Ho Chi Minh is the country's largest city, and its traffic is bustling almost all day. We depart early at 7:00 am, so we save time exploring the countryside as the weather is fantastic for us to enjoy cycling through the stunning scenery. Arrives at 8:30 am at a small village in Tra Bom; we cycle through scenic towns and rustic countryside. The routes are dirt tracks in the rural areas and pave roads through small towns. Ride through a rubber plantation, ride paddy fields, teak tree plantation, tapioca plant fields, and passing tiny rural villages along the way to Gia Kiem Dist. Lunch en route before a transfer to Dinh Quan rural village in midday.

We follow small back roads through chilli paper, coffee plantations, and volcanic rocks down to Dong Nai River in the afternoon. The countryside is quiet and lush farmlands, small tracks alongside the river, rice paddies and avocado orchards in Ta Lai village.