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Our last destination in Vietnam before heading into Cambodia was the Mekong Delta. Much to my dismay, I had to accept that the easiest and cheapest way to see the Mekong is on a package tour. At $34 for 3 days/2 nights including breakfast, hotel, and taking us into Cambodia, you really couldn't beat the price. I will say though, you get what you pay for. In Saigon Pham Ngu Lao Road was lined with tour offices all offering the same tour for the same price. How to choose? Honestly it doesn't matter which tour company one chooses, because they all get funneled down to the same bus. A couple on our bus went to two different agencies and talked to the same girl! We went with the one across from the Bia Hoi 33- location is everything right? The next three days were spent experiencing Mekong life, floating markets, cheesy yet fun touristy stops, our guide Bang singing in English, boats, good food, and the best part- incredible company. Definitely another incredible part of our already incredible trip.

Cruising Down and Up the Mekong

Casey Lary
2007-04-21 23:25:42

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Our last destination in Vietnam before heading into Cambodia was the Mekong Delta. Much to my dismay, I had to accept that the easiest and cheapest way to see the Mekong is on a package tour. At $34 for 3 days/2 nights including breakfast, hotel, and taking us into Cambodia, you really couldn't beat the price. I will say though, you get what you pay for. In Saigon Pham Ngu Lao Road was lined with tour offices all offering the same tour for the same price. How to choose? Honestly it doesn't matter which tour company one chooses, because they all get funneled down to the same bus. A couple on our bus went to two different agencies and talked to the same girl! We went with the one across from the Bia Hoi 33- location is everything right? The next three days were spent experiencing Mekong life, floating markets, cheesy yet fun touristy stops, our guide Bang singing in English, boats, good food, and the best part- incredible company. Definitely another incredible part of our already incredible trip.

Day 1
Prior to getting on the bus Jeff and I talked about how having fun people on our tour would make the trip more fun. As we got on the bus there was a group of Japanese people, a family speaking French, a bunch of older couples, and a girl wearing a flower print dress, wearing heels, and carrying a large red suitcase. No early 20-somethings backpacking through Europe stepped on our bus. Everyone was checking each other out. On our last day it was funny to recap all our first impressions of each other. Looked like a lot of Jeff/Casey time to follow. It was too early to judge and we were hoping for the best. Turns out everyone was ABSOLUTEY LOVELY! Better than I could have dreamed of. That morning we headed to a town called Mytho. We got on a large boat and were on our way to explore the treasures of the Upper Mekong River. Our guide's name was Bang and his English was somewhat indecipherable. Jeff and I often found ourselves listening ...