Cruise in a traditional Indochinese boat along the secluded waterways of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. See sleepy riverside towns, visit market stalls and small scale home-made factories. Wander the banks of a secluded island, and enjoy lunch at a sublime retreat reminiscent of Vietnam’s French colonial past.

Destinations included:
Ho Chi Minh City – Cai Be

Depart from your hotel at 8am and drive to the township of Cai Be to board the Cai Be Princess, a traditional riverboat made from native bamboo, wood and rattan. During Vietnam’s French colonial period, boats like this were an essential means of transport in a swampy areas and poor roads. And even today, they are a handy means of reaching the delta’s isolated river communities.

Meet at the Cai Be jetty 10am, your crew welcomes you with cold towels and a refreshing drink while your Cai Be Princess sampan sets off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways. On the river, boat traffic is endless and the activity never ceases. Observe from the comfort of your sampan life as it plays out on the riverbanks – the people, the stunning landscapes – while your attentive crew serves you tea and seasonal fruit. Visit an ancient house built in the 19th century. We’ll make stops along the way to provide glimpses of local cottage industries: coconut candy and puffed rice (the local equivalent of popcorn), products that provide a living for the river people. Your cruise ends at Le Longanier Restaurant. Lunch is served in this exquisite colonial-style villa set in a lush tropical garden by the river, surrounded by fruit trees, giving you a sense of life during Indochinese times.

After lunch, at around 2.30pm, take a short walk along a small canal, towards the Ba Bon Bridge where your personal vehicle awaits to drive you to Ho Chi Minh City.