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Mekong Delta, Homestay in Vung Liem
OVERVIEW
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Delve into local life with a memorable homestay in the Mekong Delta. Stay on a river island, helping the hosts prepare traditional dishes and joining in their daily activities. Travel by boat and on foot through the meandering waterways to witness local craftsmen at work and to see vibrant markets.
Stay in a homestay
Spend a night in a family’s house, getting a unique opportunity to join the daily activities of the hosts.
Discover the Mekong’s traditions
See small workshops making local specialities, learn to cook Delta specialities and visit thriving fresh markets.
Explore river islands
Move off the tourist sites and walk or bike through quiet laneways on Delta islands, enjoying the tranquillity of the region.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 - HO CHI MINH CITY – CAI BE – VINH LONG – VUNG LIEM
HCMC to Cai Be (110km): 2.5 hours
Cai Be Town, is full of vast emerald rice fields and lush back waterways; these are the things that make the Mekong Delta such a desired destination. This morning, leave bustling Ho Chi Minh for the 2-hour drive to the Delta town of Cai Be. On arrival in Cai Be, visit a cottage factory where ‘pop-rice’, rice paper and coconut candies are made. Lunch will be local Mekong style serving specialties of the area. Return to the boat for the cruise to Vinh Long city. Admire the scenery and the daily life of the local villagers along the way. On arrival, be met by a vehicle for the transfer to Vung Liem. From here cross over a tributary of the Mekong by local ferry before arriving at the homestay located on Long Island renowned for its fruit orchards and sedge fields (this grass is used to make traditional mats). The homestay is unique and the only one to be found on this Delta island for a truly local experience. In the late afternoon, have a chance to practice making banh xeo – a type of savory pancake and a specialty of the Mekong region. After dinner, spend time with the family to learn more on their life, culture and the history of this Island.
Overnight at homestay.
DAY 2 - VUNG LIEM – HO CHI MINH
Vinh Long to HCMC (140km): 3 hours
Wake up to the sound of the countryside. After breakfast, explore the island by bicycle (or on foot) through the village to sedge fields, to see the cutting and weaving of this grass which is used to make traditional mats. En-route visit a shrine dedicated to Thoai Ngoc Hau who was one of the founders of the area. Return to the house for lunch before taking the ferry back to Vung Liem to visit a Khmer pagoda dating back to 1377. Continue to Vinh Long city. En-route see the vast expanses of rice fields, and with some luck observe the local farmers harvesting their crop. Visit the local market in Vinh Long, this is an excellent place to take photographs of the huge array of fresh produce is on offer. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Includes:
Accommodation in a shared twin or shared double room
Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
English or French speaking guide (for other languages supplements apply)
Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air conditioned vehicle
Entrance fees for mentioned visits
Excludes:
Other meals than mentioned
Other services than mentioned
International and domestic flights
Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature
Tips, travel insurance
We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance (covering emergency medical evacuation) for trips to Vietnam.
The cost of air tickets is subject to change without prior notice by the airlines.
Reservations during peak times (Christmas, New Year, Vietnamese Lunar New Year, National Holidays) may be subject to supplementary charges.
If one or some proposed service(s) is (are) not available at the moment of booking, we will try to find other possibilities/options or other similar service(s) in order to avoid changes to the program.