Song Xanh Sampan Cruise

DAY 1: CAI BE – SA DEC – CAN THO (L,D)

About 8.00am, you are picked up at hotel by our driver to transfer to Cai Be. The cruise starts at around 10.am from our pier in Phu An hamlet located next to Cai Be town. Upon embarkation on your sampan you will be welcomed by our crew. After your installation, the cruise will begin with the visit of some local home factories where you will be able to observe how rice paste, coconut candies and other specialties are traditionally made. We will then proceed to Cai Be colorful floating market, cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables.

Your sampan will take direction of Vinh Long and Sa Dec, cruising upstream on the Tien Giang River, one of the two large arms of the Mekong. We will then cruise on a small beautiful canal through water jacinth plantations… You will disembark to take a small rowing boat for a cruise along a narrow canal passing by a local tiny village and fruit plantations. Further 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.

Sa Dec town will appear like a little “Venice” with numerous narrow canals. You will disembark at the local market place for a guided visit of this charming town, walking along its narrow streets where beautiful French old houses and Chinese temples dating from the last century are numerous. Visit at an ancient house dating from 1890, home of Ong. Huyen Thuy Le, the “Lover” of Marguerite Duras famous novelist. Back on board your sampan, your lunch will be served while we will be cruising down to Can Tho along a beautiful narrow canal, passing under several wooden “monkey bridges” and by tiny typical villages.

Some stops on the banks will be possible to establish contacts with the local population. A visit will be done at a Cao Daist temple. Before sunset, we will have our last stop on the banks arranged at a splendid ancient house or “Nha Co” dating from the early 19th century. After being greeted by the owners, we will cater a candlelight dinner for you, an unforgettable experience in a unique atmosphere. After dinner, we will proceed the cruise for approximately one hour until Can Tho. We will moor for the night in a quiet place. Your bed will be ready for your first night on the Mekong river.

DAY 2: CAI RANG – CAN THO (B)

At around 06:00 am, your sampan will slowly start cruising. Your breakfast will be served on board at approximately 07am, while approaching Cai Rang floating market, actually the largest in the whole Mekong delta. We will pass by countless sampan boats carrying sand, rice, fruits and vegetables, fish, flowers… showing an intense activity on the river. Your cruise journey will end at around 10am at Ninh Kieu pier after a visit at Can Tho local market. Here your driver is waiting for your transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.

End of the cruise and services.

The cruise program can be reversed starting from Can Tho & ending in Cai Be

(with supplement 15 USD/person)

*During the cruise, fresh cotton towerls, exotic seasonal fruits, hot green tea and two bottles of water will be served daily free.

Included:

• 2 Days cruise on private charter basis.
• English crew assistance
• Experienced English/French speaking-biking guides on board
• Entrance fees
• Bicycles and “Xuong” Rowing boat rides
• Meals (as specified in the itinerary)
• Service charges, taxes

Excluded:

• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses
• Insurance
• Other private expenses
• All services not clearly included.

DAY 1: CAI BE – PHU AN – DONG HOA HIEP / VINH LONG / SA DEC (L,D)

8.00, our driver picks you up at hotel. Transfer to Cai Be. The excursion starts from Cai Be town pier at around 10.00 am.

Upon embarkation on your sampan-hotel, 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. Further, 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 cruising the Tien Giang river, one of the two large arms of the Mekong. 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.

We will then cruise on a small beautiful canal through water jacinth plantations… You will take a small rowing boat for a cruise along a narrow canal passing by a local tiny village and fruit plantations. Further 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. 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, Chinese temples and Vietnamese Dinh are dating from the last century…

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”). Before sunset, we will have our last stop on the banks arranged at a splendid ancient house or “Nha Co” dating from the early 19th century. After being greeted by the owners, we will cater a delicious dinner for you, an unforgettable experience in a unique atmosphere. First night on the Mekong river…

Overnight in Song Xanh Sampan

DAY 2: SA DEC – 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 at an ancient house located by the river in the suburbs of Cho Moi, where your dinner will be arranged. 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 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 19thcentury.

We will reach Chau Doc late in the morning. Located on the upper Mekong Delta, the town is 280 km south-west of Saigon on to the Cambodian border. With such proximity the local population is an eclectic mix of Cham, Khmer, Chinese and Vietnamese sharing different cultures and historical richness. At around 11am, you will disembark at Chau Doc main city pier. Car transfer back to Saigon.

*During the cruise, fresh cotton towerls, exotic seasonal fruits, hot green tea and two bottles of water will be served daily free.

The cruise program can be reversed starting from Chau Doc for travellers arriving from Phnom Penh/Cambodia

Cruise Price:  (Price  in US dollar)

*At the time of quotation, Travel Sense Asia reserves the right to adjustprices to take account of unusual movements in currency markets, hotel and transport costs as a result of inflationary price pressures in oil and other commodity markets.

Included:

• Private transfer: Saigon – Cai Be, Can Tho – Saigon
• During the cruise, fresh cotton towels, exotic seasonal fruits ,hot green tea and mineral water will be served free of charge.
• 3 Days cruise on private charter basis.
• English crew assistance
• Experienced English speaking-biking guides with enthusiastic, friendly, knowledgeable and helpful
• Entrance fees
• Meals (as specified in the itinerary).
• Service charges, taxes

Excluded:

• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses
• Insurance
• Other private expenses
• All services not clearly included.