Mekong Delta Cruise My Tho and Ben Tre

My Tho: One of the things which first strikes the visitors upon arrival in My Tho is the abundance of river and canals. Everywhere there are fish farms where "Tai Tuong" (Elephant's ears), a variety introduced from Indonesia, are kept in their thousands. My Tho is dotted with Buddhist pagodas and surrounded by rice fields and fruit gardens. Ben Tre: Only a 20 minutes ferry-ride away from bustling My Tho, this seems to be barrier enough to give the town a genuine backwater feeling. Tourists are still a scarce species and locals are open and friendly. Ben Tre Province provides some of the most beautiful scenery in the Mekong delta. The milk coffee colored waters wind their way along small channels lined with water palms, thatch and bamboo houses are nestled in the lush orchards.

In the early morning: Our tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. A smooth one-and-half-hour drive through rice field scenery along National Highway 1 brings you to the beautiful rural district of Trung Luong. Take boat to enter My Tho city through Bao Dinh natural canal. Then pay a visit to My Tho's colorful street fruit market alongside the canal to soak up the lively atmosphere and watch the locals trade their produce. Take a leisurely cruise on the Tien River to Tortoise island. En route, view the fishing port, the traditional stilt houses and boat building workshops, and the other three evocatively-named islands - Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn islands. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch served right in the heart of the orchard to the accompaniment of Southern Vietnamese folk music performed by the islanders.
In the afternoon: After visiting the coconut candy mill, take an amazing rowing boat trip along the small canal. Then continue to Ben Tre province, "the country of coconuts", to see a typical agricultural model known as "Garden - Pond - Cage". Enjoy a relaxing cup of honey tea before returning to My Tho via Tan Thach natural canal, cruising under the shadows of water coconut palms. Return to Ho Chi Minh City at 5:30pm.

Validity until 31 December 2011 (US$/Pax)

Number of Group	1	2	3-5	6-8	9-15	16-20
Price per Pax	140	78	56	52	48	45

Inclusions: Meal as mentioned in the itineraries: Vietnamese and Asian Food basic; Private transfer with air-con; Private boat trip to visit My Tho and Ben Tre; English speaking guide (other languages on request); All entrance and sightseeing fees; All taxes and service chargesExclusions: Drinks; Insurance; Personal expenses; Tipping / Gratuities