Mekong Cruises: Saigon - My Tho tour 1 day
Highlight of tour: The colourful floating markets, emerald rice fields, lus back waterways; these are the things that make the Mekong so interesting. Journey to Vinh Long and cruise the water systems on your private boat, walk along the famous 'Monkey Bridges' that link the villages together.

    *My Tho : My Tho sprawls along the bank of the northernmost branch of the Mekong River. Its proximity to Saigon has made My Tho the most popular destination for day-trippers who hope to catch a taste of authentic Mekong delta life. Here visitors can take a sampan along the waterways, visit orchards and try the local famous food of Elephant's Ear Fish...
    * Life On The River: The people living in the Mekong Delta make their living as farmers and fishermen. Often, they live right on the edge of the rivers or canals on various structures built from whatever materials found. Consequently, the architecture along the delta varies from place to place. Often, many homes have fisheries right under them. Enterprising individuals build a cage like structure of bamboo beneath their homes on these waterways to house fishes. As the fishes grew, they sell the whole batch to processors from the city and start with new ones.   Life in the delta is tightly woven with its rivers as daily activities and businesses are conducted on its banks. Markets, stores, ship yards, repair shops are some of the more popular trades.

Detailed itinerary

AM: 08h30 depart from the economic centre of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, for a visually enchanting drive to Ben Tre. As you leave the bustling city behind, the scenery changes for lush rice paddies to an area is referred to locally as the rice bowl of Vietnam.

On arrival in Ben Tre Province head towards Tien Giang where you will board your sampan for a cruise among the aptly named Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle and Phoenix Islands. En route visit a small factory producing handicrafts made of coconut. Once on Turtle Island, visit a typical orchard where you can taste their exotic fruit.

Next, board smaller boats (3 to 4 people per boat) for a more  adventurous cruise on the Xep Canal, this is set amongst a forest of palm trees. After the boat trip, take a ride on a horse driven cart to the famed garden of Mr Tam Nen for a honey tasting session.

Embark once more by boat to Turtle Island where a selection of Mekong delicacies will be served for lunch.

PM: Return to Ben Tre for a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City, arrive about 17. 00.


Includeds: All of transportation, boat, tour guide, entrance fee (s), lunch and complimentary water.