Bassac services summary
![[picture] Bassac II cruising at Tàm Vu, Cần Thơ, in the Mekong delta](/lib/picture.php?img=B2_bambous_tamvu.jpg&show=400 "Bassac II cruising at Tàm Vu, Cần Thơ, in the Mekong delta")
The Bassac offer short-to-medium-range discovery cruises in charming, authentic river cabin cruisers. See the fact sheets for more information.
life on board
Each journey leg includes three meals (L, D, B), one visit on the way and one at the destination, full-board accommodation as twin-share and free drinking water and Vietnamese tea and coffee. Find more about cuisine on board, typical overnight program and inclusions.
Visits on shore: rice specialities
You can book for longer trips by chaining one-night programs. Some longer trips are offered as seat-in-coach, and it is even possible to reach Cambodia. Others require chartering.
In a few moments, our availabilities for tomorrow and the day after.
We offer a 20% rebate to passengers boarding within the next 48 hours. Call 0710 382 9540 or get a quote.1
![[picture] Shrimps in coconut milk on a table on board a Bassac boat as it is cruising the Mekong](/CR/table_mise.jpg "Shrimps in coconut milk on a table on board a Bassac boat as it is cruising the Mekong")
Eating well is mission-critical on a cruise, and on every trip we offer our passengers to discover classic Vietnamese cuisine at noon, delta specialties in the evening and a well-appointed western meal for breakfast.
We offer meals cooked and baked afresh including breakfast's bread and pastry. As the Bassac have their own galley, they are very reactive to meet the needs and tastes of your passengers, even in case a surprise cake is de rigueur.
Rice specialities: nem re: from rice flour to dish
BBC chef Rick Stein made the Bassac one of the first stops of his culinary series Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey, broadcast in 2009.
Read more
![[picture] Ánh and Rick Stein on a longboat, towards fish pens on the Northern Mekong delta](http://www.transmekong.com/xresources/Odyssey1.png "Ánh and Rick Stein on a longboat, towards fish pens on the Northern Mekong delta")
We are very proud to announce that the BBC just broadcast the first few episodes of Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey, where he goes from Cambodia into Vietnam and the Mekong delta on board the Bassac II. If you are in the UK, you may see episode 1 and episode 2 on the BBC iPlayer. He took TransMekong's Nguyet Anh as his personal guide into the markets and into the Mekong delta's specialities.
![[picture] Rick Stein eating phở on board the Bassac during the filming of his Far Eastern Odyssey](http://www.transmekong.com/xresources/Odyssey2.png "Rick Stein eating phở on board the Bassac during the filming of his Far Eastern Odyssey")
Several dishes presented in his book, Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey, he discovered on board the Bassac II, where he himself cooked a pho for the TV series. Among the delicacies he wrote about is the shrimp cooked with mango, Anh's own creation that makes the reputation of our restaurant Sao Hom in Can Tho.
![[picture] Denham's TV made breathtaking images of the Bassac](http://www.transmekong.com/xresources/Odyssey3.png "Denham's TV made breathtaking images of the Bassac")
Rick Stein's series are one of the very top cuisine programs in Europe, and we are very proud he chose us among all for his introduction to Vietnamese cuisine.
The film was made at Tet 2008, when Rick and his 7-strong Denham production team boarded the Bassac II towards Vietnam. Episode 1, in Cambodia, ends with the Bassac as a hint of what is coming next, whereas episode 2, in Vietnam, gets into the heart of the Mekong delta on board, with cooking sessions, market visits and the exploration of fisheries.
Typical menus
| Lunch |
Bua trua |
| Shrimps steamed on coconut juice vapor |
Tom hap nuoc dua |
| Fried Calamari with steamed rice |
Com muc chien |
| Fish in clay pot with lemongrass |
Ca kho to |
| Tender diced beef with onion |
Bo Luc Lac |
| Pumpkin flower prepared with garlic |
Bong bi xao toi |
| Season fruit |
Trai cay theo mua |
| Dinner |
Bua toi |
| Can Tho style fried rolls |
Cha Gio Re |
| Sea bass fillet with lemon sauce |
Ca chem chien chanh |
| Pork in claypot with pepper |
Thit kho tieu |
| Sauteed chouchous with garlic |
Su su xao toi |
| Banana and chocolate french pancakes |
Banh trang chuoi so co la |
| Breakfast |
| a selection of bread and croissants baked on board, butter, jams, cheese, ham, eggs, pho, pancakes; with tea, coffee, fruit juices. |
Join in on a cruise [up]
![[picture] Cruising the Măng Thít river, in the heart of the Mekong delta](/CR/MangThitB2.jpg "Cruising the Măng Thít river, in the heart of the Mekong delta")
Joining in on a cruise is the simple and cost-effective way to enjoy some time on board and discover the delta for the smaller groups, actually even for single passengers.
You may even join in on a trip departing tomorrow for a discount. Get a quote.
On Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, there will be a waxing gibbous moon throughout the evening.
In a few moments, our availabilities for tomorrow and the day after.
Daily departures
The Bassac operate the overnight route between Can Tho and Cai Be every day, each way, as seat in coach. See the program for Can Tho - Cai Be and Cai Be - Can Tho.
Our daily journeys are now the reference for overnight discovery cruises on the Mekong delta. As all our overnight trips, they depart at noon and end by mid-morning on the next day.
Our trips open for daily departure are classic overnight trips across the Delta over one night, which takes you to visit a village and rice fields, and fruit sampling in the afternoon, and to a floating market or handicraft village in the morning. The itinerary is very green and varied and offers a good insight of life along the Mekong.
![[picture] Sunrise on the river as the Bassac is at an anchor on the Mekong](/CR/Sunrise_1.jpg "Sunrise on the river as the Bassac is at an anchor on the Mekong")
Weekly departures
We also offer the passengers to chain several trips and make for a longer itinerary, be it for a more in-depth visit of the area between Cai Be and Can Tho, or even for a connection with Cambodia in Chau Doc on Sundays.
You may join in on a scheduled trip and connect to Cambodia.
Charter a Bassac [up]
![[image] Bassac II on a visit at the river frontier between Vietnam and Cambodia](/lib/picture.php?img=Contre-jour_2.jpg&show=400 "Bassac II on a visit at the river frontier between Vietnam and Cambodia")
Make your own itinerary
You may charter a Bassac along any route you like: Explore the route you would like to follow on our a la carte programs page before you contact us for help and advice.
Chartering a Bassac is economical even for a modest group, and affords you tremendous freedom. Even to bring kayaks or bicycles along. A sample itinerary: Cai Be - Ben Tre.
The best way to connect with Cambodia is to charter to the frontier: after breakfast on the last day of the cruise, the Bassac rendez-vous with a speed-boat right at the frontier, a mere three hours away from Phnom Penh (customize your trip).
Corporate meetings
The Bassac are perfectly adapted platforms for your corporate or board meetings in small committees:
They feature broad inside spaces allowing the party to isolate from the outside world and concentrate on the issues at hand; a video projector and screen, as well as a flip chart are available on board, and even internet connection about everywhere. The resting areas are ideal for a constructive pause, in the ever-renewed scenery of the Mekong delta, and the galley provides fresh snack and petit fours.
The members committed to the meeting can isolate themselves as the other passengers enjoy the boat and the trip. The party members can thus board along with their spouses and together enjoy the pauses, casual moments and evenings. The warm ambiance of the Bassac and the careful attention of the crew will foster socializing between the participants and provide them with shared memories.
The Bassac can accommodate groups of up to 44 passengers when combining two ships.
![[image] Kayaking on a tributary to the Mekong in the middle of the Mekong delta, from the Bassac](/lib/picture.php?img=Kayak_biplace_sur_les_arroyos.jpg&show=400 "Kayaking on a tributary to the Mekong in the middle of the Mekong delta, from the Bassac")
Incentive
The Bassac offer an ideal platform for your smaller incentive groups or for team building through shared activities.
By providing the capacity to bring your group to the heart of the Mekong delta, a varied cuisine and solid logistics, the Bassac allow your animators to freely express themselves.
The Bassac can bring bicycles and even kayaks and serve as a base for discovery or adventure activities or simply for sports.
Typical trip program [up]
![[Picture] A small map of the Mekong delta](/CR/Carte_petite.jpg "A small map of the Mekong delta")
This is the standard for a one-night trip. Any longer trips can mostly be summarized as chained one-night trips between the ports of call.
At the departure point, on the first day at noon
- Boarding at noon at the departure point, introduction to the ship and crew, checking into the cabins.
- Lunch is served as the Bassac sets sail along her route.
- After coffee and a nap if you wish, you may enjoy the banks scenery unrolling; then the Bassac drops anchor by mid-afternoon for the visit.
- After boarding back and a welcome back drink, the Bassac gets under way, and night falls.
- Dinner is served as the Bassac reaches her anchoring point for the night.
Day 2
- Breakfast is available from 6:30 on, with croissants, tea, coffee, a selection of fruit juices.
- The Bassac gets under way towards the destination.
- Check out from the cabins upon arrival at the destination and boarding of a local boat for the morning visit.
- The visit brings you to shore at the destination by mid-morning.
End of services by mid-morning on shore at the destination.
Please note you will leave the Bassac for good upon boarding the small boat for the last visit, typically about 8:30.
The details of the program and the visits may vary depending on logistics or technical constraints.
Partners' area
Welcome
Mystic Sampans
Bassac
