Mekong Delta homestay experience

We all know Mekong River is a heaven for cruising. Several cruise companies don’t miss their business opportunities on this market. However, Mekong River does not offer an amazing water way for cruises but fertilizes a unique water life. While cruising is the wonderful trip to explore the river, a homestay experience is an amazing way to see an authentic water lifestyle of locals. I posted quite many about cruise Mekong River before, I suppose that’s quite enough for cruising. Then today is for some off-shore to-do things, Mekong Delta trip – biking, boat riding, homestay ect.. all are here!

Let’s check what this South Vietnam holiday looks like? The expedition starts with a pick-up at hotel and departs for Co co where you start your biking tour from Coco to Hoa Loc to observe the rural local daily life covered orchards and have chance to meet local people who rarely see any foreigners in this area (really they are). Then take a boat to cross the river delta and weave through the small canals of Binh Hoa Phuoc island to discover the lush scenery and people working on the farm. Visit CaiBe Floating market then enjoy your lunch with local delicacy with fresh water fish of "elephant ear-fish". Boat ride to Vinh Long. Visit Vinh Long local market where you have chance to see all kind of farm-products of Mekong Delta such as: many kind of fresh vegetables, Abundant tropical fruits, Pigs, ducks and chickens market, especially snakes, rats, frogs, snails.... be back to island for homestay.
Highlight activities: sampan ride, biking for about 2 hours, see orchards and farms

Second day, taking breakfast in authentic local peaceful atmosphere, then boat ride to Vinh long dock. Car transfer to Sadec with the stop to visit the Huynh Thuy Le ancient house where is famous for the best novel of Margaret Duras “the Lover” will be followed with a drive to Chaudoc. In the afternoon is another boat ride and enjoy spectacular view from a local summit, see Vietnam-Camboida border gate.
Highlights Activities: See the an ancient house, visit floating market with floating house

Next day is another homestay. Start with a drive to visit Bang Lang Storks Garden and Binh Thuy Shrine. Drive to Truong Long Village (15km) for your homestay. (Important note: Homestay at basic condition – You do not try to experience a homestay with 4 star hotel standard, don’t you? You will see the locals’ real daily lives not the ones well arranged to show off. Be prepared that you stay in someone’ real home not someone’s business)
Highlight activities: See the remote villages of Mekong Delta, homestay

The forth day, wake up at 6:00am - an interesting, pleasant day awaiting today! After a healthy breakfast at your local house, jump straight into an arrow-boat and enjoy an early boat cruise (4 hours) to visit the stunning floating markets of Phong Dien and Cai Rang. Phong Dien is smaller in scale and is more of a retailed one while Cai Rang is bigger and is more of a wholesaled one. And what you need to do is to sit back and relax on the boat, have some sips of local coffee and watch the world of trading activities going on and on from boats to boats. If you are fruit lovers, go for the freshest ones here at these markets. In between the two markets, we will get off our boat for some short bike-rides along the remote villages’ paths. Hop back on our car after cruising through Cai Rang floating market and head to Cantho. Today we stay in a hotel
Activities: See floating market and garden houses, biking ride

The last day, drive back to MyTho. Take on a bigger wooden boat and cruise crossing the mighty Upper Mekong River before boarding a wooden sampan and cruise through a green, lush, picturesque and Amazon-like creeks of Tan Thach. Heading to Gocong by road.with some more breaks en route to visit an incense workshop, a local village where the people have produced some of the finest pieces of furniture in the South, and a legumes nursery which surely is an eye-opener for any one! Short bike ride crossing paddy fields and through remote villages dotted with coconut palm trees then continue the trip back Saigon with the backroad via My Loi ferry on Vam Co river. We finish in Hochiminh city around late afternoon

Please note that the homestay program like this is a typical one, well combined between comfortable stay in a hotel and an authentic stay at local’s house. If you want to deeply dive in Mekong delta, a complete homestay holiday is a recommendation, I mean all nights at local house! As I mentioned (somewhere above), don’t expect something thoroughly comfortable with all-supplied services, you are living in a local’s house, stay focus on what you’re seeing, not on what you’re staying! That will make your homestay experience amazing, a true highlight of your trip even though you once experience best 5 star accommodations before

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