An
ideal cycling route avoids crowded highways and intense climbs
and sticks to peaceful village roads shaded by trees, green
fields and orchards.
A bike tour through the western
and northern sections of Vietnam gives tourists a glimpse
of life in rural areas including the ethnic people in the
Central Highlands. While crossing the Cu Mong or Hai Van passes,
tourists are able to stop roadside to contemplate the sunrise
or sunset and admire the beautiful view on one side lies giant
mountains, while on the other are picturesque beaches.
Tour participants are not required
to bike for the entire trip; participants ride a maximum of
50 kilometres a day. Cars, canoes, and boats cover the distance
not traveled on bike. To ensure the health and safety of riders,
professional medics often accompany the tour.
Of Saigontourist’s bike tours,
its trip to the western portion of Southern Vietnam is its
most popular.
The tour departs from Ho Chi Minh
City and stops first in Long An Province. Tourists then travel
by car to Tan An District to visit the Cao Dai Holy See. Following
the religious site, the tour rides 20 kilometres. along the
Bao Dinh Canal to My Tho. On the way to My Tho, tourists stop
by orchards to enjoy fresh coconut juice and fruit.
Next, tourists visit the Vinh
Trang Pagoda, which was built in the early 19th century
and houses a collection of bronze statues carved in the Mekong
Delta. The tour then travels to the port to visit Thoi Son
Islet in Tien Giang Province by canoe.
On the second day of the journey,
the tour heads to Ben Tre Province. The group travels leisurely
through village roads to view the landscape, get fresh air
roadside and speak with locals. Tourists can visit the village
market and green fields to see firsthand the cultivation technique
of the farmers and life in the country.
On the third day, tourists visit
Cai Mon District to see a number of activities of the local
people including fishing, cooking, leisure and sport. Tourists
take part in a home-stay at the home of a Cai Mon resident
and eat ca loc nuong trui dish (grilled snakehead fish),
taste local rice wine and listen to don ca tai tu (amateur
southern folk music).
The following day, tourists travel
by ferry to visit the center of Vinh Long Province and continue
to ride through Long Ho village for 20 kilometres. to Ba Can
to visit the village of the Khmer people and a market specializing
in tofu.
The journey continues to Can Tho Province
for tourists to visit the floating markets of Phong Dien and
Cai Rang. Tourists then ride for 20 kilometres. to Bang Lang
Park. The tour concludes with a car ride back to Ho Chi Minh
City the following day.(SGT) 29 Oct 2007
