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Along the Mekong to Cambodia

Route: HCMC - Mekong Delta - Can Tho - Chau Doc - Phnom Penh

Between Vietnam and Cambodia lies the vast Mekong Delta, filled with picturesque waterways and exotic natural scenery. Everywhere you look you'll see people doing laundry, keeping chickens or working on the land. The people in this area are very friendly and they're sure to wave to you as you pass.

During this Vietnam trip, you'll travel by boat from Vietnam to Cambodia, partially through waterways where you won't find any other tourists. You'll sail through small canals and past villages, islands and floating markets. You'll spend one night in a comfortable hotel in Can Tho in the Mekong Delta and one night in a hotel at the Cambodian border in Chau Doc. Finally, you'll complete your journey from Vietnam to Cambodia as you'll travel by speedboat and arrive in Phnom Penh.

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Duration	3 Days/ 2 nights Departs Monday/Wednesday/Saturdays from HCMC	Accommodation	2 nights in basic, yet comfortable hotels along the Mekong Delta (comfort level 2-3). See accommodation.
Price	£186 per person - based on 2 people sharing	Included	Transport by bus and boat, accommodation, excursions as described in the daily itinerary with English-speaking guide, speedboat to Phnom Penh in Cambodia.
Transport	Air conditioned minibus, speedboat	Excluded	All meals and drinks

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Be - Vinh Long

Today marks the beginning of your trip from Vietnam to Cambodia and an air-conditioned bus will take you from Ho Chi Minh City to the town of Cai Be. From here, you'll board a boat and sail along the Mekong Delta from Vietnam to Cambodia in a small group.

During this part of your Vietnam to Cambodia trip, you'll visit a rice factory in the area, a rice-husking mill and a rice noodle factory. You will also get the chance to watch how the locals make their coconut candy. If the thought of this makes your stomach rumble then you'll be pleased to know that there will plenty of opportunities to try out these traditional treats.

Next, you'll continue along the Mekong Delta where children will enthusiastically greet you and you'll get a glimpse of the daily life on the Mekong Delta. After lunch, you'll have the chance to explore one of the An Binh islands of the Mekong by bike, or you could just kick back and enjoy a plate of tropical fruit whilst the locals treat you to some traditional dancing. In the afternoon, you'll sail along the Mekong Delta and reach Can Tho just as the sun begins to set.

In the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as low water levels, this part of the trip will be conducted by mini bus. You'll spend the night in a comfortable, modern hotel in the centre of Can Tho. In the evening you'll be able to enjoy a refreshing drink on the banks of the Mekong river- a real highlight of the first day of your travels from Vietnam to Cambodia.

Day 2: Can Tho - Chau Doc

This morning, you'll continue your Vietnam to Cambodia trip with a visit to Cai Rang floating market in the Mekong Delta. In order to get close to all of the activity of the market, you'll hop on to a small boat and sail between the floating stalls. The market is full of small boats darting through the water as vendors sell their wares.

During the next part of your Vietnam to Cambodia trip, you'll travel overland to Chau Doc. Many people make a living from catching fish here, with personal fish farms under their floating houses. You'll take a small boat to these farms and may even get the chance to feed the fish. Make sure you stand back though or you will be sure to get wet!

Near the border with Cambodia you'll find a Cham village, where you'll find descendants of the ancient Champa kingdom, which was once located in Central Vietnam. After this stop, you'll travel back to Chau Doc by boat, arriving around sunset. You'll spend the night in a hotel near the centre of town.

Vietnam to Cambodia - sail down the river

Day 3: Chau Doc - Phnom Penh

Today it's time to leave Chau Doc and complete the last leg of your journey from Vietnam to Cambodia by speedboat. Once you reach the Cambodian border, the boat will stop to arrange your visa, which is approximately 25 USD per person. You'll arrive at the Phnom Penh harbour in the early afternoon around 1pm where this module ends. It's easy to arrange a transfer to your hotel with one of the many tuk-tuks waiting at the harbour.

If you'd like to continue your journey in Cambodia, you can find more information at Cambodia Travel Plan.

Vietnam to Cambodia - Accommodation (click to enlarge)

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