Mekong Delta Off the Beaten Track

Day 1: Saigon - Sa Dec - Can Tho
Welcome from your hotel at 8:30 am and departure for Sa Dec, a city in the footsteps of Mrs. Marguerite DURAS. The tourist sites to visit in Sa Dec are the Trung Vuong school, Kien An Cung pagoda, the former colonial house of Huynh Thuy Le, Tan Quy Dong flower village and Cao Dai temple. Lunch at a local family.

Afternoon, departure for Can Tho and visit Vam Xang, one of the largest orchard in the region. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 2: Cai Rang floating market - Tra Vinh
Wake up at 5:30 am and transfer by boat to visit Phong Dien floating market. This market is smaller than that Cai Rang floating market so you just take a quick visit before continuing to Cai Rang floating market which is the largest and most animated floating market in the region. You have the opportunity to enjoy breakfast at the floating market such as the locals during this tour. Hundreds of boats transport fruit, vegetables, potatoes, watermelons .... Then visit an orchard to discover the various exotic fruits of the Mekong. Return to the pier and visit Can Tho city such as Binh Thuy old house, Can Tho market, Ninh Kieu quarry and Khmer pagoda… Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon, drive to Tra Vinh and arrival in Tra Vinh in the afternoon, check in at Tra Vinh Lodge and overnight in a bungalow overlooking the lake.

 

Day 3: Tra Vinh - Khmer country
Breakfast at Tra Vinh Lodge. Departure to the home of Khmer people to visit Tra Vinh city, its magnificent pagodas and temples. Then visit the technique and stages of the mat making in the town of My Duc. Return to Tra Vinh Lodge for lunch.

Afternoon, bike rides under coconut and fruit trees around Tra Vinh through the fabulous and green landscapes. Visit the factory of rice cakes and noodles then visit the local market to discover the various local organic products. Return to Tra Vinh Lodge and participate in a cooking class to learn how to make crispy pancakes, one of the specialties of South Vietnam and the Mekong Delta, and Vietnamese spring rolls. Dinner and overnight at Tra Vinh Lodge.

 

Day 4: Tra Vinh - Cho Lach - Cai Mon - Saigon
After breakfast. Depart for Cho Lach then visit the Nam Cong Plants Garden with animal shaped plants. Discovery of the nursery for apricot trees and bonsai trees by the side of the road. Meet and talk with the locals on planting, grafting and sowing techniques. Visit the church of Cai Mon, one of the oldest parishes in the South of Vietnam and the Pavilion of the Stele in memory of Truong Vinh Ky, one of the 18 scholars of the 19th century. Walks along the path of the ornamental flowers of Vinh Bac and Vinh Nam. Arrival at the durions garden of Bay Thao, pick and taste durians on the spot. Back on the boat on the Cho Lach river, Co Chien to arrive at the Phu Da dune to study the process of conservation and care of rice shells (a type of seashell popular in South Vietnam). Lunch at Ba Ngoi's. Return to the Cho Lach landing stage and drive to Saigon. End of service.