Cycling Southern Vietnam: Mekong Delta

Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City

You are met at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport by your driver, then transferred to your hotel in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. After you’ve settled in, you have a bike fitting. Depending on your arrival time, there are many cultural sights to take in, including the some of the landmarks such Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Ben Thanh Market and the iconic Saigon Central Post Office, celebrated for its combination of perfect combination of neo-classical European architecture with Asian additions. For insights into the history of the Vietnam War, the War Remnants Museum is a very moving and insightful experience.

• Accommodation: Sanouva Saigon Hotel or similar in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Mỹ Tho – Bến Tre – Trà Vinh | 60-100km

After breakfast, you are transferred to Long An (1h) where you start a trail through rice fields and dragon fruit farms to the village of My Phong. Cross Rạch Miễu Bridge over the Mekong River and cycle towards Que Son, then continue to Bến Tre. The journey continues on a boat as far as the village of Vĩnh Phú, where lunch is served at a local home, after which you are transferred to Hàm Luông River Terminal (10mins), to catch the ferry across to the other side. Cycle to your accommodation in Trà Vinh.

• Cycling for the day: 60-100km
• Accommodation: homestay in Trà Vinh
• Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Trà Vinh – Cần Thơ | 40-80km

Setting out from Trà Vinh, cycle to Tiểu Cần where you stop to visit the Khmer temples. Cycle on to religious complex at Angkorajaborey Pagoda and then continue along canals, rice fields and small villages towards Trà Mẹt, where lunch is served at a local restaurant, after which you are transferred to Lục Sĩ Thành (30mins). Continue on small country roads to Trà Ôn, where you are met and driven to Cai Cu (45mins) to take the ferry to Cần Thơ. Cycle from the ferry to your accommodation in Cần Thơ.

• Cycling for the day: 40-80km
• Accommodation: Bamboo Eco Village or similar in Cần Thơ
• Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Cần Thơ – Rach Gia | 40-60km

The day starts with and early boat trip to the floating market of Cái Răng, where local people sell their fruits and vegetables from boat to boat. Back in Cần Thơ, cycle along the canal to Vị Thanh. Before leaving Cần Thơ, you have the opportunity to see how incense sticks are made at a local family-run workshop. From Vị Thanh continue along canals and past paddy fields to Ô Môn, then onto Bang Lang Stork Sanctuary, one of the biggest bird sanctuaries in the Mekong Delta. After the sanctuary visit, lunch is served at a local restaurant, before your cycle to Long Xuyen Crocodile Farm, continuing to Gò Quao and the coastal town of Rạch Giá.

• Cycling for the day: 40-60km
• Accommodation: homestay in Rạch Giá
• Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Rạch Giá – Hà Tiên | 30-50km

Starting from your accommodation, head to Nguyễn Trung Trực Pagoda to visit the tomb of its namesake, who led a militia against French colonial forces. The cycle trail continues along the west coast as far as Hang Pagoda, located in Bình An. Continue cycling to Hà Tiên, a coastal town near the border with Cambodia. If time permits, we recommend visiting its local fish market by the riverside, or one of its beaches, Bai No or Mui Nai

• Cycling for the day: 30-50km
• Accommodation: homestay in Hà Tiên
• Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6: Hà Tiên – Châu Đốc | 30-90km

Follow the Vĩnh Tế Canal along the border with Cambodia past shrimp farms, mangroves and through melaleuca forests to Ba Chúc. Shortly after, there’s an opportunity to visit Ba Chúc Memorial, which commemorates the victims of the Khmer Rouge massacre in 1978. The route continues towards Sam Mountain, where you have the choice of cycling to the top or taking the cable car (payable locally). Either way, the views over the Mekong Delta and into Cambodia are second to none. From here, it’s just a few kilometres to Châu Đốc where you spend the night.

• Cycling for the day: 30-90km
• Accommodation: homestay in Châu Đốc
• Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7: Châu Đốc – Cao Lanh – Cái Bè | 40-70km

Start the day with a boat trip from Châu Đốc to visit its floating market and neighbouring Muslim Cham village. After the boat trip, cycle from Châu Đốc towards Thuận Giang, where you catch the ferry across the Vàm Nao River and continue on to Chợ Mới. Continue to Cao Lãnh, the capital of Đồng Tháp province, area known as the big rice basket of the Mekong Delta thanks to its abundance of rice fields. In the late afternoon, arrive at Cái Bè. Located on the bank of the Mekong River, it’s famous for its morning floating market.

• Cycling for the day: 40-70km
• Accommodation: homestay in Cái Bè
• Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8: Cái Bè – Ho Chi Minh City | 40-55km. Departure

Start the day with a private boat trip to explore the local floating market in Cái Bè, where boats are filled with fresh produce and goods. The trip continues to Cù Lao Tân Phong to visit fruit orchards, including durian, rambutans and other tropical fruits.

From the boat, you then take a guided 30mins rowing boat trip, along canals shaded by water-coconut trees. Return to the boat for the next stop, a visit to a local sweet-maker. Back in Cái Bè, cycle the the last section of your trip to Mỹ Tho, where lunch is served at a local restaurant, followed by a private transfer (2h) to Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City for your evening flight home.

• Cycling for the day: 40-55km
• Meals: breakfast and lunch

Optional extension of Day 8: Ho Chi minh City – Phú Quốc

You are transferred to Tân Sơn Nhất International for your flight to Phú Quốc (included). On arrival in Phú Quốc, you are driven to your hotel. Located in the southwest of Vietnam, in the Gulf of Thailand, the island is famous for its beaches, marine life and national park. It’s also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

• Accommodation: Green Bay Phu Quoc Resort & Spa or similar in Phú Quốc
• Meals: breakfast and lunch

Optional extension – Day 9: Phú Quốc

Make the most of your time on Phú Quốc Island by taking part in one of many activities. These include a boat and snorkelling trip to nearby islands. Or just unwind at Sao Beach. For keen historians, we recommend a visit to Phú Quốc Prison and, for foodies, the local pepper farm. There’s also an option to hike to Suoi Tranh Waterfall.

• Accommodation: Green Bay Phu Quoc Resort & Spa or similar in Phú Quốc
• Meals: breakfast

Optional extension – Day 10: Phú Quốc – Ho Chi Minh City and departure

Around noon, you are transferred to Phú Quốc airport for your domestic flight (included) back to Ho Chi Minh City for your connecting flight home.

• Meals: breakfast