💢 Day 1: Saigon On Arrival in Vietnam (D/No cycling)
Good morning Vietnam may be the first wellcome say after the Vietnam Trails guide meets you at the SGN Airport for transfer to the 4 star hotel in Saigon center. Take your own jetlag by resting at the hotel and free exploring until our guide leads you on foot though the city center for Saigon River with the spectacular panorama on dinner cruise until 21h30. Overnight at Fusion Suites Saigon 4*hotel – https://saigon.fusion-suites.com/ or similar standard.
💢 Day 2: Saigon – Tra Vinh (B, L, D/ Cycling 55 km+)
After you are picked up at the hotel, we spend an hour driving on an A/C van/bus to the countryside, Tan An town. In the morning, countryside biking takes you along scenic paths through picturesque old villages, rice paddies, dragon fruit and vegetable plantations. We will stop for lunch in My Tho city. In the afternoon, the ride will start in the rural village of Mo Cay. Your guide will choose shady pathways to cycle through jungle like plantations on smaller foot paths of banana’s coconuts. You will have a break stop every couple of hours. Then we take a ferry to the further side of the Phà Ngang River to Tra Vinh. Overnight at Cuu Long 3*hotel – https://goo.gl/maps/mcYgcRaAYY42AQYC7 or similar standard.
💢 Day 3: Tra Vinh – Soc Trang – Bac Lieu (B, L, D/Cycling 60 km+)
Tra Vinh and Soc Trang have pleasant country cycling routes. All smooth concrete paths through lovely villages allow you to discover, experience not only life styles and daily life of Vietnam but alo culture and history. We spend a morning biking 35 km through rice paddies; we cycle along canals and villages of Khmer, passing a handful of colorful temples, tiny thatch houses before we keep biking to Cau Quan. After crossing a Mekong lower river with 2 different ferry boats, we stop for lunch in Dai Ngai town. After lunch, we’ll continue to discover country villages, through duck farms, family fish farming in Soc Trang city. Overnight at Que Huong 4*hotel – https://mysoctrang.vn/vi/ksquehuong or similar standard.
💢 Day 4: Bac Lieu – Vi Thanh – Rach Gia (B, L, D/Cycling 65 km+)
Vi Thanh is known as a new town after the government divided Hau Giang into 2 provinces. It is almost non-touristy city and very new to tourists. The highlight of today’ cycling is to explore a network of natural creeks through removed villages and rice paddy fields and small local floating markets on your way cycling to Vi Thanh. In the afternoon, to avoid heavy traffic in Vi Thanh city, we will relax for 30 minutes in an A/C van to the outskirts to continue the afternoon ride. We cycle on small asphalt countryside roads, through huge rice fields, timber and rice husking mills, tiny villages along rivers, and share space with locals on small ferries across rivers. Then we get on our van/bus to Rach Gia city. Overnight at Hoa Binh 4* resort – https://www.hoabinhrachgiaresort.com.vn/ or similar standard.
💢 Day 5: Rach Gia – Oc Eo – Tri Ton – Chau Doc (B, L, D/Cycling 70 km+)
Today’s cycling will begin after an A/C van taking you to Urban Dist where you are ready for off-road cycling. We pedal on paths along canals, rice paddy fields. Today’ lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Oc-Eo town. Then visiting some highlight cultural sites; Oc-Eo civilization, temples before we get on an A/C van and driving TriTon for an afternoon bicycle ride to Chau Doc via Tra Su forest. If time permitted, we would have a boat ride to explore this forest. Stay a night in Chau Doc. Overnight at Chau Pho 3*Hotel – http://chauphohotel.com/ or similar standard.
💢 Day 6: Chau Doc – Cho Moi – Cao Lanh (B, L, D/Cycling 55 km+)
Enjoy an hour motorized boat to catfish farms and floating villages before you discover the lowland of Dong Thap province. You will mingle with children on bikes on rural roads through villages or houses on stilts. Ride on dirt track to Cho Moi, pedal past Hoa Hao Buddhism holy temple. On your afternoon cycle, we ride to the Monastery, which was built 120 years ago by the French. The first monastery building site was established in 1874 in Indochina. Then we will explore Gieng Islet; enjoy cycling on smooth country back roads, stopping at local markets, and a fruit garden before we get on a small ferry to Cao rural Dist of Cao Lanh. From here we will have a leisurely cycle through the countryside by the Mekong River, passing mango orchards sometime. Today’ ride will end at Urban Dist then we have a transfer to Cao Lanh city by van/bus. Overnight at Sao Mai 3*hotel in Cao Lanh city – https://saomaihotel.dongthaptourist.com/ or similar standard.
💢 Day 7: Cao Lanh – Sadec – Can Tho (B, L/Cycling 55 km+)
Cao Lanh was a new town after 1975 and Sadec was the main town before the Vietnam War. You can see the difference between new and old. The drowsy former capital of Dong Thap province, Sadec is a comparatively peaceful city of tree-lined streets and fading colonial villas. Your guide will lead you on a beautiful route through flowery villages, flower plantations and will have lunch at the ancient house of Huynh Thuy Le. This afternoon, our cycling adventure through the countryside will bring you up close and personal with friendly local people, their unique culture and beautiful villages all the way to Can Tho. Overnight at Ninh Kieu Riverside 4*Hotel: http://www.ninhkieuriversidehotel.vn/ or similar standard.
💢 Day 8: Can Tho – Vinh Long – HCM (B, L, D/Cycling 55 km+)
The highlight of your last day is a boat trip to Cai Rang floating market and you can see it in action. Then you enjoy a half day cycling to Vinh Long on the country back road before we return to HCM by vehicle, enjoy the farewell dinner. Overnight at Fusion Suites Saigon 4*hotel – https://saigon.fusion-suites.com/
💢 Day 9: Saigon Departure (B)
Travel with Vietnam Trails is almost done, so you might have the short time to explore the bustling Saigon at any alleys, boutique areas and crowded atmosphere of local market or flower street or make your own choice of street foods. You will have an amazing experience until our guiding team drops you at the SGN Airport for your next destination. End of our cycling in Ho Chi Minh city 9 days!
