Life along the Mekong

Experience overview

Discover what life is truly like along the riverbanks of Southeast Asia’s most famous river on this scenic 3-day cruise. Chat with Buddhist Nuns at the Phuoc Hue Buddhist Monastery in Sa Dec, stroll through quiet riverside villages in Long Xuyen and get a glimpse of rural life in Chau Doc. Complete the experience with a visit to the iconic Chau Doc floating market for a glimpse of life in the Mekong River Basin.

Highlights

  • Ho Chi Minh City – Sa Dec – Long Xuyen - Chau Doc Floating Market

Ho Chi Minh City – Sa Dec – Long Xuyen - Chau Doc Floating Market


Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City - Long Xuyen - Chau Doc

In the morning, meet with our friendly driver and make your way to My Thuan Bridge in Ho Chi Minh City. Here, board your Song Xanh sampan and set off down the river whilst enjoying a re-freshing welcoming drink.

Arrive in Sa Dec and disembark for a visit to the Buddhist Nuns Monastery of Phuoc Hue. Take a stroll around this peaceful provincial monastery where young girls learn the teachings of Bud-dhism. Then, take a stroll around one of Sa Dec’s famous flower nurseries before heading back to the boat for a tasty Vietnamese lunch. Feast on a delicious selection of Vietnamese special-ties as you drift passed unspoiled landscapes and children playing by riverbank.

Stop half-way down the canal for a visit to a small local village. Here, get a glimpse of local life as you meet with friendly villagers and learn about their daily rituals.

Back on the boat; continue sailing down the river before disembarking at Vam Cong Jetty in Long Xuyen. From here, embark on a short car ride through the countryside to the country town of Chau Doc. Here, have the option to stop at either Victoria Chau Doc Hotel on the Bassac River or at Victoria Nui Sam Lodge, a charming retreat nestled on nearby Sam Mountain.

 

Day 2: Chau Doc market - Cham Village - Nui Sam Lodge

Rise early and board a smaller boat to head to the famous Chau Doc floating market in the Mekong Delta. Located at the intersection of winding waterways, lush paddy fields, life here is governed by the ebb and flow of Vietnam’s most iconic river. As you cruise through the floating market, see traders and farmers arriving from the surrounding countryside to sell their fruit, vegetables and fish en mass.

Continue past the floating fish farms on your way to a local Cham Village, where you will hear the story of one of Vietnam’s most fascinating ethnic groups. Afterwards, head back to your boat and continue cruising up the Vinh Te Canal towards the iconic Sam Mountain, built during the Nguyen Dynasty.

Arrive at the base of Sam Mountain and visit two of the iconic temples that draw pilgrims from around the region. Finish with lunch at the beautiful Nui Sam Lodge, savouring spectacular pan-oramic views of the countryside.

 

Day 3: Chau Doc - Phnom Penh

Disembark at the pier and board a speedboat to Phnom Penh.

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What our clients say about us

Zeev
Dec 2023
star star star star star
We took a 16-day private tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. The tour company suggested a detailed itinerary, and we accepted it with minor changes. We had three domestic flights, and on every landing were met by our local guide on arrival. All guides spoke fluent English and were very knowledgeable. This was a trip of a lifetime. Dont miss the Red Bridge cooking school class in Hoi An - the chef has created a phenomenal program that starts with the tour of the local market and explanation of the vegetables and spices used in local cuisine. Highly recommended!
Daniel
Oct 2023
star star star star star
My family and I completed a 12 day cycling trip with Vietnam Private Tours, and we had a blast. Our route started in Saigon, rode along the Mekong river, discovered Mekong delta, and relaxed on the Phu Quoc beaches is southern Vietnam. We loved the adventurous off-road routes, and we were comfortable the whole way thanks to the excellent support staff. We also loved supporting Vietnam Private Tours because of the amazing work they do with many charities, especially the incredible children’s hospital in Mekong delta.
Richard
July 28, 2023
star star star star star
We just finished a 14-day cycling tour from Saigon to Siem Reap, spending 7 nights on board the Mekong River. We rode bikes 30k to 70 km daily, to the Mekong Delta rice fields. My Way Travel really understood that not everyone would will to ride, so they already made provision for people who didn’t ride with us. The guides were excellent and so was the trip. We really loved the boat, it had everything we needed on it. A group of 16 people were accommodated in 8 cabins, which means there were 2 people in a cabin. The food and drinks were all in abundance. Free Wi-Fi and laundry service were available too. The local people were amazingly friendly, and the environments really gave us a sense of relief. The hotels at either end of the trip were exemplary. Above all, we have made our minds to always use My Travel on every trip occasion, due to the great experience we had with them.
Ani
Dec 2023
star star star star star
Had an awesome time biking to Mekong Delta from Saigon last week. Beautiful views, peaceful rural paths, and lots of cool stops. The guides took great care of us. Definitely recommend VPT for biking in Mekong Delta and other tours in Vietnam.
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