Local life immersion in the Mekong

Vietnam’s Ben Tre province and its provincial capital, Ben Tre, is the place to gain first-hand experiences on family values.

WHY THIS TOUR?

Vietnam’s Ben Tre province and its provincial capital, Ben Tre, is the place to gain first-hand experiences on family values.

This southern region in the Mekong Delta is set against a magnificent kaleidoscope of canals and bridges. This is where your family adventure with Asian Trails Vietnam begins, staying in Mekong Home to experience and be part of the daily life and activities of a local family.

The tour provides two days of family bonding with sailing on the Mekong, visit to a fishing settlement, biking through the province to learn about local handicrafts and enjoying typical Vietnamese cuisine.

Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City

2 Days

Family Trails

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TRAIL ITINERARY

Day 1 | 2 Days | 1 Nights Local life immersion in the Mekong

Day 1

HO CHI MINH CITY – BEN TRE                                                                                [-/-/D]

In line with the program, customers are strongly advised to spend the night prior to the start of this package in Ho Chi Minh City

Your guide and driver will welcome you at the lobby of your booked accommodation after you’ve completed check out procedures and are ready to hit the road towards the Ben Tre province and its provincial capital, bearing the same name. This southern region in the Mekong Delta is a magnificent kaleidoscope of canals and bridges, wrapped in a picturesque setting. The comfortable drive in southern direction will take approximately 2 hours, with new impressions passing by your car window almost every minute.

Lunch is not included during this day, on own arrangement

Upon your arrival at the Mekong Home in Ben Tre, you immediately are welcomed and almost are already part of the family. After a refreshing beverage of the local kind, you’re guided by the hosts towards your room. Time to unwind or go out and seize the day – it is all up to you! The family you’ll be staying with are avid angles and are ready to take you out to one of their favourite fishing spots in the Mekong. With rods and bait at the ready even before your arrival, fishing with the Mekong Home family captures the essence of partaking in traditional family activities is all about.

Measured only by the smiles of the family but not by the results, making ‘Banh Xeo’ – a Vietnamese pancake, filled with fresh vegetables, meat, salad and what else is in season, marks the beginning of the late afternoon. While you and your family cook, roll and chop Banh Xeo, the table is set for a local dinner that includes your pancake creations. The table will be filled with local delicacies, ranging from caramelized pork, fish soup, salads and spring rolls. In good Vietnamese tradition, ending the day with a herbal foot bath smoothens the skin and relaxes you after a day out and about in the Mekong

Dinner and overnight at Mekong Home

Day 2 | 2 Days | 1 Nights Local life immersion in the Mekong

Day 2

BEN TRE – HO CHI MINH CITY / MEKONG DELTA                                         [B/-/-]

There is actually no need to set an alarm; with the arrival of the first sunrays and slowly hearing Ben Tre waking up, it is also your time to leave the comfort of your mattress and being greeted by the host family defines a morning you will not soon forget. Part of the experience is experiencing Mekong morning moments through the eyes of your hosts.

A visit to the Mekong is not limited to spending time with your host family and observe local life from your home stay. The region has more offer, much more, and there is no better way to travel into culturally rich Ben Tre than by bicycle. Together with your guide, you head out to Oc Island, one of the many islands inside the Mekong Delta yet seen as a perfect example of how the sands of time have stood still. Early morning mean also market time and passing one of the wet markets en route to Oc Islands makes for an excellent stop to look and explore what’s for sale today. Basket making is a time-honoured tradition and Ben Tre has long been seen as a centre for the arts and craft. Accompanied by your guide, you’re getting a crash course in basket making at family home where this remains their sole source of income. After your weaving course and taking home your (priced) souvenir, Oc Island is merely a local ferry ride away. An oasis of serenity, untouched natural sceneries and fishing houses, dotted along the island coast line, cycling around is a sheer pleasure.

Sailing on the Mekong is a must and after having your guide explained the ins and outs of the local fishing trade and techniques at one of the bigger fishing settlements, it is time to head out by local slow boat for a gentle cruise over the Ham Luong River…with coconut refreshments included! The abundance of palm trees, bearing coconut fruits is another source of income for the local community. With little to nothing left unused, seeing workers processing everything from juice to skin at a nearby factory affirms a ‘waste not’ principle that flows across the Mekong Delta. The complete process from full fruit to dissecting it into commercially viable products is something that is still done by hand.

Lunch is not included during this day, on own arrangement

The morning ends with cruising back to the Mekong Home in Ben Tre where you will check out, thank the family for their shown hospitality before making your way back to Ho Chi Minh City or continue your travel ventures further through the Mekong. An air-conditioned transfer from the Mekong Home to your next destination is included.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

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INCLUSIONS

  • A full day tour with a professional English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request and may be subject to supplementary charges
  • Transportation by car / mini-van with professional driver.
  • All entrance and donation fees for visits as mentioned in the description.
  • All applicable taxes and service charges
  • Lunch at a local restaurant is included (food only)

EXCLUSIONS

  • Tours, inclusions of any kind and other services that are not outlined in the tour description
  • Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees and optional tours, unless otherwise stated
  • Hotel accommodation in the destination of commencement.
  • Compulsory Christmas, country-specific festival and/or New Year dinner at included hotels
  • Single supplement charges for single travelers, where applicable
  • Any airline tickets, visa fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general meeting point
  • Supplements for transfers for customers arriving or departing from any airport or resorts located outside the general pick-up and drop-off locations
  • Hotel expenses of a personal nature, should an overnight be included: this includes mini-bar consumption, laundry, room service, any telephone or other communication cost not mentioned in the program
  • Travel insurance coverage for customers (highly recommendable)

GOOD TO KNOW

  • This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request / subject to availability and supplementary charges may apply.
  • Transfers are only operated within the downtown Chiang Mai areas and restricted to main hotels only.
  • Regions outside the central business district such as Mae Rim, Hang Dong, Doi Saket, Mae Taeng and Chiang Mai International Airport are excluded and supplementary charges apply.
  • We regret that are unable to provide pick-up and drop-off transfer services from and to apartment complexes, local guest houses or private apartments. We advise you kindly to head on your own arrangement to the nearest hotel inside the downtown Chiang Mai area.
  • We will do all possible to comply with any dietary requirements during this excursion; it may not always be possible to confirm your wishes in advance based on the choice of local restaurant.
  • Due to the nature of this tour, we regret to inform you that this excursion is not suitable for wheelchair users.
  • Guests are advised that some walking is required during this excursion; we always ensure that we take the most comfortable ways from the entrance of the sight to the sight itself.
  • The road up and down Doi Angkhang is not suitable for large coaches; for group travel, note that the group needs to be split up into mini-vans. We always will make efforts to confirm the exact pick-up time upon reservation.
  • For any operational issues in which are not able to confirm the exact pick-up time in advance, we reserve the right to inform you the day before the departure of the tour.
  • Due to the absence of ATM machines and credit cards payment portals, we highly recommend to bring sufficient cash with you. Please ensure that you bring sunglasses, a hat /cap and sunblock with a high SPF factor when traveling with us on this tour – even when it is cloudy, the sunrays still have an immense power.
  • We reserve the right to make necessary changes to the excursion in case of unfavourable weather conditions or situations where we are forced to make alterations to guarantee the safety of our guests.
  • It is recommendable to bring a jacket / sweater with you as temperatures on Doi Angkhang are often much cooler than around Chiang Mai.
  • It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us with the correct hotel information, should pick-up and drop-off services be included in the package.
  • Any changes in accommodation outside 48 hours will be handled accordingly: changes within 48 hours may be on request.

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