Southern Vietnam: The Mekong Delta by Bicycle

Too often, Vietnam is treated as a quick stop on a whirlwind, multicountry Southeast Asia itinerary. But to truly appreciate this marvelously complex country—with its beguiling mix of ancient and cutting-edge, rural and urban—you need time to get in sync with all its varied rhythms. Touch down in bustling Ho Chi Minh City, where the streets sing with sizzling seafood and Vespas weave expertly in and out of traffic. With its markets and museums, street food stalls and panoramic views, the city makes for an excellent push-off point for the rest of your journey. Six days of gently paced cycling follow, during which you’ll follow the magnificent Mekong Delta and its palm-fringed tributaries, pausing at floating markets, sinking your teeth into local dishes, and discovering time-honored traditions and crafts perfected over centuries. When you’re not on two wheels, you’ll be gliding through a submerged forest in a private boat, clocking birdlife in the wild at a wetland reserve with over 70 species, and encountering one of the country’s largest Cham communities.