from 4 reviews
Le Cochinchine cruise is a modern river-boat designed as the traditional river barges that sail along the Mekong River. Its shining wooden figure gives it a picturesque look in perfect harmony with the surrounding natural environment. A delightful and highly comfortable river-boat, it also offers an excellent service quality provided by a very attentive crew who aims at giving travelers a unique and unforgettable journey deep in the heart of the Delta. Aboard this beautiful « floating hotel » reigns an atmosphere ideal for leisuring and which makes the surrounding scenery only more magical.
Le Cochinchine has 2 wooden classic cruises. The big one has 10 cabins, while the smaller cruise has only 8 cabins. Thanks to their very small size, Le Cochinchine cruises can travel to small cannels and are ideal for small group and family.
10h30-11h00 A.M: Arrival at the pier of Cai Be. Transfer by junk which takes us to a sumptuous traditional residence, former imperial residence, where the descendants of the family of Kiet welcome you and invite you to taste tea accompanied by savory samples of tropical fruits. We have the opportunity to walk through the orchard. Continuation towards the artisanal villages where rice and coconut products are produced: rice alcohol, puffed rice cakes, rice paper, coconut milk sweets.
12h00: Embarkation on the boat of Le Cochinchine cruise, welcome by a welcome drink. Lunch on board as the boat heads towards Co Chien. During the cruise, you will have the opportunity to contemplate beautiful authentic landscapes that stand by the river.
In the afternoon, we go on foot or by bike along the paths through the villages. The walk allows us to discover verdant orchards and river activities, and especially to make contact with the local inhabitants.
The boat continues in the direction of Tra On, while ascending up the river. The aperitif is offered on the upper deck while enjoying a foot massage as the sun gradually sets on the river.
Taking part in a cooking class on the boat, you will have the chance to try to make Pumpkin flower stuffed with That Lat fish and learn how to cut vegetables for decorating dishes.
Dinner and overnight on board to enjoy the beauty of the river at night.
Meals: Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Le Cochinchine cruise
Check-out Le Cochinchine cruise, say “goodbye” to our friendly staff, we transfer you by small boat for visit of Cai Rang, one of the most bustling floating markets in the whole Mekong Delta. The Cai Rang floating market is known as a high-light cannot be missed when you explore the Western rivers of Vietnam.
Boat trip along the coves shaded by palm trees. You will be able to admire magnificent orchards, local dwellings, shipbuilding yards and the hustle and bustle of the river industry. Visit an orchard where you will find many kinds of tropical fruits such as: mango, dragon fruit, kumquat, jackfruit…
Return and disembarkation of the boat at 11h00 A.M. Pickup and transfer to the hotel in Ho Chi Minh (Note*: transfer is included if you book shuttle services)
Note*: The floating markets in the Mekong Delta are no tourist markets but wholesale markets where produce of the Mekong Delta like fruits and vegetables are traded. For this reason the number of boats on the market fluctuates depending on harvesting seasons and market demand. Furthermore, modern wholesale markets are becoming more popular in Vietnam. This can result in decreasing numbers of boats being present on the markets.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: n/a
Le Cochinchine cruise sails towards the south, welcome by a welcome cocktail. Lunch on board while our boat sails to Tra On.
In the afternoon, you will leave for a pleasant walk, on foot or by bike, on the paths lined with greenery. A few planned stops allow you to discover concretely the life of the local inhabitants, orchards or fields of green rice.
Back to the boat for relaxation and relaxation at dusk on the Co Chien River, with a drink of aperitif and a foot massage on the upper deck.
Taking part in a cooking class on the boat, you will have the chance to try to make Pumpkin flower stuffed with That Lat fish and learn how to cut vegetables for decorating dishes.
Meals: Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Le Cochinchine Cruise
Following a stroll through the lush vegetation to visit the villages and discover the local crafts: rice alcohol factories, coconut candy, pop-corn and rice paper.
Visit of a sumptuous traditional residence, former imperial residence, where you will discover the sublime interior and walk through the garden strewn with fruit trees. The tea is ready to serve you, accompanied by a tasty sample of tropical fruits. Walk through the arroyos in the vicinity of Cai Be.
Disembarkation around 11h00 A.M in Cai Be, transfer to Ho Chi Minh (note*: transfer is included if you book shuttle services)
Note*: The floating markets in the Mekong Delta are no tourist markets but wholesale markets where produce of the Mekong Delta like fruits and vegetables are traded. For this reason the number of boats on the market fluctuates depending on harvesting seasons and market demand. Furthermore, modern wholesale markets are becoming more popular in Vietnam. This can result in decreasing numbers of boats being present on the markets.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: n/a
10h30-11h00 A.M: Welcome you at our Cai Be pier. Join Le Cochinchine Cruise for a welcome drink and check-in your room. Le Cochinchine continues to Cai Thia.
Landing at the island of Cai Thia where you will have a lovely cycling or walking excursion through the villages bordered by green orchards, rice fields…
Come back to our boat for lunch while the boat cruises toward Sa Dec, a charming and quiet town located on the bank of the Tien River.
On arrival, we visit a brickyard at the entrance of the village. Continuation to the lively market of Sa Dec followed by a visit to the old house of Huynh Thuy Le – the lover of the French novelist Marguerite Duras, as well as Trung Vuong primary school founded at the beginning of the 20th century by Marguerite Duras’s mother. In the heart of the village of Sa Dec, we discover the Cao Dai temple, the garden of bonsai and flowers.
Return to Le Cochinchine Cruise and enjoy the foot massage while watching the sunset over the Mekong River and sipping an aperitif.
Meals: Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Le Cochinchine cruise
Transfer by junk to explore the floating market of Cai Be which is specific to the aquatic area. Continuation by a visit of sumptuous traditional residence, former imperial residence where the descendants of the Kiet family open their doors to welcome you to discover the sublime interior and walk through the garden strewn with fruit trees. Tea is offered, accompanied by a tasty selection of tropical fruits.
Continuation to the artisanal villages where we have the chance to discover products made from rice and coconut: rice alcohol, puffed rice cake, rice paper, coconut candy.
Return to the boat, lunch on board while the boat is heading for the Co Chien River.
In the afternoon, a walk or bike along the paths through the countryside and villages will allow you to discover the orchards, the river activities and get in touch with the local population.
The boat continues in the direction of Tra On. The aperitif is offered on the upper deck while the sun sets on a splendid landscape.
Taking part in a cooking class on Le Cochinchine cruise, you will have the chance to try to make Pumpkin flower stuffed with That Lat fish and learn how to cut vegetables for decorating dishes.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Le Cochinchine cruise
Transfer by local boat to visit the market of Cai Rang, one of the most important floating markets of the region, crowded with small and big boats zigzagging on the animated waters.
Following along the coves shaded by fruit trees, palm trees … you will come to an orchard where you will find many kinds of fruits: mango, star apple, papaya, dragon fruit, and coconut.
11h00 A.M: Disembark at the pier in Can Tho. Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh (note*: transfer is included if you book the shuttle services)
Note*: The floating markets in the Mekong Delta are no tourist markets but wholesale markets where produce of the Mekong Delta like fruits and vegetables are traded. For this reason the number of boats on the market fluctuates depending on harvesting seasons and market demand. Furthermore, modern wholesale markets are becoming more popular in Vietnam. This can result in decreasing numbers of boats being present on the markets.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: n/a
10h30-11h00 A.M: Arrival at our pier in Can Tho. Transfer by local boat to explore the Cai Rang market, one of the most bustling floating markets in the whole Mekong Delta.
Embarkation on Le Cochinchine cruise with a welcome drink.
Le Cochinchine continues to Tra On. Lunch served on board. Leisurely cruise down the Mekong while enjoying fabulous scenery.
Walk or cycle on the green paths, crossing the countryside and villages to discover the orchards, the local river life style on the Mekong Delta and get in touch with the local people.
Back to our boat for your relaxation with a foot massage. You will enjoy an aperitif at the magnificent sunset.
Dinner and overnight on board, on the Co Chien River, near Cho Lach.
Meals: Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Le Cochinchine Cruise
Breakfast is served on board. Walk/ cycle amongst the lush vegetation to visit the fruit farm and meet the local people on the small island in Cai Be.
Come back to the boat. Le Cochinchine cruise sails on Co Chien River in the direction of Sa Dec while lunch is served on board.
In the afternoon, we will visit a local brickyard on the banks of the river at the entrance of the village. In the heart of the village, a bike ride or a walk to visit the local market, the old house of Huynh Thuy Le, Trung Vuong primary school, founded at the beginning of the 20th century by the mother of the French novelist Marguerite Duras. Continue to the Cao Dai Temple and the blossoming flowers and bonsai garden of Sa Dec.
Return on board with an exotic aperitif on the upper deck before dinner.
Taking part in a cooking class on the boat, you will have the chance to try to make Pumpkin flower stuffed with That Lat fish and learn how to cut vegetables for decorating dishes.
Dinner and overnight on board.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodation: Le Cochinchine Cruise
Transfer to a local boat for an extensive visit of Cai Be: the floating market, the old house of Mr. Ba Kiet, delightful flower garden and orchard, local pop-rice, coconut candy and rice paper manufacturers. Sample local sweets and fruits during the trip.
The local boat sails through tiny canals and arroyos before bringing you back to the shore. Get off around 11h00 A.M at Cai Be harbor. Pickup and transfer to Ho Chi Minh (note*: transfer is included if you book shuttle services)
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: n/a
Important note*
| Cabintype | Rates (US$/person) |
|
Contact us for price |
Note*: The price shows in the calendar is proposed rate for Ho Chi Minh – Mekong 2 days. The price would vary depending on your selected itineraries, date of departures, number of passengers. Please book the tour or contact us for best rate of your itinerary.
Cancellation by Customer
For cancellations of bookings, the following charges will apply:
Note*: Price for children would vary depending if you book package to Phu Quoc Island or Phnom Penh. Please contact us for details.
We recommend wearing loose and comfortable clothing made of cotton or modern material that can readily cool off sweat and body hear. The type of shoes will depend on the excursion types so best to have both light, open toed shoes as well as good walking/hiking shoes with you. A sun hat is always a good idea to bring along.
Southern Vietnam and Cambodia are warm all year-round, but our other cruise destinations can get chilly during the winter months (Laos, Myanmar or northern Vietnam). Therefore, it is always recommended to bring a pullover or a warm jacket with you during this period.
Many of our cruises include visits to local temples or pagodas. When visiting these holy sites, make sure to wear appropriate clothing which covers your shoulders and knees.
Generally speaking, the rivers we are cruising on in Southeast Asia are very calm and there is hardly any motion on any of our ships. A bit of motion can occur during monsoon rains with stormy winds, but the amount of motion is much less than one would feel during bad weather on the open ocean.
Sea cruises as we offer in Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay can sometimes encounter heavier waters and ship motion, although this happens very rarely and port authorities will most likely not allow sailing under any such circumstances anyway.
If you are new to cruising or prone to motion sickness, it does not hurt to bring along some motion sickness medication. Drinking a nice hot fresh ginger tea is a natural remedy and tasty alternative our staff is always happy to make for you.
All food and beverage on board is completely safe to eat and enjoy, including the ice cubes you enjoy in your chilled drinks. We do not recommend drinking water straight from the tap anywhere, including onboard. We provide you with complimentary clean drinking water throughout your cruise.
You may want to be bit careful with local dishes as they can be spicier than you are used to from home. Approach new dishes slowly and carefully. If you have a sensitive stomach, then you may like to double check with our chef or onboard managers about specific dishes or meals.
On excursions, it may be a good idea to avoid local foods and snacks unless offered by our tour guides. Besides the above, in general we recommend the following motto for your pre- and post-cruise travelling in the Southeast Asian tropics: boil it, peel it, cook it, wash it or forget it!
The most effective protection from personal contamination is ensuring strict attention to personal hygiene and in particular, frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water and refraining from hand-to-mouth contact. Colds and other viruses can spread quickly in an enclosed area such as a ship. Continue to practice common-sense hygiene and respiratory courtesy. Wash your hands often and cover your coughs and sneeze. It is recommended that passengers carry anti-bacterial hand sanitizer, which does not require rinsing with water. Use sanitizer frequently and throughout the day, particularly after shore excursions and prior to meals. If you have any questions regarding your health or safety, please do not hesitate to ask your cruise director.
Motion sickness can be a problem for some people when cruising, flying or travelling on coaches and trains and it is a good idea to take precautionary measures. Over-the-counter drugs for treating motion sickness can be purchased at pharmacies in most countries, though a side effect can by drowsiness. Alternatives such as ginger tablets and acupressure wristbands are also available and work well for some people.
We recommend at least purchasing travel health insurance which covers both in- & outpatient visits and medical repatriation. Buying additional trip cancellation and interruption coverage may also be beneficial in case you have to cancel your travel plans due to unforeseen circumstances.
We always recommend bringing a travel adapter as a standard item in your travel kit. You can borrow an adapter on board, but these may be limited.
Highlight on our trip in Vietnam The crew is very attentive and friendly. We really enjoyed our luxury private cruise with only 4 guests on board along the Mekong. The room is big and the bed comfy. It is just maybe a little bit loud because... read more 
3 Day/2 Night Mekong in Close Up Friendly crew and tour guide. Relaxing cruise. Enjoyed the pace in general and activities in morning and afternoon gave each day some variety. Wonderful meals and the foot massage was a treat! Thanks for a lovely few days 🙂 
Really nice! Friendly crew. Wonderful cruise. Highly recommended. Loved the atmosphere and the Mekong river. Book! 
2-Tagestrip im Mkongdelta Wunderschöner 2-Tagestrip mit sehr schönen Boot im landestypischen Stiel. Sehr sauber eine sehr zuvorkommende Crew die einem jeden Wunsch von den Augen abliest. Das landestypische Essen ist wunderbar und reichlich. Das Fühstück mit Omlet und sehr guten Kaffee ist ein... read more 
Croisière sur le Mékong Bateau très sympa guide Anh disponible souriant à l écoute une cuisine très variée et très bonne je conseille 
Great way to visit the Mekong river! We spend one night on the boat as a family of 11 people with age ranging from 15 to 80. We all loved it! Best way to navigate the Mekong River. We loved the bike ride, the foot massage, the... read more 
Member Since 2022
Leave a reply