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Mekong Authentic sampan is designed according to the traditional sampans which have navigated on the Mekong flows. For a pleasant and long cruise in comfortable conditions, the sampan is equipped with a well ventilated compartment which could be used as a dinning room as well as bedroom with couchettes available for group of 2 to 16 passengers maximum; besides one kitchen, couchettes with showers, one terrace on the deck, a five- person- crew included the captain, one mechanic, the chief cook, one sailor and one guide, are at your service.
Passengers on Mekong Authentic sampan will be amazed and integrated in their discovery of landscapes, of local daily life, of smiling and open hearted people of the Delta and of aquatic life anywhere they go with the sampan.
10h30-11h00 A.M: Arrival at the pier of Cai Be. Transfer by junk which takes us to a sumptuous traditional residence, former imperial residence, where the descendants of the family of Kiet
welcome you and invite you to taste tea accompanied by savory samples of
tropical fruits. We have the opportunity to walk through the orchard.
Continuation towards the artisanal villages where rice and coconut products are
produced: rice alcohol, puffed rice cakes, rice paper, coconut milk sweets.
12h00: Embarkation on the boat of Mekong Authentic Sampan, welcome by a welcome drink. Lunch on board as the boat heads towards Co Chien. During the cruise, you will have the opportunity to contemplate beautiful authentic landscapes that stand by the river.
In the afternoon, we go on foot or by bike along the paths through the villages. The walk allows us to discover verdant orchards and river activities, and especially to make contact with the local inhabitants.
The boat continues in the direction of Tra On, while ascending up the river. The aperitif is offered on the upper deck while enjoying a foot massage as the sun gradually sets on the river.
Taking part in a cooking class on the boat, you will have the chance to try to make Pumpkin flower stuffed with That Lat fish and learn how to cut vegetables for decorating dishes.
Dinner and overnight on board to enjoy the beauty of the river at night.
Meals: Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Mekong Authentic Sampan
Boat trip along the coves shaded by palm trees. You will be able to admire magnificent orchards, local dwellings, shipbuilding yards and the hustle and bustle of the river industry. Visit an orchard where you will find many kinds of tropical fruits such as: mango, dragon fruit, kumquat, jackfruit…
Return and disembarkation of the boat at 11h00 A.M. Pickup and transfer to the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (Note*: transfer is included if you book shuttle services)
Note*: The floating markets in the Mekong Delta are no tourist markets but wholesale markets where produce of the Mekong Delta like fruits and vegetables are traded. For this reason the number of boats on the market fluctuates depending on harvesting seasons and market demand. Furthermore, modern wholesale markets are becoming more popular in Vietnam. This can result in decreasing numbers of boats being present on the markets.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: n/a
In the afternoon, you will leave for a pleasant walk, on foot or by bike, on the paths lined with greenery. A few planned stops allow you to discover concretely the life of the local inhabitants, orchards or fields of green rice.
Back to the boat for relaxation and relaxation at dusk on the Co Chien River, with a drink of aperitif and a foot massage on the upper deck.
Taking part in a cooking class on the boat, you will have the chance to try to make Pumpkin flower stuffed with That Lat fish and learn how to cut vegetables for decorating dishes.
Meals: Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Mekong Authentic Sampan
Following a stroll through the lush vegetation to visit the villages and discover the local crafts: rice alcohol factories, coconut candy, pop-corn and rice paper.
Visit of a sumptuous traditional residence, former imperial residence, where you will discover the sublime interior and walk through the garden strewn with fruit trees. The tea is ready to serve you, accompanied by a tasty sample of tropical fruits. Walk through the arroyos in the vicinity of Cai Be.
Disembarkation around 11h00 A.M in Cai Be, transfer to Ho Chi Minh City (note*: transfer is included if you book shuttle services)
Note*: The floating markets in the Mekong Delta are no tourist markets but wholesale markets where produce of the Mekong Delta like fruits and vegetables are traded. For this reason the number of boats on the market fluctuates depending on harvesting seasons and market demand. Furthermore, modern wholesale markets are becoming more popular in Vietnam. This can result in decreasing numbers of boats being present on the markets.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: n/a
11h00 A.M: Welcome you at Café du Mékong.
Boarding on Mekong Authentic Sampan boat for a welcome drink and check-in.
Cycling or hiking all along the Mekong from Cai Thia to My Thuan which helps you to explore the daily life of the locals and contemplate the beautiful scenery of the countryside. A stop on the way to visit the garden, the old brickyard or the old house of the village.
Return to our boat for lunch. The Mekong Authentic Sampan continues towards the Co Chien River where you will take a short tour in the brickyards which are considered “the red capital of the province of Vinh Long”.
After a bike or walk, you will return to the boat to enjoy a therapeutic massage on the upper deck by taking a cocktail in the beautiful Mekong scenery.
Dinner and overnight on board.
Meals: Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Mekong Authentic Sampan
During breakfast, our boat will cruise to the Cho Lach canal where you may see flower gardens and bonsai bordered by the canal.
Disembarkation for a visit by bike or on foot through the flower gardens and bonsai. You will have the opportunity to learn how to plant flowers and bonsai.
Back to the mekong authentic sampan. The boat sails in the direction of Ben Tre.
Under the shade of the rows of coconut trees, a local boat welcomes you for the discovery of Ben Tre by visiting: the bee farm, the local market, a trolley ride in the village, a craft workshop, and listening to the traditional music of South Vietnam…
Return on board. On your way to Cai Be, you will take part in a cooking class which will give you the opportunity to make the typical dish of the Mekong Delta: “The pumpkin flower stuffed with fish from the Mekong”.
Dinner and overnight on board in Cai Be.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Mekong Authentic Sampan
Taking a rowing boat (3 people on a boat) for the discovery of the nature of Cai Be through orchards of longan, mango, star apple trees…
Continuation to the Cai Be market which is not very big but very specific because it presents a typical pattern of commerce of the aquatic region.
Visit the ancient house of a mandarin – Mr. Kiet in the colonial era give you leave to understand the typical architecture of the garden house of South Western Vietnam at that time.
11h00 A.M: Landing at Café du Mékong where you will have lunch before leaving for Ho Chi Minh City by bus (note*: bus transfer is included if you book shuttle service)
Note*: The floating markets in the Mekong Delta are no tourist markets but wholesale markets where produce of the Mekong Delta like fruits and vegetables are traded. For this reason the number of boats on the market fluctuates depending on harvesting seasons and market demand. Furthermore, modern wholesale markets are becoming more popular in Vietnam. This can result in decreasing numbers of boats being present on the markets.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: n/a
Arrival at the Mekong Delta at the end of the morning, around 10h30-11h00 A.M.
Discovery trip on a junk to a sumptuous traditional residence, former imperial residence, where the descendants of the Kiet family open their doors to you to discover the sublime interior and to cross the garden strewn with fruit trees. Tea is offered, accompanied by a tasty selection of tropical fruits.
Cruise direction to the artisanal factories of rice and coconut products: rice alcohol, puffed rice cakes, rice paper, sweets made from coconut milk.
Embarkation on Mekong Authentic Sampan with a welcome cocktail.
Lunch on board while the barge sails on the wide river in the direction of Cai Thia.
Cycling along the Cai Thia islands, taking picturesque views of the rural activities of local life.
Participation of a cooking class that allows you to try to prepare the typical dish of the Mekong Delta: “the pumpkin flower stuffed with Mekong That Lat fish”.
Dinner and overnight on board in Sa Dec.
Meals: Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Mekong Authentic Sampan
Visit of a brickyard at the entrance of the Sa Dec city. Then, we continue to the lively Sa Dec market followed by a pleasant stroll in the direction of the old house of Mr. L’Amant, the school of Trưng Vương where the mother of Marguerite Duras was a teacher.
Discover the temple of Caodaism and the gardens of flowers and bonsai where you will find many kinds of flowers and bonsai planted in Sa Dec “garden of Cochinchine in the 19th century”.
Back to our boat. Lunch on board while the boat takes the cruise toward Long Xuyen through the inverted channel of Lap Vo which is bordered by magnificent scenery along the banks: flower and vegetable gardens, floating fish farms, as well as river activities…
A short walk to visit a crocodile farm where you will see the process of booking crocodiles, from very large to very small.
Back to the boat to sip an exotic aperitif at sunset on the upper deck and enjoy a traditional foot massage.
Dinner and overnight on board in Long Xuyen.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Mekong Authentic Sampan
Walking or cycling through the villages of Ong Ho Island which will allow you to understand the life of the local inhabitants, as well as visit the museum of 2nd Vietnamese President Ton Duc Thang.
Disembark for your departure around 11h00. End of our services with unforgettable memories of the Mekong.
Note*: from Long Xuyen, you can get back to Saigon, travel to Can Tho for flight to other destinations, or transfer to Chau Doc for Speedy boat to Phnom Penh. All activities/transfers after the cruise are not included.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: n/a
Transfer by a local boat to visit Long Xuyen floating market which is undoubtedly the most authentic of the Mekong Delta.
Back to boat to have lunch. Visit Ong Ho Island, a small island in Long Xuyen, enjoy the scenery and walk/ cycle to visit villages on the island. See local farmers trading their produce on the water as they have done for centuries. You will have a unique opportunity to discover a side of Delta life. Visit the museum of 2nd Vietnamese President Ton Duc Thang.
A short walk to visit a crocodile farm where you will see the process of booking crocodiles, from very large to very small.
Come back to our boat to enjoy traditional herbal foot massage. Dinner while the boat cruises toward Sa Dec.
Mekong Authentic Sampan drops anchor for the night. Overnight on boat.
Meals: Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Mekong Authentic Sampan
A new day of discovery begins with the visit of a brickworks at the entrance of the Sa Dec city. The local boat will take you to the heart of the city where you will visit the local market of Sa Dec, the old house of Mr. Huỳnh Thủy Lê (Mr. L’Amant), Trung Vuong primary school which was the workplace of Marguerite Duras’s mother, the temple of Caodaism-a new religion of the South Western Vietnam, walk in the flowers and bonsai of the city.
Back to Authentic sampan for lunch on board. Our boat continues its journey on the river Tien towards My Thuan where you will take a bike ride along the islands of Cai Thia to the island of Binh Hoa Phuoc, through the fruit orchards and fruit gardens.
Back to the boat, leisure time at sunset on the upper deck.
Participation of a cooking class that allows you to try to prepare the typical dish of the Mekong Delta: “the pumpkin flower stuffed with Mekong That Lat fish”.
Dinner and overnight on boat.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Mekong Authentic Sampan
Check-out mekong authentic sampa, say “goodbye” to our friendly staff, we transfer you by a local boat for exploring Cai Be floating market, local pop-rice, coconut candy and rice paper manufacturers.
We continue to explore evergreen islands and visit the former Imperial residence the traditional House, where surviving members of the Kiet family will welcome us with tea, and we can wander in the fruit orchards around the house.
Disembark in Cai Be around 11:00 A.M. End of our services.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: n/a
Arrival at the Mekong Delta at the end of the morning, around 10h30-11h00 A.M.
Discovery trip on a junk to a sumptuous traditional residence, former imperial residence, where the descendants of the Kiet family open their doors to you to discover the sublime interior and to cross the garden strewn with fruit trees. Tea is offered, accompanied by a tasty selection of tropical fruits.
Cruise direction to the artisanal factories of rice and coconut products: rice alcohol, puffed rice cakes, rice paper, sweets made from coconut milk.
Embarkation on Mekong Authentic Sampan with a welcome cocktail.
Lunch on board while the barge sails on the wide river in the direction of Cai Thia.
Cycling along the Cai Thia islands, taking picturesque views of the rural activities of local life.
Participation of a cooking class that allows you to try to prepare the typical dish of the Mekong Delta: “the pumpkin flower stuffed with Mekong That Lat fish”.
Dinner and overnight on board in Sa Dec.
Meals: Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Mekong Authentic Sampan
Visit of a brickyard at the entrance of the Sa Dec city. Then, we continue to the lively Sa Dec market followed by a pleasant stroll in the direction of the old house of Mr. L’Amant, the school of Trưng Vương where the mother of Marguerite Duras was a teacher.
Discover the temple of Caodaism and the gardens of flowers and bonsai where you will find many kinds of flowers and bonsai planted in Sa Dec “garden of Cochinchine in the 19th century”.
Back to our boat. Lunch on board while the boat takes the cruise toward Long Xuyen through the inverted channel of Lap Vo which is bordered by magnificent scenery along the banks: flower and vegetable gardens, floating fish farms, as well as river activities…
A short walk to visit a crocodile farm where you will see the process of booking crocodiles, from very large to very small.
Back to the boat to sip an exotic aperitif at sunset on the upper deck and enjoy a traditional foot massage.
Dinner and overnight on board in Long Xuyen.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Mekong Authentic Sampan
Walking or cycling through the villages of Ong Ho Island which will allow you to understand the life of the local inhabitants, as well as visit the museum of 2nd Vietnamese President Ton Duc Thang.
Disembark at the jetty at 11:00. Pickup and proceed to Chau Doc, continue the tour to visit Tra Su santuary, getting to the wild birds Sanctuary, cruising smoothly with small boats to discover the arrays of splendid canals deep into the forest, watching storks, cranes and other tropical birds. Transfer to the Chau Doc town, hotel check in in late afternoon. Overnight in Chau Doc.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Chau Doc
Pickup at 7:00 to transfer to the Chau Doc jetty for speedy boat to Phnom Penh.
Arrive Phnom Penh port at about 1pm. Trip ends (you can take a tuk tuk to your hotel upon arriving the port)
Note*: the speedy boat leave early in the morning. Please be ready in time at the lobby of the hotel. We are not responsible if you are late for any reason.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: n/a
Note*: we would arrange morning/afternoon speedy boat depending on the boat schedule. It’s most likely that there are only afternoon speedy boat. You would arrive Chau Doc in late afternoon then.
Meals: n/a
Accommodation: Hotel in Chau Doc
Embark on our Mekong Authentic Sampan around 11:00 A.M and enjoy a welcome drink. (Please manage yourself to the pointed place in time. We could also help arrange transfer with extra cost)
Transfer by a local boat to visit Long Xuyen floating market which is undoubtedly the most authentic of the Mekong Delta.
Back to boat to have lunch. Visit Ong Ho Island, a small island in Long Xuyen, enjoy the scenery and walk/ cycle to visit villages on the island. See local farmers trading their produce on the water as they have done for centuries. You will have a unique opportunity to discover a side of Delta life. Visit the museum of 2nd Vietnamese President Ton Duc Thang.
A short walk to visit a crocodile farm where you will see the process of booking crocodiles, from very large to very small.
Come back to our boat to enjoy traditional herbal foot massage. Dinner while the boat cruises toward Sa Dec.
Mekong Authentic Sampan drops anchor for the night. Overnight on boat.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Mekong Authentic Sampan
A new day of discovery begins with the visit of a brickworks at the entrance of the Sa Dec city. The local boat will take you to the heart of the city where you will visit the local market of Sa Dec, the old house of Mr. Huỳnh Thủy Lê (Mr. L’Amant), Trung Vuong primary school which was the workplace of Marguerite Duras’s mother, the temple of Caodaism-a new religion of the South Western Vietnam, walk in the flowers and bonsai of the city.
Back to Authentic sampan for lunch on board. Our boat continues its journey on the river Tien towards My Thuan where you will take a bike ride along the islands of Cai Thia to the island of Binh Hoa Phuoc, through the fruit orchards and fruit gardens.
Back to the boat, leisure time at sunset on the upper deck.
Participation of a cooking class that allows you to try to prepare the typical dish of the Mekong Delta: “the pumpkin flower stuffed with Mekong That Lat fish”.
Dinner and overnight on boat.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Mekong Authentic Sampan
Check-out mekong authentic sampa, say “goodbye” to our friendly staff, we transfer you by a local boat for exploring Cai Be floating market, local pop-rice, coconut candy and rice paper manufacturers.
We continue to explore evergreen islands and visit the former Imperial residence the traditional House, where surviving members of the Kiet family will welcome us with tea, and we can wander in the fruit orchards around the house.
Disembark in Cai Be around 11:00 A.M. End of our services.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: n/a
Important note*
The Mekong Authentic Sampan has 8 cabins, 3 with twin beds, and 5 with double beds. Cabins can be connected for family.
Cabintype | Rates (US$/person) |
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Contact us for price |
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Note*: The price would vary depending on your selected itineraries, date of departures, number of passengers. Please book the tour or contact us for best rate of your itinerary.
Cancellation by Customer
For cancellations of bookings, the following charges will apply:
Note*: Price for children would vary depending if you book package to Phu Quoc Island or Phnom Penh. Please contact us for details.
We recommend wearing loose and comfortable clothing made of cotton or modern material that can readily cool off sweat and body hear. The type of shoes will depend on the excursion types so best to have both light, open toed shoes as well as good walking/hiking shoes with you. A sun hat is always a good idea to bring along.
Southern Vietnam and Cambodia are warm all year-round, but our other cruise destinations can get chilly during the winter months (Laos, Myanmar or northern Vietnam). Therefore, it is always recommended to bring a pullover or a warm jacket with you during this period.
Many of our cruises include visits to local temples or pagodas. When visiting these holy sites, make sure to wear appropriate clothing which covers your shoulders and knees.
Generally speaking, the rivers we are cruising on in Southeast Asia are very calm and there is hardly any motion on any of our ships. A bit of motion can occur during monsoon rains with stormy winds, but the amount of motion is much less than one would feel during bad weather on the open ocean.
Sea cruises as we offer in Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay can sometimes encounter heavier waters and ship motion, although this happens very rarely and port authorities will most likely not allow sailing under any such circumstances anyway.
If you are new to cruising or prone to motion sickness, it does not hurt to bring along some motion sickness medication. Drinking a nice hot fresh ginger tea is a natural remedy and tasty alternative our staff is always happy to make for you.
All food and beverage on board is completely safe to eat and enjoy, including the ice cubes you enjoy in your chilled drinks. We do not recommend drinking water straight from the tap anywhere, including onboard. We provide you with complimentary clean drinking water throughout your cruise.
You may want to be bit careful with local dishes as they can be spicier than you are used to from home. Approach new dishes slowly and carefully. If you have a sensitive stomach, then you may like to double check with our chef or onboard managers about specific dishes or meals.
On excursions, it may be a good idea to avoid local foods and snacks unless offered by our tour guides. Besides the above, in general we recommend the following motto for your pre- and post-cruise travelling in the Southeast Asian tropics: boil it, peel it, cook it, wash it or forget it!
The most effective protection from personal contamination is ensuring strict attention to personal hygiene and in particular, frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water and refraining from hand-to-mouth contact. Colds and other viruses can spread quickly in an enclosed area such as a ship. Continue to practice common-sense hygiene and respiratory courtesy. Wash your hands often and cover your coughs and sneeze. It is recommended that passengers carry anti-bacterial hand sanitizer, which does not require rinsing with water. Use sanitizer frequently and throughout the day, particularly after shore excursions and prior to meals. If you have any questions regarding your health or safety, please do not hesitate to ask your cruise director.
Motion sickness can be a problem for some people when cruising, flying or travelling on coaches and trains and it is a good idea to take precautionary measures. Over-the-counter drugs for treating motion sickness can be purchased at pharmacies in most countries, though a side effect can by drowsiness. Alternatives such as ginger tablets and acupressure wristbands are also available and work well for some people.
We recommend at least purchasing travel health insurance which covers both in- & outpatient visits and medical repatriation. Buying additional trip cancellation and interruption coverage may also be beneficial in case you have to cancel your travel plans due to unforeseen circumstances.
We always recommend bringing a travel adapter as a standard item in your travel kit. You can borrow an adapter on board, but these may be limited.
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