Vietnam trails cycling 2023

✨ Greetings for our first challenging day in Bangkok and take a short hop across the Chao Phraya River to an extraordinary place known to locals as Bang Kra Jao. Crossing the river is like taking a journey back in time where we find a peaceful place with a maze of waterways, small villages, temples and real tropical jungle. If it wasn’t for Bangkok’s skyline, you would never believe you were so close to the city and there is no traffic!

✨ We ride through the local communities, temples and schools stopping for a snack at a river pier across from Thailand’s naval academy. Next we visit a fascinating temple, built in the Ayutthaya period more than 250 years ago with a unique teak wood roof, windows and shutters painted in the ancient Mon style. We cycle on to the relaxing Sri Narkon Park and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before returning to the hotel for some downtime. Later this afternoon we’ll see another side to Bangkok on our night ride, visiting a night market, the flower market and stopping for dinner along the way. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 35 kilometers. Overnight in Bangkok city!

✨ To experience the Khao Yai National Park with the impressive sight of Thailand’s largest dam, Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam, where we can enjoy panoramic views from the top. We’ll drive for about 1.5 hours to Nakhon Nayok Province and then cycle to Haew Narok waterfall with three cascades and cool mountain waters that provide a refreshing swim break from the tropical heat depending on the season.

✨ At the base of the falls are a few rustic restaurants where you can get some great authentic Thai food and a cool beer. We recommend you try the somtam (spicy papaya salad) with grilled chicken and sticky rice. We then have a short drive to our hotel for the night. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 50 kilometers.

✨  Enjoy the breakfast before driving toward Aranyaprathet. We break up today’s bus journey with short morning and afternoon rides past typical scenes of rural Thailand. We will cycle through villages and enjoy the relaxed pace of life in the countryside. Rong Kluea Market also known as Ban Khlong Luek Border Market. We can say this is one of Thailand’s most frequented border markets. Once we have finished exploring the market we take a short drive to our hotel in Aranyaprathet and freshen up before dinner. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 50 kilometers. Truck, driver and support guide will get back to Bangkok in the evening (if the group from 6 riders), Overnight in Poipet Border Town!

✨  Fully resting morning with breakfast and short transfer within 15 minutes to the Poipet International border. After completing the Cambodia visa formalities we say farewell to our Thailand main support team and meet our hosts for the rest of the trip. The drive will take us about 4 hours to get to Siem Reap, the gateway town for the incredible Khmer temples of Angkor. On the way, we will stop to visit the silk farm at Pourk to see the process of silk making from start to finish.

✨  On arrival in Siem Reap, we will check into our hotel and have time to visit the temple of Bayon and the South Gate of Angkor Thom by bus for sunset. This evening will have a new welcome dinner with our new ventured support team and free to explore the famous city of Wonder City. No cycling today & prepare photo 4X6cm + passport + money (about 35 USD).

✨  Today we’ll drive a short distance to Angkor Wat to collect our bikes which we will use for the rest of our trip, then set off to discover several of the ancient temple cities by bike. We cycle to the impressive Ta Prohm Temple, which remains in the clutches of the encroaching jungle. Here we spend time visiting the temple, before pedaling along small hidden trails to the ruins at Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terraces, the Bayon, Baphoun and Preah Khan.

✨  In the afternoon we’ll visit magnificent Angkor Wat with its extraordinary architecture and bas-reliefs. At the end of the day we cycle back to our hotel. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 35 kilometers. 80% of today’s riding is off road but not technical.

✨  Today we will leave the crowds behind on a cycle ride to the small village of Rolous where we visit the temples, before continuing to a local market. After a rest and time to explore the stalls we take a boat to the floating village of Kompong Phluk. Our ride through rural Cambodia offers plenty of opportunities to once more connect with local people. The fascinating village of Kompong Phluk is built on stilts in Tonle Sap Lake. Its residents live a communal lifestyle and you will see everything from floating pig pens to young children paddling around in what looks like a bowl selling souvenirs and singing songs.

✨  After our boat trip we enjoy a home hosted lunch where we can ask questions and learn about local cuisine as well as everyday life. In the afternoon we take our bus to visit Banteay Srey, where we collect our bikes again and cycle 25 kilometers to either East Mebon to enjoy watching the sunset, before either cycling or driving back to Siem Reap. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 56 kilometers.

✨  Today we leave the temples of Angkor behind and drive south to Phnom Penh. It’s a long day in the bus today with about six to seven hours driving. On the way as well as comfort stops, we’ll stop at the famous ancient bridge at Kompong Kdei. We continue on to the capital, then leave the highway and drive to Koh Dach ferry dock. From the dock, we take an excursion by local ferry along the Mekong River to Koh Dach Island where we visit a traditional Khmer weaving village. There are many handicrafts that come from this sleepy island but they are best known for silk weaving.

✨  You will see how the villagers produce their own dyes and weave silk on old looms. Discover and learn about the traditional way of life as you cycle for about 22 km around the island. We return to our bus by the same ferry before driving the short distance on to busy Phnom Penh. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 37 kilometers.

✨  Phnom Penh is a lively city with many French colonial buildings and plenty to see. Angkor was Cambodia’s capital city until the 1440s when it switched to Phnom Penh. Today we explore the emotive Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, formerly a high school that became the Khmer Rouge’s main torture and interrogation centre; the National Museum, a treasure trove of beautifully preserved carvings and lintels rescued from Angkor; the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, all with a local guide. We then drive out of the city to the infamous Killing fields of Choeung Ek – the memorial stupa is a glass tower filled with human skulls – a gruesome reminder of the scale of Pol Pot’s atrocities. No cycling today.

✨  After breakfast. Transfer 15km out of the busy traffic in Phnom Penh. Begin to cycle to visit Ta Prohm and Yeary Pov temples (12 century). Take a break for water and snacks before heading to Phnom Chisor to visit the hilltop 11th century temple. Enjoy riding to the Teakeo with cycling through most temples during our cycling days and overlook the scenery of the countryside of Ta Mok’s house, the former general commander, and pedal toward Tinh Bien for crossing to Vietnam. Overnight in Chau Doc after dinner after a short transfer by the Vietnam support team! 

✨   You please make your own Visa on Arrival (VOA – Evisa after covid-19, Vietnam By Bike can not help you making the visa in advance) and prepare 1 photo 4X6cm + Passport + Money 35USD/person + Approval Letter (If your nationality is out of free Visa).

✨  We’ll drive for about 30 km from Chau Doc town before starting today’s ride. The journey takes us on flat terrain along the Vinh te Canal system which once marked the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.

✨  At Tra Su, you visit the forest by motorized boat with its many water hyacinths and water lilies. Our ride will continue to a lovely little town on the banks of the Hau Giang River where we will spend the night. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 50 kilometers.

✨  This morning we’ll enjoy a boat ride to discover the bustling and vibrant floating market of Cai Rang – one of the last authentic floating markets in Indochina. We cruise further from the floating market into zig-zag canals around Can Tho to enjoy the tranquility and peaceful life along the river. Afterward, we’ll mount our bike to continue our journey towards DongBinh into the lush green, jungle canopy and Khmer pagodas located in one of the most scenic areas in the Mekong Delta.

✨  After lunch, you will cycle in the surprise and delighted concrete paths when our group is greeted and welcomed by a local family where lunch will be served. This is an unforgettable experience and a great way to understand the Mekong Delta people while staying a local homestay on An Binh island. Overnight in Vinh Long’s homestay!

✨  We’ll enjoy our last ride today with a cycle around the beautiful island of An Binh. The island is littered with tropical fruit orchards and as well as admiring the color and variety of fruits we will also stop to sample produce along the way. We take leave from the bikes and travel by boat to Cai Be. Back on land we’ll drive the final leg to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city and most vibrant. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 30 kilometers!