesome.

I’ve got a photo of one of the elderly ladies from the villages making some products to sell at their roadside stalls as I don’t have any good cycling shots. Thanks Dermot for providing some of life’s highlights with your great tours.

This trip was fantastic, Northern Vietnam has stunning scenery and such lovely people and is a joy to cycle.

We had a fantastic leader in Phong together with his team, they went above a beyond and is a really professional fun guy.