Cruise to Sa Dec and Cai Be

Day 1: River Cruise to Sa Dec and visit of the flower gardens (B,L)

We pick you up at your hotel in Saigon (district 1 and parts of district 3) and bring you to the pier in Cai Be (approx. 2 hours drive) where you board the Gecko Eyes. After a refreshing welcome drink we show you our on-board facilities and your cosy cabin. As lunch is served on the top deck, the boat starts cruising. Sit back on the sun deck or in our air-conditioned lounge and watch the fantastic scenery and the daily life of the Mekong people.

After lunch we arrive in charming Sa Dec for a city tour. There you can see the busy and colorful local market, enjoy a coffee on the nice riverside promenade and visit a nearby flower village with orchards. The charming town still has a lot of colonial architecture, in particular the old market, the church and many old villas and trader’s houses. We visit one of them, a beautifully renovated traditional house of a Chinese trader’s family. This sumptuous building belonged to the main character of the novel „The Lover“ and indeed to the lover of Marguerite Duras (see below).

In the late afternoon we return to the Gecko Eyes vessel and enjoy a sunset cruise with more fantastic photo opportunities from aboard. If time allows there is a chance for a brief stop at a brick kiln or short bicycle ride before dinner is served on board and we moor for the night. You stay overnight on board your floating hotel in the Mekong Delta.

Day 2: Cruise to Cai Be and visit of the floating market (L,D)

Wake up well rested to the sound of the Mekong river and get ready for another exciting day of sightseeing in the Mekong Delta. At 6.30h the boat sets off for a sunrise cruise. Watch the locals go about their daily work drying exotic fruits and building ships on the wooden yards while enjoying an early breakfast.

After the tasty breakfast, we board a sampan boat to Cai Be floating market. Marvel at the sheer abundance of exotic fruits, vegetables and skillfully handcrafted regional products. We will pull up to the boats for talking and bargaining with the merchants. Please note that time does not stand still in Vietnam — modern forms of trading are pushing back the more traditional forms of trading; this also affects Cai Be floating market which is currently getting smaller and smaller.

After the floating market you have the opportunity to go for a guided walk around Cai Be, a beautiful Mekong Delta town with fruit orchards a French church and many local handicrafts. You can also opt for a bicycle ride on backroads to a small village along the Mekong canals. Or you can explore some small canals with the sampan before lunch.

Lunch is served at the famous Ancient House; traditionally build in wood and recently carefully renovated with the support of Japanese specialists.

After lunch or brunch we take you back to your hotel in Saigon.