Departure: every day (tours start in Cai Be on even dates and in Can Tho on odd dates)
Day 1: Panorama Cruise
In the morning we pick you up at your hotel in Saigon and take you to Can Tho or Cai Be. You board your wooden river cruiser 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 the 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. The boat will anchor for the night. The day ends with a delicious on-board dinner.
Day 2: Life on the water and floating markets
Wake up well rested to the sound of the River and get ready for another exciting day of sightseeing. At 6.30h the 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 Be or Cai Rang floating market, the region’s busiest and most lively markets. 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. Disembark the boat at around 11.00 - 11.30h on the pier and enjoy lunch in town. Sit back in the car and watch the water landscape from a land perspective until you reach Chau Doc where we bring you to your hotel. Depending on your budget you can choose the famous colonial-style Victoria hotel or a family managed local 3-star hotel.
Day 3: Towards Cambodia
Ride a taxi to the pier where you embark on the speed boat for an exciting ride to Phnom Penh, your starting point for discovering Cambodia and the famed temples of Angkor. 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
The two sister boats Dragon Eyes I and Dragon Eyes II were build in the traditional style of the Mekong Delta river boats of An Giang Province. Their elegant, slender and shallow hulls enable the Dragon Eyes to cruise also the secondary side canals which are too small for the larger cruisers to explore. There we find serene river front life that makes the Mekong Delta so unique.
At the same time the boats are big enough to provide you with ample space for relaxation and privacy. Each of the Dragon Eyes provides around 100 m2 for its guests:
Two spacy private cabins (14 - 16 m2), providing a nicely designed bath room, a French balcony, sitting area, individual air conditioning, fans and fantastic river views through the panorama windows.
In the indoor panorama lounge you can watch the hustle and bustle of the Mekong Delta sitting in the cool and cosy front salon with air condition and large panorama windows and 270° views on the river.
On the sun deck on the top deck you can enjoy a sun bath while watching the scenery passing by. Indulge in the culinary specialities of Vietnam in the roofed outdoor restaurant or enjoy a sun-downer in your private bar on the top deck - all with fantastic river views.
Our crew of five will do their utmost to provide you with all the services and comfort you need. Your captain and his deck hand are in charge of the technical details and the routing. An experienced chef and the service staff will take you on a culinary journey through Vietnam. Your personal guide and cruise director show you all the sights you need to see and will explain life and culture of the Mekong Delta. Our staff get regular safety trainings. They will do their best to fulfill the special requests of our customers.
The boats were built by local ship builders from following traditional designs. The cabins and the interior were build by Vietnamese master craftsmen. Most interiors and furnitures are built from exclusive tropical woods, where available with certification for sustainable forest plantation. All critical technical equipment like engine, navigation, rudder, air-conditioning, water purification or fire protection system are imported from Japan or Europe.