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Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle
Duration
14 days
Site savings
$126
From
$4,069 USD
Send your tires sliding through three of Southeast Asia’s sensational countries – Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Enjoy these diverse and magnificent lands from the unique vantage point of your bike as you ride along the Mekong Delta, take in the wondrous history of Angkor Wat, kick back on the beach, and, of course sample some of the finest food in the world.
- CategoryAdventurous
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration14 days
- Culture LevelAdventurous
- Skill Level3 - Intermediate
- Activity Level3 - Active
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
- Distance397.1 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance39.8 miles
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Quick Stats
- Duration14 days
- Main DestinationHo Chi Minh City
- Distance397.1 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance39.8 miles
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Meet in Ho Chi Minh aka Saigon
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, as it’s affectionately known by most locals! As Vietnam’s largest city and its southern capital, Saigon moves at a vibrant, fast pace that might feel overwhelming at first, but it quickly grows on you. Arriving a day or two early is highly recommended to acclimate and explore landmarks like the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Giac Lam Pagoda, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Cu Chi Tunnels, and Ben Thanh Market. On the tour’s start day, meet at the tour hotel in the late afternoon for a trip briefing and welcome dinner. Assistance with airport transfers or pre-tour hotel bookings can be arranged if needed.
- Nhat Ha L'Opera Hotel or similar
- Dinner
- Day 2Saigon – Ben Tre – Tra Vinh
Leave behind the bustling streets of Saigon and travel 2.5 hours into the tranquil Mekong Delta, a lush network of waterways and greenery stretching toward the East Vietnam Sea. Starting in Ben Tre, you’ll get a feel for Vietnam’s dynamic roads—complete with motorbikes darting around—before crossing the Ham Luong River into a peaceful landscape of coconut farms, banana plantations, sugarcane fields, small villages, and winding canals.
The ride primarily follows narrow farm roads and lanes, with small bridge crossings and two local ferry rides along the way. The second ferry takes you across the expansive Co Chien River to Tra Vinh, where you’ll spend the night. Tra Vinh offers a unique cultural blend, shaped by Vietnamese and Khmer influences that have endured for centuries.
- 46 miles
- 13.1 ft
2,073.5 ft
2,060.4 ft - Ven Song Bungalow
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 3Tra Vinh - Can Tho
Leaving Tra Vinh, head westward through a fertile floodplain nestled between the Cho Chien and Hau Rivers, both tributaries of the Mekong. The route takes you through a vibrant patchwork of rice paddies, showcasing why the Mekong Delta is often called Vietnam’s “rice bowl.” Take your time to absorb the rhythm of daily life as you pass fields, waterways, fruit orchards, villages, and small towns.
Khmer-style Buddhist temples dot the landscape, reflecting centuries of Cambodian influence in the delta. After cycling nearly 80 km, you’ll reach the outskirts of Can Tho, where a short transfer bypasses the heavy city traffic. As the largest city in the Mekong Delta, Can Tho thrives as a bustling commercial hub and a center of the region’s waterborne culture.
- 48.5 miles
- -39.4 ft
1,384.5 ft
1,423.9 ft - IRIS Hotel Can Tho/Ninh Kieu 2 Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 4Can Tho - Chau Doc
Start the day early with a boat trip to Cai Rang, the largest floating wholesale market in the Mekong Delta. Enjoy the vibrant aquatic scene as vendors maneuver their colorful boats, showcasing goods on tall poles for easy display. From the comfort of your chartered boat, join the locals for a morning coffee, a bowl of rice noodles, or some fresh fruit.
Once back on dry land, hop on your bike for the final green and winding ride through the Mekong Delta. After covering around 35 km, transition to the support vehicle to fast-track closer to the Cambodian border. The afternoon ride takes you to the town of Chau Doc, with a stop at the Ba Chuc genocide memorial site to honor the memory of Vietnamese civilians lost to Khmer Rouge atrocities in 1978. The route continues along country roads near the border, with gently rising mountains providing a scenic backdrop. Spend the night in Chau Doc, a charming border town nestled along the banks of the Mekong.
- 34.8 miles
- 13.1 ft
1,496.1 ft
1,482.9 ft - Chau Pho Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 5Chau Doc – Phnom Penh
Begin the day with a scenic speedboat cruise up the Mekong River. Shortly after departing from Chau Doc, reach the Cambodian border and complete immigration formalities before continuing upstream. The journey offers a glimpse into daily life along the river, with opportunities to observe the vibrant activity on the water and its banks. After 5–6 hours, arrive in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s lively capital, just in time for lunch.
The afternoon is spent exploring the city. While Phnom Penh is known for its poignant genocide memorials, the focus here shifts to its vibrant culture. Take a rickshaw ride from the riverside to the Royal Palace, the King of Cambodia's official residence, showcasing stunning architecture and art. After touring this magnificent complex, the rest of the afternoon is free for personal exploration. Consider visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or the National Museum of Cambodia if time allows (self-guided and at own expense).
- Frangipani Royal Palace Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 6Phnom Penh – Oudong – Kampong Thom
You'll maneuver your way out of Phnom Penh by bike, not an easy feat considering the city’s notoriously unruly traffic but there is a way! First, you'll ferry across the river to a peninsula wedged between the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers. Then you'll follow a series of riverside neighborhoods leading to Phnom Penh’s northern suburbs which, after around 30 km, give way to the countryside. You’ll enjoy your 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!
You'll 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 the river to Phnom Penh. The 400-plus steps to the top will get the legs working overtime, but the views are well worth it. After your visit, you'll have lunch nearby and then transfer 3-4 hours to the sleepy backwater town of Kampong Thom where you will spend the night.
- 29.2 miles
- 183.7 ft
862.9 ft
679.1 ft - Sambor Village/Glorious Hotel & Spa
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 7Kampong Thom - Siem Reap
Starting right from your hotel, you’ll pedal along the winding Stueng Saen River, enjoying the serene atmosphere. After 8 km, you’ll cross the river either by a small wooden ferry or a makeshift bridge, depending on the water levels, and continue your ride north along peaceful country roads cutting through the lush floodplain. This is rural Cambodia at its best, as you pass through charming villages, sprawling rice fields, and vibrant farmlands.
After 40 km of cycling, you’ll arrive at Sambor Prei Kuk, an ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site that predates Angkor. Scattered among the forest, the site’s brick temples are in various stages of restoration, with many still embraced by the roots of towering trees. Sandy paths connect these historic gems, creating a thrilling mountain biking experience. After exploring a selection of the temples, you’ll pause for a well-deserved lunch at a local restaurant.
Once refreshed, you’ll tackle a final 15 km ride to reach the main road. From there, you’ll hop into the support vehicle for a 2-hour transfer to Siem Reap, the “gateway to Angkor,” where you’ll settle in for the next three nights.
- 39.8 miles
- -3.3 ft
1,118.8 ft
1,122 ft - Steung Siem Reap
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 8Ancient Angkor’s Iconic Sites by Bike
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor awaits, where you’ll uncover the once-glorious capital cities of the Khmer Empire. Between the 9th and 15th centuries CE, the empire's god-kings crafted magnificent stone temples that stand as a testament to their power and devotion. You’ll explore Angkor’s most iconic landmarks by cycling along a network of winding paths that weave through the temples and ruins scattered across the plain.
At Ta Prohm, famously featured in the film Tomb Raider, you’ll encounter a crumbling façade of laterite and sandstone, dramatically entwined with the massive roots of fig trees. At the Bayon, a temple envisioned as a microcosm of the heavens, you’ll gaze in awe at the serene faces carved into its towers, each looking out in a cardinal direction. Finally, at Angkor Wat—the national symbol of Cambodia and the world’s largest religious structure—you’ll wander through its grand courtyards adorned with remarkably preserved carvings and bas-reliefs that depict tales of Hindu mythology, epic battles, and the cycles of life and death.
In the afternoon, you’ll return to Siem Reap. For dinner, you’ll enjoy a meal at SPOONS, a social enterprise restaurant serving authentic Khmer cuisine while supporting the professional training of marginalized youth.
- 26.1 miles
1,095.8 ft
1,095.8 ft- Steung Siem Reap
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 9Siem Reap Countryside & Tonle Sap Sunset Cruise
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, you'll 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, you'll pop into local houses for a close up look at some rural cottage industries, such as basket weaving and sugar palm production.
The 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. You’ll have lunch at a local restaurant near the temple and then transfer back to Siem Reap. In the afternoon, embark on a sunset cruise on the Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake and one of Cambodia’s most vital natural resources. Get comfortable on an open-air boat and watch the world go by in the floating villages and the open expanse of the shimmering lake at golden hour. After returning to Siem Reap, enjoy a final Cambodian dinner together with the group.
- 33.6 miles
- 105 ft
561 ft
456 ft - Steung Siem Reap
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 10Siem Reap – Bangkok - Mae Phim Beach
Early this morning, you set out on a boat cruise across Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake and one of Cambodia’s most important natural resources. From your open-air boat, you watch daily life unfold in the floating villages and take in the wide, shimmering expanse of the lake.
You return to Siem Reap by lunchtime and transfer to the airport in the early afternoon for your flight to Bangkok. Upon arriving in the late afternoon, the Thai team meets you and escorts you out of the city and toward the peaceful shores of Mae Phim Beach on the east coast, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. The drive takes about 3.5 hours, with a stop for dinner along the way.
You settle into a seaside resort where you’ll stay for the next two nights.- GrandBlue Resort
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 11Rayong Loop
Based at Mae Phim Beach, we set out for a scenic ride into Rayong Province’s hilly, agricultural interior. After a coastal warm-up, we head inland and quickly see why Thailand is a global leader in natural rubber production—our own bike tires may well come from these very plantations. We cycle past quiet roads lined with slender rubber trees before the landscape opens into vast wetlands dotted with lotus lakes and marshes. Our route ends at the Rayong Botanical Garden, an untamed reserve of mangroves, floating grass islands, and rare tree species. We enter by bike, crossing wooden bridges and forest paths, then cap the day with a peaceful electric boat cruise across the calm wetlands. By mid-afternoon, we transfer back to the resort to enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
- 36 miles
- -9.8 ft
1,624 ft
1,633.9 ft - GrandBlue Resort
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 12Mae Phim Beach - Chao Lao Beach
- Day 13Chao Lao Beach - Chanthaburi
- Day 14Chanthaburi – Bangkok