Day 1: Panorama river cruise (L, D)
In the morning we pick you up at your hotel (district 1 and parts of district 3) in Saigon and take you to Cai Be. You board your comfortable wooden river cruise vessel around noon. After a refreshing welcome drink we show you our on-board facilities and your cosy cabin. As lunch is served, the boat starts cruising. Sit back and watch the fantastic scenery and the daily life of the Mekong people. In the afternoon you can disembark for a guided leisurely stroll through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. Meet the friendly locals and taste the local produce and fruits. Get back on board and enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the magnificent water landscape of the Mekong river. The cruise boat will anchor for the night. The day ends with a delicious on-board dinner. You stay overnight on board your floating hotel in the Mekong Delta.
Day 2: Life on the water and floating markets (B, L, D)
Wake up well rested to the sound of the river and get ready for another exciting day of sightseeing in the Mekong Delta. At 6.30h the cruise vessel sets off for a sunrise cruise. Watch the locals go about their daily work drying exotic fruits and building ships on the wooden yards while enjoying an early breakfast. After breakfast, we will board a sampan boat to Cai Rang floating market, the region’s busiest and most lively market. Marvel at the sheer abundance of exotic fruits, vegetables and skilfully handcrafted regional products. We will pull up to the boats for talking and bargaining with the merchants. We will also visit some of the local candy and cake making factories or boat through the green water landscape to see local houses, verdant orchards and ship-building yards. Afterwards you have the opportunity to explore some small back roads by bicycle. While you enjoy your lunch on board, the Dragon Eyes or Gecko Eyes cruises towards Long Xuyen, where you will see many floating houses and fish farms. This is the centre of the local Hoa Hao, a religion based on Buddhism. In the afternoon you can visit the bird sanctuary Ban Lang, which is well known for its population of storks (subject to season and weather, alternative: visit of handicraft village or mushroom farm).
Day 3: Cruise to Chau Doc (B, L)
The boat starts cruising towards Chau Doc early in the morning. After breakfast on the top deck, you can visit a floating fish farm and take part in an excursion to a cham village. The Mekong river cruise ends after a delicious lunch on board. You will be transferred to your hotel and you can relax or explore for the rest of the day.
Day 4: Across the border into Cambodia (B)
Ride a taxi to the pier where you embark the speed boat for an exciting ride to Phnom Penh, your starting point for discovering Cambodia and the famous temples of Angkor Wat. The trip ends here. Please contact us if we can help you organise your tour to Angkor or any further trips. Of course we will also be happy to arrange your transfer back to Saigon.
Boat design
"Cruise the Mekong in style and luxury”
Did you always dream of exploring the Mekong in an individual way? The new Gecko Eyes houseboats will be perfect for you, the first of the houseboats is under construction and ready for first guests in April.The Gecko Eyes are private houseboats for two or four people, made for tours on a high level — for couples, small families or a group of friends.The houseboat
Based on the traditional An-Giang fishing boats we are currently building our new luxurious houseboats for private and exclusive tours through the Mekong delta. The vessels, built by local craftsmen, are made of local woods decorated with elegant carvings for a special touch. To provide your safety and well-being, our staff on board (captain, sailor, chef, tour guide) is at your constant disposition.The guest area (40 sqm) has a luxurious cabin (double or twin occupancy) with a French balcony, air-con, a private bathroom, a panoramic lounge with French balconies and a sun deck at the bow. On request, the salon can be changed into an additional bedroom with two beds.
The staff area, with a well equipped kitchen, is at the back of the ship. This area is completely separated from the guest area by a lockable door to ensure your privacy.
Visit the famous floating markets with the Gecko Eyes, travel through small canals along orchards and floating villages up to the boarder to Cambodia or down to the port cities of Ha Tien or Rach Gia.
Due to its shallow draft, the Gecko Eyes is able to glide through small tributaries and canals of the Mekong delta. The sailing area is from My Tho and Cai Be, near Saigon, through the lovely colonial town of Sa Dec, along Can Tho with its famous floating markets to Long Xuyen an Chau Doc near the Cambodian border. Basically the Gecko Eyes has the whole Mekong delta region at its disposal, as the ships are self-sufficient for several days.
There are always bikes on board for spontaneous trips on the river islands along the small canals.
For your safety and your well-being.
An electrical generator provides an on-board electricity supply of 220V and a battery pack ensures a quite night. Modern on-board waste-water treatment and solar hot water boilers reduce the environmental impact of our boats.
Modern safety equipment (heat and smoke detectors and fire fighting system) a total of six separate compartments and a regular emergency training of the staff ensures the safety of the guests.