Mekong River Cruise Bassac Boat: Saigon – Cai Be – Can Tho

Mekong River Cruise from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for 2 days 1 night with the authentic experience of the Real Mekong River Vietnam is great way to discover the real locals!

The Bassac I was retrofitted from the hull of a genuine 80-foot-long rice barge and converted into a comfortable cabin cruiser entirely made of wood.
She can accommodate up to 12 passengers in six nicely decorated cabins, each with air-con and a private bathroom, and features a 100 sqft restaurant that opens all around, a large galley, a small office room and 700 sqft of sundeck.

The Bassac I can take her passengers on cruises up to seven days without stopping, and offers a great flexibility in programming your journey. She also is so powerful and has such a shallow draft as to be able to cruise upstream the Mekong or bring you to your destination regardless of the season, the tide or the current

• Mekong River Cruise 2 days: Can Tho – Cai Be – Saigon
• Mekong River Cruise 2 days: Saigon – Cai Be – Can Tho

The Bassac II is entirely made of wood in a hull built of gỗ sao, the typical Vietnamese essence used for quality ships –now a rare deed. It accommodates 24 passengers in 12 cabins with en-suite bathroom and has a very wide upper deck, covered with a wood and bamboo thatch roof to host your larger dinners and lunches. She thus can combine with the other Bassac cruisers for overnight trips with groups of up to 60 passengers. It is possible to accommodate a kid’s bedding inbetween twin beds on the Bassac II, just make sure you mention this upon booking.

All the cabins are insulated against noise, and their windows are fitted with double glazing. Environment-wise, the Bassac II is equipped with an automat for hot water, that ensures constant pressure and temperature, and four septic tanks. She brings along city water in sufficient quantities for long-haul cruises. Fire prevention and safety were also major features in the design of the ship, which is fitted with fire detection and lance monitors.

The Bassac II was entirely designed in-house and built to meet our demanding operating conditions. The Bassac II has an even shallower draft than the original Bassac, owing to her broad beam of nearly 8 meters, and is powered by two Cummins engines, a large power plant offering resilience to failure. The Bassac II easily takes the same routes as the Bassac I.

The Bassac III is the sister ship of the Bassac II, with some minor ameliorations, such as all 12 cabins on the main and upper deck, a real bar on the rear upper deck, the lounge at the wheelhouse and a real professional galley.

Facts

• Flag: Vietnam
  • Class: VR-SI, river cruiser
  • Displacement: 107 metric tons
  • Length: 80’/ 24.40m
  • Beam” 18’/ 5.50m
  • Draft: 4’10″/ 1.50m half-loaded
  • Propulsion: Caterpillar 14,6 liters, 400 BHP, built to run 5000 hours per year
  • Navigation: Can operate by night and in bad weather
  • Autonomy: 7 days cruiseCabins (10 m2 with twin and double beds)
  Bassac I: 6 cabins in the front of the main deck: 4 with twin bedding, 2 with a double bed.

Bassac II: 12 nicely decorated cabins, each with air-con and a private bathroom, and features a 500 sqft restaurant that opens all around, a large galley, a small office room and 1500 sqft of upper deck, mostly covered.

Bassac III: 12 nicely decorated cabins, each with air-con and a private bathroom, and features a 500 sqft restaurant that opens all around, a large galley, a small office room and 1500 sqft of upper deck, mostly covered.

The comfortable cabins are set in the front of the Bassac I and well insulated so as to provide the passengers with a good night’s sleep even if under way.

They are entirely fitted with wood, and equipped as rooms in a good hotel.

Restaurant & Bar

The 250 square feet at the stern of the main deck accommodate the restaurant and the bar can be completely opened to outside for you to enjoy the evening.

 Upper Deck

• 700 square feet, partly shaded.
• The front is fit for sunbathing and rest on sunbathing couches;
• The small bar at the back welcomes you for a drink outside as the sun sets.
• Nearly all of the Bassac I is accessible to the public, including the galley, which is the right venue for Vietnamese cuisine workshops to take place.
• Each passenger can opt to join with the group in one of the common rooms, or look for a place to stay by oneself.

Kayaking

Exploring the Mekong Delta with kayak along the small canal and arrayos.

Utilities

Energy
• Overall power production capacity: 2×35 kVA, and according to Vietnam’s power standard 220V, 50Hz.
• A large isobaric water heater. All electrical services are available at any time, as well as hot water.
Water
• 10 metric tons of fresh water on board
• On board water treatment plant for river water use
• On-board septic tanks for environment-friendliness The Bassac  II features a fresh water autonomy of about a week, with a large store and the capability to produce its own water.

Safety
• Smoke detectors in all cabins, redundant fire fighting pumps, three monitors with fire hoses;
• Fire extinguishers: CO2 and powder;
• Emergency lighting and alarm on a separate source of power
• Safety jackets for all the board, safety buoys, rafts, longboat.

Additional Information:
• Private car services: Daily departure from Ho Chi Minh City, pick up at your hotel to Can Tho (or Cai Be) Pier.
• Check in time: At noon
• Check out time: At noon
• Guide on board: English speaking

Day 1: Saigon –Cai Be – Tra On
• Boarding at Cai Be at noon. Welcome drink, Introduction to the ship and crew, check into the cabins.
• Departure towards Cho Lach on the Tien Giang river.
• Lunch while en route. Rest on the deck.
• The Bassac slips into the Chợ Lách canal, in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the river traffic, between markets and churches, a unique opportunity for a glimpse of the very varied life on the banks as well as on the water.
• Visit of a village on the banks of river Mang Thit, an opportunity to appreciate the way of life and hospitality of the local inhabitants. Visit of the orchard or rice fields nearby.
• Boarding back, complimentary drink as a welcome back on board. Rest on the deck enjoying the sunset. The crew will serve dinner while the Bassac is cruising Mang Thit river.
• The Bassac sets anchor just downstream from the little Tra On floating market, for the night.

Day 2: Tra On – Can Tho – Saigon
• You may get up for breakfast as early as 06:30, as the ship is resuming its cruise the Tra On floating market. The ship then departs towards Can Tho.
• Arrival in Cai Rang floating market, check out and transfer onto a local boat to visit the floating market, the nearby arroyos and gardens and return to the Ninh Kieu pier.
End of services by mid-morning on shore at Cần Thơ.

Please note you will leave the Bassac for good upon boarding the small boat for the last visit, typically about 8:30.