Vietnam to Cambodia Family Biking

Day 1-2: The Imperial City of Hue

We meet in Hanoi and begin our journey by discovering the historic architecture, tree-lined boulevards and delightfully chaotic street-life of Vietnam’s capital city in a traditionally Vietnamese way: on cyclo (bike-propelled cart). We will enjoy a guided visit, covering everything from the city’s French colonial architecture to Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum. We’ll stop for a quick lunch before our early afternoon flight to Hue: the Imperial capital of Vietnam. After landing at Phú Bài airport, we’ll head off for our first bike ride passing by rice field and canals and then continue on to our hotel to settle in and unwind after a busy day. The kids will be entertained by local women who will give them a demonstration and lesson in conical hat-making so they’re ready to blend in on their grand journey through Vietnam. Cocktail hour and dinner are spent at the hotel sampling some local specialties. The next day, we will head into the Imperial Forbidden City to explore the former home of the last Vietnamese Imperial Dynasty, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the visit, our ride loops through quiet rice fields and over small riverside paths before ending at the Thien Mu Pagoda. From here, we will board our private riverboat and cruise up the Perfume River—enjoying lunch along the way—to the tomb of the Nguyen king, Minh Mang. You may opt for more biking after lunch or drive back to Hue and visit the other imperial tombs in the afternoon, or relax with a massage at the hotel’s excellent spa. Dinner is in a royal home this evening, where we will be regaled with stories of imperial Vietnam.

Day 3-4: Hoi An

Today our bike ride starts by the river, and continues through rice paddies to finish up alongside a lagoon south of town. From here, we’ll head south towards Da Nang, stopping for a seaside lunch. After lunch we’ll continue our ride into Hoi An. Once a vital seaport on par with Macau, the now-tranquil Hoi An has been incredibly well preserved, and its fascinating medley of architecturally diverse 400-year-old buildings and totally intact streetscapes has merited it UNESCO World Heritage Site status. You may wish to take in this amazing town that will take you back in time, or have a customtailored suit or dress made for you here in this garment mecca. We’ll then head to dinner with our friend Duc who is truly the finest up-and-coming local chef in Vietnam. This may well be your favorite meal of the trip! The next day you may choose to head into the market early in the morning to watch the local women haggle over the day’s fresh fish catch, or visit the stalls offering the freshest vegetables in Hoi An. Both promise to stimulate all your senses and provide some of the best photo memories in your trip scrapbook. Then we head out by boat for a great ride that starts in the local pottery village and loops around Hoi An, passing through traditional rice paddies and fish farms interspersed with ancestral tombs, water buffalo and hundreds of smiling children. We’ll finish at our favourite cooking school in a beautiful river setting for a mid-morning cooking class that will keep us entertained, trained and well fed. Afterwards we will head into Hoi An via riverboat, watching the local fishermen cast their nets and bring in their catch. In the afternoon, we’re off with the kids through town, while the adults enjoy their own time wandering through the streets. Dinner is on your own as a family at one of the many wonderful small restaurants that Hoi An has to offer.

Day 5-6: Ho Chi Minh City: Vietnam’s Metropolis

Goodbye Hoi An, hello Ho Chi Minh City. We say good-bye to charming Hoi An and head back towards Da Nang where we will begin our ride from an ancient Cham Temple. We’ll bike through the emerald green rice fields below the mountains that surround the city, and then head to its hippest restaurant for a quick and light lunch. Afterwards, we’ll catch a flight to Ho Chi Minh City where we’ll check in to our hotel, and meet up for a walk to our favourite market-style restaurant to try the flavours of the Vietnamese south. The next day, we take an early private speedboat up the Saigon River. Our bike ride today will begin alongside the river and pass by the rubber tree plantations planted long ago by the French to the Cu Chi Tunnels where we will explore the amazing underground web of interlocking tunnels that weave their way underneath the countryside with its lush and tropical jungle vegetation. After our tour, we’ll enjoy lunch on board as we speedboat back to Ho Chi Minh City for a late afternoon of shopping. Tonight, dinner is on your own as a family, but we will entertain you with the festive Dragon Dance in nearby Cholon. Will it be Vietnamese, French, Mediterranean or Italian?

Day 7-8: The Temples of Angkor

Leaving Vietnam and heading to Cambodia, we hop on an early morning flight to Siem Reap and go directly to magnificent Angkor Wat, where our local guide will teach us all about this awe-inspiring temple that has defied time and nature for over 700 years. We’ll return to our hotel in time for lunch and from there, venture into the heart of the Cambodian countryside on our bikes, finishing our ride at Tonle Sap for a sunset boat ride on Asia’s largest lake. Our ride and activities will explore the local rural landscape of Cambodia and the contrasts with the ancient Angkor kingdom. Dinner tonight is at the Grand Restaurant in the hotel in anticipation of an early wakeup the following morning. The next day, we arrive in Bayon by traditional means— elephants—and visit this exquisite Buddhist temple before hopping on our bikes to explore the park on two wheels. Our bike trails are lined by a jungle of silk cotton and strangler fig trees. Once upon a time, the only traffic that passed this way was the majestic elephants. We will then head back to our hotel to enjoy lunch and the magnificent grounds of our palatial French-colonial hotel (as well as its luxurious spa and pool). After a bit of relaxation, this afternoon we will head out to explore the wild jungle temple of Ta Prohm. Famous for the jungle that still grows around it, this is an awe-inspiring homage to both nature and mankind. Our final evening, we will celebrate our time together by heading into town for a farewell dinner at the trendy Hôtel de la Paix.

Day 9: Fond Farewells

Our adventure together ends after breakfast at the hotel.