Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City – My Tho – Ben Tre – Can Tho (L)

Leave Ho Chi Minh city and enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields (seasonally). On arrival at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank. Proceed to Tortoise islet and have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh – a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre and enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shade of water coconut trees along natural canals. Then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, performed by the locals. Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantations and villages.

Proceed to Can Tho. Check into your hotel on arrival at Can Tho. Free to explore the city on your own. You can also visit a village, meet the local people, have dinner with them and enjoy their music. Overnight at hotel in Can Tho.

Alternative: Homestay (D)

Transfer by motor boat to a small village in Cai Rang district. Check into your riverside cottage. Go cycling or trekking around the village to experience the rural lifestyle of the Mekong Delta people. Join a family as they prepare dinner, then share the meal with them. Enjoy an evening of traditional folk music with your neighbors. Overnight in your riverside cottage.

Day 2 : Can Tho – Cai Rang – Tra Su Sanctuary – Chau Doc (B,L)

Taking very early morning boat trip (5:30am usually recommended) to visit the Cai Rang floating market which is wholesale market of fruit and vegetable at its busiest at this time of the day. Keep cruising through the small channels system and visit a rice noodle making village. Experience the “Monkey Bridge” in the Delta. Head towards Phong Dien for the smaller, quieter floating market (optional for private tour).

Break for lunch. Proceed to Chau Doc and continue the tour to visit Tra Su, getting to the wild birds Sanctuary, cruising smoothly with small boats to discover the arrays of splendid canals deep into the forest, watching storks, cranes and other tropical birds. On the way back stop by to visit Sam Mountain, the Cave pagoda (if time permitted).

Back to the Town, hotel check in. Overnight in Chau Doc.

Day 3: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh (B)

After breakfast, take a rowing boat trip through the floating village and visit the fish farm to see how the Mekong Delta people raise fish from their floating houses. Visit the Cham minority in their traditional weaving village.

Transfer to a speed boat for the final part of the journey to Phnom Penh. Arrive at Sisowath tourist dock in Phnom Penh at around 2.00pm.

End of the tour!