Tours out of Ho Chi Minh City and across Vietnam
Day trip from Saigon
Coconut lanes by bicycle, rivers by boat
Ben Tre is flat, shaded and laced with concrete lanes only wide enough for bicycles and motorbikes, which makes it the best cycling in the south within reach of a day.
Overview
A delta day at twelve kilometres an hour
From a boat you see the delta’s waterfront. From a bicycle you see the rest of it: the lanes behind the houses, the drying racks of rice paper, the ancestor altars in open front rooms, the children cycling home from school three abreast. Ben Tre is almost entirely coconut plantation and the palms meet overhead on most of the lanes, which matters when the temperature is in the thirties.
The route is flat because the whole province is flat. What makes it moderate rather than easy is the length and the heat, not any hill. We ride in three stages of about ten kilometres, with boats doing the river crossings in between, and the van follows on the roads so that anyone who has had enough can climb in without fuss.
- Length
- About 10 hours
- Pick-up
- 07:00 in the central districts
- Back
- Around 17:00
- Cycling
- About 30 km, flat, in three stages
- In the van
- About 4 hours
- Riders
- 12 at most
Day by day
How the day runs
Day 1
Saigon to the Ben Tre lanes and back
The palm-roofed lanes of the second stage
07:00 — we collect riders from hotels in District 1, 3 and Binh Thanh. Two hours south across the Rach Mieu bridge into Ben Tre. 09:00 — bike fitting at the start point: saddles adjusted, helmets on, a short briefing on lane etiquette (ring early, keep left of parked motorbikes, give way to anything carrying coconuts).
09:20 — first stage, about twelve kilometres through plantation and hamlets, stopping at a family making rice paper over a husk fire and at a coconut-fibre workshop. 10:45 — a small boat across a river branch, bicycles and all.
11:00 — second stage, about eight kilometres on narrower lanes with single-plank bridges you can walk across if you prefer. 12:15 — lunch in a village garden: grilled fish, a sour soup with fresh herbs, pork braised in coconut water, rice and fruit. A long break in the shade follows, with hammocks.
14:00 — last stage, about ten kilometres back towards the main river, with a stop for fresh coconut. 15:00 — bicycles loaded, into the van. 17:00 — back at your hotel, depending on how the bridge traffic is moving.
Price
Price
| Option | Per person (USD) |
|---|---|
| Shared, maximum 12 | from 65 |
| Private, 2 people | from 125 |
| Private, 4 people | from 85 |
The price includes well-maintained hybrid bicycles and the support van, which is the main cost. Private departures suit families: we bring child seats or smaller bikes and shorten the route to whatever the youngest rider can manage.
Included
What is included
What the price includes
- Hotel transfers in District 1, 3 or Binh Thanh
- Hybrid bicycle and helmet
- Support van and driver all day
- Cycling guide
- Boat crossings
- Lunch, fruit, coconuts and water
What it does not include
- Padded shorts and gloves (bring your own if you like them)
- Drinks other than water
- Tips
- Travel insurance
Practical
Riding in the delta heat
The lanes are shaded but the humidity is not, and a steady twelve kilometres an hour still produces a great deal of sweat. Drink before you feel thirsty; the van carries plenty of water and electrolyte sachets. Light, quick-drying clothes and closed shoes work best. Sunglasses are useful against insects as well as glare.
You need to be comfortable on a bicycle, including braking and steering one-handed for a moment, but no fitness beyond that. The surfaces are concrete, occasionally broken, with some short sections of packed earth. In the rainy months a shower can make them slippery, and we slow down accordingly.
Not for everyone
Who this does not suit
Anyone who has not ridden a bicycle for many years should not make this the day they start again: the lanes are narrow and shared with motorbikes. It is not a sport ride either, so keen cyclists looking for distance will find it gentle. Children under about ten are best on a private departure, where we can shorten the stages. If the forecast is for extreme heat in April, we may suggest a boat-based day instead.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
How hard is thirty kilometres?
On flat ground at an easy pace, it is about two and a half hours of riding spread over the day. Heat is the challenge, not distance.
Can I stop cycling part way?
Yes. The van meets us at each stage, and you can ride in it for any section.
Are electric bikes available?
Not as standard. For a private departure, ask us and we will try to source them locally.
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