Summary:
Mekong Eyes Cruise: 14 cabins
The Mekong Eyes combines regional boat-building traditions with modern comforts to become the perfect holiday vessel to cruise the Mekong Delta in style. At 39 m long and 8.5 m wide, the Mekong Eyes river cruiser was built out of an old, traditional rice barge with the finest quality wood, and artfully decorated by skilled craftsmen of the Mekong Delta.
Details:
It’s like a floating hotel: There are 14 lavishly furnished twin and double rooms, each with a private bathroom with shower and hot water, wardrobe, air-conditioning and fan. The rooms are well insulated against climate and sound, and all offer a fantastic panoramic view of the Mekong River.
A stylish upper-deck inside panorama lounge invites you to sit back and take in the impressions of the fantastic scenery and the busy everyday life on the river. On the top deck you will find an open sitting area and sun deck with breathtaking views. While you are basking on the sun deck our friendly staff will pamper you with cool drinks and freshly cooked delicacies.
Day 1: Panorama River Cruise (B, L, D, G)
In the morning, your guide will take you to Mekong Delta. You board your comfortable wooden river cruise vessel around noon. After a refreshing welcome drink your guide will show you on-board facilities and your cozy cabin. As lunch is served, the boat starts cruising. You can sit back to relax and watch the fantastic scenery and the daily life of the Mekong people.
In the afternoon you can disembark for a guided leisurely stroll through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. You’ll have chance to meet the friendly locals and taste the local product and fruits.
Then, you’ll get back on board and enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the magnificent water landscape of the Mekong River. The cruise boat will anchor for the night. The day ends with a delicious on-board dinner. You stay overnight on board your floating hotel in the Mekong Delta.
Day 2: Cai Rang / Cai Be Floating Market (B, L, G)
Today, you’ll wake up well rested to the sound of the river and get ready for another exciting day of sightseeing in the Mekong Delta. At 6.30 the cruise vessel sets off for a sunrise cruise. You’ll watch the locals go about their daily work drying exotic fruits and building ships on the wooden yards while enjoying an early breakfast.
After breakfast, you will board a sampan boat to Cai Be or Cai Rang floating market, the region’s busiest and most lively markets. You’ll marvel at the sheer abundance of exotic fruits, vegetables and skillfully handcrafted regional products. Then, you will pull up to the boats for talking and bargaining with the merchants. You will also visit some of the local candy and cake making factories or boat through the green water landscape to see local houses, verdant orchards and ship-building yards. At 11:30 the cruise departs to Ho Chi Minh City where you’ll spend the night.
The floating markets in the Mekong Delta are no tourist markets but wholesale markets where produce of the Mekong Delta like fruits and vegetables are traded. For this reason the number of boats on the market fluctuates depending on harvesting seasons and market demand. Furthermore, modern wholesale markets are becoming more popular in Vietnam. This can result in decreasing numbers of boats being present on the markets.
Additional services (on request only):
Bicycle tours:
This is a great way to discover the fascinating Mekong Delta life off the beaten track. You can stop on the way to explore the small paths along the canals or the river islands. Our sampan will pick you up at the end of the tour to bring you back to the Mekong Eyes. This is a perfect combination: a relaxing river cruise as well as active exploring of the Mekong Delta by bike.
Sampan rides:
During your Mekong Delta river cruise, you can do side trips with our sampan to explore the small Mekong side canals — a unique perspective on life on the water and the scenery.
Cooking classes on board the cruise vessel:
To learn the secrets of real Vietnamese cuisine, we give you the possibility to take cooking classes from our chef. You will also have the option to buy the fresh ingredients for your own meal directly at the local floating markets.
Tai Chi, Yoga and Massage services:
Those services are available upon request — please enquire before your Mekong tour to ensure that they are available.