THE RIVER RHYTHM: A Tet Escape to the Heart of the Delta

Tet in Saigon is quiet, but Tet in the Mekong Delta is alive. It is the sound of oars splashing in the canal, the smell of coconut candy boiling in copper pots, and the vibrant colors of a country market preparing for the New Year. We are trading the empty streets of the city for the rich, biological density of the river.

This 2-day expedition is a quick, potent injection of culture. We will float through the commerce of Cai Be, walk the bamboo paths of the Tan Thuan Dong Country Market, and drift through the bird-filled forests of Gao Giong. It is a journey back to the roots of the south.

The Fruit, The Market, and The Forest

DAY 1: The Floating World & The Bamboo Market | Saigon – Cai Be – Dong Thap

Points of Interest: Cai Be Floating Market, Tan Phong Islet, Ancient House of Mr. Ba Duc, Tan Thuan Dong Country Market.

The Experience: We depart Saigon at dawn. By breakfast, we are in Cai Be. We board a boat and merge into the traffic of the floating market. It’s not just a tourist show; it’s a logistics hub where pumpkins and pineapples are traded from boat to boat. We land on Tan Phong Islet. We visit the Ancient House of Mr. Ba Duc, a wooden masterpiece that has survived two centuries of humidity and history. We listen to Don Ca Tai Tu (Southern amateur music) while sipping honey tea. The Climax: We row small sampans through the narrow canals, the nipa palm fronds creating a green tunnel overhead. The Evening: We head to the Tan Thuan Dong Country Market. This is not a supermarket. It is a throwback to a simpler time. Bamboo stalls, earthen pots, and the smell of grilled banana and folk cakes. It sits by the river, bathed in the golden light of the late afternoon. Dinner: We explore the market food (self-catered) before heading to Cao Lanh City for the night.

Suggestions:

The Drink: At the floating market, buy a fresh coconut. The seller will chop it open for you right on the water. It’s the freshest drink you’ll ever have.

The Market Food: Try the Banh Xeo (sizzling pancake) or Ca Loc Nuong Trui (snakehead fish grilled in straw) at the country market.

DAY 2: The Patriot & The Bird Sanctuary | Cao Lanh – Gao Giong – Saigon

Points of Interest: Nguyen Sinh Sac Memorial Site, Gao Giong Ecotourism Area.

The Experience: We pay respects at the Nguyen Sinh Sac Memorial, the resting place of Ho Chi Minh’s father. It is a serene site, rich in history and gratitude. The Nature: We dive deep into the Gao Giong Ecotourism Area. This is the lungs of the region. We switch to small boats and are rowed through a cajuput forest. The water is covered in green duckweed. Above, thousands of storks and herons nest in the trees. It is a birdwatcher's paradise and a photographer's dream. The View: Climb the observation tower. The view of the endless green forest stretching to the horizon is the defining image of the Dong Thap Muoi region. The Return: We lunch on rustic local specialties before driving back to Saigon, arriving as the sun sets on the Tet holiday.

Suggestions:

The Lunch: At Gao Giong, the menu usually features Com Gao Huyet Rong (Red Dragon Rice) wrapped in lotus leaves. It’s nutty, fragrant, and unique to this area.

The Green Tunnel of Gao Giong

It happens on Day 2. You step into the small wooden boat at Gao Giong. The rower pushes off. Suddenly, the noise of the world vanishes. You are floating on a carpet of green duckweed. On either side, the white trunks of the cajuput trees rise like cathedral pillars. Above, white storks circle against the blue sky. The only sound is the wind in the leaves and the call of the birds. It is a moment of pure, unfiltered nature that heals the city-weary soul.

The Delta Secrets

The "Vop" Discovery: In Dong Thap, ask for Vop (a type of large clam). Steamed with ginger or grilled with scallion oil, it is a delicacy that rarely makes it to Saigon restaurants.

The Coconut Rule: When rowing the sampan in Cai Be, don't just sit there. Ask the rower to teach you how to use the oars. It’s harder than it looks, but it earns you instant respect (and a great photo).

The Bamboo Architect

At the Tan Thuan Dong market, I met an old man weaving a basket from bamboo strips. He wasn't doing it for show; he was making a container for his wife to sell vegetables. He told me that plastic breaks, but bamboo remembers. It bends, it weathers, but it holds. Looking around at the market, built almost entirely from natural materials, I realized that the Delta isn't just a place of agriculture; it's a place of resilience, where the people bend with the river but never break.

The River is Waiting

Tet is the time to return to the source. The fruit is ripe. The birds are nesting. The market is bustling. You need to hear the song of the Don Ca Tai Tu and taste the red rice of Gao Giong. Pack your hat. The bus leaves at 06:00 AM.

Notes (Additional Information)

Children’s tour prices:

Children under 5 years old: Free of charge. Parents or accompanying adults are responsible for the child’s meals, accommodation, and entrance fees (if any). Each pair of adults may accompany one child under 5 for free; the second child and beyond must purchase 50% of the tour price.

Children from 5 to under 10 years old: 75% of the tour price. Includes meals, a seat on the bus, and shared accommodation with family. Each pair of adults may accompany one child aged 5 to under 12; for the second child, parents are advised to purchase an extra single bed.

Children 10 years old and above: 100% of the tour price and full adult services.

Payment and Cancellation Policy

After confirmation, guests must pay at least 50% deposit to secure the booking, and the full 100% tour cost must be paid no later than 10 days before departure.

If guests do not complete payment by the required full-payment deadline, they will be considered to have voluntarily canceled the tour and will forfeit all deposit(s).

Airplane / train / high-speed boat tickets are issued immediately after registration, payment, and submission of personal details (full name, date of birth, etc.). These tickets are non-changeable and non-refundable: no name changes, no refunds, no date changes, and no itinerary changes.

Cancellation penalties after registration:

After deposit or payment, or more than 15 days before departure: 30% of tour price

10 days before departure: 50% of tour price

7 days before departure: 70% of tour price

5 days before departure: 100% of tour price

All cancellations must be made directly with the Company or via fax, email, or text message and must be confirmed by the Company. Cancellations by phone are not accepted.

As this is a shared group tour, the company is responsible for gathering enough participants (minimum 20 adults). If fewer than 20 adults register, the company will notify guests at least 3 days before departure to arrange a new departure date or provide a full refund of the deposit.

Deposit dates, payment dates, cancellation dates, and tour change dates do not include Saturday and Sunday.

In force majeure cases (terrorism, riots, natural disasters, floods, etc.), depending on actual circumstances and guest safety, the company may cancel or adjust the itinerary to an alternative program of equivalent value. If the new program incurs additional costs, guests must pay the difference. Both sides must make every effort to minimize losses due to force majeure.

For changes in flight schedules or transportation delays caused by airlines, railways, or ferry operators, the company is not responsible for any additional expenses such as meals, accommodation, transport, or tour guide services.

Important Information for Tour Participants

On the departure date, guests must gather at .......... at ..........

The company is not responsible for late arrivals.

Some activity sequences and details (flight time, train time, boat schedule, etc.) may be adjusted depending on actual travel conditions (weather, traffic, etc.).

Hotel/resort check-in and check-out times: after 2:00 PM for check-in and before 12:00 PM for check-out.

The tour guide will inform guests of specific meeting times and locations on the afternoon before departure.

Please sit in the seat assigned at the time of tour registration.

Please bring light and compact luggage.

Personal documents, money, and valuables must be self-kept. The company will help search for lost items but is not responsible for compensation.

Guests are advised to bring a compact umbrella for sun and rain, and wear sports shoes or sandals with back straps for easier movement.

Please follow the tour guide’s timetable to avoid delays affecting the whole group.

For health and food safety reasons, please do not bring outside food into restaurants or hotels. Bringing beverages may require hotel/restaurant approval and may incur an additional fee.

Before leaving your seat or location (bus, restaurant, sightseeing spot, shop, hotel room, etc.), please check your belongings carefully—wallet, purse, bag, camera, camcorder, phone—to avoid loss or inconvenience during the trip.

Be cautious while walking at sightseeing areas; do not stand or climb in unsafe places. Be careful when moving on boats or ferries. When crossing the street, follow traffic laws. Families with children must supervise them closely at all times.