Southern Vietnam: The Mekong Delta by Bicycle

After a private transfer from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you can settle in at your five-star hotel, the Park Hyatt Saigon, in Ho Chi Minh City. This Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards favorite is based in the heart of this thrilling metropolis close to the Saigon River (a teaser of what’s to come), the grand Opera House and many of the historical landmarks you’ll encounter during your time in the capital. The day is yours to rest and recharge or explore on your own.

Your second day will be a crash course on the history of Vietnam, the heritage of Ho Chi Minh City, and how the two are inextricably linked. Explore the city’s narrow alleyways and local markets before a visit to Reunification Hall, where your guide will explain how, in 1976, Saigon became Ho Chi Minh City. Take in the neo-Renaissance flourishes and grand vaulted ceilings at the Central Post Office, one of the city’s many historical landmarks, before heading to the War Remnants Museum, which brings the country’s complicated past into focus. A steaming bowl of fragrant pho, Vietnam's restorative national dish of rice noodles, meat, and herbs in broth, will follow.Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to rest or explore at your own pace. The day ends with a welcome dinner at one of Ho Chi Minh City’s first Michelin-star restaurants, Anan.

A private tour on a cyclo (a type of rickshaw) takes you to Tao Dan Park, where you’ll see locals engaged in the beautiful slow dance of tai chi or squeezing in a morning game of badminton. Stop at a local cafe to enjoy a Vietnamese coffee while you enjoy a breakfast of bánh mì. Cruise up the Saigon River to the Cu Chi Tunnels where a Vietcong veteran shares his stories. Afterward, walk through the subterranean network of narrow passages and caverns that served as storage rooms, hospitals, and sleeping quarters during the war.In the evening, ride on the back of a vintage Vespa as your local driver crosses one of the city’s historical bridges, stopping for signature drinks and riverside views before zipping through side streets and alleyways to indulge in local delicacies at hidden away food stalls.

After a private transfer to the city of My Tho, start your two-wheeled adventure through the Mekong Delta via e-bike (experienced cyclists may opt for a traditional bike for an added challenge). Over the next six days, you'll have a specialized team supporting you on your cycling adventure, including expert guides and a bike mechanic, as well as a support van should you need a break. Today, pass sampans (traditional fishing boats that ply the Mekong) navigating canals, tropical fruit orchards, local farmers working the fields, and rural markets selling locally grown produce. Stop to observe local traditions and wander through a market.After lunch, continue southwest to Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong, set on the banks of the Hau River. Your day ends with a well-deserved dinner in a stunning setting: under the canopy of an enormous banyan tree on a private islet.

Take a private boat to visit the Cai Rang floating market, the largest in Vietnam, where vendors sell tropical fruit and serve fragrant dishes including Bún Riêu (crab noodle soup) and hu tieu (pork broth with noodles). Once you’ve explored the offerings, cycle quiet backroads past emerald green rice fields and traditional villages. Learn how rice noodles are made before heading to lunch. The afternoon and evening are all yours to digest and rest after a day of riding.

Transfer by vehicle to the starting point of today’s ride. Travel past fruit farms, sugarcane plantations, canalside communities, and traverse waterways by local ferry en route to Soc Trang. Here, Khmer temples signal the spiritual significance of this deeply traditional city. Take in Vietnam’s largest reclining Buddha at Som Rang Pagoda and visit with the resident monks. Return to Can Tho by vehicle and spend the evening back at Can Tho’s lively night market.

After a 45-minute vehicle transfer brings you to Thoi Lai, take a leisurely ride along quiet forest paths and past lush rice paddies before you arrive at Bang Lang Stork Sanctuary. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise set among the Hau River’s surrounding wetlands, and you’re likely to spot painted storks, cattle egrets, black-crowned herons and cormorants ducking, diving, nesting, and foraging in their natural habitat. Continue by vehicle to charming Chau Doc, a fishing community where the houses sit above the delta on stilts, before checking into your hotel on the banks of the Hau River.

Today’s ride takes you through peaceful villages and past lotus ponds, duck farms, and seasonal crops. Take a tranquil boat journey through the submerged forest of Tra Su Cajuput, where hyacinths blanket the water’s surface. The wetland reserve is a sanctuary for over 70 species of migratory birds such as bee-eaters and weavers, plus rare species like the pink-plumed painted stork and the slender-necked Oriental darter. Return by vehicle to your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure.

Board a ferry to Chau Giang, a floating village on the Hau River close to the border of Cambodia, where Cham culture (the Cham are one of Vietnam’s 54 ethnicities and descended from the ancient Cham Kingdom), Islamic faith, and Khmer customs meet. From farming to fabric production, traditions are well-preserved and part of daily life. Learn about the role of buffalo in the farming process and how skilled craftspeople weave brocade silk using time-honored techniques. You’ll also visit the Mubarak mosque, which is not just a place of worship but also a national heritage site and education space, and meet a local family before settling down for lunch. Return to Chau doc before enjoying a sunset cocktail and dinner.

After a morning at leisure, you’ll return to Ho Chi Minh City, stopping for lunch on the way. Take the afternoon to explore further or hang out in your hotel. Enjoy a final meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant whose menu was executed by one of the country’s most exciting chefs.

A private transfer takes you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, where a fast-track departure service will the expedite security and immigration process to get you to your gate as quickly as possible.