Trying biking tours in the heart of Mekong Delta

Biking is an interesting and authentic way to explore the countryside in Vietnam. First Choice has recently launched a new selection of biking tours to offer its guests the opportunity to discover daily life in the heart of the Mekong Delta region.

The adventurous trips lead riders through a series of small paths, luscious green fields and tropical fruit orchards with the resort’s own fleet of quality mountain bikes.

The biking routes range from 57 to 87 kilometers with a choice of different itineraries and are suitable for most people with normal fitness levels. Highlights include small river crossings on local boats, handicraft and rice paper making villages and the famous little town of Sa Dec, where Marguerite Duras, a French author of the well-known novel The Lover, spent her childhood.

Guests who wish to extend their biking tour with a luxurious treat can opt for the Can Tho – Long Xuyen – Chau Doc itinerary, mixing biking and cruising aboard our converted traditional rice barge, Le Jarai.

They will be able to feast on a freshly prepared lunch, enjoy massages, cooking class or even sunbath on the upper deck while relaxing in the tranquility of the Mekong.

For a more cultural experience, the Long Xuyen – Chau Doc route will take guests through small provincial towns to see Cham villages as well as Muslim mosques near the Cambodian border, renowned for an eclectic mix of Cham, Khmer, Chinese and Vietnamese cultures.

Mekong Delta Travel in Can Tho offers biking tours at prices starting from US$ 150per person upwards, including professional mountain bikes, safety helmets, a repair kit and a supporting mini van at disposal at all times.

For more information and reservations, contact Victoria Can Tho Resort at email: info@mekongriverboats.com



 CRUISE & BIKE

Day 1:      Siem Reap - Tonle Sap Lake

Welcome Dinner on the Sun Deck. Mooring and overnight on the lake.

Low water program (approx. between middle of December and June)

At 8 am, we gather at the meeting point for the transfer by coach to Prek K’Dam on the Tonle Sap River. We will stop at Kampong Thom, one of the first settlements in the pre-Angkorian period.

Embarkation in Prek K’Dam and welcome cocktail early afternoon. The Jayavarman sets sail upstream towards Kampong Chhnang and the great Tonle Sap Lake. We wind our way through the jungle and as the river narrows, it makes you feel at peace with yourself and the community.

In the afternoon our Cambodian guide will meet you for a briefing and the bike fitting to ensure we can start biking the following morning well prepared and all tranquil. Later that evening meet your fellow passengers on board for Welcome Dinner on the Sun Deck.


Day 2:      Tonle Sap - Kampong Chhnang - Kampong Cham

Low water program

Kampong Chhnang is a busy rural port town with bustling markets and lots of children to greet us on our way around.

Our first trip on the bike will take us through beautiful rural areas of Kampong Chhnang including Clay Pot Port. This charming town is settled on the bank of the Tonle Sap River. Nearby sights include two floating villages and a hamlet famous for its distinctive pottery where we visit a well known artist. We continue biking through the picturesque scenery of the Cambodian countryside dotted with villages and green rice paddies. Before returning to The Jayavarman for lunch, we make a stop at a school where the kids expect us to teach them some English!

The afternoon cruise will follow the meandering Tonle Sap River, which narrows through leafy swaths of the South East Asian Jungle touching Phnom Penh. In the late afternoon we enter the upper Mekong River bound to Kampong Cham to stop for a walk through a rural village.

Cycling: Around 30km


Day 3:      Kampong Cham - Wat Hanchey

Early in the morning we embark on a journey upriver to the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Located at the top of a hill overlooking the river, it offers some of the best views in Cambodia. When leaving the ship, we take the bikes with us and visit Wat Hanchey. After getting blessed by monks, we set off for a stunning day to explore the rural Kampong Cham on two wheels. Our tour leads us on raised lanes with charming stilt villages left and right, surrounded by water in the monsoon season. Under the shade of a tree we will have a pause for packed lunch before arriving in Kampong Cham, Cambodia’s third largest city. From this busy place we continue our ride towards Wat Nokor, a colorful temple built within the ruins of an ancient sanctuary that holds a timeless story.

Then we travel to the Cheung Kok Ecotourism Village, a small village developed with support from Assistance Médiation Internationale (AMICA). Travelers can visit the village and take part in activities to experience village life. Profits from tourism go towards re-investment into long-term projects. Back on board The Jayavarman sets sail towards the capital Phnom Penh.

Cycling: Around 30km

Day 4:      Phnom Penh

Early in the morning we pass a truly indescribable scene while approaching Phnom Penh’s river promenade. After breakfast, we get on the bikes for a city tour in this dynamic, historical capital of Cambodia which has retained its French colonial charm. Sightseeing in the morning will include the dazzling white and gold architecture of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, and outstanding displays of Khmer crafts at the National Museum. We also visit the temple Wat Phnom and do an excursion to the Genocide museum to learn more about the Cambodian civil war under the Khmer Rouge regime. Lunch in a local restaurant.

Thereafter, we return to The Jayavarman where a variety of cocktails will be at your disposal to ease the nerves, followed by Cambodia’s traditional and opulent Apsara dance performance. Experience the brilliance and richness of the culture, the soothing sounds of traditional music, the calming scent of incense sticks and a delicious Khmer food buffet.

Cycling: Around 20km



Day 5:      Phnom Penh - border crossing

Wake up to the sun rising over the Mekong for Thai Chi on the Sun Deck. The Jayavarman then casts off for a day of cruising the main Mekong Channel. This is pretty much an international shipping route. We will visit Pre-K Touch, a lively jungle village before relaxing at well laid out fruit orchards.

Late afternoon we set off to the Vietnamese border for the usual formalities, which in this part of the world takes a bit of time. During the afternoon cruise, there will be time to relax on the Sun Deck, get a massage in the Spa, or taking part in Heritage Line’s Vietnamese cooking class. The ship moors midstream overnight.


Day 6:      Chau Doc - Cai Be

Welcome to the circus of fish. After breakfast we meet our Vietnamese biking guide aboard The Jayavarman and embark with the bikes on a boat excursion to the exciting floating villages and catfish farms witnessing masses of Bassa fish being fed. We continue our tour on the bikes and discover Chau Doc, a fascinating town of rich French colonial architecture before heading towards Sam Mountain which is surrounded by dozens of pagodas and temples such as Tay An Pagoda, Thoai Ngoc Hau temple and Lady Chua Xu Pagoda, dating from the 1820s. This is an inviting spot to have a lunch break and wander around. Then we continue biking to Sam Mountain. Those of us who want to take it easy will leave the bikes at the foot of the mountain and enjoy an airy motorbike ride uphill to gain a spectacular panoramic view of the Cambodian border and beyond. The more adventourous bikers can take the half hour challenge and cycle to the top. Back down from the mountain, we continue biking to the border town Tinh Bien. A stroll along the bustling frontier market will give us great insights of the trade between the Vietnamese and Cambodian. Before we cycle back to Chau Doc along Vinh Te canal, we will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Back to the ship around 3 pm, we head towards Cai Be.

Cycling: Around 30km

Day 7:      Cai Be
Today’s tour starts with the visit of Cai Be’s colorful floating market on board a traditional sampan, the “Cai Be Princess”. Cruise among local sampans coming from all provinces of the delta full of fruits and vegetables. After the market tour, our bicycling adventure begins. In the morning we cycle through the lush, fertile country side, on a small rural road, enjoying the tranquil countryside. The ride will lead us to charming fruit orchards along the way where we will make a pause for some relaxation. Further on, we visit a small factory producing handicrafts made from coconut to end our morning tour.

Lunch will await us and the other cruise guests at Le Longanier, a superb Indochinese villa located in a lush tropical garden by the river, surrounded by fruit orchards. Our biking trip continues for another hour, heading towards the An Kiet ancient house to have tea with the descendants of the former imperial residents and listen to the family story. We will then board The Jayavarman for a relaxing evening cruise with a Farewell Dinner on the Sun Deck while heading towards Saigon.

Cycling: Around 12-15km


Day 8:      Saigon

Our cruise with The Jayavarman comes to a close as the ship winds its way to Saigon through the UNESCO listed Mangrove Biosphere Reserve. During the Vietnam War, it had been destroyed, but amazingly the 75 hectares have come back to life through reforestation efforts. Disembark at 10:00 am and continue your journey in the buzzing city of Saigon.


THE BIKE Package includes:
•  Local English speaking biking guide for cycling days (day 2,3,4,6,7) different guide in Cambodia and Vietnam

•  Bicycle rental (TREK 4300, 24 speed, front suspension, V-Brake, helmet, tool kit and spares
•  Drinking water, snacks & fruits for cycling days
•  Local ferry tickets
•  All entrance fees for sightseeing where required in the itinerary
•  Private transfers and transportations

* The Bike Package is an addition to the 8 Day/7 Night downstream cruise “The Lost Civilization”.


Price: 


* Please check the price of the 8D/7N cruise “The Lost Civilization” (downstream)