Private 3-Day Mekong Delta River Tour from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City

Day 1: Phnom Penh – Chau Doc (L)After pickup from your city hotel, you’re driven by private vehicle to the harbor in Phnom Penh where you’ll transfer to a speedboat. You’re whisked away to the Cambodian border, stopping for a passport and visa check (see the Important Information tab for details) before arriving in Chau Doc after about four hours.
After lunch, make an afternoon visit to Sam Mountain, an important pilgrimage site frequently visited by people from throughout the Mekong Delta. On a private tour with your guide, marvel at dozens of pagodas and temples around Sam Mountain before you're driven to the 755-foot (230-meter) summit. Reaching the peak is the highlight, with views overlooking Cambodia and the rice fields of Chau Doc on the other side (weather permitting).
You'll spend the night in your choice of hotels:
The 3-star Chau Pho Hotel is located 15 minutes from cultural attractions such as Lady Chua Xu Temple and Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau. Bright and spacious rooms are fully equipped and provide sweeping views.
The 4-star Victoria Chau Doc Resort, located on the banks of the Bassac River crossing, features a colonial style with low-rise French architectural design and blends perfectly with its natural surroundings.
Overnight: 3-star Chau Pho Hotel or 4-star Victoria Chau Doc Resort
Day 2: Chau Doc – Can Tho (B, L)After breakfast, pay a morning visit to a local market overlooking the confluence of three rivers. Then, take a boat to the Chau Giang district where a tiny mosque serves the local Cham community.
Learn about this minority ethnic group, which once dominated coastal Vietnam from the 2nd to the 9th centuries, and perhaps see their silk weaving at work in the village. You'll visit a beautiful Khmer temple and some floating houses that double as catfish farms.
Next, depart Chau Doc town for an eco-tour in the Tra Su Cajuput Forest and Bird Sanctuary. This 2,088-acre (845-hectare) protected nature reserve is an ecological haven with its forest of cajeput trees and wetlands providing habitat for waterfowl, bat colonies, and various bird species including storks, egrets and cormorants. Keep an eye out for turtles, snakes and freshwater fish in the meandering canals.
From here, journey to Can Tho to check in to your choice of accommodation:
At Nguyen Shack Homestay, a peaceful riverside retreat nestled in a secluded village just 15 minutes from town, five bamboo bungalows overlook a large tropical fruit garden. Rooms are equipped with a minibar and a private balcony with sofa seating area. You have use of a complimentary rental bicycle to explore nearby attractions, rice fields and floating market.
The 3-star Saigon Can Tho Hotel offers attentive hospitality and personalized service as well as spacious rooms with wood flooring. Located in the heart of town, it's close to shopping and entertainment with Ninh Kieu Quay within walking distance.
The luxury 4-star Victoria Can Tho Resort blends colonial-style architecture with natural beauty. Enjoy an elegant room with balcony views over the river, pool or garden. Close to town, this quiet resort lies on the banks of the Hau River, set amid lovely gardens.
Overnight: Nguyen Shack Homestay, 3-star Saigon Can Tho Hotel or 4-star Victoria Can Tho Resort
Day 3: Can Tho – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)After breakfast, you'll leave bright and early to visit the Cai Rang floating market in the Mekong Delta. In order to get close to all of the activity, hop on a small boat and dart through the water between the floating stalls as you watch vendors sell their wares.
After lunch, you’re transferred to Ninh Kieu harbor in Ho Chi Minh City, where your tour ends in the afternoon.