From Angkor to the mekong delta / Vietnam

The Mekong:
The Mekong is a trans-boundary river in Southeast Asia. It is the world’s 12th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. Its estimated length is 4,350 km, and it drains an area of 795,000 km², discharging 457 km³ of water annually. Wikipedia

Angkor:
Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Stretching over some 400 km2, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century.

Itinerary

Day 1 : SIEM REAP
Arrival at the airport and transfer to your Hotel. Afternoon, free to discover the town. Hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 2 : SIEM REAP : ANGKOR (HOTEL / 38km cycling)
A great day awaits you as you will visit Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. 2th and 13th century, Angkor has become a massive tourism destination. Cycling around the complex will give you that inside look that other people don’t have sitting in a tour bus. Besides Angkor Wat you will visit the jungle overgrown Ta Prohm Temple and the massive complex of Banteay Kdei. Other significant temples such as Angkor Thom with its impressive Bayon temple are also included. Hotel in Siem Reap. (B,L,-)

Day 3 : SIEM REAP – TONLE SAP – KAMPONG CHNANG (HOTEL / 15km cycling)
A very early start as we need to cycle the 15km from Siem Reap to the Tonle Sap lake to catch the boat which departs at 7am. Once on the boat we can eat our packed breakfast and enjoy the, at times, breathtaking 3-4 hour journey across Asia’s largest inland lake to Kampong Chhnang. We check into the Samrong Sen Hotel or equivalent, a couple of hundred meters from the riverfront. In the afternoon you have the choice of relaxing in Kampong Chhnang, or going for a short cycle ride. The name Kampong Chhnang comes from the local claypots (chhnang) made in the surrounding villages, and for which the area is renowned, and Kompong means ‘port’, due to its riverside location. The ride will take us through a few of the villages where they make the clay pots, visit Wat Sahn-dtoot, a hill top temple from where you get great views of the river and surrounding mountains, and pass the ‘secret’ runway constructed during the Pol Pot era to fly in supplies from China. Hotel in K. Chnang (B,L,-)

Day 4 : KAMPONG CHNANG – PHNOM PENH (HOTEL/ 60km cycling)
Today’s route follows Highway 5 for the first 55km, passing through numerous small villages and the occasional small town. As we reach the small town of Oudong we leave Highway 5 and cycle the 3km to Phnom Prah Reach Trap (commonly referred to as Oudong Mountain), once the capital of Cambodia. Here we leave our bikes and climb the 400+ steps, passing large stupa’s that house the remains of various kings, on route to the top where we can rest and take in the expansive, panoramic views. We will stop for lunch. After lunch we take delightful back roads to Phnom Penh – this is quintessential Cambodia, small villages with wooden houses on stilts, red dirt track roads and flat vivid green fields. We enter the capital. Phnom Penh is a city which succeeds in being lively in spite of its fading, crumbling character. It is true to say that Phnom Penh’s fortunes have been extremely varied over the past century but once again it is a lively city on the up. (B,L,-)

Day 5 : PHNOM PENH
Visit of Wat Phnom. Legend relates that Daun Penh, a wealthy widow, found a large koki tree in the river. Inside the tree she found four bronze statues of the Buddha. Lady Penh constructed a small shrine on an artificial hill made by the people living in the village to protect the sacred statues. Eventually this became a sacred site and sanctuary where people would make blessings and pray.
Visit the Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom. See the different structures of this pagoda-style compound and stroll in its beautiful garden. Visit the Silver Pagoda so named because of its floor that is comprised of 5,000 silver tiles. A gold Buddha encrusted with 9,584 diamonds and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha are also housed here. Continue to the nearby National Museum. Built in 1917 it is an exceptional example of traditional architecture and is exclusively devoted to preserving and displaying Khmer art and sculptures. Hundreds of pieces are housed here including both pre-and post-Angkorian pieces. At evening enjoy cruising on the River for the sunset. (B)

Day 6 : PHNOM PENH – CHAU DOC (HOTEL / 105km cycling)
A very long, tiring day so an early start needed. The first 60km is along Highway 1, the main road to Vietnam. On reaching the Mekong River ferry crossing at Neak Leung (the town was accidentally bombed by the US Army in 1975) we turn down the western bank of the Mighty Mekong, one of world’s longest and most important rivers and follow dirt roads through farmland and riverbank villages. We finally reach a small village where the Cambodian immigration office is located and where we ‘check out’ of Cambodia. 1km further on we pass though the border point to the Vietnamese side at Vinh Xuong where we meet our Vietnam guide. The remaining 34km is on surfaced roads. (B,L)

Day 7 : CHAU DOC – LONG XUYEN
(B)
Picked up from your own hotel in Chau Doc, we take a morning boat trip to visit fish feeding village on Bassac river and see a weaving shop of Cham – Muslim people. Then we mount on our bike for Thuan Giang, crossing ferry to OngChuong island, cycling through a village making bamboo basket. In the afternoon we cycle to AnHoa and we take a ferry crossing to LongXuyen town. Total cycling about 75km. Dong Xuyen hotel, Superior room
 
Day 8 : LONG XUYEN-MY KHANH (CANTHO)
(B D)
In the morning, we cycle 18km with some ferry crossing to visit ThotNot stork garden and keep on 62km cycling on countryside road to CoDo, ThoiLai and PhongDien. We keep on 10km more to MyKhanh commune where we spend tonight at a local homestay. Total cycling about 90km.
(Please prepare your small backpack with clothes for changing at the homestay. We will cycle 2km from the main road – where the bus parked – to the homestay).
 
Day 9 : CAN THO – BINH HOA PHUOC
(B D)
After breakfast, we will take a boat cruise 2 hours on Cantho river for visiting CaiRang floating market and cruise in natural waterways, see life of the locals along the riverside.
We disembark our boat and start cycling over Cantho suspension bridge and ride through an area of pomelo fruit of MyHoa and DongThanh commune, on to BaCang for lunch break at a local place. In the afternoon we keep ride to TamBinh and on to Long Ho and VinhLong. Ferry crossing to BinhHoaPhuoc island for tonight. Total cycling about 75km. Eco guesthouse
(Please prepare your small backpack with clothes for changing at the guesthouse on island, your heavy suitcase will be safe in the van).
 
Day 10 : BINH HOA PHUOC – BEN TRE
(B)
We cycle to ChoLach, and Cai Mon – the homeland of nursery garden where they plan all kinds of fruit tree and bonsai tree. We cycle over HamLuong river and arrive in BenTre town. Overnight in hotel by the riverside. Total cycling about 78km. Ham Luong hotel

Day 11 : BENTRE – MY THO, LONG AN AND HO CHI MINGH CITY
(B)
We start cycling back country road, felling lost on winding road under the green coconut canopy. The coconut palms that make Bentre famous in Vietnam. We also pass BaLai river, a smaller brach of Mekong on our way. Lunch break in MyTho town. In the afternoon we keep on small road to LongAn where our van will pick us up for transfer to HCM city. Overnight in HCM. Total cycling about 60km. Sapphire hotel, Junior room
 
Day 12 : HO CHI MINH city tour
(B)
Short orientation tour of the city and transfer to Saigon airport for your home flight.

Cycling distances can be adapted by the client, as an escort vehicle follows all the way.

Photos