The countryside around Ha Tien is great for back roads cycling, which is why I’ve mapped out these out and back rides, along with a self-guided walking tour.
Ha Tien is a medium size rural town near Phu Quoc Island in southern Vietnam. It’s better known as a transit point between Cambodia and Phu Quoc, but is a great place to visit in its own right.
I used Ha Tien as the kick-off point for my five-day Mekong Delta cycling route. It is blissfully free from the crazy traffic you’ll see in most Vietnamese towns and the perfect place to acclimatise to the conditions.
There are some awesome (and completely un-touristy) sights to see in Ha Tien, making it easy to fill two or even three days.
Alternatively, if you wanted to do the route in reverse and finish up with some beach time, several ferries per day leave Ha Tien for Phu Quoc.
Ha Tien lighthouse loop
Read more about this route here.
Climb to the top of Nui Nai to savour the view before looping back around the scenic coast road.
The temples of Ha Tien
Read more about this route here.
Even if you’re not into temples, this is a great trip for checking out the surrounding countryside. But… there are some really, really nice temples. This route also takes in the Ngoc Tien monastery with its weirdly cool architecture and fantastic views.
Caves, countryside and a touch of Cambodia
Read more about this route here.
Two routes (or combine them into one) that take you through the rural flatlands between Ha Tien’s mystical hills and right up near the border. Cave lovers can stop at two cave sites.
‘Best of’ route
If you only have a few hours, here’s circular, 26 km route covering the best, most scenic roads.
Walking (or slow cycling) tour
Ok, so this isn’t a countryside ride, but I’ll include it anyway. This route takes in some of Ha Tien’s attractive leafy back streets along with secret laneways and heritage homes. It’s a lovely one to do in the evening, when the town’s swiftlet population returns to their nests
Read more:
Top ten things to do in Ha Tien
