Mekong Homestay
Mekong Delta 2 Days Saigon - Ben Tre - Vinh Long
Experience living in the Mekong Delta and explore it by boat, bike. On this trip, you will be taken to Ben Tre- the kingdom of coconut trees in Vietnam and Mekong's untouched lands. In addition, you will be staying in traditional Vietnamese houses and will have opportunities to interact with the local people. Not only will you be able to visit the local floating market, but you can even help the locals cook some Vietnamese dishes.
Code: INNO-MK2D-BT-VL
Price: 111USD
Itinerary
Day 1: Saigon – Ben Tre - Vinh Long (_, L,D)
08:00: Car to Tien Giang province.
09:30: Arrive at My Tho town. Take a boat trip to get over Tien river- Upper Mekong river to the other side (Ben Tre land named “the kingdom of coconut trees of Vietnam”). Sight -seeing fish farms, floating fish market on the way. Stop at Phoenix islet to see how locals make coconut rice paper cake and souvenir handicrafts from coconut trunk and shell. Boat to Tan Thanh, take horse –cart to An Khanh village (2km) and stop at some local houses to see how they pack banana and coconut-leaves cakes. Walk under coconut shade to Vuon Dau restaurant for lunch.
13:00 Take rowing boat through the narrow water palm creek, boat along the Phoenix islet to see fish breeding in floating cages. Stop to visit a local coconut candy workshop, taste some local special products.
Boat back to Tortoise islet and visit traditional Nam Bo house (Southern house), enjoy seasonal fruits and listening to traditional music. Back to My Tho city by boat.
14:00 Car to Vinh Long.
16:00 Arrive at a small village - non touristy town in Vinh Long province, only available at Innoviet. Motor-boat will bring you to the home stay; there you’ll be greeted by the host family.
17:00: Prepare for cooking class with many recipes of Vietnamese cuisine, enjoy our results (dinner).
After a short study of Vietnamese language with our host family, we walk around the village to see and catch fire-flies before retiring in the Mekong rural house.
Day 2: Vinh Long – Saigon (B,L,_)
06:00 Get up early to enjoy the fresh air and do some exercise to be more healthy.
06:30: Visit the floating market by boat in the early morning and see how people there live and trade. Drop in the market on land where you will be Vietnamese to buy some fruits in Vietnamese.
08:00: Ride your bike (about 2 hours) around the small village roads shaded by bamboo, banana, rambutan, pomelo and mangosteen trees. Pass the immense green rice fields with flying egrets, working farmers and admire the beautiful scenery.
Have an overview of the “Rice Making Procedure” in one Rice workshop. Get to know what are the "same same, but different" trees in the Mekong Delta. You will practise & try to guess the names of these trees just by your nose!
We visit a pagoda and stroll around a very quiet garden of pagoda.
Then boat back to the home stay, we will enjoy lunch. After taking a rest in the garden, we’ll say good bye to the host family.
13:00: Car back to Ho Chi Minh City or local express bus to Rach Gia/ Chau Doc.
Price: 111USD (Group price - Maximum 8 people)
Inclusion
- Transportation: Minivan, boat, rowing boat, cycle…
- English speaking guide
- One small bottle of water / passenger
- Meals: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
- Entrance fee
- Home stay: There are 2 home stays: typical house and new style house.
1. Typical house: beautiful view (river view, nice garden), beds with mattress
2. New style house: private room for group 2 or 4 people in 1 room, beds have Vietnamese mattress – no sheet, river view, and share bathroom
Exclusion
- Personal expenses
- Insurance
- Tips and Gratuities
Children policy
- Under the age of 5: Free of charge for 1 child joining with 2 adults (stay in the same size car used for group).
- 5-10 years of age: 70% cost of adult ticket will be charged (stay in the same size car with their parents).
Cancellation policy
- In case of cancellation before 3 days: 0% cost of ticket will be charged.
- In case of cancellation before 24 hours: 30% cost of ticket will be charged.
- In case of cancellation before 12 hours: 75% cost of ticket will be charged.
- In case of cancellation less than 12 hours: 100% cost of ticket will be charged.
Participant Guidelines: What to bring
- Passports
- Sun cream
- Mosquito repellent
- Hat
- Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, soap, shampoo etc)
- Sandals or similar
- A small back-pack
N.B. You should be clothed and appropriately covered when sleeping overnight in the home stay.
