MEKONG DELTA – BEN TRE – CAN THO – CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET 3D2N (Private)
Enjoy a luxury private 4* Mekong Delta Cruise in Ben Tre. Visit Cai Rang, the biggest floating market in Vietnam, early in the morning when its at its best. Experience a unique Can Tho Street Food Tour. Enjoy cycling to experience real local life and family run local businesses by bicycle and learn about traditional Mekong cooking during a lovely home cooking class. Relax in style at your overnight resort at the river.
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre – Can Tho
At 8.00am we depart for a 2.5-hour drive from Saigon to Ben Tre, one of the country’s southern provinces, situated in the Delta of the Mekong River. Take in the highway as you leave behind the busy city. Pass Rach Mieu Bridge before reaching Huu Dinh hamlet. Get on a tri-motor cycle (xe loi) ride to enjoy the lush surroundings of rice paddies and fruit farms alongside the narrow village roads.
Arrive at the waterfront where we board your charming Private Cruise (4*) for a glimpse at the Delta scenery while enjoying some fresh coconut juice. The first stop we make is to visit coconut processing. We return to your cruise and make our next stop at a brick making shop, where the locals still use centuries-old traditional methods to make the bricks by hand. A bicycle trip will take you around Phong Nam village, around 4km, through gardens with a stop at a rice noodles factory, “hu tieu”, one of most popular breakfast dishes in the region. Walk about 3 minutes to visit Mrs. Huong’s home. Her family lives on fishing, shrimp and farming. Enjoy the tropical fruits and honey tea in her garden before taking the rowing sampan; be paddled by a personalized rowing trip to discover the maze of small canals.
We row you back to your boat and head to the restaurant where you can enjoy your 5 course lunch and freshen up before we switch to bicycles for a 500m ride (about 4 minutes, or 7-10 minutes walk) through village roads, past green gardens and local houses. We stop at another local house, of 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 My Long village. Have a chat with him and enjoy the crispy rice paper made by his wife, and see how it is made. After the visit, the boat will be waiting for you at the pier nearby to bring you back to Ben Tre city from where your driver will take you to your resort in Can Tho, where the further evening will be at your own interpretation.
Transportation: Private A/C transfers and cruise
Meals: Lunch
Guide: English speaking tour guide
Accommodation: Luxury 4* resort at the River
Day 2: Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market & Local Life – Street Food Tour
Today we’ll start early to beat the crowds! Your local tour guide will pick you up at 5:30am and take you on boat rides to visit the floating market of Cai Rang, the biggest floating market of Vietnam, to experience real local life in the Delta and to enjoy a traditional local lunch and enjoy some of the local fruits during your small boat ride.
We furthermore take you to visit a family run rice noodle factory, we cruise through mangroves and water coconut canals and take a walk in the villages to experience real Mekong daily life. We then visit an organic cacao farm. You will see how the cacao trees grow and learn how to make chocolate Vietnamese style. Ofcourse you’ll have the chance to taste the real chocolate, fresh chocolate fruits, chocolate bars and cacao nibs before we take you back to your hotel at around noontime to relax.
Your local tour guide will meet you again at your hotel at 6pm to take you for a Walking and Food Tour with a local guide. Tonight, you’ll get the chance to try at least 7 typical local dishes like;
Water chestnut # Black sticky rice with coconut sesame # Barbecue rice paper # Mango salad # 3 sister bread # Barbecue pork # Get the chance to try and make spring rolls by yourself # Cupcake # A dish in clay pot (if available)
After the tour your guide will bring you back to your resort where the further evening will be at your own interpretation.
Transportation: Boat trips and walking
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Guide: English speaking local tour guide
Accommodation: Luxury 4* resort at the River
Day 3: Can Tho – Cycling – home Cooking – Ho Chi Minh City
This morning, after breakfast, at around 8;30am, your guide will pick you for a relaxing cycling trip through some of the countryside’s villages to visit a local veggie farm, an impressive Khmer Temple so you will get a good feel of local life in the Mekong Delta. On the way we will stop at the local markets to learn a bit more and taste some of the local fruits and shop for lunch.
We finish the day with a home cooking class for lunch before returning to your hotel. At around 2pm your driver will pick you up to take you back to Ho Chi Minh City where we will drop you off at your hotel where the trip ends.
Transportation: Cycling and private A/C transfer
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Guide: English speaking local tour guide
Accommodation: N/A
- A/C private transfers, sightseeing and activities as programmed
- Boat trips in the Mekong Delta
- 2 nights at the resort in Can Tho
- Meals as indicated and home cooking class
- All entry fees and other fares like boat trips
- English speaking local guide
- Beverages other than complimentary
- Tips and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- All not indicated in our itinerary
- Booking voucher from us
- Valid Passport with valid visa
- Cash for personal expense
Specific food requests
Please let us know if you have specific eating restrictions, allergic for certain things or if you are vegetarian, we can take that into account during the trips.
Useful information
Especially for the north and central Vietnam;
In the period between November and April, the weather is variable, from sunny to cold and rainy. It is advisable during this period to bring some rain gear with some warmer clothes. In the period from April to November, it is good to pack a hat with a wide brim, sunscreen (at least SPF15) and a reliable insect repellent. A thin rain poncho is useful all year round.
The south of Vietnam is generally a lot warmer all year round, so warm clothing is not really necessary.
Get Up And Go Vietnam does everything to make your trip an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, we have no control over weather conditions. Our apologies for that!
What do I need to know?
During the period March to November it will good to pack your swimming gear, a towel, a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen (at least SPF15), a reliable insect repellent, toiletries, a camera and lots of batteries. Warm clothing for the cooler months of November to March is advised. How much luggage can I take? Your vehicle has limited space so please keep your luggage to a maximum of 15kgs in a backpack or soft over-night bag and include a small day pack to hand carry for easy access to camera, sunscreen, water etc. Inhibitions can be left in the luggage storage rooms at your hotel with your other unwanted baggage.
Get Up and Go Vietnam is doing all possible to make your journey and travel experience an unforgettable one. Weather conditions, we unfortunately cannot control. Our apologies for that!
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