This enchanting three day trip takes you deep into the watery world of the Mekong Delta from Can Tho to Phnom Penh via the charming border town of Chau Doc. Amazing tributaries hidden amongst vibrant tropical fruit gardens, bustling floating markets that offer a cornucopia of items, and acres of emerald rice fields are what makes the Mekong Delta so unforgettable.

Journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Be and Vinh Long. Here you will cruise the many tributaries of the Mekong, walk along the famous ‘Monkey Bridges’ that link the villages together and wander amongst vibrant tropical fruit gardens.

In Can Tho, take a boat to visit the colourful Cai Rang floating market. Here, during the early morning market hours, larger sized boats anchor and create lanes that smaller boats weave in and out of. The main items sold here are fruit and vegetables and every boat has a long upright pole at its bow from which samples of the goods for sale are hung. The waterway becomes a maze of hundreds of boats packed with mango, bananas, papaya, pineapple, and even floating pho vendors.

Before heading into Cambodia and its capital Phnom Penh, spend a night in the town of Chau Doc. The pace here is slower than the rest of the Mekong and the town boats a strong cultural presence. The local Khmer population rubs shoulders with local fisherman, whilst the Cham minority still weave colorful traditional textiles.

This morning, drive from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta town of Cai Be and board the Cai Be Princess boat. Visit Cai Be's colorful floating market, local cottage industries and an excursion to the evergreen islands in the middle of the meandering canals. Enjoy lunch in a restored colonial villa before continuing on the boat journey until reaching Can Tho late this afternoon.

Overnight in Can Tho.

Wake up early for a breakfast cruise to the colorful Cai Rang floating market which bustles with wholesalers on big boats. Customers cruise the market in smaller boats, and can easily find what they are looking for, as the larger boats hang samples of their goods from tall wooden poles. Following your visit to Cai Rang and Can Tho depart for the 3-hour drive to Chau Doc.

Overnight in Chau Doc.

After breakfast, take a boat to the area's unique fish farms and to visit a village of stilt houses belonging to the Cham minority. Here you will see colorful traditional textiles being woven on old wooden looms. Your afternoon is at leisure, and a visit to Sam Mountain for sunset is highly recommended. There are dozens of pagodas and temples around Sam Mountain and reaching the peak, with its fantastic views, is the highlight of the visit.

Overnight in Chau Doc

After breakfast, an early morning boat departure takes you up an hour up the delta's waterways to the Cambodian border. After clearing immigrations, its another 4 hour along the Mekong to Phnom Penh, your final destination.

Note: Although this tour ends at the Phnom Penh boat dock, we suggest booking additional services in the city, such as transfers and hotels. If you wish to explore Cambodia in more depth, peruse our Cambodia Tours collection.