Mekong Delta Tours & Day Trips from Ho Chi Minh City

Experience a Boat Cruise Through Small Canals

Exploring the beauty and uniqueness of the Mekong Delta by a boat cruise through zigzag canals under the shadow of water coconut trees is considered as an unprecedented experience.

A special thing of the Mekong River is that it consists of a complicated system of channels. It is really a wonderful time for you to feast your eyes on beautiful sights of green/yellow rice paddies, orchards laden with fruits, coconut trees as well as local houses.

In addition, you can also see the coconut candy factory and brick factory along the river.

Visit Authentic Floating Markets – A Cultural Treasure

Unlike tourist-oriented markets, these bustling waterways serve as wholesale trading hubs where merchants buy and sell fresh produce directly from boats.

Cai Rang Floating Market – A Morning Spectacle

Located in Can Tho, Cai Rang Floating Market is the largest and most renowned market in the region. As you approach at dawn, the river comes alive with colorful boats stacked with pineapples, mangoes, melons, and vegetables. Vendors advertise their goods by hanging samples on long bamboo poles — an ingenious local system known as “cây bẹo.”

Phong Dien Floating Market – A More Tranquil Alternative

Phong Dien Floating Market offers a peaceful glimpse into daily life. Smaller and more intimate, it provides opportunities to interact with sellers and understand the traditions behind river-based commerce.

Explore Coconut Villages and Handicraft Workshops

Join Coconut Candy Workshops

Learn how locals transform fresh coconuts into sweet, chewy candy using traditional methods. Travelers can watch the full process - from cracking the coconuts to cooking caramelized syrup and molding the candies by hand. Sampling fresh coconut candy straight off the production line is a delight for every visitor.

Rice Paper & Mat Weaving Villages

At small local workshops, you can observe artisans creating rice paper used for spring rolls or hand-weaving sedge mats on giant wooden looms. These experiences are not only cultural but also meaningful, as they highlight the craftsmanship that sustains rural communities.

Cycle Through Peaceful Villages and Lush Rice Paddies

Cycling is one of the best ways to experience the agricultural charm of the Mekong Delta. Quiet backroads weave through coconut plantations, tropical orchards, narrow canals, and traditional wooden homes.

As you pedal past waving children, farmers tending their crops, and buffalos resting in rice paddies, you will witness a lifestyle that moves at a gentle, unhurried pace. Many Day Trips from Ho Chi Minh City include short cycling routes tailored to all fitness levels, making it accessible even for casual riders.

This activity adds intimacy and discovery to your journey, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in rural Vietnam in a way that buses simply cannot offer.

Visit & Taste Fresh Fruits

The Mekong Delta is famous not only for rice paddies but also for tropical orchards, thanks to the fertile land. At the same time, there are many farmers working on rice paddy fields, a variety of farmers choose to grow fruits.

Tourists can often run into a large number of tropical fruit trees in the local gardens, such as plum, durian, banana, dragon fruit, rambutan, apple, grape, mango… This is the reason why the Mekong Delta provides about 70% of the fruit consumed throughout Vietnam; moreover, some are exported to other countries.

Discover Ancient Temples, Pagodas & Khmer Culture

Beyond its waterways, the Mekong Delta is also home to fascinating religious and cultural sites. Travelers can explore ornate Buddhist pagodas, Cao Dai temples, and Khmer architectural landmarks that illustrate the region’s diverse heritage.

Vinh Trang Pagoda (My Tho)

Famous for its giant reclining Buddha and intricate mosaic designs, Vinh Trang Pagoda blends Vietnamese, Khmer, and Chinese influences in a stunning architectural masterpiece.

Khmer Pagodas in Tra Vinh & Soc Trang

These provinces host some of southern Vietnam’s most beautiful Khmer temples, complete with golden stupas, guardian statues, and unique spiritual traditions.

A cultural stop deepens the storytelling in your journey and adds historical context to what you see along the rivers.

Experience Local Music – Southern Folk Songs (Đờn Ca Tài Tử)

Recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, Đờn Ca Tài Tử is a traditional southern Vietnamese musical genre performed with acoustic instruments such as the đàn kìm, đàn cò, and sáo trúc.

Many Mekong Delta Tours include intimate performances hosted by local families. Travelers can listen to heartfelt melodies reflecting village life, seasonal rhythms, and historical folklore.

These musical interludes offer a touching connection with the culture and people of the Mekong Delta.

Explore Ecological Reserves & Bird Sanctuaries

For nature lovers, the Mekong Delta features several preserved ecosystems that host thousands of bird species, mangrove forests, and wetlands.

Tra Su Cajuput Forest (An Giang)

Known for its emerald waterways and floating duckweed fields, Tra Su offers boat rides through a mystical, green-toned landscape. It is one of the most photogenic spots in southern Vietnam.

Tram Chim Bird Sanctuary (Dong Thap)

“The Kingdom of Birds” in Vietnam, migratory birds, storks, herons, and a lush mangrove environment perfect for eco-tours.

Although these destinations require a longer journey, travelers on extended Mekong Delta Tours will find them unforgettable.

Take Part in Farming and Fishing Activities

The Mekong Delta is known for its agricultural abundance, and many communities welcome travelers to participate in daily farming routines such as harvesting rice, catching fish using traditional traps, or tending fruit orchards.

These interactive activities offer a meaningful look at the hard work behind the region’s prosperity — and they are especially enjoyable for families or travelers seeking authentic, hands-on experiences.

Duong Dua – Coconut Worm

Due to a large number of coconut trees grown in the region, Mekong Delta is an ideal place to enjoy coconut worms. Beetle larvae pierce holes and lay eggs inside coconut trees, and these eggs become coconut worms - Duong Dua.

They are yellow larvae with brown heads. This dish is quite weird, many tourists seem to be scared and are not willing to try it. Eating the grilled coconut larvae is recommended to enjoy this special dish.

However, if you are interested in something more challenging, eat them while they are still alive! Raw coconut worms will be dipped in but still, be moving in a bowl of fish sauce. This will surely be a little scary!

Lau Mam – Fermented Hotpot

Lau Mam is a specialty that is very popular in the Western region of Vietnam. “Mam” (fermented fish) is used to flavor the consommé together with many other ingredients such as beef, shrimp, fresh vegetables, lemongrass… This kind of hot pot owns its unique smell. You can enjoy this dish at any restaurants in the Mekong Delta.

Banh Canh Ca Loc – Snakehead Fish Thick Noodle Soup

This kind of soup includes a thick-version of noodles made from rice flour and cooked with snakehead fish meat. It consists of the typical flavors of the region. You can easily find this specialty everywhere in the area. Locals often eat it as a favorite meal.

Hu Tieu My Tho – My Tho Noodle Soup

Originated from My Tho, Hu Tieu My Tho is a well-known noodle soup in the South of Vietnam. The broth in this soup is made from boiling pork bones. A Hu Tieu bowl is a mixture of red shrimp, meatballs, green celery, pepper. Especially, the minced garlic is a very important spice which creates the unique fragrance of this dish.

Bánh Xèo - Vietnamese Sizzling Pancake

The Delta version of bánh xèo is bigger, thinner, and more fragrant thanks to coconut milk added to the batter. Cooked over firewood, the pancake becomes beautifully crispy with fillings of shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts.
Travelers love watching the sizzling process in open-air countryside kitchens — a cultural highlight in many Mekong Delta Tours.

Cá Tai Tượng Chiên Xù - Crispy Elephant Ear Fish

This dish is the culinary icon of the Mekong Delta and often surprises travelers with its impressive presentation. The whole freshwater fish is deep-fried until golden and upright on a wooden stand.

Diners wrap tender fish flakes with herbs, rice paper, and pineapple, then dip them into a sweet-savory fish sauce.
The harmony of crispy texture, aromatic herbs, and river freshness makes it a must-try for anyone joining Mekong Delta Tours from Ho Chi Minh City.

Banh Pia – Durian Cake

Banh Pia is a famous cake and can be brought back as a gift from Mekong Delta. Durian Cake is the perfect combination of green beans, durian, and salted eggs to create a typical flavor. Banh Pia is produced in many provinces in the Western region but Banh Pia Soc Trang is still the most famous and delicious.

Thạch Dừa Bến Tre - Sweet Coconut Jelly

A refreshing dessert perfect for the tropical climate of the Mekong Delta. Coconut jelly is made directly inside the coconut shell using young coconut water and natural agar. The result is a lightly sweet, silky-smooth jelly with a fragrant coconut aroma.
It’s a favorite among travelers on Mekong Delta Tours, especially during hot afternoons when served chilled with fresh coconut meat.

Sticky Rice with Coconut Milk & Mung Bean

Sticky rice desserts in the Mekong are simple yet incredibly flavorful. Two popular versions include:
• Xôi Sầu Riêng (Durian Sticky Rice)
A creamy, fragrant combination of steamed glutinous rice, coconut milk, and fresh durian. Rich but balanced, it is beloved by durian fans.
• Xôi Lá Dứa (Pandan Sticky Rice)
This emerald-colored sweet rice gets its scent and color from pandan leaves, topped with mung bean paste and shredded coconut. Light, aromatic, and perfect for travelers who prefer a mild dessert.