Our Vietnam cycle challenge has begun, albeit in "challenging" technological circumstances. Vietnam has no data network, so our fancy mobile phones have become very basic. That said, when we can we are uploading to our sportstracker page through wi-fi connections. Our pictures are limited, but we will add more to them as we are able, so be patient.

As we spent our first two days being tourists in Hanoi, we were unaware it was cunningly part of our cycling training. Our fabulous guide, Loc, taught us how to negoitiate some of the busiest intersections I have seen. The challenge was we were pedestrians crossing a stream of hundreds of vehicles, mostly scooters. The main rule was to move in a steady, predictable fashion. DON'T stop, lurch or run. DO smile, wave and say hello in Vietnames as you go!

Our first day of cycling began south of Hanoi leaving from a town called Hue. We went through remote country villages on little lanes that I'm sure were once paved, witnessing basic, simple, rural life. We visited several shrines and the last temple we went to offered a spectacular view down a valley, accented by wisps of clouds and a oft red sun sliding down the sky. After the bustle of Hanoi it seemed very peaceful.

Then we got on our bikes and went back to Hue, through the evening traffic. There we were - 14 kiwi cylists chasing our guide at a fast pace as we rode through many HUGE intersections, weaving our way through swarms of scooters. We were confident and fast just like the locals! The only difference - we were yeehah-ing as we went! The adrenalin buzz stayed with us all for hours.

We will post up more pics as technology allows, so keep watching.