Day 1 - Saigon

Cycling in Vietnam January 2019

Exodus offer a fine combination of cycling plus touring. It's over a 1000 miles from Saigon to Hanoi and cycling the whole distance would be arduous, particularly if you're short of time, want to see some of the sites and chill a bit along the way. 

Our trip included 'days off' such as Whale Island, Hoi An and Halong Bay. This trip differed from my previous cycle touring, which were whole nation 'end-to-end' tours. In contrast 'Cycling in Vietnam' comprised a mix of cycling the nicer sections plus coach, train and boat and some welcome chilled-out days. I thought it worked well.

Independence Palace in Saigon

Lots of attractive French buildings

One of many restaurant, juice bars.

Grim reminder of the American war.

There were many remnants of old US 'hardware' at many museum sites.

In this case, a story told by the victors.

Not recounted in this museum was the story of the captured South Vietnamese and US POW - see 'Hanoi Hilton' or Hỏa Lò Prison

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In total, the United States military lost almost 10,000 aircraft. 

North Vietnam lost 150–200 aircraft and helicopters.

The U.S. Air Force flew 5.25 million sorties.

Tiger cages - see link below.


The French imperial government established Phu Quoc Prison while Vietnam was under their rule. 

After the First Indochina War, the Republic of Vietnam (the South) used it as a P.O.W. camp for captured Viet Cong and Northern Forces.

Over a period of 7 years, one source estimated 4,000 fighting men, otherwise healthy people, died at Phu Quoc Prison.

Atrocities were carried out on both sides - a truly awful period in our recent history.

Click here for Day 2