Bangkok (Thailand) – March 15, 2015 – The first group of cyclists from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok, aged between 34 and 75, arrived in the Thai capital today. They completed a nine-day, 960-kilometer journey through Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.

The immense publicity generated by the trip is likely to give a major boost to the popularity of cycling tours in Thailand and the countries of the Mekong region.

For the oldest cyclist, 75-year-old Tran Tam Quang, it is a particularly eventful trip, as he returns to Bangkok after almost 50 years. He was last here in 1966 for the Asian Games, where he finished fourth in the men's track cycling event.

The tour is the brainchild of Vo Huu Thien (53), an avid Vietnamese sportsman and cyclist and CEO of Saigon Vina, a real estate company in Ho Chi Minh City. All participants are members of the Land Saigon Bike Club, which Mr. Thien founded in 2003.

The tour, organized by Viking Travel and Media, included four stops in Cambodia – Neak Luong, Phnom Penh, Pursat and Sisophon – before continuing to Sa Kaeo, Nakhon Nayok, and then cycling to Bangkok.

Mr. Pongsathorn Kessasamli, Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand for International Marketing (Asia and South Pacific), said: “The TAT is very pleased and honored to support this inaugural trip. Cycling tours are among our fastest growing niche markets and are expected to become even more popular once the Asian motorway network is completed.”

According to Mr. Thien: “I have been dreaming of this trip for five years. I believe it will make a great contribution to promoting friendship and integration within ASEAN, as well as intraregional travel. All group members completed almost a year of training on domestic routes in Vietnam before choosing Thailand as their first destination.”

The cyclists started every day at 4:30 a.m. and covered an average of 120 km per day. The longest leg, from Phnom Penh to Pursat (Cambodia), took a full 12 hours.

In Thailand, the TAT supported the cyclists by facilitating easier entry formalities at international borders, monitoring their progress to ensure their safety, organizing a gala dinner, and presenting certificates to commemorate this historic journey.

Bangkok – March 13, 2015 The first group of cyclists from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok, aged between 34 and 75, arrived in the Thai capital today at the end of a nine-day journey that took them over 960 kilometers through Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

The tour is the brainchild of Vo Huu Thien (53), an avid Vietnamese sportsman and cyclist and CEO of Saigon Vina, a real estate company in Ho Chi Minh City. All participants are members of the Land Saigon Bike Club, founded by Mr. Thien in 2003. Bike Journey HCMC – Bangkok_03

Mr. Vo Huu Thien, Chairman of Saigon Land Company, who led the group of cyclists from the Land Saigon Bike Club, presented a token of appreciation to Mr. Pongsathorn Kessasamli, Deputy Governor of the TAT for International Marketing (Asia and South Pacific).

In Thailand, the TAT supported the cyclists by simplifying entry formalities at international borders, monitoring their progress to ensure their safety, organizing a gala dinner, and presenting certificates commemorating this historic journey. Ho Chi Minh City – Bangkok Cycling Tour_02 Ho Chi Minh City – Bangkok Cycling Tour_04

The TAT also organized a friendship meeting with local cycling clubs, such as the Thailand Cycling for Health Association, the Thai Airways Bike Club, the Thai Hotels Association Bike Club, the TAT Bike Club, etc. The group was also the first foreign group to test the special cycle path in Bangkok, which opened in December 2014.

On March 13, 2015, cyclists can look forward to a special photo tour: a 20-kilometer tour across Rattanakosin Island and to the various sights in the surrounding area. They will be accompanied by the well-known Thai actor Suchao Pongwilai (69 years old), who is himself an avid cyclist.

They will return home by plane on March 14th.

Mr. Pongsathorn said: "We hope to see more cyclists in Thailand after this successful trip."

International Public Relations Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand, 1600 New Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Ratchathevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel.: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48, Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419, E-mail: [email protected]