Vietnam and Cambodia Travel Diaries: Full Day Mekong Delta Tour via Klook

Before ending the year 2017, I was fortunate enough to take a 6-day vacation to visit Vietnam and Cambodia. We only had two days to spare for Vietnam, one day to cross over to Siem Reap, and three days for a temple run at Cambodia.

First day in Vietnam was spent at Mekong Delta, where we booked our tour via Klook for only Php 684.50 each (inclusive of lunch). Here's our Klook voucher breakdown:

Original Klook Voucher amount: Php 1, 434 (2 pax)
Klook Discount (first Klook booking): less Php 65
Total Voucher Amount:  Php 1, 369

Note: Look out online for Klook promo codes before checking out to save a few bucks!

The meet up location for Klook voucher users for this tour is at 220 De Tham Street. Our hotel (Luan Vu Hotel) was just a few walks away from this location, but since I am very good in following google map directions (queue sarcastic tone), we still went the wrong way and even went as far as crossing a busy intersection. For visual reference, here is where the the Klook meet-up is located:

Landmark: In front of Starbucks Coffee Shop
Make sure to arrive on or before 7:45 AM

Once you arrive at their meet up location, they will check your voucher and escort you to where the bus is parked & located. The bus leaves around 8:15 AM, but try your best to be punctual and make the 7:45 AM meet up time at 220 De Tham. In case you miss the Klook representative at the meet up location, try catching up where the bus is parked before they leave.

Landmark: Where all the tour buses are usually parked, in front of a movie theatre, opposite Pizza Hut

First Stop: Vinh Trang Temple

Vĩnh Tràng Chùa is a Buddhist temple near Mỹ Tho in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam. It is one of the best-known temples in the region

The main attraction of this place are the three buddha structures: the Standing, Sleeping, and Laughing Buddha.

The Standing Buddha (Amitabha) *Shot using Ilford HP5 Plus*

The Laughing Buddha *Shot using Ilford HP5 Plus*

The Sleeping Buddha *Shot using Ilford HP5 Plus*

Second Stop: Mekong River Cruise

The Mekong is a trans-boundary river in Southeast Asia. It is the world's 12th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. 

As you cruise along the river, the tour guide will give some historical facts about Mekong river and get a glimpse of some islands (both habited & inhabited) that benefits greatly from the river. The cruise is not that long, around 15-20 minutes top, then you will get off at one of the islands for lunch.

Lunch is inclusive in our Klook voucher, a set meal which consist of a light rice, meat, and soup. We were provided with complimentary soda because the air con of the first bus broke down and we had to transfer to another bus. No biggie actually, but a free soda is a FREE soda, so kudos to Klook :)

Third Stop: Coconut Candy Factory

During the stop here at the Coconut Candy Factory, they showed us how candies are made from scratch. From how coconuts are chosen, to how the meat are grinded, cooked, and prepped to become a sweet candy. Everything is hand made, from the harvesting of the coconut down to the packaging.

One of the highlight was when the tour guide allowed us to hold & carry the factory's pet python. I don't know if I should feel bad that they have the snake captured here but I can see that the snake is already comfortable and used to different people carrying & passing it around.

Fourth Stop: A Canoe Ride through one of the waterways of the Mekong River

Four people can fit into each canoe. This canoe ride is inclusive of the tour we booked but be ready with your tip money. Personally, I don't mind giving tip to these guys as for most of them, this is their only source of income. The fact that you can afford to spend money to travel, giving a small tip surely would not hurt.

Fifth Stop: Bees, some fruits, honey tea, and a musical serenade

Aside from the python, the tour guide also allowed us to hold a bees hive.

After the bee lecture, they started serving our light snack of fruits and honey ginger tea. As we enjoy eating, drinking, and chatting with our tour mates - a group of local band serenaded us with a Vietnamese folk song.

Thoughts:

• I'd say for the minimal fee we paid, the tour is worth the price. The places we visited plus the free bottled water,  inclusive lunch and snack is definitely a good deal. For my first Klook activity, this is a definitely a thumbs up and will be looking forward on booking another activity with them!
• Our tour group had two guides, one was for English-speaking tourists, while the other was for the Japanese-speaking ones. The English tour guide, for me, was kind of hard to understand. I would have extra appreciated the tour and the places we visited had I fully understand most of the information he was sharing. But nonetheless, he was very accommodating and nice so no biggie but something to improve on.
• They immediately called in a new bus when the first bus we rode had a busted aircon. They even gave us free soda for the inconvenience of transferring to another bus.