Start the day with a full gourmet breakfast - complete with champagne - before heading out to explore Cai Be. Freechoice: Choose to travel via sampan to Tan Phong, a small island located near Cai Be town that is rich in alluvial soil suitable for tropical fruit orchards all year round. With a total area of more than 1,000 hectares, surrounded by silted sandbanks, canals, and a mild temperature, Tan Phong has long been a friendly destination for eco-tourism. On arrival, try a hands-on experience at a workshop specialized in weaving water hyacinth into artistic crafts. Board a motorized buggy for a ride through endless fruit orchards, stopping to enjoy the tropical fruits and interact with a farm owner. Reboard the sampan and cruise to Cai Be town to discover the local cottage industry where families make rice-paper and sweets from pop-corn, pop-rice, and coconut. Alternatively, take a sampan from the Scenic Spirit to savor a delicious afternoon tea at the Le Longanier, a French colonial house restaurant, where staff will welcome you with tea, coffee, and a range of local fruit and snacks for your tasting. You can dive into a local experience with a band playing music and performing traditional Vietnamese songs. If you would prefer to enjoy the comforts of your ship, our highly skilled bar team is ready to welcome you to a hands-on cocktail/mocktail making class featuring fresh local ingredients. After your morning activity, head back to the ship for lunch while sailing to Sa Dec. Relax and soak in the beauty of the scenery, visit the on-board library to read up on future ports, or head to the Scenic Spirit lounge to unwind with fellow guests over a glass of wine. Later, upon arrival in Sa Dec, board your sampan once again to explore the lively wet market where you can meet the sellers and marvel at their wares, including live fish, frogs and even snakes. This two-hour exploration will take you deep into the local lifestyle. You can also see the grand home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, a Chinese merchant who inspired Marguerite Duras to write novel L'Amant. Your expert guide will reveal the secrets behind this passionate tale of tragic love. After returning to the ship, and before dinner, marvel at a lion dance performed by locals on the expansive Sundeck. The ship will then set sail for the 6-hour journey to Tan Chau. Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. ...
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