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Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle
Duration
14 days
Site savings
$105
From
$3,395 USD
Send your tires sliding through three of Southeast Asia’s sensational countries – Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Enjoy these diverse and magnificent lands from the unique vantage point of your bike as we ride along the Mekong Delta, take in the wondrous history of Angkor Wat, kick back on the beach, and, of course sample some of the finest food in the world.
- CategoryAdventurous
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration14 days
- Culture LevelAdventurous
- Skill Level3 - Intermediate
- Activity Level3 - Active
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
- Distance341.8 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance34.2 miles
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Quick Stats
- Duration14 days
- Main DestinationHo Chi Minh City
- Distance341.8 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance34.2 miles
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Arrival
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as most locals prefer to call it! Vietnam’s largest city and the southern capital, Saigon moves at a pace that may initially be a shock to the system, but you’ll quickly adapt. It is recommended to arrive at least a day or two before the tour begins to get acclimated and explore sites such as the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Giac Lam Pagoda, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Cu Chi Tunnels, and Ben Thanh Market. On arrival day, you'll gather at the tour hotel in the late afternoon for a trip briefing and welcome dinner. Please let us know if you need assistance with airport transfers or pre-tour hotel bookings.
- Nhat Ha L'Opera Hotel or similar
- Dinner
- Day 2Saigon – Ben Tre – Tra Vinh
After breakfast, you'll leave the concrete jungle of Saigon behind and travel 2.5 hours into the Mekong Delta, a vast expanse of lush greenery and braided waterways sprawling towards the East Vietnam Sea. Starting in the city of Ben Tre, you'll get acquainted with Vietnamese road dynamics (i.e., motorbikes zipping about!), then cross the Ham Luong River into a serene world of coconut farms, banana plantations, sugarcane fields, small hamlets, and criss-crossing canals and rivers. The route primarily follows narrow farm roads and lanes, featuring several small bridge crossings and two local ferry rides. The second ferry takes you across the broad Co Chien River to reach Tra Vinh, where you'll settle for the night. Tra Vinh showcases a cultural blend shaped by Vietnamese and Cambodian (a.k.a. Khmer) influences that predate modern borders.
- 46 miles
- 13.1 ft
2,073.5 ft
2,060.4 ft - Cuu Long Hotel or similar
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 3Tra Vinh - Can Tho: Serene Passage to Can Tho
Departing from Tra Vinh, you'll head westward along a fertile floodplain nestled between the Cho Chien and Hau Rivers, two tributaries of the Mekong. The route winds through an extensive patchwork of rice paddies, highlighting why the Mekong Delta is known as Vietnam’s “rice bowl”! Taking your time, you'll soak in scenes of daily life amidst the fields, waterways, fruit orchards, villages, and towns. Along the way, you'll also encounter numerous Khmer-style Buddhist temples, a testament to centuries of Cambodian presence in the heart of the Mekong Delta. After nearly 80 km, you'll arrive at the outskirts of Can Tho, where you can dismount and transfer a short distance to avoid riding in heavy city traffic. As the largest city in the Mekong Delta, Can Tho serves as a bastion of the region's waterborne lifeways and thrives as a commercial hub.
- 48.5 miles
- -39.4 ft
1,384.5 ft
1,423.9 ft - IRIS Hotel Can Tho/Ninh Kieu 2 Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 4Can Tho - Chau Doc: From floating markets to looming mountains
You'll have an early start as you board a boat to visit bustling Cai Rang, the Mekong Delta’s largest floating wholesale market. Here you'll discover a lively aquatic scene as vendors navigate their brightly adorned boats, displaying goods for sale on tall poles. From the comfort of your chartered boat, you can join the locals for a morning coffee, a bowl of rice noodles, and some fresh fruit. Back on dry land you'll then hop on your bike to begin your final green and meandering Mekong Delta ride. After around 35 km you'll jump in the support vehicle to fast-track getting closer to the border with Cambodia where you’ll savor a shorter afternoon ride to reach the town of Chau Doc. Along the way, you’ll stop to pay your respects at the genocide memorial site of Ba Chuc where, in 1978, the Khmer Rouge committed atrocities against Vietnamese civilians. You'll complete the ride along country roads straddling the border with the gently rising mountains in the background. You'llspend the night in Chao Doc, a border town located right along the banks of the mighty Mekong.
- 34.8 miles
- 13.1 ft
1,496.1 ft
1,482.9 ft - Chau Po Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 5Chau Doc – Phnom Penh: Cambodia is calling!
Early in the morning, you'll embark on a speedboat cruise up the majestic Mekong River. Shortly after leaving Chau Doc, you'll reach the Cambodian border and complete immigration procedures. The journey upstream is comfortable and scenic, allowing you to witness the daily life along the Mekong River and its banks.
The cruise lasts approximately 5-6 hours, and you'll arrive in Phnom Penh, the bustling capital of Cambodia, in time for lunch. You can then make the most of your afternoon in the city! While Phnom Penh is best known to travelers for its sobering genocide memorial sites, today you'll be introduced to the city’s bright side. As such, you’ll take a rickshaw ride from the riverside to the Royal Palace, the official residence of the King of Cambodia and a treasure trove of splendid architecture and art. After a tour of this glittering complex, you'll have the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Time permitting you can visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or the National Museum of Cambodia (at own expense).- Frangipani Royal Palace Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 6Phnom Penh – Oudong – Kampong Thom
You'll maneuver your way out of Phnom Penh by bike, not an easy feat considering the city’s notoriously unruly traffic but there is a way! First, you'll ferry across the river to a peninsula wedged between the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers. Then you'll follow a series of riverside neighborhoods leading to Phnom Penh’s northern suburbs which, after around 30 km, give way to the countryside. You’ll enjoy your first taste of Cambodian rural riding, cycling through many villages filled with stilt-houses, farms and, of course, curious and friendly locals eager to cheer us on!
You'll finish the ride at Oudong where a sprawling complex of Buddhist stupas sits atop a ridge jutting out of the plains. This was once the site of Cambodia’s capital before it was moved further down the river to Phnom Penh. The 400-plus steps to the top will get the legs working overtime, but the views are well worth it. After your visit, you'll have lunch nearby and then transfer 3-4 hours to the sleepy backwater town of Kampong Thom where you will spend the night.
- 29.2 miles
- 183.7 ft
862.9 ft
679.1 ft - Sambor Village/Glorious Hotel & Spa
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 7Kampong Thom - Siem Reap
Starting directly from your hotel, you'll begin by riding along the meandering Stueng Saen River. After 8 km you'll cross the river either by a small wooden ferry or a makeshift bridge (depending on the water levels) and then continue north along quiet country roads dissecting the fertile floodplain of the river. This is rural Cambodia at its finest, riding through quaint villages, expansive rice fields, and other farmlands.
After covering 40 km, you'll arrive at the ancient site of Sambor Prei Kuk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates back to one of Cambodia’s earliest civilisations preceding the foundation of Angkor. Here, brick temples in various stages of restoration - many still entwined by tree roots – are scattered throughout a forested area and are connected by sandy paths. This makes for some fun mountain biking! After checking out a collection of the many temples you’ll break for lunch at a local restaurant and then complete a final 15 km until intersecting with the main road. You'll jump in the support vehicle and transfer around 2 hours to Siem Reap, the “gateway to Angkor”, where you’ll spend the next three nights.
- 39.8 miles
- -3.3 ft
1,118.8 ft
1,122 ft - Steung Siem Reap
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 8Ancient Angkor’s Iconic Sites by Bike
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor was once the heart of the Khmer Empire, where powerful god-kings constructed magnificent stone temples between the 9th and 15th centuries CE. Today, you'll explore Angkor's most renowned sites by cycling along the intricate paths that wind around the temples and ruins scattered across the plain.
At Ta Prohm, made famous by the film "Tomb Raider," you'll encounter a captivating sight: a crumbling façade of laterite and sandstone blocks enveloped by the massive roots of fig trees.
Next, at the Bayon, a temple designed as a representation of the heavens, you'll be awestruck by the rows of divine faces carved into the temple towers, gazing serenely in all directions.
Finally, at Angkor Wat, Cambodia's national symbol and the world's largest religious structure, you'll wander through the inner and outer courtyards adorned with remarkably preserved carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu myths, battles, and scenes of life and death.
In the afternoon, return to Siem Reap. Tonight you'll dine at SPOONS, a social enterprise restaurant serving up authentic Khmer food and supporting the professional training of marginalized youth.- 26.1 miles
1,095.8 ft
1,095.8 ft- Steung Siem Reap
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 9Siem Reap Countryside
As the ideal sequel to the previous day, today’s focus will be getting further afield from the main sites at Angkor and leaving the touring masses behind. Departing Siem Reap by bike, you'll head north, initially on paved roads but soon transitioning to quiet dirt roads cutting through an expanse of rice fields and small villages. Along the way, you'll pop into local houses for a close up look at some rural cottage industries, such as basket weaving and sugar palm production.
The ride ends at the 10th-century temple of Banteay Srey. Considered a jewel of Khmer artistry, Banteay Srey is renowned for its exquisite bas-reliefs carved into delicate, pink sandstone. You’ll have lunch at a local restaurant near the temple and then transfer back to Siem Reap, giving you the afternoon at leisure to relax by the pool, enjoy a massage, or explore the town of Siem Reap. For anyone with extra energy, you are welcome to skip the transfer and cycle back to Siem Reap instead (it is around 40 km along the main road). With plenty of options to choose from, dinner is on your own tonight.
- 33.6 - 58.4 miles
- 105 ft
561 ft
456 ft - Steung Siem Reap
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 10Siem Reap – Battambang
Today, you'll take a break from cycling but still have an action-packed day ahead! The goal is to reach the city Battambang, located across the Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake and one of Cambodia’s most vital natural resources. When water levels are high enough (typically from October to January), you'll cruise across the lake and its channels by boat, a journey that takes 6 to 8 hours. If the water levels are lower, you’ll visit the Tonle Sap via a morning cruise to a floating village near Siem Reap (accessible year-round) and then transfer to Battambang by vehicle, which takes about 3 hours.
When you arrive, there will be time to unwind before you hop into Cambodian tuk-tuks – motorized rickshaws – and head to Phnom Sampov, a rocky outcrop in the countryside. Here, you’ll witness the mesmerizing exodus of millions of bats swirling into the twilight sky from a cave. You’ll take a seat at the base of the hill, grab a drink, and enjoy the show! After dusk has settled, you’ll head back to the city for dinner in Battambang’s historic core, renowned for its laid-back vibe and well-preserved French colonial architecture.
- Classy Hotel & Spa
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 11 Battambang Exploration
The countryside around Battambang bursts with vibrant rural scenes, reflections of Cambodia’s history, and some unexpected fun. You’ll start with a 25 km ride along the banks of the Sangker River and its surrounding roads, passing traditional cottage industries where local favorites like banana chips, rice wine, bamboo sticky rice, and prahok (a pungent fermented fish paste) are made. You’ll also explore Wat Phnom Eak, an 11th-century Angkorian ruin, and pay your respects at the Samrong Knong Killing Field, a genocide memorial within the grounds of a Buddhist temple.
The second half of your ride takes you through lush rice paddies and roadside markets, culminating in a quintessential and somewhat comical Battambang experience: a ride on the bamboo train, clattering along train tracks on bamboo platforms powered by a small motor. Before riding back to the city, you’ll cross a hanging bridge that feels straight out of an Indiana Jones movie and visit the Cambodian Peace Gallery, a thought-provoking exhibition on war and reconciliation. After some free time in the afternoon, you’ll gather for dinner at Jaan Bai, a social enterprise restaurant serving fresh local cuisine and providing employment for Cambodian youth.
- 33.6 miles
879.3 ft
879.3 ft- Classy Hotel & Spa
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 12Battambang – Thai Border – Chanthaburi
It is time to transition to the third country on this tour: Thailand! You'll start with a morning transfer of about 2 hours from Battambang to the border crossing at Ban Pakkad. After completing immigration procedures, the Thailand team will greet you in the “Land of Smiles,” and you’ll continue with a 1.5-hour transfer to the coast of Chanthaburi Province. A moment you’ve probably been looking forward to is that first taste of delicious, world-famous Thai food, and that craving will be satisfied with lunch before saddling up for a short but sweet afternoon ride. Starting from the headland of Laem Sing, you’ll cycle a well-paved road skirting the Gulf of Thailand for just over 20 km. You’ll then relax for the evening near Chao Lao Beach, a peaceful stretch of palm-fringed sands that’s popular with locals but off the usual tourist trail. Note that if the border procedures are quicker than expected today’s ride can be extended by around 10 km.
- 13.7 miles
- 68.9 ft
554.5 ft
485.6 ft - Chanchaolao Beach Resort
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 13Chanthaburi – Laem Mae Phim Beach
Darting off from the resort in Laem Sing, your final ride heads west along the Gulf of Thailand’s coast. As you cycle on well-paved secondary roads, you'll pass shrimp farms with their distinctive patchwork of ponds, rubber plantations with neatly spaced trees, and fishing communities with their colorful boats and wooden houses. You’ll also enjoy memorable bridge crossings over river mouths leading to the sea.
The last stretch takes you right along Laem Mae Phim Beach, where you’ll conclude the cycling tour – high fives and maybe a cold brew or two will surely be in order! The rest of the afternoon is free to relax with a swim in the ocean, a soothing massage, or unwinding by the pool. You’ll gather for a farewell Thai feast in the evening to celebrate the end of our adventure.
- 36 - 40.4 miles
- -9.8 ft
810.4 ft
820.2 ft - Grande Blue Resort
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 14Laem Mae Phim – Bangkok