Overview
Step off the beaten path into the tranquil, lush landscapes of Vietnam’s southwestern frontier. Journey from the flower nurseries of Sa Dec to the pristine wetland sanctuaries of Chau Doc. Designed for travelers who thrive on active exploration, immersive nature, and authentic rural encounters, this tour brings you close to nature through scenic cycling along canal pathways, serene boat rides through cajuput forests, and river encounters along the Hau River.
Detailed Itinerary
- Morning: Depart Saigon for Sa Dec, a charming town celebrated for its horticulture. Pedal past vibrant fields of chrysanthemums, orchids, and bonsai plants in the floral villages. Visit the Huynh Thuy Le Ancient House, an architectural blend of French and Chinese design made famous by Marguerite Duras’ novel The Lover.
- Afternoon: Drive through the vast rice bowl landscapes of the Delta toward Chau Doc on the Cambodian border. Check into your riverside hotel in time to watch the sun dip below the horizon.
- Evening: Unwind at your leisure along the riverside promenade.
- Overnight: Chau Doc
Meals:
- Breakfast: at Hotel (Saigon)
- Lunch: Local Southwestern specialties including Sa Dec rice noodle soup (Hủ Tiếu Sa Đéc).
- Dinner: Regional Mekong Delta cuisine at a riverside restaurant in Chau Doc.
- Morning (Hau River Floating Life): Board a private rivercraft onto the Hau River. Discover floating fish farms anchored in the current and explore traditional stilt-house communities lining the riverbanks.
- Afternoon (Tra Su Cajuput Forest): Transfer to Tra Su Forest, an 850-hectare eco-reserve. Board a wooden rowboat to slip silently through green channels of floating duckweed under a canopy of cajuput trees. Ascend the forest observation tower for panoramic views of nesting egrets, herons, and storks.
- Overnight: Chau Doc
Meals Included:
- Breakfast: at hotel
- Lunch: Rustic wetland feast featuring grilled snakehead fish wrapped in lotus leaves and wild sesbania flower hotpot.
- Dinner: Chau Doc borderland dinner blending Khmer and Vietnamese flavors.
- Morning (Country Biking): Set off on a guided bicycle excursion along quiet rural paths. Cross wooden footbridges and ride along irrigation canals, past emerald rice fields and dragon fruit plantations. Stop at local cottage workshops to see traditional sedge mat weaving and artisanal rice paper making.
- Afternoon: Return to Chau Doc. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool, visiting a local Cham silk-weaving village, or taking in the sunset views from Sam Mountain.
- Overnight: Chau Doc
Meals:
- Breakfast: at hotel
- Lunch: Home-style Mekong meal
- Dinner: Relaxed riverside dinner overlooking the Hau River.
- Morning: Depart Chau Doc for the return journey toward Ho Chi Minh City. Take scenic backroads with stops at local seasonal orchards, rice paddies, and roadside food stalls to sample seasonal fruits and agricultural specialties.
- Late Afternoon: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to your hotel or airport.
Meals:
- Breakfast: at Hotel
- Lunch: Farm-to-table lunch featuring fresh river shrimp and local garden vegetables.
Highlights
- Sa Dec Floral Village: Cycle through colorful floral nurseries and visit the historic Huynh Thuy Le Ancient House.
- Tra Su Cajuput Forest: Glide over emerald duckweed carpets beneath towering cajuput trees in a sanctuary teeming with waterbirds.
- Hau River Floating World: Boat through riverine communities and traditional floating fish farms.
- Mekong Countryside Biking: Ride along canal paths past emerald rice paddies, orchards, and mat-weaving hamlets.
- Frontier Heritage:Experience the rich cultural blend of Vietnamese, Khmer, Cham, and Chinese influences in Chau Doc.