Departing on Fridays

Day 1: Cai Be

• 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: Can Tho - Long Xuyen

• 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, transfer onto a local boat to visit the floating market, the nearby arroyos and gardens and return to the Ninh Kieu pier by mid-morning.
• Boarding back, welcome drink and departure towards upstream river Bassac. Lunch is served on board while en route.
• Upon arrival at Thot Not, transfer on the longboat for a visit of a bamboo-knitting village near the Thot Not bird park, at the time the egrets return home from a day out.
• Boarding back before dusk, a welcome drink and the dinner are served on board while en route.
• Rest on the deck before the night. The Bassac drops anchor upstream of Long Xuyen for the night.

 

Day 3: Chau Doc

• Breakfast is served from 6:30 AM, as the Bassac is on its way upstream the river towards Châu Đốc.
• Upon arrival in Chau Doc, transfer onto a local boat for the visit of a village of the Muslim Cham minority.
• Boarding at noon at the Chau Doc pier, welcome drink.
• Departure downstream on the Bassac river, as the crew serves lunch.
• We connect through river Vam Nao and around the district of Cho Moi to the First River.
• Mid-afternoon, we sail along a small tributary to Song Ho. Exploratory visit at Cho Moi: Village and old churches.
• Boarding back at dusk, welcome drink. Dinner is served en route.
• The Bassac drops anchor on the way in view of the My Thuan bridge for the night.

 

Day 4: Cai Be

• Breakfast is available from 6:30 on.
• The Bassac sets sail after sunrise towards Cai Be, through sceneries of sweet water mangroves on river My Tho.
• Arrival in Cai Be, check-out and boarding of a local boat for a tour of Cai Be floating market and handicraft.

End of services by mid-morning on shore at Cái Bè.

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

The Bassac offer short-to-medium-range discovery cruises in charming, authentic river cabin cruisers. 

All three Bassac are built of wood according to the tradition of the rice barges of the Mekong delta, with amendments where safety standards require.

Bassac I actually once was a rice barge, which we bought and overhauled into the cozy cabin cruiser it is today, and although Bassac II and III are entirely new hull designs, more adapted to their present purpose, they were built with the same craftsmanship and according to the same tradition.

 

The cabins feature soundproofed partitions and double glazing to protect the passengers' sleep from the noises of the river. These partitions are also heat insulated and meant to slow fire in case of an emergency. The access to outside is immediate.

 

We have air-conditioning in all the cabins, with split systems to allow for a quiet night --indeed the boat's equipment themselves are quiet even though some must run all night long.

 

The Bassac all offer 24-hour power and air-conditioning in cabins fitted with fire detection and fire fighting. A bathroom en suite with every cabin offers hot and cold water all the time.

The galley is suitable to serve refined meals and uphold the best sanitary standards, even for groups of up to twice the bedding capacity of the ship.

 

The passengers can enjoy privacy on board, as the layout allows the crew to be discreet and offers several living areas so that different groups may make the journey their own.

Wide access to outside while still retaining the capability to serve even in bad weather guarantee a good experience of the Mekong delta.

Their layout and structure make the Bassac quiet enough to allow the passengers to sleep while the ship is under way.

 

Safety comes first in the design and operation of the ships. Floatation devices are available for all on board and more, redundant alarm and fire detection as well as redundant fire fighting means are present on all the Bassac.

The handrails all around the ship are sturdy and a mesh of rope prevents any kids from falling.
Upon boarding, the passengers are informed of the areas that are open or off-limits to them, and instructed about emergency situations, how to give the alarm and where to meet.

 

The original Bassac, built in the hull of a rice transporting barge, is a cozy ship sized right for a family excursion or a group of friends, who will love to appropriate it for the duration of their journey.
Bassac I is a green ship. It treats its waste water and recycles the waste heat from the engine. It is qualified as a first-class river vessel VR-SI.

Maximum 12 passengers
4 Twin, with private access and en suite bathroom 2 Double, slightly smaller, with private access and en suite bathroom
24m long, all wood, two passenger decks
Dining room and bar on the main deck
Sundeck at the front upper deck
Dining area at the rear upper deck

 

The Bassac II was designed in-house to meet the demands of river discovery cruises. It harbors redundant propulsion and power generator; river water and waste water treatment, and a professional galley. The Bassac II is registered to navigate into Cambodia.
With a large covered upper deck, a lounge and wide gangways, it is comfortable and can host a meal for the passengers of two ships. Access on board is broad and steady, and elderly or partly disabled passengers are safe.

Maximum 24 passengers
6 Twin, main deck, with private access and en suite bathroom
2 Double, main deck, with private access and en suite bathroom
2 Double, upper deck, with en suite bathroom
2 marine cabins: half again as largeas other cabins, on the marine deck, with a double bed and en suite bathroom
32m long, all wood, three passenger decks
Dining room and bar on the main deck
Lounge cum dining room on the upper deck
Shaded dining area on the rear upper deck
Sundeck on the front upper deck

 

The Bassac III was designed in-house and built very similar to the Bassac II, with its lot of small improvements, of which a bar in the rear upper deck.
With a large covered upper deck, a panoramic lounge and wide gangways, it is comfortable and can host a meal for the passengers of two ships. Access on board is broad and steady, and elderly or partly disabled passengers are safe. 
 

Maximum 24 passengers
6 Twin, main deck, with private access and en suite bathroom
2 Double, main deck, with private access and en suite bathroom
4 Double, upper deck, with en suite bathroom
32.6m long, all wood, two passenger decks
Dining room and bar on the main deck
Lounge cum dining room on the upper deck
bar on the upper deck
Shaded dining area on the rear upper deck
Sundeck on the front upper deck