Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City

Early morning, depart from Ho Chi Minh City and head west to Cai Be before finally reaching Tan Phong Islet - a bucolic place with verdant orchards filled with tropical fruits. The islet offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fresh fruit right off the tree, pedal along quiet paths, stroll through quaint village scenes, and visit family-run workshops that produce handicrafts and traditional items such as rice paper, woven mats, and conical hats.

Afterwards, you will get on a rowing boat to meander via smaller canals to further immerse yourself in the countryside of the Mekong Delta region. Slow down to admire the tranquillity, spot traditional houses made of wood or palm leaves, and observe age-old farming activities. You can also interact with the friendly locals here. After lunch, you will travel to Can Tho for an overnight.

Included meals:  lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho

Get up at the crack of dawn for an exciting discovery tour of Mekong’s cultural rhythms. Our first destination will be the busy Cai Rang floating market, where dozens of boats gather to trade tropical fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other goods. On each boat, you’ll spot a long pole with one end attached to a piece of item, indicating what the boat owner is selling. After venturing into the lively market on water, you will return to your hotel for breakfast and rest.

Leaving Can Tho, resume your exploration of the delta by traveling towards Chau Doc. In the mid-afternoon, you will get into Tra Su Cajuput Forest - a flooded area whose wetland ecosystem represents the delta’s biodiversity. Here you can enjoy a quiet boat ride through narrow canals, watch the flora and fauna up close, and spot bamboo stilt houses in which inhabitants live in harmony with the vegetation of the forest. The 10m-high tower in the middle of the site provides an excellent vantage point for a 360-degree view over the forest. From there, you may even catch sight of storks and egrets perched in the trees.

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Chau Doc
Distance: 120 kilometers – 3 hours 
Notes: It is better to visit the forest between 3:30 and 4:00 or 5:00 pm because this is the time when the birds fly back to their nests in groups every day

Start the day with a boat tour of Chau Doc floating village on the upstream of the Hau River, which provides an informative insight into the unique river-based lifestyle of the local communities. Then you will travel by car to Sa Dec, a river port that was once a base for the American Army during the Vietnam War. This city also served as the setting for Marguerite Duras’ semi-autobiographical novel “L’Amant”, since part of the story is set there. The house of the novel’s protagonist, a wealthy Chinese man, has even been granted the status of national historical site. In the afternoon, get on the road to return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Not applicable