This Mekong Delta Day Tour is ideal for you to explore the beauty of the Mekong river from Ho Chi Minh City. You will take boat trips, go sightseeing, taste unique food and experience rural life along the river in just a day.
1. Mekong Delta Overview
In Southwest Vietnam, the Mekong Delta is a stunning maze of rivers, islets, and small villages with rice paddies and fruit plantations. It is renowned for being Vietnam’s largest “rice bowl” and playing a key role in supplying the country with its staple food and export crop. It is also home to a unique ecosystem with many tributaries of the Mekong river.
The Mekong river is one of the longest rivers in the world, flowing from the Tibetan plateau to the South China Sea. It stretches for almost 4,900 km and crosses 6 countries, namely China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The river itself has created the fertile Mekong Delta with a biological treasure nowadays. Even though this magical land of Vietnam is quite off-the-beaten-track to foreign tourists, we are sure that a day trip to the Mekong Delta will not let you down. Let’s quickly explore the beauty of the Mekong Delta before you take your own real trip!
What’s new for 2027
- Since 1 July 2025 the Mekong Delta has fewer, larger provinces: Tien Giang is now part of Dong Thap (centre: My Tho), Ben Tre is part of Vinh Long, and Soc Trang and Hau Giang are part of Can Tho City. Vietnam also no longer has district-level units, so map apps may show new names.
- Want to see it with a private guide and boat? Browse our Mekong Delta tours.
2. Best time to visit Mekong Delta
Tourists can visit the Mekong Delta all year round, but this destination is the most vibrant in spring and early summer. In spring (from late January to March), you can enjoy the fine show of blossom when walking around flower markets and gardens Sa Dec, Tan Quy Dong, Vi Thanh, etc.
Summer is the best time to taste tropical fruits which are nutritiously raised by the Mekong river and whole-hearted farmers. As April comes, pink shower trees (Cassia bakeriana) are in full blossom in some Mekong Delta provinces. You can snap some pictures under the trees or play with the petals driven by the wind.
Still, the Mekong Delta in other seasons holds its own beauty, and let’s come here for an interesting experience.
3. Activities in the Mekong Delta Day Tour
3.1. Take boat trips along floating markets
- Best time: early morning (roughly 5:00 to 9:00), when trading is busiest
You can start your trip to the Mekong Delta right away by going on a relaxing cruise along floating markets such as Cai Rang, Phong Dien and Cai Be, or setting off from Ninh Kieu wharf in Can Tho. Cai Rang is the largest and liveliest today, while smaller markets like Cai Be have far fewer boats than in the past. You can also see the scenery along the river and its charming reflection in the water. From a far distance, tourists can see products hung on long poles. If you want to buy something, ride your boat near the seller and get them directly and easily at a reasonable price. Then, you can enjoy them in your fluctuating boat, we bet it is a thing that you hardly experience in other places.
3.2. Taste honey tea and sample locally-made coconut candy
Tourists will then get the paddle boat down the river and head to a beekeeping island. Here you can hold a bee hive and taste honey tea which is made from a mixture of pure honey, fresh lime, and hot tea. It looks really fresh and healthy! During this time, you enjoy some folk songs and take a look at some local products such as Vietnamese honey, queen bee pollen, and cobra wine.
Plan your Vietnam trip in 1 minute
Pick your month to see the weather by region, or estimate your budget — then get a private itinerary from our Hanoi team.
Typical seasonal patterns; weather varies year to year. Our team checks your exact dates when we prepare your itinerary.
"From" prices published on our Vietnam tour cost guide: per person per day, 2 travellers sharing, private guide & driver, hotels, listed activities. International flights, e-visa, insurance and tips not included. Final price is confirmed in your written quote.
Coming to the nearby island “Đất Dừa”, you can see how the coconut candy is made. The coconut mixture milk is made from 20% glutinous rice flour and 10% peanuts and is stirred for about 30 minutes. You can try some aromatic, chewy and sweet coconut candy for free. There are also several flavor variants such as ginger, chocolate, and pandan. This place also offers other coconut products like coconut oil, soap, and masks.
3.3. Taste Mekong Delta’s exceptional food
- Hu Tieu Banh Cam: Address: No. 215 Ap Bac, My Tho (former Tien Giang province, now Dong Thap)
- Pia Cake: Soc Trang (now part of Can Tho City)
The first thing you need to try is a family lunch in Mekong Delta. The meal is simple but still delicious and wholesome. Some familiar dishes are tofu, spring rolls, fried rice, veggie food, and so on.
Then, it’s time for you to snack on seasoned locally grown fruits such as dragons, mangos, jackfruit, and Nam Roi pomelo. Besides coconut candy in Ben Tre, tourists are sometimes confused about choosing what to eat first as there are many different types of fruits and snacks. A must-try food we recommend is Pia Cake in Soc Trang which flavors the pure aroma of durian fruit. This is a specialty of Soc Trang province and is an acquired taste. Another food is Hu Tieu (rice noodle soup), a traditional Vietnamese dish that originated from Mỹ Tho in the Mekong Delta. A My Tho Hu Tieu bowl consists of clear rice noodles, covered with rich broth topped with slices of boiled lean pork and stir-fried ground pork will please you at the first bite.
3.4. Cycle around local villages
To deeply dive into the rural life in Mekong Delta day tour, you can hire bikes from locals and experience tranquility and refreshment while cycling around local villages. Mekong Delta’s quiet back roads, friendly inhabitants, and stunning rural scenery will definitely take your breath away. Nothing could be more wonderful than staying healthy and recharging your battery during your Mekong biking.
3.5. Engage with locals
Locals affectionately dub the Mekong Delta “Miền Tây” and they always welcome tourists from all countries in the world. They put great emphasis on affectional love and have a simple lifestyle.
Tourists will be able to watch locals turn simple rice grains into unique dishes and snacks and learn to cook with the best authentic Mekong recipes. Also, folk music in the southwest region of Vietnam is so special as it features the life and people here. Sometimes, listening to them makes your heart leap with joy and grief.
Let’s book this one-of-a-kind experience in the Mekong Delta to make your day unforgettable! Please contact Metta Voyage for more information! Click here to check out the Exciting Mekong Delta Gateway Tour – 1 day!
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