Through the Mekong, Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh

📍 HCMC to Cai Be (100 km): 2 hours / Cai Be - Can Tho (62 km): 1.5 hours

Leave the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City and drive into the Mekong Delta on this Cai Be day tour. 

Upon arrival, board a private boat and start exploring the Delta. Savour the taste of locally grown fresh fruits, relish the refreshing breeze while the boat glides through the river. 

Go ashore and start to cycle, riding through a local village and alongside verdant fruit gardens. En-route, explore the local culture by visiting families who specialise in handicraft products.  

Then, board a sampan through the narrow canals around the island, appreciating the tranquillity and lush landscapes of this part of the Delta. Leaving the serene island, the boat takes on a brief journey along a busy area. The river banks bustle with various businesses, while local boats dot the middle of the river, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere.

Arriving at a house, inhabited for more than four generations, offers a great example of traditional ‘Mandarin’ architecture. A traditional home-cooked ‘Mekong’ meal will be served for lunch here. Then, take a walk through the fruit orchard to see the fresh seasonal goodness on the trees.

Late afternoon, continue by vehicle to Can Tho, the largest city in this area and the fourth largest city in Vietnam. 
The name of the city, which means ‘river of poems’ in Vietnamese, refers to its location in the Mekong Delta region. 

Overnight in Can Tho City
 

Inclusions:

🥘 Lunch

📍 Can Tho to Chau Doc (120 km): 2.5 hours

Start the day early with a cruise to Cai Rang, once the largest floating market in the Mekong Delta. The waterway of boats, both tourists and traders can be seen, although some days there are few traders (due to time of year/demand). See local produce depending on the season for sale - mango, bananas, papaya, pineapple, and even floating coffee sellers and noodle soup vendors. Here boats laden with fruit and vegetables, with the vendors jostling for the best positions on the river.

After that, depart for the 3-hour drive to Chau Doc.

The rest of the evening at leisure. 
 
Overnight in Chau Doc
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Routes can change subject to client’s interest.

After breakfast, visit Chau Doc’s local market which overlooks the confluence of three rivers, and later take a boat to Chau Giang District where a tiny mosque serves the local Cham community. The Cham minority who dominated coastal Vietnam from the 2nd to the 9th centuries were originally Hindu, but became Muslim as a result of contact with Arab seafarers and merchants in the Middle Ages. In Southeast Asia Islam was disseminated primarily by merchants who, following the monsoon winds, lived in various coastal towns for months at a time. The Chams also practise silk weaving and you may have the opportunity to see them at work. The architecture here is rather distinctive. 

Then, visit a beautiful Muslim mosque, and later visit the floating houses that double as catfish farms, now a huge industry for the country. 

Late this afternoon visit Sam Mountain, an important pilgrimage site that is frequently visited by pilgrims from all over the Mekong Delta. There are dozens of pagodas and temples around Sam Mountain and reaching the peak is the highlight of the visit. The views from the top are spectacular (weather permitting) and you can easily look out over Cambodia. 

Overnight in Chau Doc
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Phnom Penh Pier to Hotel (2 km): 10 mins

This morning, board a speedboat for a journey across the river to Cambodia. Upon arrival in Phnom Penh around 12:00 pm, you will be welcomed by your local English-speaking guide, who will accompany you to your hotel for check in. 

Time at leisure. 

Late afternoon at 16:30, pick up from the hotel by Remork (a Cambodian tuk-tuk) to transfer to the starting point of the evening street food tour. Begin near the southwest corner of the Royal Palace, visit an area famous for sun-dried buffalo jerky. Continue your walk to the Independence Monument, let the city’s lively spirit envelop you. Badminton players are taking over the area while popcorn vendors are ready to satisfy the clients. 

Hop back onto the remork and embark on a scenic journey through the Toul Tumpong district. Take the smaller roads to truly experience the vibrant pulse of the city. 

Arrive at Toul Tumpong market, walk through the colourful market, discovering the vegetables, herbs and fruits. Venture down a small alley and find the stairs leading to the rooftop. Climb to the top and arrive at a delightful, chilled-out  rooftop bar. Choose your drink and watch the sunset paint the sky as you overlook the bustling Toul Tumpong market. 

Continue your exploration through the market, find a table at a local eatery and savor delicious Khmer dishes. 

Finally, walk to Nesat, a renowned local seafood restaurant that empowers women. Enjoy a delectable meal and return to the hotel by remork. 

Note:     
Street food tours: While we check the standards of these popular local vendors, their facilities may not match international standards. Please be aware that consuming street food involves some risk.
Street food options for vegetarians are limited. Not recommended for vegans 
Places mentioned are subject to change upon availability/weather. 
Walking distance approximately 1 km (excluding walk to/from hotel if applicable). Actual program time depends on starting/stopping time, walking speed, and time spent at each stop.     
Nesat is closed on Monday & Public Holiday so an alternative restaurant will be arranged.          

Overnight in Phnom Penh
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

This morning tour starts at 08:00. Get to know Phnom Penh, a vibrant city steeped in history. Visit Tuol Sleng Prison (S-21) and the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek, sites used by the Khmer Rouge regime when they ravaged the country in the 1970s and 80s. The lasting effects of this tragic period are still being felt. Although the visits are sombre, studying this era is important in helping to understand present-day Cambodia. 

Lunch at a local restaurant. 

This afternoon, visit the Royal Palace. Explore the majestic compound and step back in time to when the Kingdom flourished. The elegant Silver Pagoda, with its solid-silver floor, is a reminder of the prosperity of the former royal families. Then visit the National Museum. Go inside to see seemingly endless displays of art and artefacts dating back to the pre-Angkorian era. Continue to the hilltop pagoda of Wat Phnom.

Note: All visitors to Royal Palace are required to wear modest clothing: no short pants or short skirts (knees must be covered) and no sleeveless shirts (shoulders must be covered). See-through clothing will also not be allowed.

Overnight in Phnom Penh
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Distances and journey time: Phnom Penh to Techo International Airport (25 km): 50 mins

Enjoy the day at leisure. Transfer to the airport for your individual departure flight.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast