Itinerary
NOTICE:
The tour includes a short cycling trip that suits for the children from 12 years or above. For safety reasons, we do not provide small bikes for young children who are under 12 years of age, as local traffics behavior is quite different from the West or developed countries. Children are under 12 are REQUIRED to sit on the back of the bike. In some exceptional cases, the Western children (ages from 9-12) are taller the average Asian children, she/he can ride a bike her/himself.
Day 1: Saigon – Ben Tre – Vinh Long (_, Lunch, Dinner)
7:30: Begin your journey with 2 hours drive to a picturesque little province of Ben Tre where tourists are still a scarce species and locals are open and friendly. We get boarded our boat for a cruise on the Mekong River to watch local daily life and enjoy fresh tropical fruits which are well-known in the Mekong area. Continuing our Mekong discover, we'll travel by Xe Loi (motorized cart). Your local guide will explain how the local people make their living at the coconut-processing factory. As we meander down the Mekong, we'll have a chance to visit local villages in the area and learn more about the traditional lifestyles, culture, and customs of people who call the Delta their home. Then to a hand-rowing sampan to wind through some green, lush, picturesque canals between lines of nipa palm. For lunch, you will be served home-prepared dishes of delicious Vietnamese food.
After lunch, we continue your journey by car (around 2 hours) to an untouched area of Vinh Long called Tra On. We will take a local ferry to reach the homestay you will be greeted by the friendly host family. After having a short break, we will get ready to cook dinner with the host and enjoy delicious home-prepared dishes as well as share stories about life in the Mekong Delta. Stay overnight at the homestay.
Day 2: Vinh Long – Can Tho (Breakfast, Lunch, _)
7:00 AM We start off by a local ferry, enjoy the fresh air on the Mekong River, we stop at a colorful land market in Tra On for the view of trading customs as well watching the friendly market goers buying their food for the incoming meals then have your breakfast at the market like locals.
After breakfast, we will have a stunning bicycle ride as your guide will take you weaving through the canal trails and orchard paths into the charming villages with paddy fields, pagodas and meeting friendly, welcoming people (around 2,5 - 3 hours, including visits along the way).
Finish the bike trip, we come back the homestay when your delicious lunch is ready. We take it easy after lunch by relaxing on the hammock.
Soon we will have to say goodbye to our friendly hosts (at around 3 pm) for our trip to for Can Tho. We will travel like a local by taking a local wooden boat (about 1,5 hour), the nice & cool wind is blowing on your cheek while you are watching the daily life activities along with the Mekong River.
As the name of the tour implies, you will be immersed yourself the Delta way of life. This is why we choose the local boat instead of a car for this route (however, traveling by CAR can be requested if you do not like going on the boat).
We will arrive in Can Tho at around 4:30 pm, you will check-in to your hotel and have free time to explore the city in the evening (DINNER is NOT included for this evening).
Day 3: Can Tho - Floating Market - Ho Chi Minh City (Breakfast, Lunch, _)
7:30 Start your day early to enjoy peaceful fresh air in Mekong Delta, we take a short walk to Ninh Kieu Wharf, then get boarded on the boat to visit the Mekong Delta's most intimate and best floating market, Cai Rang - the biggest wholesale market floating market in the Mekong Delta. You will be able to observe authentic trading customs on boats and sê daily life on rivers where big boats are lined up with colorful fruits and vegetables such as pineapple, dragon fruit, watermelon, yam, and cabbage on the top of their boat. Look at what's tied to the long pole above the boat to figure out what they're selling to smaller traders. Then let’s enjoy an authentic Vietnamese breakfast like rice noodle “Bun” or “Hu Tieu”. It is very interesting to have your breakfast in the middle of the river and try to manage the chopstick and soup bowl while you are on a boat or floating restaurant. (optional, breakfast at the hotel is also included, you can choose either one at your desire).
After your stomach is filled up, we will continue the trip to visit an ancient Khmer temple to learn more about the local belief as well as discover the multi-culture of community in Mekong Delta.
On the way back to Ho Chi Minh City, you will stop to visit a beautiful island which is known as the heaven of fruits such as durian, rambutan, guava, and jack fruit...and fill your stomach with delicious seafood from Mekong river at our lovely restaurant. This tour ends upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City at your hotel around 4:00 PM.
*** Regarding the travellers who would like to stop the tour at Can Tho to continue your excursion to Phu Quoc/ Da Nang/ Ha Noi. We will visit a Cacao garden and Chocolate making process to learn about how people make chocolate from Cacao fruits to a bar of chocolate and listen to the inspired stories of the Mekong old man who spends all his love with Cacao trees on the motherland before ending the trip at Can Tho City at around 09:30AM. For this case, we will support to drop you off at the airport to replace your lunch and prepare a light snack for you. ***
Note: some activities can be rearranged due to unexpected situations (weather, tidal systems, etc.)
Important Notes
CONFIRMATION OF BOOKING
When you submit your booking, it does NOT mean your tour is booked. You will receive a confirmation email from our booking staff shortly.
If you do not hear back from us within 24 hours of your booking request, please check your SPAM or JUNK mail folder or contact us again via [email protected] or call us at (+84) 834391331. Thank you!
ESSENTIAL TRIP INFORMATION
1. We only offer free hotel pickup and drop off as long as your hotel is located in District 1 (some exclusions apply). We kindly request guests staying outside of our pickup areas to either meet us at the suggested meeting points in District 1 for the start of the tour.
2. Although children under five are free of charge. 50% of the adult price will be charged for the second child (if there are more than 1).
3. There will be quite a bit of driving on this tour as we have to cover a vast region.
ITINERARY DISCLAIMER
Please note that while we operate successful trips in this region throughout the year, some changes may occur in our itineraries due to inclement weather and common seasonal changes to timetables and transport routes. This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route.
Occasionally our itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers' comments and our own research.
The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary from time to time.
TOUR FAQs
What to prepare for the trip?
Passports
Sun cream
A small backpack
Sandals or similar
Mosquito repellent
Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, soap, shampoo etc)
Luggage?
You can either ask to leave those at your hotel (if possible) and carry a small bag/ backpack for your trip OR you can carry them on the tour. Those can be left on the car/ at the homestay.
Wear?
We do not have a dress code for our tours however, dress standards are conservative throughout Asia, especially outside major cities. To respect this and for your own comfort, we recommend modest clothing. This means clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate.
What is the homestay like?
Feel like home is what we can describe. Simple, basic but is sure to be a lasting memory of your tour. Our homestays are real local homes where you will stay with locals and see how the locals live, work and eat.
The room type is private OR or multi-share dormitory-style. However, the private rooms are limited so they will be offered on a first-come/first-serve basis. So if other guests book out your desired room, before you request us this type of room, we will only be able to arrange you the multi-share dormitory-style room.
Each room at the homestay is provided Vietnamese mattress, bed sheet, blanket, mosquito net and fan. The bathrooms and toilets (western style) are shared.
Homestay alternative?
Not so keen on staying in a homestay? No problem! Let’s stay in a Hotel instead.
However, this is a pre-designed tour which specializes in homestay and cycling. If you join a group tour we cannot change the activities out of consideration for our other guests. Thus, we have to make this tour private OR customize this tour base on your requests.
If you are still interested in the cycling, cooking and have dinner at a homestay, you still can take the "Mekong Trails & Tales" PRIVATE tour, we will just change the overnight at homestay to a 2 or 3-star hotel option. We will travel to Can Tho (takes 30 minutes) after dinner time (8 or 9 PM) to check-in to the hotel.
Otherwise, you can take a CUSTOM tour.
Is cycling safe and children-friendly?
Yes! Our tour is kid friendly. We design the tour to be entertained and suitable for guests from 4 years and older. Family with the child is under 4 is NOT recommended for this tour.
However, for safety reasons, we do not provide small bikes for young children who are under 12 years of age, as local traffics behavior is quite different from that from the West or developed countries. Children are under 12 are REQUIRED to sit on the back of the bike, baby seat for the bicycle is provided for children from 4-5 years.
In some exceptional cases, the Western children (ages from 9-12) are taller the average Asian children, she/he can ride a bike her/himself.
What is the riding like?
The cycling is approximately 10 - 12 km long and we cycle mostly on flat concrete paths and small paved, rural roads. We will make a few stops during the trip to visit local sights such as local workshop, temple, rice fields and also a water break. Thus, anyone who can reasonably ride a bike can do this ride.
Please note that our tour includes a 2,5 - 3 hours cycling as a sightseeing activity, it is NOT a cycling type of tour. Therefore, the bikes which are provided on the tour are typical Vietnamese student bikes.
Cycling alternative?
Can not/ do not like riding a bicycle? No problem. We will provide an alternative.
However, if you join a small group tour we CANNOT change the activities out of consideration for our other guests. Therefore, you will have to take a CUSTOM tour. Please send us your requests and we design your own special tour!
Continue to Phu Quoc / Phnom Penh after the tour?
Yep! This tour is for you.
The tour ends either in Ho Chi Minh City at around 5 pm (default) or Can Tho at around 1 pm where you can take a bus to Rach Gia (3 hours) OR Chau Doc (3,5 hours) and then continue your way to Phu Quoc / Phnom Penh.
Please note that boat to Phu Quoc only starts TWICE per day at around 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM, AND the express boat to Phnom Penh only start ONCE per day at around 7:30 AM. This means you have to stay overnight in Rach Gia / Chau Doc on the date of your tour finish.
Is there any malaria or dengue fever in the Mekong Delta?
Malaria is now under control in Vietnam so the risk of malaria is very low but dengue should be more of a concern which is common in Vietnam.
Although Mekong Delta is NOT a malaria area and mosquitoes are only active at dusk and dawn, you should consider using insect repellent if you intend to take on the trip.
Is tipping customary in Vietnam?
Although our trips are inclusive of all costs and we ensure our guides and local staff are paid fairly, if you’re happy with the services provided a tip – though NOT compulsory – is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it’s of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels and inspires excellent service. Although can be difficult to source we advise you to carry small notes of local currency each day to make tipping easier.
The following amounts are per person suggestions based on local considerations and feedback from our past travelers:
- Restaurants: Local markets and basic restaurants – round your bill up to the nearest US$1. More up-market restaurants we suggest 10% to 15% of your bill.
- Drivers: You may have a range of drivers on your trip. Some may be with you for a short journey while others may be with you for a few days. We would suggest a higher tip for those more involved with the group, however, we suggest US$1-US$2 per day for drivers.
- Your Tour Guide: We suggest US$3-US$5 per day for your tour guide for outstanding service throughout your trip
Of course, you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is NOT compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service. However, please DO NOT tip with coins, very small denomination notes, or dirty and ripped notes. This is regarded as culturally as an insult.
Varadi
21:09, 19/05/2024
Mekong Delta We spent 3 wonderful days in the Mekong Delta. The whole trip was very well organized and our guide, Mr. Henry, well informed and focused to make our trip as pleasant as possible. I highly recommend Innoviet Travel and Mr. Henry.