Excursion
Biking Ho Chi Minh - Phnom Penh 5 days
8:00 AM – Departure from Ho Chi Minh City
Start your journey with a private vehicle transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Luc District, a drive of approximately one hour. Upon arrival, pick up your bike and set off on scenic trails through Tan Tru District. Ride across the Eastern and Western Vam Co Rivers, passing through expansive rice paddies and lush farmland. Observe farmers at work in the fields and soak in the peaceful countryside atmosphere. Along the way, stop at various points to interact with locals, enjoy fresh tropical fruits, and sample traditional snacks. As you approach My Tho, take in the charming landscapes and experience the authentic rural lifestyle.
Arriving in My Tho, take a break to enjoy a delicious local lunch. Afterward, visit the stunning Vinh Trang Pagoda, an architectural gem blending Vietnamese, Khmer, and French influences, surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and giant Buddha statues. After a short transfer across the Upper River, continue cycling through vibrant villages lined with coconut trees. This stretch offers a unique glimpse into the daily life of local communities, well known for their coconut-based products and traditional handicrafts.The day's cycling adventure concludes in Ben Tre City, where you can enjoy the peaceful riverside scenery, check in the hotel.
After breakfast, a shuttle transfers to Ham Luong Bridge, where the morning ride begins. Follow the minor routes to Cai Mon, then to Cho Lach Dist. Cho Lach and Cai Mon are Districts of Ben Tre and are very well-known. This is a great opportunity to meet locals, experience their culture, and learn about the techniques used to cultivate these plants. Begin by visiting local greenhouses and enjoying a home-cooked lunch with families in Cho Lach District, renowned for its ornamental and nursery gardens.
In the afternoon, continue cycling along scenic zigzagging paths through charming villages, passing small markets, churches, and pagodas on the way to Vinh Binh village. The journey continues with a ride to the Dinh Khao ferry, marking the end of today's cycling adventure in Vinh Long. From there, board an air-conditioned van for a comfortable one-hour drive to Can Tho city.
Our adventure begins aboard a boat, cruising through the vibrant Cai Rang floating market, and seeing noodles and vermicelli at local workshops.
Our day then takes us to Binh Minh town by shuttle, where we experience the contrasting rural landscapes as we travel towards Sa Dec township on two wheels. Unlike previous days, the rural villages from Binh Minh to Sa Dec unfold with their distinct character and charm. Along the way, we immerse ourselves in the rich cultural tapestry of Vietnam and its Chinese heritage, learning about traditional practices and daily life.
One of the highlights of our journey is the visit to the "Lover's House" in Sa Dec, famously depicted in the film "The Lover." This historic site is tied to the life of Marguerite Duras, who lived in Sa Dec from 1928 to 1932 while her mother ran a school there. Here, the young Duras met Huynh Thuy Le, a 27-year-old scion of a wealthy Chinese family. Their passionate, albeit forbidden, love affair served as the muse for Duras's acclaimed novel, which later won the Prix Goncourt in 1984.
Post-lunch, explore the old Sadec market before we continue bicycling to visit a renowned flower village in Sa Dec, a paradise for plant and flower enthusiasts. The village bursts with vibrant colors, showcasing many flowers, bonsai trees, and ornamental plants. We check into a charming farmstay in the flower village. This is the perfect opportunity to unwind and explore the town on foot, immersing ourselves in the serene beauty surrounding us. In the evening, we share a delightful dinner with our hosts, savoring traditional dishes that reflect the flavors of the Mekong Delta.
We start the morning by picking up our bikes from the homestay and setting off on an exciting countryside adventure. A local ferry boat takes us across the Mekong River to Cao Lanh’s rural villages, where we cycle along smooth concrete paths, immersing ourselves in the region's authentic charm.
As we ride through the wetlands, we experience local life up close, passing lush mango orchards, stilt houses, and scenic riverside views. A ferry crossing brings us to the islands, including Cu Lao Gieng, one of the largest and oldest parishes in the Mekong Delta. Established in 1874, this historic site was the first monastery built in Indochina. We take a short break to explore the area on foot, admiring the colonial-style architecture.
In Dong Thap where annual floods mark the seasons, we witness the last rice harvest before the waters rise. Leaving the island via a newly built bridge, we enjoy a delightful lunch in a small town before transferring by van for an hour to the Bassac River.
The afternoon ride takes us along the riverbanks, through Cham Muslim villages and picturesque countryside. A final ferry ride brings us to Chau Doc, concluding an unforgettable day of exploration in the Mekong Delta.
Chau Doc town is a small border town full of tourists daily because it is the gateway and the connecting town of travellers between Vietnam and Cambodia. You will have an early start from the hotel for Cambodia today. After an early breakfast, check out of the hotel and say goodbye to the Vietnamese team. Then, at 7:00 AM, board the speedboat from Chau Doc to Cambodia, continuing your adventure along the Mekong River into a new chapter of discovery.
Note: Travellers who haven't got the Cambodia visa before the trip! and will get a Cambodia visa at the border. Please bring 3 passport photos with you on the trip.
Please keep your passport, visa photos, and other documents on your day bag for your visa application process. Your guide will help you with exit and visa procedures at both Vietnamese and Cambodian border gates. Please don't keep your passport and its papers in your suitcase.
- Exit point/border gate: Song Tien
- Entry point/border gate: Kaamsamnor
Thanks again for an awesome trip
The videos do look really good, and we really loved the trip we took with you. In terms of specific feedback, the things we look back on and will cherish the most was the simple interactions we had with the local Vietnamese people and the places where they worked and lived. Obviously every client is going to have different desires, but for people like us I would encourage more of that interaction. It was part of our failing that we didn’t know any of the Vietnamese language, but perhaps a bit more translation with some people to allow a small amount of communications would have been helpful. Thanks again for an awesome trip, and we are also looking forward to receiving the cycling jerseys from you so we can show it off to our cycling friends! : ) 24-28 May 2013 Cameron and Libby Storm from Australia Countryside Discovery Bike Tour 5D/4N The trip has been a fun and interesting experience. The guide tailor made best route to suit us. Dat has been extraordinary; very friendly, knowledgeable and keen to show us Mekong's specialties. very good English and communication skill, and very considerate. 09 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 July, 2017
Hi Van
This tour has been the highlight of our holiday to Vietnam. Well organised throughout. Phuc is an excellent guide and could not have done any more to make our holiday any better. 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 May, 2017
We named our tour " HELLO 2 weddings and a funeral"
We named our tour " HELLO 2 weddings and a funeral" Our cycling trip from Ho Chi Minh City To Phnom Penh was an experience my partner and myself will cherish for the rest of our lives. We were blessed and most fortunate to have had Loc as our guide. The love and passion he has for Vietnam, its food, its people and their culture opened our hearts and enabled us to experience a country like never before. This young man of 25 years of age had us captivated the whole trip with his humble compassionate heart. We were stopped on our path and invited in to 2 weddings on the same day. Both involved doing countless shots of rice wine and food being handed to you from every direction. We were overwhelmed by their generosity, their interest in us but most of all by their acceptance and love. We also were invited to join a large group who for every year for a generation celebrate the passing of a loved one. Well this involved pretty much the same as the weddings, rice wine shots, food and packed you up with mangoes or coco nuts to take with you. For a country that has a lot to see like Halong Bay, Sapa, Cu Chi tunnels, Hoi An, Danang ......................... we did the tourist route. The four days riding through those remote villages with Loc is what we remember as the real Vietnam. Nov 28- Dec 2, 2014 Kind Regards
Thank you to Miss Quang
Hi Van, We had a wonderful tour filled with really good cycle guide Dat who was very helpful, friendly and full of an excellent knowledge and great recommendations for any and all our needs. Thank you to Miss Quang who was very helpful when we organize the booking and also thank to our driver and all the team from Vietnam Backroads. we will recommend your company and will post a good review on TripAdvisor as well. 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 June, 2014
I can not say enough about this this experience!
This was such an incredible experience, I'm so happy we chose Vietnam Backroads Bicycle Tours. I contacted your company because of reviews on Trip Advisor and after emailing 5 - 10 different cycling tour companies. I chose Vietnam Backroads because of the exceptional customer services and dedicated attention of Quang - she is an asset to your business ! We have now finished the tour and we ave been extremely impressed by the quality & professionalism of your team. Dat is every knowledgeable and enacted . Nothing is too much trouble for him and he is a patient teacher. I'm a new cyclist still learning how to manage a bike and he has been very helpful! Cuong was very professional & friendly & always on time. I can not say enough about this this experience an d will recommend your services to friends and write a review on TripAdvisor of course! 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 June, 2014
An incredible trip across the Mekong Delta!
Thanks again for an incredible trip across the Mekong Delta! The boat ride up the river to Phnom Penh yesterday was great, and we will be continuing on up to Siem Reap tomorrow. The bicycles and gear were top notch and in very good shape. The only thing I would make sure to either recommend people bring or provide extras if they need them are cycling gloves. 25 Oct 2011
Vietnam Backroads!
Good to hear from you. We are in HCMC today and will leave for MuiNe tomorrow. We stay at the The Luxe Hotel on 261-263 le Thanh Ton St. My wife expects to be needing size S. Would be great if you'd manage to bring one to the hotel. We had a great time cycling through the Mekong Delta.
Hi Hue, We have found the shirt and short at the reception today, the are very beautiful and are a perfect memory of a very nice trip. Thank you very much. If friends of us plan to travel to Vietnam we will certainly advise them to organize a biking tour with your biking agency!! Dec, 2012
Off the tourist trail
My husband and I have just completed the most amazing 4 day cycling tour. As hypocritical as it may sound, we hate doing the usual tourist stuff and love just getting in with the local life and culture. (Having said the our tour did include some tourist stuff such as the floating market and lunch at an ancient house-the location of the French love story L’amant, which was one of our highlights of the tour). This tour hit this with perfection. Mr Van gave us the friendliest and most helpful welcome (only the start of what we were about to experience). The hotels that he booked for us where all excellent. We booked one day and left the next and (despite bing within TET celebration) we didn’t miss a beat. Everything ran to perfection. Tha was an excellent and knowledgeable guide. Not a question he couldn’t answer and was as keen to learn about us as we were about him and his countries (I say countries as we cycled in Vietnam and he is from Cambodia). Mr Lao (our van driver) was pleasant and reliable. Always waiting at the end of our rides to transfer us to our next cycle point and setting up our bikes on arrival ensuring we had water. We cycled 2-3 hours each morning and afternoon with regular refreshment stops where Tha suggested local snacks for us to try. He offered us choices of local specialities for our lunch stops and took us through a range of vistas and teraines with lots of opportunities to stop for photos or join in with local activities (helping the locals with their farming, joining in a favourite pass time of karaok-you will hear this regularly on your ride, playing football with local children or a quick cuppa with the insense stick maker, an offer we received at least once a day). Some terrains more challenging than others but all within our capabilities (we are hobby cyclists and by no means professional). The villagers are so welcoming. Always shouting “hello” and “welcome.” Even the oncoming mopeds (which you don’t see too many of) wave or high 5 you. I cannot recommend this tour highly enough. A sure way to experience local life. 30 January- 03 February 2020
We had an absolute wonderful time!
Hello
We had an absolute wonderful time! Since we live in Vietnam we already knew that it may be quiet. It gave us an opportunity to see how families gather and celebrate during this special time. Everything was perfect. We will be highly recommending this trip to our colleagues and other teacher friends in SE Asia! I will mail the comment sheet to you as I forgot to fill it out and give it to Tra on the last day.
We appreciate all of your efforts to make arrangements during the holiday.
Also, we rode bikes around Siem Reap and they were not nearly as good as yours :)
I'm wondering if you have any stickers for Vietnam Backroads? We would love a couple if you have any.
All the best, 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 January 2020
We loved the trip!
Dear Ms Tam, thank you for your invitation to provide feedback. We loved the trip! - it was very well curated and exceeded our expectations even in the 33* heat! We felt like we experienced a real slice of rural Vietnam. Mr Bao was a fabulous guide: he was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, flexible, knew the area very well, was kind and had a lovely sense of humour! We were very lucky to have him all to ourselves. He explained the itinerary well. Mr Phuong was always smiling, very patient and helpful every time we met up with him. The 4 accomodations were fantastic, especially the ones with pools👍 and the luxurious Victoria Nui Sam on the hills was a perfect way to finish. The local food and drinks were extraordinary. So much food!!
Highlights for us were so many. But seeing the huge variety of farms and family businesses like brick making and noodles making and the trip to the floating market come to mind. The bikes were good but for me, as a female the saddle became uncomfofable after a few hours. A softer one would be lovely!! I am sharing a couple of pictures, Mr Bao was also an excellent photographer. We will be recommending this epic adventure to our friends, kind regards, Sarah and John Kennedy, New Zealand🚲 29 April - 03 May 2023
Will definitely leave 5* reviews on Trip Advisor and Google!
Hey,
We loved it!! Will definitely leave 5* reviews on Trip Advisor and Google. Everything was great! Trying to think of what you guys to do to improve and there really isn’t that much.
The E-bikes didn’t have bottle holders which was a slight inconvenience. If you cannot add some, just let people know so they can bring a hydration backpack.
Just so you know, you no longer need passport photos at the boarder with Cambodia. They now have cameras and they take your photo as you go through passport control. Both Vien and the driver were fantastic! They made our trip! The car was great and even had WiFi which was very handy!!!
Well done! I hope to be back and do a cycle tour of the north of the country. 24 - 28 March 2025
Regards,
Christos