| This site describes a 1800 kilometer bicycle trip made during January
/ February 2003 from Ho Chi Minh City (formally Saigon), Vietnam
to Bangkok, Thailand via Cambodia and Laos. The trip involved cycling from
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam around the Mekong delta, across Cambodia
to Battenbang, Cambodia, boat to Sien Raap, Cambodia cycling to Aranyaprathet,
Thailand, bus to Korat, Thailand, train to Nong Khai, Thailand, a short
cycle to Vientiene, Laos, bus to Laung Probang, Laos, a two
day boat trip up the Mekong river to Huay Xai, Laos then across the river
to northern Thailand, cycling to Utatadit, Thailand then finishing with
a train ride to Bangkok, Thailand. See route
for detail.
Three of us made the trip; John from Ottawa, Peter from Vancouver
and myself from Victoria. The three of met on a supported cycling trip
in Tibet in 2000. John and I cycled from Hanoi, Vietnam to Bangkok in 2001.
That trip was so enjoyable that we decided to do another cycling trip to
southeast Asia and Peter decided to join us.
Travel conditions, people encountered (both local people and other travellers)
and places visited made the trip an enjoyable and interesting experience.
The reports section contains some discriptions
of conditions, people, places and events encountered during the trip. Independent
travel was inexpensive, safe and relatively easy, although some of the
roads in Cambodia were quite rough. Food, bottled water and accommodation
was easily available. Food ranged from basic rice and eggs in rural areas
to a wide variety of meals in larger towns and tourist areas. Bottled water,
pop and beer was available from small stands throughout the trip. Accommadation
ranged from basic guesthouses to good hotels. No real planning is required
for a trip like this other than working out a rough route, getting appropiate
visas, a map and making sure the days cycling distance could be completed
to a small town a couple of hours before dark. Darkness occured around
6:00 pm and it got light amound 6:00am.
The links section provides links to travel
information such as tourist information, travel advisories, maps, weather,
other cycling reports etc. The pictures section
contains a slideshow and images illustrating various aspects of the trip.
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