Song xanh cruise

Overviews

We have launched on last Oct 07 the first of a flotilla of 4 very unique, authentic and charming Sampans named "Song Xanh Cruise", designed for travellers looking for "private" cruise experiences in the Mekong Delta. On board, two spacious spaces of 15sqm each are equipped with beautiful bamboo and rattan furniture, creating a very charming atmosphere. A very attentive service is provided by a team of 4 crew members"

Since early 2004, new cruise paths are opened with high quality cruise standards.

Having our head quarters based in Phu An/Cai Lay (next to Cai Be, Tien Giang Province), we operate cruises and related tours services in the Mekong Delta using our own built sampans, all stylishly designed and inspired by ancient authentic traditional Indochinese river boats.

Since June 2006, we also operate our own-built restaurant named "Le Longanier", a beautiful Indochinese two storeys villa with authentic architecture and style.

Facilities of Song Xanh Cruise

• - Salon amenities: 1 rattan sofa and 2 rattan armchairs with cotton pillows, 1 rattan low table, books, 1 rattan standing lamp, water jacynth floor carpet. 
• - Bathroom amenities: tooth brushes and tooth paste, cotton buds, shower cap, shampoo, soap, bath and hands cotton towels. 

• - Bed room amenities: cotton kimonos, rattan slippers, fans, double bed with silk bed covers and pillows , 2 rattan bed drawers/bedroomwith 2 silk bed lamps lotus style, 1 ratan chest drawer/bedroom, 1 rattan sofa with cotton pillows, water jacynth floor carpets (bed sides and front). 
• - Sun deck amenities: teak wood square table with 4 or 6 bamboo/hard cotton chairs.
• - 1 small roawing boat attached at the back with bicycles for deeper canals discovery.
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Itinerary 2 days 1 night

Day 1 : Saigon - Cai Be - Sa Dec - Can Tho (L, D)

• - At 7:00 am. our car will pick you up at your hotel in Saigon and take you to Cai Be.
• - At around 10.am arrive in the pier in Phu An hamlet located next to Cai Be town, approximately 2 hours drive south from Saigon.
• - Transfer to the sampan and be welcomed by our crew.
• - First of all, visit of some local home factories and observe how rice paste, coconut candies and other specialties are traditionally made.
• - Then proceed to Cai Be colorful floating market, cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables.
• - Your sampan will take direction of Vinh Long and Sa Dec, cruising upstream on the Tien Giang River, one of the two large branches of the Mekong. 
• - Disembark to take a small rowing boat for a cruise along a narrow canal passing by a local tiny village and fruit plantations.
• - Then visit one of the largest artisanal bricks and tiles factory.
• - Disembark at the local market place for a guided visit of Sa Dec town, walk along its narrow streets where beautiful French old houses and Chinese temples dating from the last century are numerous.
• - Enjoy lunch at an ancient house dating from 1890, home of Mr. Huyen Thuy Le, the “Lover” of Marguerite Duras famous writer - “The Lover”.
• - Get back on your sampan, enjoy cruising down to Can Tho along a beautiful narrow canal, passing under several wooden “monkey bridges” and by tiny typical villages.
• - Some stops on the banks will be possible to establish contacts with the local population. A visit will be done at a Cao Dai temple.
• - Before sunset, stop on the banks arranged at a splendid ancient house or “Nha Co” dating from the early 19th century.
• - After being greeted by the owners, enjoy your dinner here.
• - After dinner, proceed the cruise for approximately one hour until Can Tho. We will moor for the night in a quiet place.

Day 2: Cai Rang - Can Tho - Saigon (B)

• - At around 6 am., your sampan will slowly start cruising. 
• - Your breakfast will be served on board at 7 am. while approaching Cai Rang floating market - the largest in the whole Mekong delta.
• - We will pass by countless sampan boats carrying sand, rice, fruits and vegetables, fish, flowers… showing an intense activity on the river.
• - At around 10 am  arrive at Ninh Kieu pier after a visit at Can Tho local market. 
• - Our driver will meet you there and transfer you back to Ho Chi Minh city. The trip ends.

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Itinerary 3 days 2 nights

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh - Cai Be - Phu An - Dong Hoa Hiep - Vinh Long - Sa Dec (L, D)

• - At 07:30 am our driver will meet you at you hotel in Saigon then transfer to Cai Be.
• - Embark the Song Xanh sampan, the cruise will begin with the visit of Cai Be colorful floating market cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables.
• -Leave Cai Be market and visit an ancient mandarin house dating from 1890.
• - Stop at some local home factories will allow us to observe how rice paste, coconut candies and other specialties are traditionally made.
• - Continue cruising to Phu An hamlet, have lunch at "Le Longanier", a superb Indochinese villa located by the river, in a lush tropical garden surrounded by fruit plantations.
• - After lunch, proceed to Sa Dec cruising the Tien Giang river, one of the two large arms of the Mekong.
• - Take a small rowing boat for a cruise along a narrow canal passing by a local tiny village and fruit plantations, visit one of the largest artisanal bricks and tiles factory.
• - Disembark for a guided visit of Sa Dec town, walk along its narrow streets where beautiful French old houses, Chinese temples and Vietnamese Dinh are dating from the last century…
• - Then visit the local market and the Trung Vuong primary school where well known writer Marguerite Duras spent her childhood (see her famous novel turned into the movie “The Lover”).
• - Before sunset, stop at a splendid ancient house or “Nha Co” dating from the early 19th century and enjoy your dinner thers.
• - Get back to the boat and stay overnight on sampan.

Day 2: Sa Dec - Long Xuyen - Cho Moi (B, L, D)

• - The breakfast will be served on board at 7 am.
• - Leave Sa Dec and proceed the cruise upstream the river to Long Xuyen, a peaceful provincial town located on the Mekong’s banks.
• - Approaching Long Xuyen, enjoy your  lunch on board.
• - After lunch, have a quick tour of Long Xuyen typical center before cruising further to “Cu Lao Ong Ho” (The Tiger Island) for a visit at Ton Duc Thang museum, second president of Vietnam…
• - Then,  proceed upstream on the Mekong River to Chau Doc. Some stops on the banks will be possible for cycling tours to discover deeper the inhabitants’ life style.
• - Our dinner will be served at an ancient house that located by the river in the suburbs of Cho Moi. Take your chance to share experiences with family members and learn about traditional Southern Vietnam lifestyle.
• - Get back on board our private sampan for our second night on the river.

Day 3: Cho Moi - Chau Doc - Ho Chi Minh (B)

• - In the early morning, our breakfast will be served on board while we will be cruising to Chau Doc.
• - Cruise on a little arm of the Mekong where several traditional activities can be observed on the banks as well as old Vietnamese temples dating from late 19th century.
• - Reach Chau Doc late in the morning.
• - At around 11 am, disembark at Chau Doc main city pier, our car will transfer you back to Saigon. The trip ends.

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Rates & Availability

Price inclusion:

• Transportation service by a private car
• Boat trip
• All meals mentioned in the itinerary
• 2 water bottles per one per day, Vietnamese tea, Fresh fruits, Refreshing cotton towels
• Entrance fees 
• Service charge and govenrment taxes
• Crew assistance
• 1 English speaking guide
• Bicycles and rowing boat rides

Price exclusion:

• Travel insurance
• Personal Expenses
• Drinks during meals & cruise (soft drinks, beer, wine)
• Tipping / Crew and Guide