The program is organized by Otosaigon forum under the name Caravan Summer 2014. The total distance for the round trip is 3,600 km along the route: Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh - Koh Kong - Hua Hin - Phuket - Chum Phon - Battamban - Phnom Penh - Ho Chi Minh City. With the places that the group passes through, the participants will have the opportunity to drive from Vietnam through Cambodia to Southern Thailand during the period from June 14 to June 22, 2014.
On the first day of the trip, June 14, 2014, the group departed at dawn to Moc Bai border gate, Tay Ninh. Thanks to the professionalism in the organization, the exit and entry procedures for both people and vehicles were very quick.
It only takes about 15 minutes to complete immigration procedures for both people and vehicles at Moc Bai and Bavet border gates, Cambodia.
Upon arriving in Cambodia, the traffic conditions were very good and the Mercedes-Benz vehicles had a very smooth ride. The excitement was evident on every face, from members over 60 years old to children who had just turned 6.
In particular, the safety of the journey is guaranteed by the "navigator" CLA 200 leading the way. Meanwhile, the GLK carrying Mercedes-Benz Vietnam's technical staff always stays at the end of the group to provide technical support.
Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 as Caravan leader
From Phnom Penh to Koh Kong, follow Highway 48. On both sides of the road are vast fields and cool green forests. Occasionally, you will come across a sparsely populated area, but on both sides are primeval forests and beautiful winding mountain passes.
The good road surface combined with the superior performance of the famous Mercedes-Benz products meant that the whole convoy often traveled at speeds ranging from 100km/h to 140km/h. The convoy always headed west, so the sunset always hung in front of them, looking very interesting…
Cambodian roads are very suitable for Mercedes-Benz vehicles to demonstrate their performance characteristics.
It was getting dark when the bus arrived in Koh Kong province. Koh Kong is a small city in Cambodia located in the southwest, about 300 km from Phnom Penh. This small city is about 7 km from the Cambodia-Thailand border.
Coming to Koh Kong, we were also attracted by the many pristine beaches on Koh Kong Island and the tourist areas interspersed among the coastal mangrove forests, along the Ta Tai River. Like all other Cambodian border gates, near the border are very magnificent casinos.
Koh Kong is a province that has just been discovered as a relatively new and unexplored destination but has the potential to develop eco-tourism and adventure tourism. The 1.6 km long Koh Kong bridge across the river is also called Thai Bridge because about 7 km away, it will reach the Cham Yeam border gate of Cambodia connecting to Khlong Yai border gate and Had Lek town in Trat province of Thailand.
Koh Kong is also attractive for its many pristine beaches.
The jungle rains have brought a wonderful cool breeze to Koh Kong, and a good night's sleep at the border will be a rejuvenating medicine for the whole group, so that tomorrow they will leave for Hua Hin - Thailand with a distance of nearly 500 km.
Memorable images of the first day of the MBFC Caravan journey:
The Mercedes-Benz "doctor" of the entire MBFC Caravan 2014 group
A scene on the road from Phnom Penh to Koh Kong
When traveling on the road, be careful of animals like cows and elephants.
The MBFC convoy continuously moved at high speed.
The cars automatically pulled over to make way for the convoy.
Traffic signs on Cambodian roads are easy to observe.
A roadside gas station
The older members of the group
Many young members are very excited about the journey.
The "super" Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG joins the program
Minutes of restThe path of the "navigator" leading the CLA 200 group
Silk clouds appear after the rain
