CYCLING -TO NEW HEIGHTS

Good morning cycling kakis !

Due to commitements – I missed out the Penggarang cycling trip–this time I make sure I do not miss the Sept monthly group cycling- so I am submitting my name NOW even b/4 registration opens !!

Cycling had been in my blood – for 3 years of my secondary education in Malacca – I cycled daily about 4 kilometres rain / shine to school ( + of course cycled back home – no play cheat – lah by taking bus home !!!!)

Last month my son with his Deutche Bank Vietnamese collegue toured Hue / Hoi An ( Central Vietnam ) by the usual A/C van + a very unique bicycle riding tour exploring Hoi An (small town ) then was escorted cycling to a farm visit where they had some hands -on >herbal foot massage> learn simple Viet snacks cooking >then lunch in the farm with all the freshness vegees ! He had the Viet. tour agency which organises this 4D3N tour of Hoi Ann + Hue .

As I had been to North / South Viet. but not Central -I am thinking of organising the usual A/C bus tour + 3/4 day Hoi Ann town + farm visit cycling trip ! I had checked with the local Viet. tour – my calculations based on 8 persons group : with Silkair return flight 4D3N+ food + hotel stays -cost per adult is about SGD 800 . More persons go -less to pay — Silkair flight now is about SGD 460 – hope price do not go up !!!

I intend to go from 29 October ( Fri) >> return on 1 Nov ( Mon) OR 12 Nov (Fri ) to 15 Nov ( Mon) .  Silkair also flies there on Wed >> << Saturdays — I am free to go on these dates also!

Anyone interested ?? I shall go with min. 8 cyclists to bring the costs down !!! for those non -cyclist if have sufficient numbers I shall talk to the Viet. tour to provide A/C van transport all the way !

 Regards to all from Fong Fong

E : tenmeng@gmail.com

Tentative Itinerary :

DAY 1 : 7:50 AM Silkair flight arrive at 10 AM Danang
Airport – welcome by local tour guide-escorted
to Hue for lunch- then visit Hue’s Imperial
Citadel; Forbidden City; ThienMu Pagoda-after
dinner go Perfume River boat ride + enjoy Folk
songs while rocking the boat !! Night stay in Hue

DAY 2 : After Hotel B’fast-guided tour of Kings Tu Duc/Khai
Dinh to understand how geomacy philosophy worked–
Leave Hue for Hoi An-stop at Lang Co Beach (we shall
wait for gals to complete swim in bikinis!)> Hai
Van pass -stop at Marble Mountains for some leg work
up Thuy Son Mount. to see beautiful scenary > visit
Huyen Khong cave;Tam Thai/Linh Ung pagodas>visit Non
Nuoc Stone Village to see local skill sculptors make
all types marble products exported worldwide[try
making a marble bust of yourself so that you will be
forever remembered as SHC member !!!]
Tour onto Hoi An-into hotel> dinner> night free N
easy on your own( this’s the best part of the Tour – no body knows where U have been for the whole nite)
> overnight in Hoi An

DAY 3 : AM -choice of cycling(bikes+guide supplied)/walking
(bring your own legs)tour Hoi An’s old enchanting
historical port town/400 years Jap Bridge/300 years
Guan gong temple/200 years Viet merchants House/100
year old Viet lady(if she is still living by then!)
and ……..Next cycle to Tra Que Vege Village-tour
organic/herbs gardens- hands on to help the farmers
if you choose ( sorry no $$/CPF for jobs done!)-or
just look see / learn -returning from fields will
get herbal foot massage to relax our million dollar
tired feet!Next choose to learn cook tam huu spring
rolls; banh xeo…. with farm fresh ingredients or
just relax /wait for lunch to be served!
Afternoon to Kim Bong carpentry Village see ship
making yard(in case Silkair on strike-we can still
return to S’pore in the ship they built !)> cottage
industries(mats weaving;coracle boats making)-pass
thru scenic rice fields/countryside>taste local
seasonal fruits/produce.
End day’ tour with boat trip along Thu Bon river see
lovely sunset + dinner under the stars/ afloat on
River ! Good night in Hoi An’s hotel!

DAY 4 : Am – free N easy on own in Hoi An ( go shop shop!!)
check out Hotel by noon-transport pick up from Hotel
> lunch at restaurant > visit Cham Museum see 300++
2nd to 15th century terracotta sculptures!
Tour to Danang Airport for 6 PM flight home to
Singapura!
All these for SGD800++ !!!!!If want cheaper-cut
costs by cycling from S’pore to Hoi An ( can
save $460!!!- I don’t mind sitting behind as a
pillion “rider” !!! )

11 thoughts on “CYCLING -TO NEW HEIGHTS”

  1. Hi guys / gals;
    Further to my earlier posting – I have got this detailed Itinerary for 4D3N Central Vietnam(with cycling)from the Viet. Tour Agency for your consideration -if you want to add/ delete part of it – do let me know and I shall get back to Viet. for changes:

    Please see tentative itinerary details in post.

    Thanks for your attention !!!

  2. Hi Fong Fong

    This is an interesting itinerary. Am interested in joining the trip as a non cycling member. My concern is with the early silkair departure time :( Is there a later silkair flight?

  3. Fong Fong’s choice of silkair flight is very good. Depart early and return later.
    I am interested because of the farm or village cycling …
    Please include me but it has to be 12 – 15 Nov date.

    29 th oct I will still be in Bali with another group of SHC members and back on 3rd Nov.

  4. Hi Jassmine !
    Nice to know you are keen –the trip is flexible to have cycling or not at all!
    Silkair has the only plane flying direct to Danang at cheaper price with 2 times a week taking off from S’pore viz:

    1 – on Fridays @ *7:55 am >> Danang @9:40 am same day

    2 – on Wednesdays @ 1:55 pm >> Danang @ 3:40 pm

    Flying off on Fri means more time in Vietnam – but need to wake up very early! Let us hear from more members – then decide by the majority method!
    Best regards from Fong2!

  5. If you are flexible with the day and timing, maybe you can consider Jetstar Asia. Unfortunately you will need to make a transit at Ho Chi Minh City using Jetstar Pacific Airlines. This will save you about $200 in airfare but add an extra two to three hours to the journey.

    As an example:

    28 Oct 2010

    Singapore – Jetstar Asia (07.25 am)–> Ho Chi Minh City (08.25 am) Transit Using Jetstar Pacific Airlines – Ho Chi Minh City (10.45 am) –> Da Nang (12 pm)

    31 Oct 2010
    Da Nang – Jetstar Pacific Airlines (17.20 pm) –> Ho Chi Minh City (18.35 pm) Transit Using Jetstar Asia – Ho Chi Minh City (21.35 pm) –> Singapore (00.35 am)

    The airfare is about $254

  6. Hi Fong Fong

    Yes, go with the majority. For me though I’ll join the trip if it departs on Wed becos for me usually it’ll be a sleepless night if i have to wake up at 4.30am to get to the airport by 5-50am. Don’t want to spend the 1st day of trip tired and nursing a headache :(

    Hi Steven N @5,
    Tks for the alternative route. That’s really shoestring!

  7. Thks Steven Ng for the Jetstar re-route – I did not want to mention in first place due to :
    1- the extra 2-3 hours
    2- no guarrantee the flight transfer will be on schedule ??
    then we shall be late for the agreed guided tour
    3- need to book early for good pricing !!

    But if majority agree to the above + other unforseen inconveniences _ I am prepared to follow the majority
    to take Jetstar -but no regrets after that please if things
    do go wrong ??
    I’ve noted your concerns -Jassmine Teo -but days are still early for more to express their committements to go !!

  8. Thks Steve for sounding us of the cheaper fare. the arrival time for jet star is two hrs later than silkair. we can find out from the tour operator whether the same itineraries cud still be have or rearranged if we arrive later at 12 noon.

    The savings is quite alot flying by jetstar so worth considering. Jetstar flies twice daily.
    If we fly jetstar I may want to extend stay n fly back from either Hanoi or Ho chi minh. Just a thought only

  9. Hi all;
    How we get to Danang is open to all – but as I said earlier I need at least 8 adults ( SHC members preferred)to book the local Viet. operator – of course the more the merrier !
    At the moment we are only one step forward – many more to go!! Cheers !!!

  10. For your info>>>>

    Replying to Anna Seet’s Qs.– we shall cycle to
    tour Hoi An in the morning >then cycle to the nearby
    Vege herbs farm -so it shall be leisure cycle- stop-
    -look see -> carry on to finish at the farm = 4 hours
    on/off the bike !!!
    Please confirm your interest soon – as I re-negotiate
    with the Viet.Tour agency not to impose minimum tourist
    from our side !
    To further stretch our $$$/ allow more affordable I may
    opt for the Jetstar> HCM> Danang transit airflight-
    or do you want the direct more expensive Silkair flight > both taking off from S’pore on 12 Nov at 7:50 AM ! Thks !

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