One of Vietnam’s premier bike races will wind through three countries over its 12 stages for the first time next year.
The annual 12-day Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Bike Race will take riders through Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos from December 10 to 22. This is the first time that the event will include paths in international destinations.
According to the plan, as reported by VnExpress, the 1,750-kilometer race will kick off in Saigon before heading 150 kilometers to Binh Phuoc Province’s Hoa Lu border checkpoint and then onto Kratie and Stung Treng Province in Cambodia.
The route will then snake through the Laotian provinces of Champasak, Sekong and Attapeu before taking bikers back to Saigon via Pleiku, Buon Me Thuot, Nha Trang and Da Lat.
Saigon-based broadcaster VOH is hosting the race that will feature teams from Laos and Cambodia, in addition to their Vietnamese counterparts.
Organized cycling events are becoming more popular in Vietnam. In addition to long-standing races like H2H, the country recently held its first Gran Fondo Coupe de Hue in August.
[Photo via Facebook page Cuộc Đua Xe Đạp Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Tranh Cúp Phát Thanh Voh]