Mekong Delta Cycling Experience

Day 1: at 08:00 pick up from your hotel and leave the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City behind as our shuttle drives you for about an hour to Long An, the gateway to the mighty Mekong. As you travel the 25km from there into My Tho city, pass through lush green rice paddes and dragon fruit farms as the guide explains how farmers take care of these tricky cacti. Along a small village track in My Phong commune, you will also visit a rice noodle workshop that still makes noodles for the famous “hu tieu” soup the old fashioned way – the way the Chinese community have since 1679!

After a break for lunch at a local restaurant in My Tho city, continue to Cai Lay to collect your bike and enjoy a leisurely, two hour ride on peaceful country lanes and back roads that pass through local villages and along canals. Along the way, stop to try seasonal fruits in the tropical gardens such as rambutan, durian, longan and jackfruit - they do taste amazing, straight from the tree. Arriving in Cai Be, pick up your overnight backpack and board a boat to cruise across the 1.5km wide Mekong river to Binh Hoa Phuoc Island. Over dinner, enjoy spectacular sunsets over the river before turning in at an eco-guesthouse on island. (L,D)

Day 2: following breakfast, ride for half an hour through a maze of narrow alleys and small bridges, mostly shared just with pedestrians and local cyclists and scooters, to the ferry crossing for Vinh Long. From there you will discover the best cycling routes to Can Tho that offer a change of scenery to open rice fields lined by palm and coconut trees. While the exact route varies depending on the group’s ability, you can expect to pass through many small villages with brick kiln and terracotta roofs that offer glimpses into the life of local people and enjoy a fantastic day of cycling that explores the true essence and pace of life in the Delta.

Break for lunch at a local restaurant, then take an optional van transfer to Can Tho or continue biking along the tranquil paths and lush canals of the area, taking in scenic views along the country roads to Dong Thanh to visit a Khmer pagoda. Late afternoon is reserved for promenading along the city quay or if you’re feeling strong, more cycling over the suspension bridge into Can Tho city. (B,L,D)

Day 3: After breakfast, at 06:30 embark on a morning boat trip to explore the vibrant, bustling Cai Rang floating market, one of the last authentic floating markets in Asia swirling with hundreds of boats zig-zagging on the river and also to experience more cruises along small quiet winding waterways around Can Tho. You will also have chance to visit local cottage industries like a rice husking mill or a factory producing vermicelli noodles.

Afterward, mount your bike for another two hours’ pleasant riding under the lush, green jungle canopy in one of the most scenic areas of the Delta. Pass through numerous rural villages alongside small canals greeting locals, many of whom will also be on bicycle, and pause at small markets along the way to watch how the local merchants do business. Following lunch, return to Ho Chi Minh City by private van and if you want to savour a final ride, the guide can show you a route lined with fruit orchards and expansive rice fields on your way back to the city. Tour ends at your hotel around 17:30. (B,L)