Go beyond the usual tourist stops to get an in-depth look at life in the Mekong Delta. Travel to the Ben Tre Province and explore its fruit orchards, coconut groves and hundreds of small islands. Travel by row boat and horse cart to be immersed in the Delta’s rich culture.
Today’s tour will begin at 08:00. Leave the busy streets and modern buildings of Ho Chi Minh City behind on this Ben Tre day trip. Following breakfast, drive south of the city to the Mekong Delta, a remarkable agricultural area referred to as ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam’.
On arrival in Ben Tre Province, board a local boat for a first glimpse of life on the Mekong Delta’s maze of waterways. Cruise among the river islands which have whimsical names such as Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle and Phoenix Islands. En-route visit a small factory producing handicrafts made of coconut – a material found in abundance in the Mekong region. Also, visit Turtle Island to explore an orchard and taste its fresh, tropical fruits.
Then switch gears and travel by horse-driven cart for a different perspective. Cruise along country roads to a lush garden. Taste the honey that is harvested by the residents and famous throughout Vietnam.
Return to the waterways, this time using a rowing boat. Taking advantage of this boat’s smaller size, cruise up narrow Xep canal which is set amongst a dense grove of palm trees.
Following this Delta adventure, return to land for lunch. Before returning to the big city, stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda. This massive Buddhist pagoda boasts impressive architecture and an incredible collection of statues, including a life-size jade image.
Return to Ho Chi Minh City late this afternoon, filled with fantastic memories of a day in the Delta. (L)