Mekong River - Downstream

Welcome aboard for your Mekong River adventure. After you have checked in, please come to the lobby lounge for your safety briefing. Once the ship sets sail, you have the morning and afternoon. You can indulge in massages, relax on the terrace deck sunbed, or enjoy private balcony kickbacks. You can also visit the bridge to hear stories from the captain about the river or join a culinary workshop to learn more about Khmer gastronomy. 

You can sip drinks and nibble on treats during afternoon tea while approaching the border and finally arriving in Vietnam. The ship moors near Tan Chau, a slow-paced border town with a significant Chinese, Kinh, and Khmer community, providing views of the riverbanks.

Welcome to the fish sanctuary of Vietnam.

After your morning Tai Chi session and a delightful breakfast, explore this area, renowned primarily for its aquaculture. Upon disembarking, immerse yourselves in the vibrant town life of Tan Chau by boarding "xelois" (the Vietnamese word for rickshaws). Your Xeloi driver leisurely navigates through a network of streets, allowing you to observe workshops, street vendors, shops, and the intriguing day-to-day activities of the locals. Your journey takes you to the local market, where you mingle with residents as they go about their morning shopping routines. Continuing, visit a Cao Dai temple and meet with one of the priests, who will enlighten you about the unique beliefs and spirit of Cao Dai. Your final destination is a fish farm operated for many years by a local family, who benefit from this distinctive business. Here, you can gain insight into the essential knowledge required to manage such a unique regional enterprise.

Optional Morning Excursion (Extra Cost):
As flavor depends largely on the quality of ingredients, your culinary journey begins at a vibrant local market, where your guides help you select the freshest produce. Explore the region’s native fruits, vegetables, and proteins that form the foundation of traditional meals. After receiving valuable tips from your guide, put your newfound knowledge to the test with a fun ingredient hunting challenge.

After being back onboard a siesta after lunch, your expert guides offer a presentation about life in the Mekong Delta as the ship continues to My An Hung near Sa Dec province. My An Hung Village is a beautiful example of an authentic, local village in the Mekong Delta where time stood still. You receive lovely insights into the private household of a local family and visit the seasonal vegetable fields to understand what the farmers are cultivating. A Vietnamese tea tasting at a local family's house is accompanied by a presentation of various fruits grown nearby, freshly cut from the tree. An artistic group performs displays of the traditional dragon dance, while you can snack on the "vitamins bombs".

Back onboard, the ship sails into the sunset towards your destination for the next day. A complimentary cocktail hour and snacks at the pool with music and dance vibes are offered to enjoy the blue hour before dinner is served.

Wake early to embrace the stunning dawn scenery when the Delta's inhabitants have been active for hours. Enjoy the daily Tai Chi class before indulging in a lavish breakfast buffet. By local boat, head out to one of the larger islands in the Mekong known as Binh Thanh. This island is home to several communities that sustain themselves by cultivating water hyacinths. Strolling through the village, you can gain profound insights into local life and witness the traditional mat-making process. Additionally, you can have the opportunity to meet a local elderly couple who have spent their entire lives on this island. They enjoy engaging in conversations with foreign visitors.

Visit Cai Be town to witness the manual production of rice paper, rice cookies, rice wine, and coconut candies. Journey to Tan Phong Island and savor tropical fruits from a local family’s garden. Take a buggy ride, glimpsing local day-to-day life, and stop at a family’s house specializing in weaving water hyacinth plants into artistic crafts by hand. Afterward, the ship makes its final journey to My Tho, offering little farewell party vibes along the way.

Enjoy your last breakfast aboard your floating home. Disembark the ship after breakfast and take a bus transfer from My Tho to Saigon. It is only around 70 kilometers on the highway, and you arrive in Saigon by mid-morning.

The team hopes you enjoyed this fascinating river cruise, as the crew always does. Moreover, take the enchanting memories and friendships with you and share the stories of this amazing river - the Mighty Mekong.