Day 1:
Depart from Saigon around 8 am and head south to Ben Tre province, famous
for its coconut production and quiet, peaceful waterways.
On arrival, take a xe loi ride through the local village of Huu Dinh to enjoy the green fields and gardens. Continue with a short walk to Huu Phuoc bridge where you will start your boat trip through small canals with beautiful tropical scenery. On board the boat, enjoy a welcome drink (mango cocktail) and tropical fruits while cruising.
The cruise will stop first at a brickworks where the locals still use centuries-old traditional methods to make the bricks by hand. Then go back to your boat to cross the An Hoa river, where you will take a sampan trip through narrow canals and enjoy the peacefulness of the region. The sampan will take you to visit one of our friends Mrs Huong who lives with her 3 children and grandson – they live on fishing, shrimp and fruit orchards. Enjoy fresh fruits and tea before heading to visit a rice noodles factory which produces Hu Tieu noodles, one of most popular breakfast dishes in the region.
Then switch to bicycle and ride on village roads past green gardens and local houses, and stop at another local house where they live on their traditional family business, sampan boat building. Then continue your cycling trip to My Long to visit Mr Sau Tuong, a former Vietcong soldier who survived two years fighting the Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh. Now he and his wife live on making rice paper which is the most famous speciality of My Long village. Have a chat with him and enjoy the crispy rice paper made by his wife, and see how it is made.
Then return to the village road to carry on the bike ride to a local restaurant by the river side. Time for you to relax and enjoy a 5-course lunch of local specialities. Relax and walk around the garden after lunch, and then visit the nearby house of Mr Hung who is a famous sticky rice maker in the village. You can also feed his stock of catfish and walk through his fruit garden.
Walk back the local house to catch fish in the pond & pick your own vegetables, and then in the early evening prepare to join the cooking demonstration with the family. Overnight in family homestay.
Day 2:
Breakfast will be served at the homestay, then take a boat trip to Tai Phu canal and stop to visit a coconut processing workshop before taking a bicycle to the busy local market of My Long. After that cycle to Cau Hoa to visit the local Phuoc Long Tu temple and war memorials.
Then cycle to Phong Nam village and your boat will take you to Ben Tre city where your car will drive you to Sa Dec. Lunch enroute
Check in at the hotel in Sa Dec and have a free evening to explore the lively riverside town.
Day 3: Sa Dec – Sai Gon (B/L-)
After breakfast at the hotel, you will visit the Kien An Cung buddhist temple and the famous Sadec flower village. Continue to visit the famous old house of Marguerite Duras, author of The Lover.
After lunch, head back to Saigon
PRICE: from US$328 / adult for deluxe homestay, $ 307 / adult for standard homestay
(based on group of 2)
INCLUDES:
- Private car/driver throughout as mentioned
- English speaking guide
- Boat trip and activities as mentioned
- Accomodation: 1 night at Homestay in Ben Tre
1 night at Bong Hong Hotel in Sa Dec or similar ( superior room )
- Meals as mentioned
- Admission fee to indicated sights
- 2 bottles of water per day per person in the car
- Gov’t tax
EXCLUDES:
- Personal expenses
- Drinks during meals (soda, beer, juice, etc)
- Services not specified in program
- Tipping /gratuity
email to me: text2me2013@gmail.com
