Vietnam - The Mighty Mekong
Season: October - July
Duration: 10 days
Day 1 - Depart US, Travel to Vietnam
Day 2 - Explore Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon
Welcome to Saigon! With all its hustle and bustle, this 24-hour city immediately fills the senses with its sights, sounds, delicious smells, and pace. We will stroll along the historic rue Catinat (Dong Khoi street), where a number of famous colonial buildings such as the Hotel Majestic and the Saigon Opera House echo Saigon’s French Colonial past. Within walking distance we’ll find the iconic landmarks of the Notre Dame Cathedral built in 1863, the Central Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel, and the Reunification Palace, which remains to tell the story of the Vietnam/American war.
We will also visit Saigon’s War Remnants Museum, taking in the exhibits on the Vietnam/American War from a Vietnamese perspective, before we enjoy dinner in one of the world’s top cities for food.
Day 3 - Cai Be Floating Market
Journey to An Binh Island in the Mekong DeltaWe will be picked up at our hotel and escorted to the ferry, where we will board for a boat trip to Cai Be Floating Market, stopping along the way to visit Tan Phong, handicraft villages, and orchards. Like locals, we will row on small boats and bike through village paths to reach our destinations. After our trip to the markets, we will reach An Binh Island and check into the charming Ut Trinh Homestay, homebase for our exploration of the Delta.
Day 4 - Can Tho city
This day will center around a visit to Can Tho city, the capital of the Mekong Delta region, where we will spend time visiting the Abavina farming community. During our time at Abavina, we will learn about farming in the Mekong Delta, how the flood cycle of the river interacts with local agriculture, and how changes in global weather patterns are impacting the Delta’s ecosystems.
Morning - Abavina representatives share the story of Mekong Delta farmers, and how they are working to develop and sustain environmentally-friendly agriculture. We will tour the sustainable vegetable and fruit gardens, visit the community organic fertilizer area and learn about environmentally friendly farming methods.
Afternoon - We will be treated to a buffet lunch with dishes prepared from fresh ingredients grown at Abavina.
Next, we will participate in a workshop where we learn how to make organic microbial fertilizers from natural materials. We will have a chance to explore all the goods being produced by the Thuan Thien Agricultural Community before we return to the homestay in the late afternoon.
Day 5 - The Red Brick Kingdom
After breakfast, we will take to the river to explore the Red Brick Kingdom - an area where local artisans have been crafting bricks and other pottery from river clay for centuries. Their ingenious methods and craftsmanship are impressive, and in perfect harmony with the natural resources of the area.
After visiting the Kingdom, we will enjoy a special lunch on the boat before returning for a bike tour to a school, where we will meet the children and learn about the education system in Vietnam.
Day 6 - Day Trip to Cai Thia and the An Binh Islands
In the morning we will depart by boat to visit a local woman, Mrs. Năm, for a rice paper-making lesson. Then, we’ll continue further down the Mekong to explore the famous mango village of Hoa Loc, after which we will enjoy another spectacular lunch on the riverboat.
In the afternoon, we will return home more slowly by row boats, giving back to the local area by picking up trash from the river. We will return to Ut Trinh Homestay for the evening’s meal and entertainment.
Day 7 - Cooking Class!
Ms. Ut Trinh, owner of Ut Trinh Homestay, will educate our group on her own sustainable business practices and efforts to protect and preserve the land around her homestay.
We will take part in a cooking class where we learn how to make traditional jackfruit leaf cake, colorful tapioca cake, and more!
This evening, on our last day at the homestay, we will celebrate our journey with an exceptional dinner, and be treated to a traditional Vietnamese Opera performance, called DON CA TAI TU.
Day 8 - Cu Chi Tunnels to Saigon
We will depart the homestay by boat, traveling to Vinh Long city. Here we'll board the bus that will take us to visit the former war tunnels of Cu Chi. This underground tunnel network built during the 20 years of the Vietnam/American war is a truly amazing and evocative site. We will be exploring the 3-leveled tunnel passage, discovering the amazing ingenuity that once provided shelter to ten thousand people in wartime.
Return to Saigon, check into hotel.
Day 9
After breakfast, we will have free sightseeing/shopping time until the airport transfer for our departure flight.
Day 10 - Arrive in US
Sustainable Development Goals
Welcome to our journeys; each has been carefully crafted to be exceptional in terms of experience and lasting meaning. Each itinerary also reflects a commitment to work towards several of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
