Mekong Crossroads (Downstream)

Hightlights Include

• Visit Cai Rang floating market
• Discover how life is on and by the river
• Enjoy spectacular photo opportunities
• Visit a Cao Dai temple
• Visit local cottage industries

Day 1

CAN THO – CAI VON – TRA ON – MAY ISLET

Meet us at Victoria Can Tho Resort at 1:00 pm for lunch at Spices Restaurant. After lunch, the crew welcomes you on board the Song Xanh sampan with chilled towels and a refreshing drink as the boat begins its leisurely cruise on the river.

Observe the endless boat traffic and the quiet but constant activity along the banks. Head ashore at Cai Von Town and stroll through an outdoor market as vendors trade in farming tools, fish traps, Chinese medicine, and fresh produce.

Continue cruising on the narrow Tra On River, taking in the riverscapes of mangroves, coconut trees, and stilt houses. Towards sunset, join the larger Hau River, passing green islets as the sun sets on this branch of the Mekong River.

Enjoy dinner on board as the sampan moors on the river for the evening.

Day 2

MAY ISLET – CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET – SA DEC

At about 6:30 am, set off early to arrive at the famous Cai Rang Floating Market at its peak. Breakfast is served on board while the Song Xanh navigates among dozens of local barges laden with rice and other products from the Delta.

Continue upstream to Son Islet where a shore excursion awaits, visiting a farm and vegetable gardens. Walk along the island’s picturesque paths for close up views of country living.

Back on the sampan, lunch is served as the boat makes its way to Phong Hoa where we tour a colorful temple dedicated to Caodaism, a uniquely Vietnamese religion.

Return to the sampan and cruise to the charming town of Sa Dec. Visit the Kien An Cung, ancient Chinese architecture has played an important part in the Chinese community in Dong Thap for nearly a hundred years. After dinner onboard, settle down for your second night on the river.

Day 3

SA DEC – CAI BE

We begin cruising in the early morning hours, just as the villages begin to stir and children get ready for school. After a leisurely breakfast on board, step ashore to visit local cottage industries that utilize products from the Delta like rice and coconuts to make tasty snacks including puffed rice and chewy coconut candy. Board the local row boat to better explore the Tan Phong islet.

Our cruise ends at Le Longanier Restaurant where lunch is served in an exquisite colonial-style villa. Set in lush tropical gardens by the river and surrounded by fruit trees, the experience is a throwback to the elegant lifestyle enjoyed by a privileged few in Indochinese times.

*Note: Actual itinerary may vary depending upon river tides arrival time or other conditions.