The Mekong Eyes combines regional boat-building traditions with modern comforts to become the perfect holiday vessel to cruise the Mekong in style. At 39 m long and 8.5 m wide, the Mekong Eyes river cruiser was built out of an old, traditional rice barge with the finest quality wood, and artfully decorated by skilled craftsmen of the Mekong Delta.

Why Mekong Eyes? - One of the traditional ceremonies performed on a newly constructed Mekong boat is the “eye opening”. The eyes are painted on the bow for good luck, a wide-awake crew and fast and safe journeys.

 

There are 15 lavishly furnished twin and double rooms, each with a private bathroom with shower and hot water, wardrobe, air-conditioning and fan. The rooms are well insulated against climate and sound, and all offer a fantastic panoramic view of the river.

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In the morning we pick you up at your hotel in Saigon and take you to Can Tho or Cai Be. You board your wooden river cruiser around noon. After a refreshing welcome drink we show you our on-board facilities and your cosy cabin. As lunch is served, the boat starts cruising. Sit back and watch the fantastic scenery and the daily life of the Mekong people.

In the afternoon you can disembark for a guided leisurely stroll through the village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. Meet the friendly locals and taste the local produce and fruits.

Get back on board and enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the magnificent water landscape. The boat will anchor for the night. The day ends with a delicious on-board dinner.

 

Wake up well rested to the sound of the River and get ready for another exciting day of sightseeing. At 6.30h the vessel sets off for a sunrise cruise. Watch the locals go about their daily work drying exotic fruits and building ships on the wooden yards while enjoying an early breakfast.

After breakfast, we will board a sampan boat to Cai Be or Cai Rang floating market, the region’s busiest and most lively markets. Marvel at the sheer abundance of exotic fruits, vegetables and skilfully handcrafted regional products. We will pull up to the boats for talking and bargaining with the merchants. We will also visit some of the local candy and cake making factories or boat through the green water landscape to see local houses, verdant orchards and ship-building yards.

Disembark the boat at around 11.00 - 11.30h on the pier and enjoy lunch in town. Sit back in the car and watch the water landscape from a land perspective until you reach Chau Doc where we bring you to your hotel. Depending on your budget you can choose the famous colonial-style Victoria hotel or a family managed local 3-star hotel.

 

Ride a taxi to the pier where you embark on the speed boat for an exciting ride to Phnom Penh, your starting point for discovering Cambodia and the famed temples of Angkor.

Prices quoted in US$ nett per person Valid until 30 Sep 2012
Period	1 Jan - 31 Mar 2012		1 Apr - 30 Sep 2012
Cabin Grade	Single	Double	Single	Single
Price with Victoria hotel	655	430	615	390
Price with a regular hotel	520	360	480	320

Included services

• Accommodation in cosy double or twin bedded cabins and double/twin room Victoria hotel or a regular hotel in Chau Doc
• Guided walk and side trip on sampan as mentioned in the itinerary
• English speaking guide on the cruise boat and side trips
• Private transportation (car with driver) from Can Tho / Cai Be to Chau Doc
• Hotel in Chau Doc
• Public speed boat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh
• Transfer from the hotel in Chau Doc to the jetty for the public speed boat.
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
• Mineral water placed in your cabin on your cruise boat and in hotel room

Excluded services