The sprawling city of My Tho, located on the banks of the Upper Mekong River, is one the closest cities in the mighty Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), and can be reached by road in just one hour.
Those on a tight schedule can take a day tour to My Tho. Enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway, bordered by green rice fields. On arrival, take a leisurely boat trip around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands. Enjoy a rowing boat ride in the shadows of the water-coconut palms along the tiny canals of Ben Tre Province. Visit the picturesque orchards and sample the freshly picked fruit at the invitation of friendly local farmers. Spend some time in the villages to learn about the daily lives of the inhabitants, listen to their traditional folk music and watch them gather for traditional birth and death ceremonies, or joyous weddings parties.
Ben Tre is generally flat, with some surprising topographical features such as sand dunes and unique rock formations. There are lots of farmland products such as rice, corn, pineapple, custard-apple, star apple, durian and mango. The milk coffee colored water curves its way along small channels lined with water palms; thatch and bamboo houses nestle in the lush orchards.
Besides taking a boat trip, tourists can visit orchards, bee-keeping farm, enjoy traditional music and see coconut candy production process at a local factory. At present, Ben Tre is home to approx 1.35 million people. Residents in Ben Tre are humble, generous and hard-working, but they are also courageous and indomitable.
Inclusion:
Exclusion:
Leave Ho Chi Minh city, enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields. 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, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh – a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shade of water coconut trees along natural canals. Enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, performed by the locals. Observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantations and villages. Proceed to Can Tho.
Overnight in the hotel (family home-stay with dinner can be arranged on request). Free time to visit the bustling Can Tho market.
Take a leisurely boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong river (Bassac River), then proceed to Cai Rang floating market, which is the liveliest in the whole religion.
Have you ever tasted Vietnamese vermicelli soup? Well, now go and see how it is made. Then wander around the village and meet the friendly local people and experience how to pass a “Monkey bridge” which is built by only one stem of bamboo.
Have lunch then return to Hochiminh City. End of services!