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MEKONG 03 DAYS + PHNOM PENH (BEN TRE - CAN THO - CHAU DOC)

taffyted72

newbie
Posts: 4

Hi I have been searching the net looking for a crossing from Vietnam to Cambodia up the Mekong and have com across a 2 night 3 day trip ending up in Phnom Penh for $54.13 per person.... I have to say this sounds too good to be true it's with The Sinh Tourist, does anyone have any experience of this trip and is it tooooo good to be true or are they legit??? and is it safe???

#1 Posted: 23/7/2011 - 16:05
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arah

adventurer
Posts: 473
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Posted from within Vietnam.

It doesn't sound over cheap to me - my parents did an overnight trip to the Mekong for $24 last year and thought it was decent enough and the same company ran a similar trip to the one you're doing for around $40. Whether it's safe or not... well, that can never be 100% guaranteed on any trip here but there's no reason why it wouldn't be as good as with any of the other budget operators.

#2 Posted: 23/7/2011 - 17:46

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Nunks

newbie
Posts: 1

We have just done this trip 10 days ago.Very well organised.We actually payed $44 per person at the Sinhtourist office even though the web said $54.Accommodation is very basic but it is only for 1 night at Can Tho and Chaudoc, so bearable. Very worth your money.
Will be posting a report soon as the only report I could find was 3 yrs ago.

cheers
Nunks

#3 Posted: 1/8/2011 - 06:43
taffyted72

newbie
Posts: 4

Hi,

Thanks both for your replies this is very helpful information, i don't mind basic accommodation as you say it is just for one night in each, and as far as I can see it is the only way to travel this route and experience the region.

Cheers

Taffy

#4 Posted: 1/8/2011 - 19:52
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arah

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It is possible to do it independently (we did) but if you don't have much time, or don't want to spend much time in the Mekong, I'd recommend an organised tour anyway. If you wanted to take your time, on your own agenda, then it's perfectly possible to do it all by public transport.

#5 Posted: 1/8/2011 - 22:21

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busylizzy

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The Sinh Tourist is a legit company - but just make sure that you are using the correct one. (They used to be Sinh Cafe, but renamed and rebranded a year or so ago after so many fake 'Sinh Cafe's started popping up.. Their website is: http://www.thesinhtourist.vn/

If you are dealing with a travel agent directly, then be sure that it's one that is listed on their Contact Us page.

Having said that, I never booked any tours with them, although did use them for a bus ride from Nha Trang to Dalat and everything was fine and as expected.

Another alternative, albeit pricey, is to do an Easy Rider motorbike tour through that area - which is what I did. That was an awesome to experience the region.

#6 Posted: 2/8/2011 - 02:25

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taffyted72

newbie
Posts: 4

Thanks both for that information, yes that is the website I have been looking at. Just goes to show how valuable other traveler info is!!

#7 Posted: 2/8/2011 - 18:42
romeogolf

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I did this trip with a friend in May using TNK Travel in Saigon. Given the backroads we cycled through and the locals we met along the way, it wasn't something you could do independently unless you spoke Vietnamese.

Most of our meals were Vietnamese, although we did have Western-type options available at breakfast at the local hotels in Can Tho and Chau Doc. At the homestay in Cai Be, it was strictly Vietnamese, which was delicious! I even enjoyed the durian from the orchard behind the house.

If you are interested in my experiences, I wrote an article and have some photos on Flickr.

#8 Posted: 18/9/2011 - 09:33