Tour Details

Route

Map courtesy of Jason Williams, Grasshopper Adventures

Day
1. Hanoi - arrival
2. Hue - flight and easy city ride (some trafffic!) - 30km
3. Lang Co - ride - 75km
4. Hoi An - ride - 65km
5. Hoi An - free
6. Quang Ngai - drive then ride - 60km
7. Quy Ngon - drive then ride - 88km
8. Quy Ngon- rest day
9. Tuy Hoa - ride - 113km
10. Nha Trang - ride then drive - 60km
11. Nha Trang - Saigon - afternoon train
12. Saigon - end

Dates Mon 10 March 2008 (Day1) to Fri 21 Mar 2008 (Day12).

General Info

What is Uninam?

The Uninam Unicycle Tour is a cycle tour of Vietnam done on unicycles. In early 2008, twenty four unicyclists from around the world will embark on this epic 500km journey from Hanoi in the North, to Saigon in South of Vietnam.

Why?

Unicycling allows you to travel across a country and experience it like no other mode of transport. It is the simplest and most environmentally friendly vehicle ever invented, with next to no carbon emissions. Unitourists typically travel at about 15-20km/hr, the perfect speed to enjoy the scenery whilst still being able to traverse long distances. Best of all, barriers are broken down when visitors and local people do not speak the same language.

Is this a joke?

No, many unicycle tours have been done in the last few years, including tours of Laos, New Zealand, Denmark, Switzerland, and parts of Europe and the United States. With the advent of large 36inch wheeled unicycles, and more recently, geared unicycles, people have found that they can travel similar distances to bicycle tourists, without the complexity of these two wheeled contraptions.

Who would do such a thing?

Check out the rider profiles. Most of us are reasonably normal people. Once you've travelled on a unicycle, there is no going back to regular bus or bicycle touring.

Who is organising this?

The tour is organised by Ken Looi, a New Zealand unicyclist, in conjunction with Jason Williams of Grasshopper Adventures.

Rider Registration

Registrations

Open to any unicyclist around the world. Registrations open in June 2007, and will close once all 24 places are filled up. If you have any questions or suggestions for the tour, please contact Ken through the site contact.

*Update* we have extended the tour to 30 riders, but the registrations will most likely close in October. Please contact us ASAP if you are interested in coming on tour.

What is provided on tour

Accomodation, most meals, support vehicles, support crew, internal flight, a once in a lifetime experience

Cost

US$1300. Late fee from October of $100 to be donated to the tour charity OXFAM

Requirements

It is a fully supported tour, but as a guide you should be able to ride a unicycle at approx 14-16km/hr on the flat. You must be experienced at riding unicycles on open roads, as well as follow the safety rules of the tour. Riders must also be nice to their support crew and buy them a beer during the tour :-) Please contact us for more details.

Charity

OXFAM New Zealand is the official charity for the tour. They are involved in several projects in the area, and are one of the largest and most respected organisations in the world involved with overcoming poverty and injustice. A bit more about them on their website: www.oxfam.org.nz

Sponsors

We're also looking for sponsors for the tour- if you know anyone/company that might be interested in supporting one of the coolest unicycling events in 2008, then send them our way. That can be by way of sponsoring T-shirts, equipment, chocolate bars, or whatever