
A Cai Lay View of the Mekong
A Cai Lay View
of the Mekong
Void of mass tourism, where villages are only connected through narrow paths and waterways,
biking and boating are the sole means to get to places where time stands still. Cai Lay
in the Mekong Delta is one of these charming regions, ready to be explored.
WHY THIS TOUR?
One day may not be enough time to explore ‘Nine Dragon River Delta’, as the Mekong Delta is known for in Vietnam. A myriad of waterways, often covered with mangrove forests but revealing an aquatic world beyond the main Mekong River, will reveal itself as a brand new world. Various towns, each with its unique character, have emerged alongside the river banks and we head for this day of adventure to Cai Lay.
What makes this huge area inside the Mekong area such a treat to visit, is that it is one of the more idyllic, charming regions where the local community thrives of keeping traditions alive, thus rarely fail to thrill visitors from around the globe. Biking, boating and walking will be a few of the things you will undertake with your guide and simply enjoy what this primitive enchantment will reveal.



TRAIL ITINERARY
08:00 - 17:00
Your English-speaking guide welcomes you at your booked hotel in Ho Chi Minh City from where you quickly head out in a southern direction, away from the always hectic but exciting life of the former Vietnamese capital.
The town of Cai Lay is situated approximately 2 hours outside of this major city and the drive will give visitors a good insight into what’s happening in the daily life of Vietnamese communities. Within 2 hours, we expect to arrive at Cai Lay, part of the Tien Giang region, and one of the Mekong Delta’s strongest assets for tourism merits in the Mekong Delta. Travelling by boat on the maze of waterways and canals is also a way to truly explore the delta, particularly when you embark on a traditional wooden boat that offers plenty of 360-degree views of this green part of Vietnam. After a short boat ride, we hop on our bikes; an almost perfect means to get ‘behind the scenes’ of what often remains hidden; villages where you will meet locals greeting you with a smile and a ‘Xin Chao’ as you paddle on, passing orchards, small cottage industries and soaking in the atmosphere.
The bike ride will be a leisurely one with enough stops for photos!! With so much water around, parts of this visit will include sampan sailing where agile locals paddle you around through shady and tiny canals. The final strokes move you to a local town, where a home-cooked lunch waits for you, filled with Mekong Delta specialities.
It is time to slowly make your way back to Ho Chi Minh City after wandering around the hosts’ lunch address – your car will be only a short walk away from you and brings you back over Highway number 1 to Ho Chi Minh City and your booked accommodation.