Name: 16 Day Siem Reap to Saigon Cycling Tour in Cambodia and Vietnam
Brand: Social Cycles
Price: 3690 AUD
Availability: InStock

Accommodation

Social Cycles understands how important it is to take a rest in a place that is clean and comfortable, especially after a hard slog on the bikes. That is why they always make an effort to get you settled in somewhere in town suited to that description. Where they can, they will organize boutique-style accommodations for everyone (with a pool) because quite frankly, you deserve it. They will also make sure that a massage is not far away.

In Ben Tre in the midst of the Mekong Delta, you stay with a local family in a homestay setting. This is a great chance to pick up a few cooking skills. There are times when the accommodation may change, but generally speaking, you stay at the following hotels: The Amazing Residence in Siem Reap, Cambana La Riviere in Battambang, Pursat Riverside Hotel in Pursat, Pacific Hotel in Phnom Penh, Dai Luong in Rach Gia, Ninh Kieu in Can Tho, and Prague Hotel in Saigon.

Hotels

They choose hotels that are clean and comfortable. More often than not, they will find a hotel that has a pool for a bit of downtime. There is always a massage not too far away. The rooms are clean and secure. They will usually (but not always) have a fridge and a safe for you to put your belongings. All rooms have private bathrooms and will come with amenities and fresh towels. The tour is based on twin share accommodation, however, a single supplement is available if you would like your own room for the duration of the tour.

Ben Tre homestay

You spend one night at a homestay in Vietnam (Ben Tre). It is a family-run business that is set up to accommodate you. This means that you will have your own room but it is a little more basic. It comes with a mosquito net and a fan. The toilets and showers are communal, similar to that of a caravan park. This experience allows you to get a little closer to the Vietnamese lifestyle. The homestay is tucked away in the heartland of Ben Tre, amidst soaring coconut trees. Dinner is provided by the family and you may even get the chance to hang out in the kitchen and pick up some Vietnamese cooking skills.

Bathrooms

Toilets in Asia are generally squat toilets. However, all the hotel rooms you stay in have a Western-style toilet and a private bathroom. Local restaurants and homes will all have squat toilets. If you are not used to this style, it can be a little daunting at first. If you are really not comfortable with this, or your knees just are not what they used to be, it is worth waiting for the next Western-style toilet. Just be aware before you leave the comfort of the hotel.

Toilets on the road

If you are on the road and you suddenly need to use a toilet, just let your local guide know and they will find a family home that can host you for a few moments. The community lifestyle in rural villages makes this incredibly easy, but local assistance from the SC team is essential. Bring toilet paper or tissues with you, but use a bin instead of flushing down the squat toilet, as the system cannot take it and you may end up blocking their drains.

Toilet paper

The Asian style of toilet does not usually have toilet paper with it. The custom is to use water and your left hand to clean yourself. If this is the first time you have heard this, just imagine you might be squirming in your seat a little. However, it is commonly considered to be a cleaner method than the Western style.

Think of it like this, if you were sitting in a park and as you sat down on the grass, you put your hand in dog shit. Would you wash your hands with soap and water or wipe your hands clean with dry paper? It is obvious, but just another way of thinking. If you are not comfortable washing, then you are welcome to bring toilet paper with you.

Laundry

Every few days, you have a day off the bikes. In almost all of these towns and cities, you will find a place to get your laundry washed. It is usually 1 or 1.5 USD per kilogram and takes 24 hours. You will have a chance to get washing done in Siem Reap (day two), Phnom Penh (day six), Kampot (day nine), Can Tho (day 12), and Saigon (day 15).

Program

Cycle through Phnom Penh, Kampot, Can Tho, Ben Tre, and Saigon. During this trip, you can truly explore and uncover the mysteries of these two incredible countries. You will explore the magnificent temples of Angkor, navigate through the Tonle Sap wetlands, cycle through remote villages, and get completely immersed in the narrow paths of the Mekong Delta. This is a cycling adventure that is open to all levels. Because when the ride is this good, nobody should miss out.

Social Cycles will take you on a journey to interact and connect with local grassroots non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the beneficiaries of a funded project of your choosing. Research what really happens on the ground and out in the villages with Social Cycles in a holiday that carefully balances ethical research and local impact with cycling and sightseeing.

Distance: approximately 695 kilometers / 432 miles
Terrain: Flat, some off-road, and one hill

Daily itinerary

Day 1 - Siem Reap: Arrival day and welcome dinner

You arrive and stay in the heart of the cosmopolitan lifestyle that has been thrust on Siem Reap since the country opened up to the outside world. After Social Cycles picks you up from the airport and takes you to the hotel, take some time to relax or explore the city before you meet for a welcome dinner. Dinner is at one of Siem Reap’s best restaurants, Marum. It is part of the Friends International social enterprise projects, providing vocational training for marginalized youth.

Meals: dinner
Transit: airport transfer

Day 2 - Siem Reap: Sunrise cycling around the temples of Angkor

Sunrise is from 4:30 a.m. as you hit the bikes for the first time, but it is so worth it. Sunrise over Angkor Wat is a bucket list achievement for good reason. From here, you will venture on to other, and arguably more impressive, temples in the area for the remainder of the morning. In the early afternoon, you will have the chance to visit your first NGO on the trip. You will spend time with these incredibly inspirational people who have dedicated their lives to helping others. Hear their stories and understand what the real issues of the country are.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 30 kilometers / 19 miles
Activities: Angkor Wat
NGO: This Life Cambodia

Day 3 - Battambang: River riding, local villages, and coffee stops

You ride out of Siem Reap to the boat port (20 kilometers / 13 miles). Traveling across the wetlands and navigating your way around the Tonle Sap River is an experience you will never forget. The road soon turns to a single track as you get more and more remote. You farewell your support van and venture on into the rural and barren lands of Cambodia. Few villages exist out here, supporting themselves through sustainable fishing methods.

After the boat, it is another 20 to 30 kilometers (13 to 19 miles) to Battambang, depending on the river levels. Battambang is great for shopping, with colonial-style streets and hidden secrets where bric-a-brac abounds. Dinner is in another social enterprise-based restaurant, Jann Bai, which is often hailed as the best dinner in Cambodia.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Distance: 40 to 50 kilometers / 25 to 31 miles
Activities: Boat ride (four hours)

Day 4 - Pursat: Battambang to Banan by bike

After an early breakfast, you will make your way along the dusty red back roads to the nearby local attraction of Banan Temple. You will cycle back to the town of Battambang to explore a little more and grab lunch at leisure. You will get to the town of Pursat by early afternoon and into your hotel to enjoy the swimming pool and on-site massage spa. You will get a great experience from an amazing NGO, Sustainable Cambodia. A full presentation by the executives in their office and a tour of their facilities. See the difference the NGO makes firsthand. Be inspired by the real difference made by real people.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 50 kilometers / 31 miles
Transit: two hours
Activities: Banan Temple
NGO: Sustainable Cambodia

Day 5 - Phnom Penh: Cycling into Phnom Penh, riverside villages, and Tonle Sap

You start cycling 75 kilometers / 47 miles out from Phnom Penh and ride all the way up to the front door of the hotel. The back roads bring in some of the most spectacular scenery as you pass through villages living on Tonle Sap Lake. The ride takes in great coffee stops, endless photo opportunities, and a couple of ferries. For dinner, it is a feast of tarantulas and crickets at the famous Romdeng restaurant, a social enterprise restaurant from the Friends International team.

Meals: breakfast and dinner
Distance: 75 kilometers / 47 miles
Transit: two hours

Day 6 - Phnom Penh: Friends International, S-21 genocide museum, and Khmer barbecue

You will start the day by meeting the incredible people at Friends International and learn about the wonderful work they do within the community. This is a great insight into real local everyday issues, from real local everyday heroes. You then venture towards the Russian market and move to Tuol Sleng, also known as the S-21 Genocide Museum. This devastating chapter of the Khmer Rouge and Cambodian history is emotionally challenging but strongly recommended. There is some free time in the afternoon to process your day, whilst you will meet again for a local Khmer barbecue dinner.

Meals: breakfast and dinner
Cycling: none
Activities: S-21 Genocide Museum
NGO: Friends International

Day 7 - Kampot: Chisaur Temple

You cycle south of Phnom Penh to Chisaur Mountain Temple in rural Cambodia. It is not really much of a mountain at 130 meters and the route is perfectly flat. You casually cycle through remote villages and waterways, via narrow dirt tracks. Chisaur Temple is where you will be for lunch as you have plenty of time to explore these ancient ruins which are 200 years older than Angkor Wat. From here, you will take the van down to the Cambodian coastal town of Kampot to enjoy the culinary delights on offer.

Distance: 65 kilometers / 41 miles
Meals: breakfast
Transit: two and a half hours
Activities: Chisaur Temple

Day 8 - Kampot: The Bokor mountain cycle challenge

Start the day with an (optional) mammoth Bokor Mountain cycle challenge. It is 30 kilometers to get to the top. The first 10 kilometers are flat, then it just keeps on going up, and up, and up. If cycling uphill does not rock your world, Social Cycles can bring your bike in the van and you can cycle down. If you feel like taking some time off the bike, Kampot is a great town to caffeinate, people, and relax.

Distance: 60 kilometers / 38 miles
Meals: none
Activities: Bokor Mountain

Day 9 - Kampot: Salt fields, CLS, and Khmer cooking class

In the morning, you will visit Chumkriel Language School (no children will be in attendance at the time of visiting). A fantastic NGO and inspirational human being, Mr. Suthy has set up a very grassroots local school to give access to education for children of the salt field community. In the afternoon, you will partake in a cooking class, teaching you the best of Khmer cuisine.

Distance: 10 kilometers / 7 miles
Terrain: salt fields (optional)
Meals: dinner
Activities: cooking class
NGO: Chumkriel Language School

Day 10 - Rach Gia (Vietnam): Salt lakes, pepper farms, live crab markets, and white beaches

Today, you cross over the border into Vietnam, but not before you discover the wonderful province of Kep. Located just before the border, this town is famous for its fresh seafood, particularly crab. You will spend a couple of hours exploring the famous pepper plantations and salt lakes on the way. Navigating through the back roads, you will make your way around the national park and to the border crossing into Ha Tien Vietnam. From Ha Tien, you will jump in the van and head to Rach Gia for a feast of local seafood and banh xeo.

Distance: 65 kilometers / 41 miles
Meals: dinner
Activities: pepper farm tour
Transit: two and a half hours (Viet border to Rach Gia)

Day 11 - Can Tho: Cycling the Mekong Delta

Can Tho is where the Mekong Delta really comes into its own. To get there, you cut through the back roads of rice paddies and farmland, arriving in the city by late afternoon. The ride finishes about 20 kilometers out of the city, but if your legs and daylight permit, there is an option to continue all the way in. Alternatively, you can jump in the van.

With a population of over a million and a thriving tourist trade, Can Tho has a vibrancy about it like none other. Relax and explore this amazing city. For dinner, you will pull up a patch of grass at the night market and treat yourself to a degustation of delightful street food.

Distance: 80 to 100 kilometers / 50 to 63 miles
Meals: breakfast
Transit: 0 to 20 kilometers / 0 to 13 miles

Day 12 - Can Tho: Sunrises, floating markets, noodle factories, and cocoa farms

You will catch the floating markets for most of the morning. This is no tourist performance, this is real life for the local people where they trade, sell, and buy every day. Following that, you will visit the noodle factory where you will have a chance to make your own noodles and visit the cocoa farms just before lunch. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax, get a massage, and soak in the culture.

Meals: breakfast
Cycling: none
Activities: Cocoa farm, rice noodle factory, and floating market boat ride

Day 13 - Ben Tre: More Mekong cycling and a local homestay

You will take a day to casually explore the oasis that is the Mekong Delta. From the coconut candy factories of Ben Tre to the canals and floating markets of My Tho, this is a place to relax and unwind. You will avoid the hordes of tourists in My Tho by using Ben Tre as a base to explore the region. It is still a full day cycling from Can Tho and you will enjoy getting amongst the maze that is the Mekong Delta. You should get into Ben Tre at 5:00 p.m. and relax with a local family in their home (private rooms). You will also have the chance to have an impromptu cooking class for great local food.

Meals: breakfast and dinner
Distance: 85 to 100 kilometers / 53 to 63 miles
Transit: 0 to 15 kilometers / 0 to 10 miles

Day 14 - Saigon: Cycling into Saigon

You will start early to beat the heat and what you can of the traffic. You will head straight to a coconut candy factory (either by van or by bike) to learn more about this local delicacy. Cycling into Saigon for the last cycle day of the tour is an incredible experience. Ho Chi Minh is what the world would look like if cars were not invented. With whole lanes and roads dedicated to two wheels, it is the city of the future as the population grows.

Cycling the final 15 kilometers or so is completely optional if you are not comfortable in the traffic. Usually, about half the riders choose to take the van. The hotel is in the heart of the city, just a short stroll from the street food market for dinner and a live band.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 80 to 100 kilometers / 50 to 63 miles
Transit: 0 to 20 kilometers / 0 to 13 miles

Day 15 - Saigon: Mekong Quilts and KOTO

You will visit your final NGO of the trip in Mekong Plus. With a presence in Cambodia and Vietnam, this grassroots local NGO focuses on a hand-up, not hand-out policy. The social enterprise part of this NGO trains beneficiaries to make quilts, handicrafts, and bamboo bicycles. The holistic approach from Mekong Plus includes education scholarships, vocational training, microfinance programs, and social enterprise businesses.

Use the day to explore at your leisure. There is a feast of local markets, grand shopping centers, museums, and attractions in Ho Chi Minh. For the evening, you will meet up for dinner, swap stories and photos, and decide where you would like the donation money to go.

Meals: breakfast and dinner
Cycling: none
NGO: Mekong Plus

Day 16: Departure day

Congratulations. You have cycled across a couple of countries, covered almost 700 kilometers in the saddle, and more than scratched the surface of what these fantastic countries are about. You will enjoy a final breakfast together before you set off to the airport or your next adventure.

Meals: breakfast
Cycling: None

Social impact

For every Social Cycles tour, all riders have contributed 200 AUD to go to the NGO of your choice. During the tour, you are given the chance to engage with and learn from local NGOs. You visit no less than three NGOs during the Cambodia-to-Vietnam tour and spend some time learning about their projects, strategies, and challenges. At the end of the tour, the riders are empowered with newfound knowledge and have the opportunity to combine the allotted donation money and make an impact on a project of their choosing.

In addition to building a profile for their impact partners, Social Cycles also pays each NGO for their time and resources. You will spend one or two hours with each NGO. The donation part is included in your ticket price. They want you to be open to the idea of supporting one or more of the NGOs you visit and learn about. If, after meeting some of the local teams and learning about their programs, the riders did not want to donate, then they are not required to and a refund will be arranged.

Bikes

In Cambodia and Vietnam, you use 24-speed mountain bikes. Most bikes have either 27- or 29-inch wheels, whilst some of the smaller bikes are 26 inches. The front suspension is perfect for the bumps along the road and the wider tires allow for strong traction when you need it most. You are welcome to bring your own saddle if you are slightly nervous about getting a bit sore or have not had the chance to get a lot of saddle time before the ride.

Another good option is to bring along a gel seat (cushion). The bikes are fitted with standard pedals. Again, you are welcome to bring clip-ins should you want them. All bikes are fitted with a water cage. Bikes are fully serviced before and after every ride and they will have a trusty mechanic with you at all times. E-bikes are available for the tour (450 AUD). You can also just opt to have the e-bikes in Vietnam only (150 AUD).

Distance

Some days are 30 kilometers, some are 50 kilometers, and some are a little further. When you embark on an 85-kilometer day, the distance can seem quite daunting. However, an early start of 7:00 a.m. and an ETA of 4:00 p.m. arrival give you nine hours to get there. And two hours of extra daylight up your sleeve if you need it. Traveling by bicycle is not about the destination, but the journey. You will stop for Khmer and Vietnamese coffees, local treats, lunch, and of course, to take plenty of pictures.

When you are moving, the average pace is about 15 to 20 kilometers per hour. Their small group policy means it is easier for all to stay together. You do not need to be super fit for this ride, you just need to be positive. At times, there may be an opportunity to continue cycling and push 100 kilometers in a day. It does not mean you have to, but if time is on your side, the path is beautiful, and you are feeling fit, then you have the option. The alternative is to get in the air-conditioned van, shuttle off to the hotel, and enjoy a cold beer. It is a win-win.

Group size

Social Cycles takes a minimum of two riders and a maximum of 12. They strongly believe that when you travel with a group beyond 12. There is a risk that voices and opinions may be drowned out when you have the rare opportunity to visit NGOs and ask questions to local leaders. The Siem Reap to Saigon ride also comprises smaller travel opportunities (Siem Reap to Phnom Penh or Phnom Penh to Saigon for example), therefore, there may be more than 12 people in its entirety, but not at any one time.

NGOs

Friends International is leading the charge in the ‘ChildSafe’ movement and the ‘Think Families, Not Orphanages’ campaign. Friends International has an office in Phnom Penh, which makes for a great introduction to Cambodia. Chumkriel Language School is an incredible organization that goes so far beyond teaching language. In Vietnam, they often visit Mekong Plus, a fantastic organization that works within community development with a very holistic approach.

In Siem Reap, they often get a chance to learn from This Life Cambodia. In the smallish regional province of Pursat, you will visit and learn from Sustainable Cambodia about its community development and educational programs. Due to the nature of travel, public holidays, and unavoidable timetable clashes, you may not be able to visit all of the above NGOs. If there is one in particular that you are interested in, please let them know prior to travel.

Instructors

Hoem Tong

Hoem is an all-around Khmer superstar! With a passion for people and his country, nothing is too much trouble for this guy! He is a crowd favorite and a good friend. He is also a translator / guide / driver. Hoem has been with Social Cycles from their very first tour and gives testament to the value of local knowledge. He will make sure that you see the real Cambodia.

Brett Seychell

Brett, the founder of Social Cycles, tries to get along to most SC adventures when he can. He loves cycling, food, and social impact; start him talking about this and he may not stop.

Buntry

Buntry is the newest member of the team and travels all the way from Siem Reap to Saigon.

Location

The tour will take place in Cambodia and Vietnam.

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Food

You will be served breakfasts and dinners as per the itinerary as well as water and fruit included in the price. The best part about cycling from one country to another is to cycle through the various regions of food along the way. This is slow travel at its best as Cambodia offers salt lakes and pepper farms, fresh crab markets in Kep, and tarantulas in Phnom Penh (optional). Meanwhile, in the Mekong Delta, you will roll your own noodle sheets and eat your way through a street food degustation sensation of everything sweet, salty, spicy, and sour.

Most of the included dinners are at social enterprise-based restaurants, supporting local NGOs. But this is not the main reason you eat here, it is because the food is delicious. All meals are shared, ‘family style’, so you get an abundance of choices sitting in front of you at the table. A great chance to try a bit of everything.

What is the food like in Cambodia and Vietnam?

In a word, delicious! The best part is the street food. It is what the region is famous for and for good reason. The markets are like a walking degustation of stick food. At dinners, you will order a variety of local specials and eat ‘family style’, ensuring everybody gets to try as much as possible. You will often eat at vocational training restaurants that serve as social enterprises of the NGOs you visit.

Vegetarians and vegans

No problem. There is a huge variety of vegetarian local specialties available and there will always be vegetarian dishes on the table at every meal. If the majority of the group is vegetarian, it will be reflected in the food on the table.

Dietary requirements

If you have any dietary requirements or allergies, please let Social Cycles know. They will cater to all dietary requirements as best as possible. Please get in touch with them if you have life-threatening allergies.

Alcohol

There are plenty of beers around Cambodia and Vietnam. And a cold beer after a hard day on the bike is pretty inviting. They are quite cheap too, with some places selling draft beers for as little as 50c. Wine is a little harder to find (good wine anyway) and is closer to Western prices. Cocktails on the other hand are excellent, well made, and inexpensive (5 to 6 USD).

Just be wary that the weather can be a little warm and a couple too many beers or cocktails will knock you about a bit more than usual the next day. Dehydration will have a huge effect and it does not take much to have a hangover. To be honest, most of the time, you are in bed by 9:00 p.m.

The following meals are included:

Drinks

The following drinks are included:

Water

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Vegetarian
Vegan
Other dietary requirements on request

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

Shopping

Cambodia and Vietnam are a haven for shopping enthusiasts. Social Cycles will recommend places for you along the way, depending on what it is you are looking to purchase. Common gift ideas from the region include coffee (and coffee-making items), handicrafts, silks, and clothes. All major cities have markets for you to purchase items in. If you are looking for new clothes for yourself, it is worth waiting for Saigon as there are some great local markets with very reasonable prices.

You can find plenty of shirts, jeans, sports clothes, etc. Siem Reap is good for tourist-based souvenirs. You can get some more ideas and inspiration from your Siem Reap city guide. You will find great gifts (jewelry, watches, bric-a-brac, etc.) in Battambang and Kampot. The best places to find souvenirs and gifts for people back home are at either Friends ‘n’ Stuff and Mekong Plus. These are the social enterprise arms of a couple of the NGOs you visit. You can find their shops in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and Saigon.

What's included

Multiple field trips to villages and communities
Mekong Delta floating market tour, with cocoa farm and ride noodle experience
Pepper farm tour in Kampot
Cooking class
15 nights accommodation
Most dinners and breakfasts as per the itinerary
Airport pick-up
Full bicycle hire
200 AUD donation to the NGO of your choice
Local guides, support van drivers, and mechanic
Full support vehicle for the ride with water and fruit
Minimum 3 NGO presentations across Cambodia and Vietnam
Genocide museum in Phnom Penh
Tuk tuk rally in Phnom Penh
Entry to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap

What's not included

International flights
Tips and gratuities (up to 100 USD per person)
Drinks with meals
Airport drop-off (8 - 10 USD)
Travel insurance
Visa (if required)
Personal expense
E-bikes

How to get there

Recommended Airports

REP

Siem Reap International Airport (Angkor Int'l)

7 km

Transfer included

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Siem Reap International Airport (Angkor Int'l) (REP). Transfer from and to the airport is included. Social Cycles will pick you up from the airport. On clearing customs and collecting your luggage, please look for a sign with your name on it. Please do not leave the arrivals hall. If it is crowded, it may take you time to locate the sign. You will be transferred to your accommodation. You can exchange money at the airport but it is better to change a small amount as the exchange rates are better in the city. You can also get a SIM card at the airport.

This is probably the easiest and most convenient place to get a sim. Somebody will be there to meet you (tuk tuk in Siem Reap). If your flight has arrived early, then the transfer driver may not yet have arrived. Please just take a seat and wait a little while longer. You may be approached by someone offering you a taxi but do not take it, just wait until you see someone with a sign. You will be provided with a phone number to call once you have booked. In Siem Reap, you will need to get your visa (if you have not already). It is easy to do.

You will see some signs directing you where to go (follow the signs for Visa on Arrival). There will be a uniformed official giving out a piece of paper that you will need to complete. It will ask for your address in Cambodia. Please write 'Tanei Boutique Hotel'. Give this completed form and your passport, together with your passport photo to the official behind the desk. This person will take your items and gesture for you to go away and wait away from the line. Your passport and form will be shuffled along a queue of officials sitting behind the desk.

When it gets to the end, some 10 meters away, your name will be called and your passport waved in the air. Pay this person (the cashier) 30 USD and collect your passport with a fresh, full-page Cambodia tourist visa stamp. Then proceed downstairs to collect your luggage before exiting to the arrivals hall. After collecting baggage, you may be asked by customs officials to screen your luggage in a machine before exiting and check your luggage tags against the corresponding labels that you were given when checking in, to make sure you have taken the correct bags.

On departure in Vietnam, check-in two hours prior to flight time is ample for all international flights. There is no departure tax to pay (all taxes are included in ticket prices). Fill in a departure card and hand it in at passport control counters after going through security. There are shops and cafes in the departure area near the gates. Boarding announcements are made in English for all flights.

Airport: Siem Reap International Airport (Angkor Int'l) Airport transfer included: Siem Reap International Airport (Angkor Int'l) No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.

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