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Daily Tour Notes
“We very much enjoyed our cycling tour of the Mekong Delta. We enjoyed plenty of interaction with the children especially, and our cycling progress was marked with cheery waves and hello’s as we passed by. The food was invariably good and our guide always ordered a good variety for us to try. We became experts with chopsticks! The Victoria hotels especially were extremely comfortable. Our driver was very solicitous and never too far away if we needed cold drinks or a lift. The cycling distances were adjusted to allow plenty of photo stops; there was no pressure to complete the suggested itinerary.” – Ray & Barbara Hems, UK, Mekong Delta, Feb 2009
Day 1
We will collect you from the May Hotel at 3.00 p.m. and drive to the quiet suburb of Phu My Hugn, 20 minutes away from the busy roads of the city centre. Here we will fit you with your bicycles and you can have a test ride on the local roads ending at a local coffee shop. Over a pre tour briefing you can try Vietnamese coffee, local yoghurt & juices before we return to May Hotel with time to relax at the roof top pool. At 7pm we go out for a welcome dinner at a local BBQ garden restaurant and enjoy the nightlife of Saigon . (D)
Day 2
The trip starts by driving out of the city to the village of Tan Phuoc where we start our cycling on a quiet rural road. Immediately you will see the essence of the Mekong Delta with a network of canals and rivers crisscrossing the pancake flat countryside. The Mekong is known as the rice basket of Vietnam and the watery landscape is transformed into a brilliant green as the crops near harvest. In the late afternoon we visit the Mekong Delta's only Crocodile farm which supplies live crocodiles, crocodile meat and leather to the export and local markets.
Cycling Distance – up to 70kms/43 miles
Best riding – Tan Phuoc > Phu My – 42 kms/26 miles
Day 3
 The morning ride follows local canal systems to Tri Ton, as we marvel at the river lifestyles of the local people. The canals host a constant procession of boats transporting all manner of goods and along the banks many of the houses have fish farming cages. Our ride ends at Chi Lang where we visit a Khmer Pagoda before the short drive to check in to our riverside hotel. This afternoon we take a short boat tour to visit a floating village. Each house is built above fish cages, in which they grow the famous local Bassa catfish. Tonight’s accommodation is in the luxurious Victoria Chau Doc hotel on the riverbank. (B, L, D)
Cycling Distance – 55kms/34 miles
Day 4
We have the option for a morning ride to Nui Cam, where we visit a huge smiling face Buddha (recognised as the largest smiling face Buddha in South East Asia ) This area is little visited by westerners & you will find the local people will be keen to meet you as you cycle through their villages. We return by vehicle to Chau Doc & the lovely Victoria Hotel, with opportunity to relax by the pool, or explore the township. Later this afternoon your guides will take you to visit the famous Tay An Pagoda and temples, and will drive you to the top of the sacred Sam Mountain. From the summit on a clear day, we can enjoy fabulous views towards Cambodia. (B)
Cycling Distance – 21kms/15 miles
Day 5
Today we cycle through a region populated by the Khmer people, typified by their distinctly decorated stilt houses, Buddhist Stupas and the unique sugar palm trees. This is an isolated area with its quiet roads and small villages alongside the Cambodian border, which is on the other side of the Vinh Te canal on our right hand side. We stop for lunch at Huong Bien restaurant in the border town of Hat Tien. The afternoon sees us cycling alongside the coast as we pass by shrimp farms & fishing villages. We also ride over some small hills as we pass from bay to bay, but as always the support vehicle is never far away if you need a ride. Tonight’s lodging is at resort hotel overlooking the beach & the nearby Phu Tu islands. (B, L, D)
Cycling distance – up to 99kms/62 miles
Best Riding – Tinh Bien > Ha Tien – 63 kms/ 40 miles
Day 6
This morning we retrace our steps before turning east away from the border region. At Hon Dat we load up & drive to Rach Gia to avoid a busy section of road. After our lunch overlooking the waterfront our cycle ride follows the canal network, along which you will see the famous monkey bridges used by the villagers to get across the canals. The road is edged with water coconut trees whose leaves are used for thatched roofs and will we cycle alongside “Xe Loi” , the unique pedal powered towing rickshaws. Tonight we stay in luxury at the famous Victoria Resort, on the banks of the Hau Branch of the Mekong. (B, L, D) Cycling Distance – up to 106kms/66 miles
Best Riding – Long Thanh > Long My – 49 kms/31 miles
Day 7
 An early morning start sees us taking a boat trip to visit the largest floating market in the Mekong at Cai Rang. The market is situated at a busy river junction and you will see a large variety of local produce being sold from a multitude of boats. For those that want to rest up, we suggest that you spend the rest of the day enjoying the beautiful Victoria Hotel, situated on the banks of the Hau river, the passing river traffic & scenery can keep you well entertained. The hotel also has a lovely swimming pool & working artisans on site who will explain to you about the local crafts. For those that want to ride some more your guides will take you on an optional loop ride in the surrounding countryside. (B)
Optional Cycling Distance – 21 kms/ 15 miles
Day 8
Today’s ride is on very quiet roads, and typical of the Mekong, you will cycle through small villages with enthusiastic children to greet you, alongside rice drying on the roadsides, amongst coconut palms and pagodas. We end our ride in Vinh Long with lunch alongside the mighty Mekong River before driving to Ho Chi Minh City. Our farewell dinner is a highlight as we enjoy a shipboard meal and cruise on the Mekong River as it passes through SaiGon. (B,L,D)
Cycling Distance – 38 kms / 24 miles
Day 9
Tour ends after breakfast. (B)
“It was a great experience. I loved being at “ground-level” with the Vietnamese people, its an ideal way to see how they lived. Binh was great, he went out of his way for us & was very patient. I loved every minute of the tour!” - Michelle Lambert, New Zealand.
(Included meals – B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner )
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2011/2012 |
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Feb 11th |
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Ho Chi Minh City |
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C |
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Feb 25th |
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Ho Chi Minh City |
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C |
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May 28th |
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Ho Chi Minh City |
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G |
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2012/2013 |
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Nov 10th |
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Ho Chi Minh City |
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A |
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Nov 24th |
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Ho Chi Minh City |
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A |
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Dec 15th |
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Ho Chi Minh City |
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A |
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Dec 29th |
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Ho Chi Minh City* |
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A |
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Jan 12th |
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Ho Chi Minh City |
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A |
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Jan 26th |
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Ho Chi Minh City |
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A |
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Feb 16th |
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Ho Chi Minh City |
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A |
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Mar 2nd |
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Ho Chi Minh City |
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A |
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A:Available
G:Guaranteed Departure
C:Closed
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