Cycling Southern Vietnam
Cycling Southern Vietnam
9 days / 8 nights
Vietnam is emerging as a popular destination for cycling holidays. Unless you are in training for the King of the Mountains jersey, you might be put off by the formidable mountains of the north, but down in the Mekong Delta the country is pancake flat and criss-crossed by pretty country roads. We leave the city by minibus to avoid the chaotic traffic and cycle from Mytho to the backwaters of Ben Tre. From Ben Tre, we cycle through pretty countryside to the ethnic Khmer area of Tra Vinh where we can see some striking Cambodian pagodas. Using local ferries and small roads, we continue to Soc Trang before heading to the heartland of the Mekong Delta in Cantho. We have a slow day to relax, but visit the floating markets in the morning for some superb photo opportunities. We travel to Rach Gia to board a hydrofoil for the lovely island of Phu Quoc. We bike around the island, passing through areas of national park, but leave the penultimate day free to relax on the beaches.
In brief
- Day 1: Saigon to Mytho. Exploring Islands and Rivers. Overnight in Ben Tre.
- Day 2: Ben Tre to Tra Vinh via Mekong Backroads.
- Day 3: Tra Vinh to Soc Trang via Mekong Backroads.
- Day 4: Soc Trang to Cantho.
- Day 5: Cai Rang Floating market. Free Time to Explore Cantho.
- Day 6: Transfer to Rach Gia and Board Hydrofoil to Phu Quoc.
- Day 7: Exploring Phu Quoc by Bicycle.
- Day 8: At Leisure on Phu Quoc.
- Day 9: Fly Phu Quoc to Saigon for onward Flight.
Other Journeys
In detail
Day 1: Saigon to Mytho. Exploring Islands and Rivers. Overnight in Ben Tre.
We make an early start and leave Ho Chi Minh city for Mytho. The Mekong Delta is lusciously green and extremely fertile producing enough rice to feed the entire country. We take to the water and have a leisurely boat ride through the Bao Dinh natural canal. The canal is bordered by rows of traditional stilt houses and fruit plantations. We visit the Mytho wholesale fruit market and proceed to Tortoise island. Lunch is served in the heart of one of the fruit orchards. We then return to the river and enjoy a boat ride through the Tan Thach natural canal in Ben Tre, cruising under the shadows of the water coconut trees. We’ll visit one of the family run cottage industries which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle. After stopping at a fruit plantation on Thoi Son island, we enjoy a ride through the narrower canals by traditional sampan. Later we’ll take dinner and stay overnight in Ben Tre.
Day 2: Ben Tre to Tra Vinh via Mekong Backroads.
Breakfast at your hotel. Getting our ferry transferring from Ben Tre to Tra Vinh which is a coastal province in Mekong Delta region. This ride passes through some very pretty countryside and includes some very rural areas where foreign visitors are still a novelty. After a lunch of fresh seafood, we will visit to local fishing villages to learn more about local life here. We check into the hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight in Tra Vinh.
Day 3: Tra Vinh to Soc Trang via Mekong Backroads.
After breakfast at the hotel we cross Hau River by local ferry to the province of Soc Trang, a fertile area in Mekong Delta where you can find a plenty of fruit orchards and floating markets. The ride is another great experience as the traffic is very light and the ricefields lush and green. The place is well off the beaten tourist track but is home to a beautiful array of traditioanl Khmer temples. We stay overnight in Soc Trang.
Day 4: Soc Trang to Cantho.
This morning we continue cycling to Cantho, the bustling commercial heart of the Mekong Delta. This will seem like a real metropolis after your backwater adventures in Tra Vinh and Soc Trang. We leave the afternoon free for you to explore at will and enjoy the dramatic river views of life on the water. Overnight in Cantho.
Day 5: Cai Rang Floating market. Free Time to Explore Cantho.
We enjoy an early boat trip to the floating markets of Cai Rang and Phong Dien where the farmers exchange their products. A walk on a peaceful country road provides magnificent sceneries of local houses, orchard gardens and fields. Don’t be surprised if you are invited by a local family to join them for a cup of tea. Try a xe loi (the local colonial-era bicycle taxi pulled by a motorbike) on the winding riverside road. We leave the rest of the day free to further explore Cantho or you can plot your own bike ride in the countryside. Overnight in Cantho.
Day 6: Transfer to Rach Gia and Board Hydrofoil to Phu Quoc.
In the morning we depart from Can Tho to Rach Gia. The journey can take around three hours with the support minibus. We stop along the way for photos and refreshment. Upon arrival in Rach Gia, we board the express high speed boat to Phu Quoc Island. We then transfer to the hotel. Overnight on Phu Quoc island.
Day 7: Exploring Phu Quoc by Bicycle.
Today we will take a bicycle tour visiting to the north of Phu Quoc island. The scenery is particularly striking when combined with mountains, rainforest, deserted beaches and other uninhabited islets. We stop at a traditional pepper garden at Khu Tuong. Then having a short trekking in an area of primitive rainforest. We continue cycling to the fish farm at the floating houses at Ganh Dau for a short visit. We enjoy lunch at a beach restaurant with views towards Cambodia. After lunch, we take a speed boat from Vung Bau to discover the uninhabited islet of Mong Tay. Enjoy the wild and beautiful beach of Bai Dai, considered one of the nicest in the region. You are free to enjoy the white sandy beach; swimming and snorkeling until our speed boat take you back to the port. Cycling back to your hotel. Overnight on Phu Quoc.
Day 8: At Leisure on Phu Quoc.
We leave today free to let you just relax on beautiful Phu Quoc Island after your two-wheeled adventures through the Mekong Delta. Overnight in Phu Quoc island.
Day 9: Fly Phu Quoc to Saigon for onward Flight.
We pick you up at your hotel and transfer to Phu Quoc airport where you will take the flight to Saigon for your onward connection.