• vietnam
  • November 2012

cycle the central highlands, build a kids' soccer field in the Mekong Delta

Challenge MeterDates: November 3-17 (dates can be flexible)
Price For 5-7 people: $3,199 / person
Price For 8-10 people: $2,799 / person

Single supplement available upon request.


For 7 days, explore the Central Highlands way off the tourist path, exploring a mind-blowing region of Southeast Asia by bicycle. Then, in 3 short days,  build a first-ever soccer field for ethnic Khmer students in the Mekong Delta, working alongside members of an ethnic Khmer community. 

That's adventure philanthropy in action.


The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~ St. Augustine


expedition route & itinerary

Our 7-day cycling route begins in the white-sand coastal city of Nha Trang and leads north and then west into the Central Highlands and the coffee-growing provincial capital, Buôn Ma Thuột. From there, we cycle south, through some truly stunning valleys and over a few challenging passes to Dalat, an alpine redoubt infused with French-colonial accents like fresh croissants and strong coffee.

Daily cycling mileage and terrain varies from 35km to 70km, taking you into the rugged and lesser-seen regions of the southern Central Highlands, home to indigenous tribal communities. We're always looking for serendipity in our schedule, and sometimes that results in shared meals—and some rice wine—with local residents. Our brand-name mountain bikes are provided by our Dalat-based partner, Phat Tire Ventures.

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your volunteer project

This adventure philanthropy expedition begins its second phase in the Mekong Delta, in the coastal town, Rach Gia.

In just 3 days, alongside the local community and in cooperation with our non-profit partner, the Catalyst Foundation, you'll build a soccer field for kids in the community.

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expedition cost & timeframe

This adventure philanthropy expedition began Sunday, November 4, in Nha Trang, a city of palm trees & long, white-sand beaches. The cycling ends in Dalat on November 10, spending two nights there to unwind after our two-wheel adventure.

In the Mekong Delta our house-building project will last 3 days, through November 15. On Friday, November 16, we'll fly back to Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City), for a celebratory dinner and the closing moments of our expedition.

The cost of this adventure philanthropy expedition includes all lodging, domestic air and ground transportation and most meals - excluding those taken on your own - quality mountain bikes, a support van and a fully developed volunteer project that we'll start and finish in 3 days.

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lodging & food

We're traveling through Vietnam's breadbasket, and the food we'll encounter along our route promises to be healthy, fresh, delicious…and mostly Vietnamese. Lots of noodle and rice-based dishes with fresh vegetables, sauces and soups. Vegetarians and meat eaters each do quite well in Vietnam.

Expedition members can expect single rooms in superior hotels upon your arrival in Nha Trang, for a soft landing after a long journey from home. During our 7 days cycling and during our volunteer project days in the Mekong Delta, we'll be staying by necessity in clean if quite basic hotels in the central highlands.

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arrival & departure

You should arrive in Nha Trang on or before Saturday, November 3.

Connecting flights are easily made from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, often on the same day as your international arrival.

Departures from Vietnam can begin from Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday, November 17.

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Get an Invitation to Join This Expedition
Expedition Map
Catalyst Foundation

Interested in joining this adventure philanthropy expedition and have additional questions?

Email ask@roadmonkey.net,
or Call us +1-323-924-8351

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Adventurers Who Travel Different, Talk About It:

What you are doing has had a huge affect on all of us, internally. Externally, there is a playground where there was none and a bit more hope than there was just a week ago. There are ties forged by the experience that go both ways, and cross oceans, that will never be undone. It's a beautiful thing.
~ John, architect (Vietnam 2010)

Thank you for an incredible trip. I was surprised to return from travel to a new land feeling rejuvenated by and indebted to a group of people I traveled with. We Roadmonkeys dug our toes into foreign soil and I got the feeling that, in a little over a week, we were let in on some of the secrets Peru keeps from travelers of convenience.
~ McKenna, hedge fund administrator (Peru 2010)

I was hoping for a trip through which I would learn about and participate in another culture and be challenged mentally, emotionally and physically in a relatively safe format. The Roadmonkey trip fulfilled and, then, wildly exceeded all my expectations.
~ Chelsea, biochemist (Vietnam 2009)

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