I had done my research before sign-ing up for a four day and three night cycling tour in Lao Cai province with Golden Cycling Tours. My friends thought I was mad, cycling around one of the most mountains parts of northern Vietnam. But, the trip is well planned, so you’re never on your own. But I didn’t tell my friends that – I liked to think they pictured me huff-ing and puffing on my father’s rickety old Peugeot up and down the hills under a blazing hot sun.

Vietnam offers both mountain biking and easy classic road biking. Mountain biking is available in northern and central Vietnam. Road cycling is arranged in southern area, in the Mekong delta area.