Find out more about Bassac Cruise.

DAY 1 : SAIGON – CAN THO (-/L/D)

07:30 You will be picked up you at your hotel for the transer to Can Tho.

Boarding at Can Tho at Ninh Kieu pier. Welcome drink, introduction to the ship and crew, check into the cabins. Departure downstream of the Hau river. Lunch on board while en route. Tour near Tra On floating market.

Turning into Nicolai canal, towards the Mang Thit and Co Chien rivers. Rest on the upper deck in a scenery of rice fields, sugar cane, woods on the near banks. By mid-afternoon, the Bassac casts anchor for a visit on shore: past the first tree line, quiet discovery of the peaceful life in the delta’s countryside, of rice fields, fruit trees and the welcoming inhabitants.

Boarding back, complimentary drink as a welcome back on board. Rest on the deck or around the bar enjoying the sunset. The crew will serve dinner while the Bassac is cruising Mang Thit river towards her anchorage point for the night. The Bassac sets anchor for the night on river Mang Thit.

DAY 2 : CAI BE – SAIGON (B/-/-)

06:30 Departure towards Cai Be. The passengers take their breakfast while enjoying the scenery on the banks. The Bassac crosses Co Chien river then branches into Cho Lach canal for 30 minutes through the traffic of sand and rice barges, in a scenery of fruit drying facilities and wooden ship building yards.

Arrival near Cai Be, check-out and transfer to a rowing boat for a quiet visit through a small canal. Rendez-vous with a local boat, which will take you to shore for a visit of Cai Be’s handicraft. End of services by mid-morning on shore at Cái Bè.

Please note you will leave the Bassac for good upon boarding the small boat for the last visit, typically about 8:30.The details of the program and the visits may vary depending on logistics or technical constraints.

Driver meet then transfer back to Saigon. Lunch on your own.

DAY 1 : SAIGON – CAI BE – SADEC – CAN THO (-/(L/D)

08:00 You will be picked up you at your hotel for the transer to Cai Be town pier.

Start at our own pier in Phu An Hamlet. 10.00: Welcome on board and fresh towels are served. Start to visit some local home factories to observe the traditional procedure of making rice ice paste, coconut candies and other specialties. Proceed to Cai Be colorful ?oating market, cruise among local barges full of fruits and vegetables.
Take a direction to Vinh Long and Sa Dec, cruise upstream on Tien Giang River, one of the two largest arms of the Mekong. Sail into a narrow canal to discover the hideaway unspoiled landscapes, luxurious gardens and enjoy the airy atmosphere in countryside. Pass several traditional brick factories while  cruising and have an interesting onsite visit to one of them. Continue the  journey to Sa Dec, the little “Venice” in the Mekong Delta with numerous narrow canals, and different kinds of trading activities.
Disembark at the local market place and begin your exploration in this charming Sa Dec town by walking along its narrow streets and taking photos of beautiful old houses and Chinese temples. Stop at an ancient house dating from 1890,the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, former “lover” of the famous French novelist Marguerite Duras.
Lunch will be served onboard while cruising down to Can Tho along a beautiful narrow canal. Pass under several wooden “monkey bridges” and tiny typical villages before pulling a stop to visit Cao Dai Temple. The last stop before sunset is a splendid ancient house dating from the early 19th  century. After the personal welcome of owner, a romantic candlelight dinner will be catered in an unique atmosphere.

After dinner, continue to proceed to Can Tho. Overnight on board.

DAY 2 : CAN THO – SAIGON  (B/L/-)

The journey starts at 06:00 with breakfast being served at 07:00, while approaching Cai Rang floating market, the largest market in the whole Mekong Delta Region. Cruise among local barges full of fruits and vegetables and enjoy the hustle and bustle of morning marketing and business. The excursion ends at around 10.00pm at Ninh Kieu pier after visiting Can Tho’s local market. Transfer back to Saigon. Lunch on your own.

DAY 1: SAIGON – CAI BE (OR CAN THO) (B/L/D)

08:00 You will be will picked up you at your hotel to depart to Cai Be.
(note: No private tour guide).
You board on the Mekong Eyes around noon. After a refreshing welcome drink we will show you our on-board facilities and your cosy cabin. As lunch is served, the boat starts cruising. Sit back and watch the fantastic scenery and the daily life of the Mekong people.
In the afternoon you can disembark for a guided leisurely stroll through the village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. Meet the friendly locals and taste the local produce and fruits. Get back on board and enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the magnificent water landscape. The boat will anchor for the night. The day ends with a delicious on-board dinner. Overnight on Mekong Eyes boat. 

Note:

–  Mekong Eyes goes from Can Tho to Cai Be (on odd dates, 1, 3, 5, 7 etc.) or from Cai Be to Can Tho (on even dates, 2, 4, 6, 8 etc…)

–  On odd date pick up time in Ho Chi Minh City is 07:00. On even date pick up time in Ho Chi Minh City is 08:00.

–  The road trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho takes approx. 4 hours, to Cai Be approx. 2 hours. This is why on odd dates we have to leave Ho Chi Minh City earlier than on even dates.

DAY 2: CAI RANG (OR CAI BE FLOATING MARKET) – SAIGON (B/L/-)

After breakfast, we will board a sampan boat to Cai Rang (or Cai Be) floating market, the region’s busiest and most lively markets. Marvel at the sheer abundance of exotic fruits, vegetables and skilfully handcrafted regional products. We will pull up to the boats for talking and bargaining with the merchants. We will also visit some of the local candy and cake making factories or boat through the green water landscape to see local houses, verdant orchards and ship-building yards.
The boat trip ends at around 11.00 – 11.30 on the pier. After lunch, we will take you back to your hotel in Saigon.

Find out more about Mango Cruises.

DAY 1 : SAIGON – CAN THO – VUNG LIEM (-/(L/D)

07:30 Transfer to Can Tho. Upon arrival, you will board your Mango cruise boat at Ninh Kieu Quay and head to Tra On. Enjoy your welcome drink and peaceful scenery while the crew members board your luggage. Comfort yourself on our sofa in the front sitting room and enjoy the breeze.
Lunch will be served on board while cruising to  Mang Thit river, this smaller branch of river allows you to observe more of the riverine culture and local activities along the way. Stop for a walk through the village to explore more of the local life style, enjoy the green garden and start to chat with friendly locals. You also will stop for a visit at the brick factory.  Here you will see how bricks are made using traditional methods, which are centuries old.
Head to Vung Liem in the late afternoon and relax while you watch the sunset. Freshen up and get ready for a cooking demonstration onboard that comes with your dinner. Anchor in Vung Liem for a night.

DAY 2 : VUNG LIEM – GIONG TROM (B/L/D)

In the morning, breakfast will be served on board before starting to explore the town of Vung Liem by bicycle. Visit the Cao Dai Temple in one of the most popular local religions, which is a combination of Taoism, Buddhism and Confusium. Continue to visit the local wet market of Vung Liem.
Return to your boat and cruise to Mo Cay while you enjoy your onboard lunch. After your meal, relax and get ready for a walk through the local village in Mo Cay, a district of Ben Tre province where you can visit the coconut processing factory, the main job that locals live on for many decades as this place well known for its coconut products.
Finish your walk and get back to the boat, then we continue the cruise to Giong Trom river,  passing by Ben Tre. Start the walk through My Long village and visit Mr Sau Tuong, a former Vietcong soldier who survived two years fighting the Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh. Now he and his wife live on making rice paper, which is the most famous specialty of this region. Have a chat with him and enjoy the crispy rice paper made by his wife, and observe the process of how it is made. Return to your boat, freshen up and enjoy the onboard dinner. Overnight on An Hoa river near Chet Say Bridge.

DAY 3 : GIONG TROM – AN HOA – MY THO (B/-/-)

Breakfast will be served onboard in the early morning and you start your cruise on An Hoa river heading to My Tho. Stop at Phong Nam village for a Xe loi ride to visit some local business, stop at a rice noodle factory which produces Hu Tieu noodles, one of most popular breakfast dishes in the region. Then continue to take the rowing sampan trip through Ba Sau canals which are covered green by the water coconut plants, so lie back and enjoy the beautiful tropical scenery. Get back to your boat and cruise to My Tho where your driver will take you back to Saigon or continue your trip. End of cruise. Transfer back to Saigon.

DAY 1 : BEN TRE – AN HOA- VINH LONG

Upon arrival, you will board your Mango cruise boat at Mango Pier(You will be transferred from Hung Vuong Pier to Mango Pier if you cruise with the Lily May) and head to An Hoa canals. Upon boarding your private sampan, your luggage will be brought to your cabin, while you enjoy a refreshing welcome cocktail on the deck while meeting your crew members and enjoying the scenery and fresh air from the water.

The cruise will take you to PhongNam village in Giong Trom, where you will take a rowing sampan boat through the small canals, which are covered green by the water coconut plants.

Stop at a local house to taste the tropical fruits and chat with the farmer. Visit the rice noodle factory before starting your bike trip around the village. Then return to your boat to enjoy the lunch before continuing to cruise to Sa Dec town.On the way we will stop for a visit at the floating fish farm and experience the local river culture.
Get back to your boat, relax and enjoy your cruise then prepare for your cooking demonstration while enjoying your dinner. Overnight on board on the Upper river.

DAY 2 : VINH LONG – SA DEC

Breakfast will be served onboard and cruising towards the town of Sa Dec and you will start to explore this charming town, where it is the backdrop for the film ‘The Lover’, based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Marguerite Duras.The story is about a teenage French girl who falls in love with a wealthy Chinese man, Huynh Thuy Le.

You will visit his old family home as well as the high school where Marguerite’s mother was a teacher.
Then, you will continue with cycling through the village of Tan Qui Dong. For hundreds of years this village has provided Saigon with its daily flower supply.

After that, meeting your driver on land for your return to Saigon or your onwards trip.