Rural Mekong Delta and Floating Markets
TOUR INFORMATION
Immerse yourselves in the timeless rural and riverside life as we travel by all manner of boats, bicycles and cars through this remarkable region. Observe the locals’ life goes by while visiting the real floating markets of Cai Rang & Phong Dien. We ensure you will be amazed by lots of the locals’ activities on the rivers, orchards and at the local markets.
Cost USD per person
| Group | 1 pax | 2 pax | 3 pax | 4 pax | 5 pax | 6+ pax |
| Adults | $420 | $225 | $210 | $190 | $170 | $160 |
| Children 6-11 years | N/A | $168 | $157 | $142 | $127 | $120 |
| Children 3-5 years | N/A | $112 | $105 | $95 | $85 | $80 |
| Children under 3 | Free of charge | |||||
What’s Included
- Accommodation as specified, based on twin/double share room
- Modern air-conditioned private vehicle
- Meals as specified: (B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner)
- Private boat trips and sampan cruises in Ben Tre and the floating markets
- All entrance fees for specified stops
- Bike ride to visit local villages
- Fresh tropical fruits
- Professional English-speaking guide
- 2 bottles of mineral water per person per day
What’s Not Included
- Drinks, meals and any other incurred expenses, that are not mentioned above
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratitude
Support: +84 903 464 383
Email: info@detouredasia.com
TOUR MAP
ITINERARY BY DAY
DAY 1: SAIGON – BEN TRE – CAN THO (-/L/-)
At 08:00 am depart from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City for Mekong delta day tour in the area referred locally as ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam’ to discover Mekong Delta local life. After two hours for driving we will reach Ben Tre City, then take the boat to contemplate Mekong River.
Stop over at brick-kilns to see hand making bricks process will be the first highlight of this Mekong delta day trip. With large of clay resources around Mekong Delta and full of natural fuel such as rice husk, char coal and mud coal, local people have fulfilled demand of bricks in constructions.
Slowly keep boating to green and quite canal to enjoy peaceful atmosphere of countryside in Mekong Delta – Great frame to photograph of local daily activities on the land and water: coconut produce’s process, fishing, and farming.
Stop over to try and see how to make coconut candy – a favorite treat of southerners, closely followed by banana candy. The two traditional candies originated in Ben Tre.
Back to the boat to Cai Sơn and Nhơn Thạnh creeks then short walk on the village’s road to visit the village, where is widely known for its long-standing sedge mat-making craft. These beautifully-colored mats are used for sleeping on.
Getting to different experience by taking local transport like bike or motor cart (local named “Xe lôi”) to cross rice fields and vegetable plantation then stop at local ecological restaurant for lunch.
Coconut Boat in Mekong Delta
After having delicious lunch featuring such local specialities as elephant-ear fish and river shrimp at a local family/homestay, take another short walk to boat station for rowing-boat along water-coconut creek. Ge back to big boat waiting at the other side of Cái Cối creek, get back AC bus for the journey Can Tho (100km) and check in your hotel.
Lodging: Hau Giang Hotel, 3 star with river-view, deluxe
Note: 4-star accommodation (Victoria Can Tho Resort) is available. Please contact us for more information and cost.
DAY 2: FLOATING MARKETS – SAIGON (B/L/-)
5:30 am: roll out of your bed, hop on your car and drive to Phong Dien district (15km). Upon arrival, hop on an arrow-boat and cruise to the unique and stunning Mekong floating markets of Phong Dien and Cai Rang. Sit back on your boat and enjoy the morning coffee served by a local coffee boat. You will be surely driven back to the yester-centuries by the sounds of whole world of trading going on from boats to boats.
Saying goodbye to Phong Dien floating market, our boat will speed up through green and beautiful channels of the Mekong River stretching along rural villages and arrive in Cai Rang floating market. This will complete a special picture of million floating traders, who have been happily living the floating life and earning their living on some 50,000km of waterways in the Mekong Delta. Get back to your hotel for a late breakfast, have a short rest and check out of the hotel.
11:00 am head off for Saigon (170 km) via the highway 1 and the freeway with breaks en route for a short visit to a local Cao Dai Temple at Cai Lay town and witness its mysterious and colorful Noon Ceremony at 12:00 pm.
13:30 pm: stop for lunch at a restaurant with authentic local dishes. After lunch head off for Saigon via the Freeway. Drop-off: 4:30 pm – at your hotel in Saigon where our service ends.
TOUR NOTES
Note: we only run private and customizable tours
Support: +84 903 464 383
Email: info@detouredasia.com
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TOUR REVIEWS
Customer reviews
Speak to a trip specialist on +84 903 464 383, Or, fill out the form and we reply within 12 hours.
Mekong Delta and floating markets
We had only limited time in Ho Chi Minh and wanted to see the floating markets. We came across Detoured Asia website and we couldn’t have found a more interesting tour. Joseph arranged everything, from pick-up to drop-off, nothing else to pay; the trip included private car, breakfast, boat to the floating markets, noodle factory, botanical fruit farm with tasting and lunch on the way back. It was absolutely enjoyable and on the way back we found out that Joseph organised everything from day tours, to cooking classes in Vietnamese homes and motorbike tours. This is their webpage Detoured Asia to book your Vietnam experiences.
Peter and Ashley (Australia and Germany)
Mekong Delta Rustic Experience
We travelled with Huy for a great two day trip to the Mekong area. The floating market was amazing. We enjoyed the village bike ride excursion as well and had lovely local kids join us for the whole ride which would not have happened if we had taken the scooter option. Huy has great English and a good grasp of history and politics in Vietnam. We had many questions and enjoyed chatting in what is a fair bit of driving along busy bumpy roads where the horn is used a lot to clear a path through the scooters. Average speed was about 50 km per hour so the trip times are longer than you might think just looking at the distances.
It is well worth two days rather than a day trip. We missed the tunnels to focus on Mekong and will do the DMZ in Hue. The hotel in Can Tho that Detoured Asia booked us in was more 3 star than 4 and our 14 year old slept on a very small collapsible cot. Otherwise it was clean and quiet. The highlight is rising with the sun and being on the Mekong to see the markets and feel the pulse of trading. Huy was able to give a good history of this and many other things and was a great guide and attentive host.