Old Indochina from Hanoi to Angkor Wat

Asking "Why Vietnam?" is like asking why you ride. Is it the anticipation of what's around the corner? The exhilaration of a place you've never been? Maybe it's the serenity of a quiet footpath that's 2,000 years old. Or experiencing Hoi An, a 2nd-century fishing village that now blends modern luxury with its dynamic history. How about the fun of passing rice paddies in a blur of speed? Or stopping at an open-air market and haggling with locals? Perhaps touching the ethereal ruins of Angkor with your own hands. Everything that's exhilarating about biking makes the ride in Vietnam and Cambodia just such an incredible adventure.

Days 1-2 Indulge in some of Asia's freshest and tastiest cuisine  On foot and via bicycle rickshaw,explore the city's bustling neighborhoods; with its treelined boulevards, French Colonial architecture, lakes and parks, Hanoi is called the "Paris of the Orient" Grand mausoleums of past empires punctuate your ride through small rural communities Experience a cycling thrill like no other: share the road with food carts, water buffalo, locals scootering to work and kids biking to school Enjoy the delicate peach blooms in spring or the blaze of flame trees in summer along the Perfume riverbank and the profusion of lotus blossoms on Tinh Tam Lake.

Days 3-4 Explore the historic monuments of Hué, once the capital of imperial Vietnam, including the Royal Citadel, modeled after China's Forbidden City and the site of intense conflict during the Vietnam War Hoi An: Vietnam's oldest town, beautifully preserved and a delight to discover  Bike over Cloud Pass en route to Danang.

Days 5-6 Searching for a keepsake? There are plenty to pick from on Cam Kim, an island famous for ornate wood carvings Leaving the tourists behind, pedal past bucolic settlements and vibrant green rice paddies on wonderfully quiet roads Ride through Cambodia's exciting ruins of Angkor, a former metropolis built to glorify a succession of Khmer kings.

Days 7-9 Visit iconic temples such as Bayon and Ta Prohm  Ride through tall grass, past ox carts, wooden homes held up by stilts, old Chinese tractors, and ponds usually teeming with kids swimming or fishing A sunset from atop ruins: you've never seen anything like this! Spin through peaceful, seemingly undiscovered rural villages Take a sunrise bike ride to Angkor Wat and explore on foot through the temple grounds.