Itinerary Overview
This 12-day one-way 4×4 expedition follows the Mekong frontier across Vietnam, Cambodia, and southern Laos, tracing river corridors, border crossings, and remote inland routes rarely experienced in a single journey. Starting from Ho Chi Minh City and finishing in Hoi An, The IA designs this route around river geography, terrain transitions, and cross-border flow rather than political boundaries. The journey moves steadily upstream, allowing cultures and landscapes to shift naturally with the Mekong, forming a rare long-form overland experience offered by Vietnam car tours.
Leaving Ho Chi Minh City, the expedition enters the Mekong Delta through Can Tho and Chau Doc, where waterways, floating life, and border trade define the rhythm of travel. The route continues toward the coast and island edge at Phu Quoc before crossing into Cambodia via the Ha Tien coastal corridor. From here, the journey moves inland to Phnom Penh, offering a brief urban contrast before returning to quieter provincial roads.
Northern Cambodia unfolds through Battambang and Siem Reap, where flat plains gradually give way to river-fed countryside. Continuing north, the route follows the Mekong through Stung Treng and into southern Laos, where isolation deepens and terrain becomes more rugged. The final stretch passes through Kong Island and Attapeu before re-entering Vietnam and descending toward the central coast, finishing in Hoi An. This is a true Indochina overland expedition, shaped by river systems, borders, and The IA’s real cross-border experience.
Tour Highlights
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Mekong Frontier Indochina 4x4 traces the river backbone of mainland Southeast Asia.
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Vietnam Cambodia Laos Overland delivers a seamless multi-country expedition.
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Mekong Delta River Life showcases floating communities and fertile waterways.
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Can Tho Floating Markets reveal daily commerce shaped by the river.
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Chau Doc Border River reflects cultural exchange along frontier waterways.
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Phu Quoc Island Edge introduces tropical seascapes and coastal rhythm.
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Ha Tien Coastal Crossing marks the transition from Vietnam into Cambodia.
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Phnom Penh Mekong Capital contrasts river heritage with urban energy.
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Battambang Rural Plains display Cambodia’s agricultural heartland.
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Siem Reap Inland Cambodia blends open countryside with cultural depth.
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Stung Treng Upper Mekong highlights remote riverfront landscapes.
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Southern Laos Borderlands define isolation, forests, and frontier life.
Summary
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Culture: The journey follows Mekong river life, border trade, and rural cultures across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos
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Average Daily Ride Hours: 4 – 6 hours
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Total Distance: 2540 KM
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Level: Intermediate
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Day 1: : Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho
Leaving Ho Chi Minh City, the drive moves steadily into the flat and fertile Mekong Delta. Long-distance driving feels relaxed as waterways begin to define the landscape. Urban density fades quickly, replaced by rice fields and canal networks. Traffic follows a slower regional rhythm, encouraging smooth and patient progress. The road remains level, with bridges punctuating the journey. Daily life unfolds close to the route, shaped by river commerce. Humidity and greenery increase gradually. Arrival in Can Tho brings a lively river-city atmosphere. The evening is calm, grounded in delta culture.
Summary
Distance: ~170 km
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Accommodation: 3–4 stars Hotel
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Day 2: : Can Tho - Chau Doc
The drive continues deeper into the upper delta, following wide river corridors. Traffic remains light and predictable throughout the day. The landscape feels horizontal and expansive, guided by water rather than terrain. Floating communities and riverside settlements define much of the scenery. Progress is steady without pressure. Cultural influences shift subtly approaching border regions. The road encourages observation rather than pace. Chau Doc appears with a quiet frontier character. Evening time is unhurried and reflective.
Summary
Distance: ~120 km
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Accommodation: 3–4 stars Hotel
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Day 3: : Chau Doc - Phu Quoc
Leaving Chau Doc, the drive follows delta lowlands toward the coast. Waterways and farmland continue to dominate the scenery. Long-distance driving remains smooth and predictable. Traffic stays manageable, keeping the journey relaxed. Arrival at the port signals a clear transition from overland to maritime movement. The ferry crossing introduces open water and a slower rhythm. Phu Quoc emerges with tropical light and sea air. The evening marks a complete change in atmosphere.
Summary
Distance: ~210 km (driving)
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Accommodation: 3–4 stars Hotel
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Day 4: : Phu Quoc - Ha Tien Border - Sihanoukville
The morning begins with island departure and coastal transfer. Border formalities mark the shift into Cambodia and a new chapter of the expedition. On the Cambodian side, the landscape opens into broader coastal plains. Driving remains steady with light traffic. The environment feels warmer and less structured. Long scenic stretches follow the coastline inland. The sense of crossing regions is clear through road character and settlement patterns. Sihanoukville arrives with a maritime and frontier atmosphere. Evening time is relaxed by the sea.
Summary
Distance: ~190 km
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Accommodation: 3–4 stars Hotel
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Day 5: : Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh
Leaving the coast, the route heads inland across Cambodia’s central lowlands. Long-distance driving defines the day with a consistent rhythm. Flat terrain allows smooth and uninterrupted progress. Rural settlements and farmland dominate the scenery. Traffic increases gradually approaching the capital. The contrast between coastal calm and urban density becomes clear. Phnom Penh appears expansive and active. Evening time balances rest with the energy of the city.
Summary
Distance: ~230 km
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Accommodation: 3–4 stars Hotel
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Day 6: : Phnom Penh - Free Day
This day is reserved for rest without long-distance driving. Time is available for light exploration at an easy pace. The slower rhythm provides recovery after several travel stages. Short local movements remain optional. The day allows adjustment to Cambodia’s capital environment. Evening time stays flexible and calm.
Summary
Distance: ~0 km
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Accommodation: 3–4 stars Hotel
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Day 7: : Phnom Penh - Battambang
Leaving the capital, the drive turns northwest into agricultural heartlands. Long scenic sections encourage smooth and composed driving. Traffic thins steadily outside urban zones. The landscape feels open and spacious, shaped by rice cultivation. Elevation remains flat, keeping the drive relaxed. The sense of rural Cambodia grows stronger with distance. Battambang arrives with a slower provincial pace. Evening time is calm and understated.
Summary
Distance: ~290 km
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Accommodation: 3–4 stars Hotel
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Day 8: : Battambang - Siem Reap
The route continues across fertile plains toward the cultural north. Driving remains smooth and predictable. Traffic stays light, allowing consistent progress. Rural scenery dominates with little variation in elevation. The journey feels short and unforced. Cultural significance grows nearing the destination. Siem Reap arrives with a clear shift in atmosphere. Evening time is relaxed and comfortable.
Summary
Distance: ~170 km
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Accommodation: 3–4 stars Hotel
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Day 9: : Siem Reap - Stung Treng
Leaving the Angkor region, the drive heads northeast along the Mekong corridor. Terrain remains mostly flat but feels more remote. Traffic drops noticeably as settlements become sparse. Long-distance driving defines the rhythm of the day. River influence becomes increasingly visible. The sense of frontier travel grows steadily. Stung Treng appears quietly along the Mekong. Evening time is calm and grounded.
Summary
Distance: ~300 km
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Accommodation: 3–4 stars Hotel
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Day 10: : Stung Treng - Kong Island
The drive follows the Mekong deeper into border regions. Landscapes flatten further, shaped by river systems and forest edges. Traffic remains minimal throughout the day. Progress feels steady and unhurried. Villages appear infrequently, reinforcing isolation. The sense of overland scale becomes clear. Kong Island arrives with a quiet riverine atmosphere. Evening time is reflective and still.
Summary
Distance: ~210 km
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Accommodation: 3–4 stars Hotel
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Day 11: : Kong Island - Attapeu
Leaving the Mekong corridor, the route turns east toward southern Laos highlands. Elevation increases gradually across rolling terrain. Forested sections replace river landscapes. Traffic stays extremely light. The drive feels isolated and expansive. Long scenic stretches encourage steady pacing. Attapeu appears near border regions with a quiet provincial feel. Evening time is calm after a committed inland stage.
Summary
Distance: ~230 km
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Accommodation: 3–4 stars Hotel
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Day 12: : Attapeu - Hoi An
The final day marks a major cross-border transition back into Vietnam. Mountain terrain tightens with pronounced elevation change. Scenic curves and valleys define the long descent toward the coast. Traffic increases gradually approaching populated regions. The contrast between inland isolation and coastal life becomes clear. Long-distance driving remains composed and controlled. Light opens toward the shoreline late in the day. Arrival in Hoi An concludes the expedition with a distinct cultural and atmospheric shift.
Summary
Distance: ~420 km
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch
Price
| 2-4 pax | 5-8 pax | 9 - 12 pax | 13+ pax | |
| Price / 1 Pax / 1 Day | 200 USD | 180 USD | 160 USD | Contact Us |
| CHOOSE THE CAR | ||||
| Wildtrack 2.2 2022+ |
Toyota Hilux 2022+ |
Wildtrack 3.2 2022+ |
Raptor 2022+ |
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| Price / 1 Car / 1 Day | 70 USD | 70 USD | 80 USD | 90 USD |
Inclusions
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1 English Speaking Guide & 1 Driver
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Lead the routes by 4x4 Pick Up Truck
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Good Accommodation: 3 - 4 Stars Hotel – Twins or the best Hotel in area
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All Meals On Tour
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Luxury Bus Pickup and Drop off
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Water - Coffee during a day
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Ferry Fee
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Hotel before & after Tour
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Welcome & Farewell Dinner
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All sightseeing tickets and travel permits on frontier
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Material insurance for cars 50 - 70%
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Third Party Insurance
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Gasoline/ Petrol
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Walkie-Talkie
Excludes
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Personal insurance - Travel insurance (this at your own risk)
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4G SIM Card - You can buy Viettel 4G sim at airport around 10$
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Air ticket
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Soft Drink, Beers, Alcoholic drinks
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Personal expenses & Other expenses not described in the itinerary
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Visa
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Note
• 1 Sweeper Car will come in every 7 Cars
• Cameraman 200$ / 1 day for Photos + Flycam/ FPV + 2 Clips after tour
• Single Supplement for Single Occupancy – Price will be informed upon the tour you book
Halong Bay Cruise + 100$ / 1 person
• Transfer the car back to Depature Spot 400$ / 1 car
• Deposit for Car $ 2000 by credit card for each car. This is used for Car Damage and Fines. The deposit will be released after 1 month
Children
• 5 – under 8: No Charge – can take with 4 people 1 car
• 8 – under 12: 50% of the price – can take with 4 people 1 car
• 12 – under 16: 75% of price – as an adult, not more than 4 people 1 car
• From 16 as an adult
test 1
Group Tour
| No. | Arrival date | Tour end date | Bikes | Tour name | Slot | Book tour |
| 1 | 16/06/2026 | 30/06/2026 | DIRTBIKE | Vietnam Dirtbike Expedition 14 Days: The Classic Route from Hanoi to Saigon | 10 | Book now |
Related tour
Hello Riders!
Tour: The Roots of Mekong Indochina 4×4 One Way Tour 12 Days: Mekong Adventure Route
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12 days 11 nights
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2540 KM
Tour Highlights
- Mekong Frontier Indochina 4x4 traces the river backbone of mainland Southeast Asia.
- Vietnam Cambodia Laos Overland delivers a seamless multi-country expedition.
- Mekong Delta River Life showcases floating communities and fertile waterways.
- Can Tho Floating Markets reveal daily commerce shaped by the river.
- Chau Doc Border River reflects cultural exchange along frontier waterways.
- Phu Quoc Island Edge introduces tropical seascapes and coastal rhythm.
- Ha Tien Coastal Crossing marks the transition from Vietnam into Cambodia.
- Phnom Penh Mekong Capital contrasts river heritage with urban energy.
- Battambang Rural Plains display Cambodia’s agricultural heartland.
- Siem Reap Inland Cambodia blends open countryside with cultural depth.
- Stung Treng Upper Mekong highlights remote riverfront landscapes.
- Southern Laos Borderlands define isolation, forests, and frontier life.
Pickup from
Saigon
Contact info
