The Bassac and Song Xanh cruises are our suggestions for delving right into Mekong Delta life. Much smaller than the vessels that ply the Mekong between Siem Reap and the Delta, these cruises are typically just overnight, and concentrate on the backwaters of the Delta where the large vessels can’t sail. Much of your sojourn aboard will require little of you other than to relax on deck and watch the timeless scenery slip past on the banks. Lush green vegetation will part, like curtains pulled back on rural scenes that have remained unchanged for centuries; farmers harvest their crops by hand and sow them using bullocks, whilst their children wave and smile at you.

Floating markets like those at Cai Be and Tra On are the lifeblood of the Delta villages. These are not shows for passing tourists, but essential trading posts where colourful vessels carrying even more colourful produce jostle with each other to the soundtrack of shouted offer and counter offer. Your time on the Delta will definitely include a visit to one of these memorable markets. These cruises are great: more affordable than the longer cruises, more intimate and more at “ground level” with everything happening on the river. A wonderful way to dig a little beneath the skin of this part of Vietnam.

If you are only looking for a day-cruise in the Delta, and don’t want to overnight on a vessel, there are a couple of day cruise options detailed in the Saigon section of our website.