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Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle

Day 1 Meet in Ho Chi Minh City (a.k.a Saigon)

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. We recommend arriving 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, we gather at our 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.

Northern Charm Hotel / Nhat Ha L'Opera Hotel
Dinner

Day 2 Saigon – Ben Tre – Tra Vinh

We 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, we acquaint ourselves 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. Our route primarily follows narrow farm roads and lanes, featuring several small bridge crossings and two local ferry rides. The second ferry takes us across the broad Co Chien River to reach the city of Tra Vinh, where we settle for the night. Tra Vinh showcases a cultural blend shaped by Vietnamese and Cambodian (a.k.a. Khmer) influences that predate modern borders.

Cuu Long Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 74km
+632m
-628m

Day 3 Tra Vinh – Can Tho

Departing from Tra Vinh, we 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 our time, we soak in scenes of daily life amidst the fields, waterways, fruit orchards, villages, and towns. Along the way, we'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, we arrive at the outskirts of Can Tho, where we dismount and transfer a short distance to avoid riding in the 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.

IRIS Hotel Can Tho/Ninh Kieu 2 Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 78km
+422m
-434m

Day 4 Can Tho – Chau Doc

We have an early start as we board a boat to visit bustling Cai Rang, the Mekong Delta’s largest floating wholesale market. Here we discover a lively aquatic scene as vendors navigate their brightly adorned boats, displaying goods for sale on tall poles. From the comfort of our chartered boat, you can join the locals for a morning coffee, a bowl of rice noodles, and some fresh fruit. Back on dry land we then hop on our bikes to begin our final green and meandering Mekong Delta ride. We bike on a narrow lane to the main road, where we stop and have lunch. In the afternoon, continue riding along a tiny road leading upstream towards Long Xuyen. At the end of the ride, we jump in the support vehicle to transfer to Chau Doc. Along the way, we’ll stop to pay our respects at the genocide memorial site of Ba Chuc where, in 1978, the Khmer Rouge committed atrocities against Vietnamese civilians. We spend the night in Chau Doc, a border town located right along the banks of the mighty Mekong.

Chau Po Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 65km
+131m
-91m

Day 5 Chau Doc – Phnom Penh

Early in the morning, we cruise up the Mekong River by speedboat. Not long after our departure from Chau Doc we’ll reach the border with Cambodia and pass through immigration formalities. And then it is a comfortable journey upstream, affording us the opportunity to observe the ebb and flow of daily life unfolding on the Mekong River and its banks. The cruise takes around 5-6 hours and we’ll arrive in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s dynamic capital city, in time for lunch. We then make the most of our afternoon in the city! While Phnom Penh is best known to travelers for it’s sobering genocide memorial sites we want to show you the city’s bright side. As such, we’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 we have the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Time permitting you can visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or the National Museum of Cambodia (on own expense).

Frangipani Royal Palace Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Phnom Penh – Oudong – Kampong Thom

We maneuver our way out of Phnom Penh by bike, not an easy feat considering the city’s notoriously unruly traffic but we’ve found a way! First we ferry across the river to a peninsula wedged between the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers. Then we follow a series of riverside neighborhoods leading to Phnom Penh’s northern suburbs which, after around 30 km, give way to the countryside. We’ll enjoy our 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! We 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 river to Phnom Penh. The 400-plus steps to the top will get the legs working over-time, but the views are well worth it. After our visit we have lunch nearby and then transfer 3-4 hours to the sleepy backwater town of Kampong Thom where we spend the night.

Sambor Village/Glorious Hotel & Spa
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 47km
+263m
-207m

Day 7 Kampong Thom - Siem Reap

Starting directly from our hotel, we begin by riding along the meandering Stueng Saen River. After 8 km we 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, we 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 we’ll break for lunch at a local restaurant and then complete a final 15 km until we intersect with the main road. We jump in the support vehicle and transfer around 2 hours to Siem Reap, the “gateway to Angkor”, where we’ll spend the next three nights.

Steung Siem Reap
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 64km
+341m
-342m

Day 8 Ancient Angkor’s Iconic Sites by Bike

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor is home to the once-glorious capital cities of the Khmer Empire, whose powerful god-kings built lavish stone temples between the 9th and 15th centuries CE. Today, we discover Angkor’s most iconic sites by cycling along the manifold paths that pass by, lead to, and twist around the temples and ruins scattered across the plain. At Ta Prohm - brought to fame by the film “Tomb Raider” - we stumble across a tumbling façade of laterite and sandstone blocks draped by the massive roots of fig trees. At the Bayon - a temple built as a microcosm of the heavens - we marvel at the rows of godly faces carved into the temple towers and peering sublimely in all cardinal directions. And at Angkor Wat - the national symbol of Cambodia and the largest religious structure in the world - we stroll through the inner and outer courtyards decorated with excellently conserved carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu myths, wars, life and death. We return to Siem Reap in the afternoon. Tonight we dine at SPOONS, a social enterprise restaurant serving up authentic Khmer food and supporting the professional training of marginalized youth.

Steung Siem Reap
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 42km
+334m
-334m

Day 9 Siem 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, we 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, we’ll pop into local houses for a close up look at some rural cottage industries, such as basket weaving and sugar palm production. Our 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. We’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.

Steung Siem Reap
Breakfast, Lunch
Ride 54km
+171m
-139m

Day 10 Siem Reap – Battambang

Today, we take a break from cycling but still have an action-packed day ahead! Our 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), we'll cruise across the lake and its channels by boat, a journey that takes 6 to 8 hours. If the water levels are lower, we’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. Once we’ve arrived, there will be time to unwind before we hop into Cambodian tuk-tuks – motorized rickshaws – and head to Phnom Sampov, a rocky outcrop in the countryside. Here, we’ll witness the mesmerizing exodus of millions of bats swirling into the twilight sky from a cave. We’ll take a seat at the base of the hill, grab a drink, and enjoy the show! After dusk has settled, we’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, Dinner

Day 11 Battambang Exploration

The countryside around Battambang bursts with vibrant rural scenes, reflections of Cambodia’s history, and some unexpected fun. We’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. We’ll also explore Wat Phnom Eak, an 11th-century Angkorian ruin, and pay our respects at the Samrong Knong Killing Field, a genocide memorial within the grounds of a Buddhist temple. The second half of our ride takes us 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, we’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, we’ll gather for dinner at Jaan Bai, a social enterprise restaurant serving fresh local cuisine and providing employment for Cambodian youth.

Classy Hotel & Spa
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 54km
+268m
-268m

Day 12 Battambang – Thai Border – Chanthaburi

It is time to transition to the third country on this tour: Thailand! We start with a morning transfer of about 2 hours from Battambang to the border crossing at Ban Pakkad. After completing immigration procedures, the SpiceRoads Thailand team will greet us in the “Land of Smiles,” and we’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 we’ll satisfy that craving with lunch before saddling up for a short but sweet afternoon ride. Starting from the headland of Laem Sing, we’ll cycle a well-paved road skirting the Gulf of Thailand for just over 20 km. We’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 we can extend today’s ride by around 10 km.

Chanchalao Beach Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 22km
+169m
-148m

Day 13 Chanthaburi – Laem Mae Phim Beach

Darting off from our resort in Laem Sing, our final ride heads west along the Gulf of Thailand’s coast. As we cycle on well-paved secondary roads, we'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. We’ll also enjoy memorable bridge crossings over river mouths leading to the sea. The last stretch takes us right along Laem Mae Phim Beach, where we’ll conclude our 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. We’ll gather for a farewell Thai feast in the evening to celebrate the end of our adventure.

Grande Blue Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 58km
+247m
-350m

Day 14 Laem Mae Phim Beach – Bangkok

After breakfast and some time at leisure, we’ll transfer to Bangkok, Thailand’s brimming capital city. The total driving time is around 3.5 hours and we aim to get you there in the early afternoon. Lunch is not included, but you can pick something up at a rest stop along the way or save your appetite for a late lunch in Bangkok – one of the world’s greatest culinary cities. The tour ends with a drop-off at your post-tour hotel in Bangkok. If you need assistance with post-tour hotel bookings in Bangkok or airport transfers, please let us know.

Breakfast

Disclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.