Tourists enjoy a pedicab tour in Vung Tau Town

Cyclo or pedicab tours are an increasingly popular way to see the sights of Vung Tau, the seaside resort town 125 kilometers by road southeast of Ho Chi Minh City.

Not only do the tourists get to enjoy the pure air, the outdoors and the scenery, they can also learn about local life.

Tourists can stop at famous Vung Tau sights such as the White Villa, Nirvana Meditation House, the statue of Christ, the lighthouse and other places named in guidebooks. They can take photos and chat and joke around with the cyclo drivers.

According to the cyclo drivers, each group of travelers has its own preferences. Westerners like to travel after dinner while Asians prefer going in the early evening. Tours usually cost between VND40,000 to VND50,000 (US$2.50-3) an hour.

Vung Tau pedicab tours usually take two forms, a set route and a choose-your-own route. Normally, foreign travelers take the choose-your-own, but still take in the sights of Vung Tau’s long beachfront and the area around the mountain.

Recently, Medicoast, an international health care center in Vung Tau, has been offering its patients cyclo tours. The fresh air and relaxing nature of a cyclo circle is considered appropriate for medical tourists, including the elderly.

The Tourist Pedicab Trade Union of Thang Tam Ward was recently set up, after receiving approval from the Vung Tau People’s Committee and the Labor Union.

Union members were given uniforms and start-up capital. They have also been trained in the basics of local history, culture and communication by the staff of Sammy Hotel.

Pedicab tours usually depart at Sammy Hotel at any time that suits the customer.

For more information on pedicab tours, contact:

Sammy Vungtau Hotel
157 Thuy Van St.,Thang Tam Ward, Vung Tau Town.
Tel: (84.64) 854 755/56/57/58/59
Fax: (84.64) 854 762
www.sammyhotelvt.com or email: sammyhotel@hcm.vnn.vn

Medicoast Center
165 Thuy Van St., Thang Tam Ward, Vung Tau Town
www.medicoast.com.vn or email: vtdd@hcm.vnn.vn

Reported by Kim