Day 1: Saigon - Cai Be - An Phu - Dong Hoa Hiep -/ Vinh Long/ Sa
Dec (L,D)
Morning pick up you at 7:30
am transfer to Cai Be where you will embank the Song
Xanh Sampan , the excursion starts from Cai Be town pier
at around 10.00 am. you will be welcomed with fresh
cotton towels.After your installation, the cruise will
begin with the visit of Cai Be colorful floating market
cruising among local barges full of fruits and
vegetables.Visits will be made at an ancient mandarin
house dating from 1890 where you will we welcomed by the
owner. Another stop at some local home factories
will allow you to observe how rice paste, coconut
candies and other specialties are traditionally made.
We will proceed to Phu An hamlet, an untouched beautiful
area reflecting some of the best sights the Mekong Delta
can offer.
A
delicious lunch will await you at "Le Longanier", a
superb Indochinese villa located by the river, in a lush
tropical garden surrounded by fruit plantations.After
lunch, your sampan will proceed to Sa Dec via Vinh Long,
cruising by Dong Phu and An Binh islets famous for their
fruit orchards. These evergreen islands among the Mekong
River bring about large networks of meandering rivers,
criss-crossed with countless arroyos, and remaining
unknown to many people. Crossing the large Co Chien
River we will pass under the spectacular My Thuan
Bridge.
On the
banks, some dark smokes in the sky will lead us to one
of the largest artisanal bricks and tiles factory where
you will have an interesting visit. Further, Sa Dec town
will appear like a little “Venice” with numerous narrow
canals…You
will disembark for a guided visit of this charming and
peaceful town, walking along its narrow streets where
beautiful French old houses and Chinese temples dating
from the last century are numerous… You will visit the
local market and the Trung Vuong primary school where
well known writer Marguerite Duras spent her childhood
(see her famous novel turned into the movie “The
Lover”). Back on board your sampan, you will enjoy
a romantic dinner served on the deck during the
sunset.First night on the Mekong river…
Day 2: Sac De - Long Xuyen - Cho Moi (B,L,D)
The
breakfast will be served on board at 07am.Your
Sampan will slowly leave Sa Dec and proceed the cruise
upstream the river to Long Xuyen, a peaceful provincial
town located on the Mekong’s banks. We will pass by
several luxuriant islands, crossing countless sampan
boats carrying sand, rice, fruits and vegetables,
fishes, showing an intense activity on the river.
Approaching Long Xuyen, your lunch will be served on
board. Later, you will have a quick tour of Long Xuyen
typical center before cruising further to “Cu Lao Ong
Ho” (The Tiger Island) for a visit at Ton Duc Thang
museum, second president of Vietnam…We will proceed
upstream on the Mekong river to Chau Doc. Some stops on
the banks will be possible for cycling tours to discover
deeper the inhabitants life style. In the evening, we
will organize for you an exciting experience in a
village located in the suburbs of Cho Moi, where your
dinner will be arranged at some typical local house. You
will be able to share experiences with family members
and learn about traditional Southern Vietnam lifestyle,
one of the highlights of your journey on the Mekong
which should not be forgotten! Back on board your
private sampan for your second night on the river.
Day 3: Cho Moi - Chau Doc (B)
Early morning,
your breakfast will be served on board while we will be
cruising to Chau Doc.We will cruise on a beautiful
river, little arm of the Mekong, where several
traditional activities can be observed on the banks
(artisanal boat factories, bamboo baskets making, palm
leaves cutting, net fishing), as well as old Vietnamese
temples dating from late 19th century.
We will
be cruising the Bassac river before entering Chau Doc.
The town is famous for its floating fish farming
villages, floating markets and Cham villages, an ancient
Muslim ethnic population with their kingdom covering
Cambodia and south Vietnam during the 10th
century. Located on the upper Mekong Delta, Chau Doc
town is 280 km (174 miles) south-west of Ho Chi Minh
City close to the Cambodian border. With such proximity
to Cambodia, the local population is an eclectic mix of
Cham, Khmer, Chinese and Vietnamese, sharing different
cultures and historical richness. Your cruise journey
will end before noon in Chau Doc where you will be pick
up and transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel in Chau Doc
Day 4 : Chau Doc - Phnom Penh (B)
After breakfast, we transfer to boat pier for deparutre
to Phnom Penh by speed boat (leave 7.00 am, arrive Phnom Penh ~
12.00). End of tour.
