Exploring the Mekong Delta with Mekong Eyes Classic Cruise (Eye Opening Experience in Vietnam)

The Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam was always on our top list when we were planning our 2-week trip to this Southeast Asian country in April 2024. My husband and I were both interested in experiencing new lands and cultures, and the river cruise trip with Mekong Eyes Classic did not disappoint us at all.

Booking a Mekong River Cruise

Since our travel time was not too long and our budget was limited, we decided to traverse the Mekong Delta only instead of cruising between southern Vietnam and Cambodia. We did a lot of research on Mekong River cruises with affordable prices, interesting itineraries, and authentic experiences; we also wanted to visit the famous Cai Rang floating market. After a long search, we made up our minds to discuss further with mekongrivercruises.com, and our travel consultant, Ms. Hong Nham from Inside Travel, advised and supported better prices than other travel agents, which was even better than booking directly with the cruise company.

Following our request, she recommended the Mekong Eyes Classic cruise for the 2-day, 1-night Saigon - Cai Be - Can Tho - Saigon tour. This trip departs on even dates, and if you go on odd dates, you will go on the Saigon - Can Tho – Cai Be - Saigon 2-day tour. But as we wanted to visit Cai Rang floating market, we chose the voyage on April 18, 2024.

Before the Mekong Cruise Trip

We flew to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) one day before departure and stayed at a hotel in District 1, as we were advised that guests staying in the center of District 1 and part of District 3 would be picked up by the cruise shuttle bus. If you stay in another district, there will be an additional charge for the pickup of 10 USD per guest. Before leaving, Ms. Hong Nham reminded us of the pick-up time on April 18. That was really sweet and helpful when we were traveling!

Day 1 of the Cruise Trip with Mekong Eyes Classic

After breakfast at the hotel, we were ready in the lobby at 8:00 a.m. to wait for the bus pickup, and it came at 8:15 a.m., then picked up other passengers to depart for Cai Be. The travel time from Saigon to Cai Be was about 2.5 hours, and there was a short break of about 15 minutes on the way. At 11:30 a.m., we arrived in Cai Be to do the check-in and board the cruise vessel.

After enjoying a warm welcome from the cruise manager and the staff, we had a short briefing on the cruise ship and the itinerary in the afternoon. The lunch on board was held at around 1:00 p.m., and we had time to rest and relax in our cabin. Unlike the large cabins on Halong Bay Cruise that we experienced before, it was not a spacious room, but was furnished with a private bathroom, wardrobe, air conditioning, and other modern comforts. It also offered stunning views of the Mekong River.

At 4:00 p.m., we started our land excursion to a small village. A cruise guide escorted us through the leisurely stroll through the surrounding fruit orchards and rice fields. We visited a local house, where we met friendly locals, talked with them, and tasted some local produce and exotic fruits we had never tried before. It was really great to interact with the locals and hear their stories about their daily lives and their homeland.

Back on the boat, we spent time on the top deck, sat on the loungers, and enjoyed the sunset over the sparkling waters. It was a magical moment in nature. At about 7:00 p.m., we had a delicious dinner on board. We loved that we had rice and some local dishes. They were tasty and flavorful. Finally, we retired to our cabin for the night.

Day 2 of the Cruise Trip with Mekong Eyes Classic

On the second day, we woke up early to enjoy the sunrise and morning tea break served on board. At 8:00 a.m., we checked out of the cabin and started the highlight of our trip. We embarked on a long sampan and headed to the Cai Rang floating market. Though we were advised that the market was no longer vibrant and lively as we saw it on the internet, we still found it busy with plenty of boats loaded with exotic fruits, like mango, watermelon, coconut, and banana. Some even sell flowers, breakfast dishes, and drinks. With the help of our guide, we pulled up to a boat and bargained with the merchant for some pineapples. They were good and juicy.

After the market tour, we traveled by road back to Saigon from Can Tho. The shuttle bus came to get us, and we had a local lunch en route before arriving at our hotel in the city at around 4:30 p.m.

We had an unforgettable experience with the service on the Mekong Eyes Classic boat, the delicious food, the dedicated staff, and the attractive itinerary. And Ms. Hong Nham gave us enthusiastic advice and offered good prices. We will definitely recommend Inside Travel (Mekong River Cruise team) to our friends and book with them again in the future.