4 - Day Mekong Delta Tour With Pearl Of Orient Cruise (saigon – My Tho – Cai Be – Sa Dec – Tan Chau – Phnom Penh)

• Duration: 4 days
• Departure date: Contact

Day 1: Saigon - My Tho - Cai Be

Be present at our welcome lounge in Saigon prior to noontime. Take a sip of a drink while our staff asks you to collect your details for boarding. Then, bid farewell to the pulsating prospect of Ho Chi Minh City and head toward My Tho. Upon arrival in My Tho, embark for a leisurely cruise along the mighty Mekong River.

After boarding you are warmly welcomed by our crew and check in for prepared staterooms. The journey of discovering the beauty of the Mekong Delta begins as soon as the ship sets sail. A buffet lunch is served on board, and all what you have to do is to chill out and soak up the wonderful ambiance while cruising.      

In the afternoon, sip a cup of tea and immerse in the cool breeze at the open air bar while contemplating the stunning view of twilight covering the Mekong Delta with a golden haze.

The ship hits Cai Be when you savor your dinner. It is known that Cai Be is one of the charming small towns in the Delta region, and what attracts people to this land is its church with Catholic French architecture, traditional crafts and food products. A visit to Cai Be Floating Market is a highlight of the itinerary; the place entitles you to explore the locals’ culture of trading on water, which contains surprising and fascinating features.

Anchor in midstream in the proximity of Cai Be for dinner and a good night’s rest. After dinner, you can dip yourself into an evening cinema session which comprises selected classic movies.

Day 2: Cai Be – Sa Dec – Tan Chau

In the morning, you are offered a Tai Chi class by a master on the sun desk. Start your day on board by doing Tai Chi, and you will find it quite exciting. Enjoy a sumptuous buffet breakfast before continuing to explore the Mekong Delta by cruise.

The morning trip is to take you to Cai Be. Still witness the perspective in which the locals are trading farm products on their vessels. The tour guide will explain in more detail the long-standing culture of floating markets in the water region. See each of the vessels carries a unique marker which catches the attention of customers from the far distance.

Crisscrossed with plenty of canals, Cai Be – a town of the tranquility is where you can explore family businesses specializing in rice paste, rice cookies, rice paper, and rice wine. Cai Be is also home to palm trees, so it is renowned for the production of coconut fudge. Get onto rowing boats to move through the lush green canal network while gazing into the locals working in their fields.

Return to the ship for lunch and then take time to sip a cup of Vietnamese coffee at the bar and observe the peaceful life on the riverbanks.

In the afternoon, arrive in the area of Sa Dec. Board a traditional boat to proceed toward Binh Thanh Island – among the largest islands on the Mekong River. You will notice that a few people groups have settled in the island and make their living by cultivating water hyacinths. Visit one of the unspoiled areas and roam about the village to gain more understanding of the locals’ lifestyle. See how they make mats manually, and even try your hand at this skill. Meet the elderly inhabitant who tells you stories about their homeland.

Board back the ship to delight yourself with a spa treatment and soak in the pool on the sun desk. While the ship keeps sailing to Tan Chau, you are given a presentation on the topic “Life on the Mekong Delta” by the guide.

Moor in the mid-stream in the proximity of Tan Chau for dinner. Afterwards, you can relish an evening cinema session which comprises selected classic movies.

Day 3: Tan Chau – Border Crossing – Phnom Penh

Stop at the fish sanctuary of Vietnam. Have breakfast at the dining hall or your balcony.

Go on an excursion around Tan Chau in the proximity of the Cambodian border and home to Chinese, Khmer, and Kinh communities. When the ship is driven onshore, jump on “xelois” – a kind of motorized rickshaw as popular as taxies in Tan Chau. See workshops, domiciles, and houses and immerse into the laid-back vibes of the Delta region while taking this vehicle. Stop for a visit to a local market in the proximity of the ancient temple and for friendly conversations with the vendors. Here is a chance to practice the art of bargaining over the products’ prices. Embark and cruise to a floating fishing farm. It is known that the farm is where the large yield of fish is produced and exported to many countries all over the world. 

Board back and continue the journey to the Vietnamese-Cambodia border. Cruise through the deep Cambodia countryside until the ship hits Phnom Penh.

The afternoon is free time for massages, sun bed relaxation, private balcony kick-backs, or just soaking up the atmosphere of the river region. Additionally, attend a culinary class to sharpen your cooking skill and gain knowledge about the local cuisine. Savor the afternoon high tea before drifting away.

Have dinner and then arrive in the capital of Cambodia at about 7:00PM. The ship docks at the Phnom Penh Pier. Go for a leisurely walk along the riverbanks, see the local chatting with each other, selling their products, and have a drink at one of the bars (kindly please notify our crew if you would like to leave the ship on your own).

Day 4: Phnom Penh

Have breakfast, bid farewell to passengers, and end the Pearl of the Orient Cruise (3-nights).

Times mentioned in the itinerary are only approximate. Despite the fact it is mapped out as above, we shall not take responsibility for any last minute changes that might occur as a result of weather conditions, alterations to cruise schedules, or other factors. All information about detailed embarkation and disembarkation is always available on our website.