Hi all, in February 2024 I’m going on an amazing but also strenuous cycling challenge with amazing friends through Vietnam and Cambodia (more details below)!

When I say that I’m more of a hiker than a biker I am not exaggerating. I didn’t own a bike when I signed up for this challenge a year ago and I’ve found the training really tough even though I started super early. The thought of cycling a serious distance for eight consecutive days (the longest day we will be cycling 90-100km!) is frankly terrifying. Yes, I have woken up at 4am freaking out about whether I can do this!

There is a training plan in my place for us to prepare. As I write this I’ve had to take a week off training due to pain in my knees. I now have a sports physio and exercises as part of my regular routine. I’m hoping that this and an improved bike fit (turns out that my saddle was too low) are going to result in a reduction in pain in the coming weeks and in me being able to increase the distances that I’m putting in! Watch this space.

However there are many reasons to be excited. I can now ride a bike (yay!) without being a total liability to other road users. Having never really ridden a bike as an adult that is a massive win. I’m really excited to explore Vietnam and Cambodia with a truly wonderful group of friends. It’s not our first challenge together and I know they have my back, and I have theirs (I may be seeing a lot of their backs as they are all better cyclists than me, ha ha)!

And I’ve decided to fundraise for a really brilliant charity called Myaware.

Why Myaware?

My beautiful Sister was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis earlier this year. The diagnosis explained some really debilitating symptoms which she can trace back a number of years and have been gradually getting worse. Being diagnosed was a huge shock for my Sister but it did mean that she knew what she was facing and could get support. Much of that support has come from a small charity called Myaware who have been amazing in terms of providing my Sister with facts, support and suggestions. Through their webinars, information services and other people with MG my Sister has learned so much, some of which we found out first from Myaware because her condition is rare. It’s been invaluable in terms of giving her as much control of her condition and health as possible. As a family we are truly grateful for their knowledge and expertise.

So, I wasn’t going to fundraise for this challenge but I’ve changed my mind. I’m self funding all of my costs and so any funds that I raise will go to Myaware, that will make a big difference to such a small charity. If you would like to donate then I will be super grateful!

In return I promise to share updates, be honest about the challenges and joys of this amazing challenge with my friends. You will also get to see pictures of me looking ridiculous in lycra (not my fashion happy place!) so there is a comedy element to this as well!

About the trip

I’m taking this trip with a wonderful group of friends. My dear friend Kirsty who I've known for over 20 years and some more recent friends who we met on our last challenge in 2022. You do learn a lot about people when sharing an experience like that and I couldn’t ask for a better team on this trip.

Our challenge will take us from Vietnamese Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City, through the rice-paddies and waterways of the beautiful Mekong Delta into Cambodia. We pedal on through this friendly country towards one of the most impressive sights in Southeast Asia: the Royal Temples of Angkor Wat.

For those of you who like a detailed itinerary read more below!

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Depart London

Day 2: Arrive Ho Chi Minh City

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Tra Vinh

After an early breakfast we drive (approx. 1.5 hours) out of the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. A sanctuary for the Vietcong at the height of the Vietnam War, they give us a good insight into the country’s relatively recent history. We then drive south towards the Mekong Delta (approx. 2.5 hours). We stop near Ben Tre, the gateway to the Mekong Delta, and after lunch and ensuring our bikes are comfortable, we set off! It’s a wonderful place to start our ride. We cycle on narrow lanes and tracks through the heart of this rural area, passing banana plantations, sugar cane fields and the lush rural landscape of the Delta. We have a short ferry crossing before reaching Tra Vinh.

Drive approx. 1.5 & 2.5 hours; cycle approx. 42-50km

Day 4: Tra Vinh – Cau Ke – Can Tho

Our first full day’s cycle takes us along quiet backroads to Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta, known for its picturesque canals full of scenes of everyday life. En route we pass numerous Khmer temples and pagodas, and cross several waterways – some by footbridges, some on ferry crossings. We will start to get a great feel for the friendly Vietnamese culture, and the traditional rural scenes we see are fascinating. We ride today on a mix of roads and tracks; most of it is very quiet, but the last section gets busier as we approach Can Tho.

Cycle approx. 90-95km

Day 5: Can Tho – Long Xuyen

After an early breakfast we set off by boat through the Can Tho floating market, seeing a multitude of boats trading livestock, fruits, rice and fish. We then get back on our bikes and cycle along the banks of the busy river continuing towards Sa Dec. After lunch we cycle upstream alongside the river towards Long Xuyen. This is a beautiful day, with some wonderful photo opportunities. We end our ride at a bird sanctuary, home to thousands of storks – we can have a quick visit to see them before loading up into the vehicles for a short transfer (approx. 45 mins) into Long Xuyen.

Cycle approx. 75km

Day 6: Long Xuyen – Tri Tron – Chau Doc

Our last day of cycling in Vietnam! A short transfer (30 mins) allows us to avoid the busiest traffic, and we set off. Our route starts to undulate a little as we near the hills near Chau Doc; although these climbs are fairly gentle, our leg muscles have become used to flat terrain so they often feel harder than they really are! The heat, moreover, makes them feel tougher. We cycle via the Killing Fields at Ba Chuc, where Pol Pot’s regime massacred over 3000 Vietnamese people in 1978; harrowing history. We continue our ride to the busy town of Chau Doc.

Cycle approx. 90-100km

Day 7: Chau Doc – Takeo – Phnom Penh

Today we set off early, heading north towards Phnom Penh. After around 20km we reach the border with Cambodia and meet our new guides who will be waiting for us. We then head off through the lovely rural landscapes of Cambodia. At the small town of Takeo we load up into the buses, which take us the remaining distance to Phnom Penh, stopping en route to visit the infamous Killing Fields, which are harrowing but compelling at the same time. We then arrive at our hotel in Phnom Penh; once considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient and which, despite its turbulent recent history, retains a colonial charm.

Cycle approx. 50km

Day 8: Phnom Penh – Kampong Chhnang

We start our day with a visit to the Tuol Sleung Museum, or School 21, a former school which was turned into the notorious Khmer Rouge interrogation camp during the Pol Pot regime. Although it tells a tragic story, it is a fascinating place to visit and essential to understanding present-day Cambodia. We then leave Phnom Penh by bus (approx. 1 hour) to avoid the city traffic before we start our ride. As we head to Udong we see the rice paddies stretching out for miles, busy with workers in the fields. The roads in the region tend to be a rich red which is very striking against the dazzling green paddy-fields – be prepared to take lots of photos! We ride through Udong, once the ancient capital, and pass by a hill temple with stunning views of the fertile region and many of the old Royal Palaces. Continuing on, we cycle towards Kampong Chhang and the enormous Tonlé Sap Lake.

Cycle approx. 75km

Day 9: Kampong Chhnang – Siem Reap

A beautiful boat ride awaits us this morning, as we cross the immense Tonlé Sap. The largest freshwater lake in South-East Asia, it features an incredible biodiversity and has UNESCO biosphere status. We enjoy a rest from our bikes as we soak up the views of fishing communities and calm waters. Leaving the boat at Kampong Khlaeng, we ride on small roads through beautiful landscapes and villages, heading towards Siem Reap. This area is unspoilt and very traditional, and it’s a lovely quiet ride to savour before reaching the main tourist draw of Angkor. Meeting our vehicles, we load up before reaching the busy streets and drive (approx 30 mins) into Siem Reap, the closest town to the temples.

Boat ride approx. 5 hours; cycle approx. 30-40km

Day 10: Angkor Wat Cycle

Today we ride to the famous World Heritage site of Angkor Wat. The area is dotted with many ancient buildings and temples amidst dense forest; the sheer scale of the complex will astound you. We ride a circuit around some of the temples, including Ta Prohm, the best-known of the temples overgrown by trees and reminiscent of scenes from Tomb Raider. Our ride also takes in the Bayon in Angkor Thom, the old city central to the area. It is a fascinating ruin, featuring many mysterious giant carved faces and some incredible wall carvings, and is one of the most remarkable sights in the area. Our ride ends at Angkor Wat itself, one of the most impressive and best-preserved temples of the complex. If there’s time, it is worth climbing the remarkably steep and narrow steps of the central spire for the view over the whole temple surrounded by jungle. It’s a wonderful place to finish our challenge after 500 hot kilometres across two countries! After the obligatory group photos we transfer back to our hotel and should have some free time this afternoon to spend as you wish – relax at the hotel, or explore Siem.

Reap’s markets for last-minute shopping opportunities, or visit more of the temples. We meet again in the evening to celebrate our achievements.

Cycle approx. 30km

Day 11: Free time; flight departs

Day 12: Arrive UK