Mekong Delta: The Complete Guide

1 hour by car from the supercharged city of Saigon, make way for tropical and aquatic ecologist in the arms of the Mekong!

The Mekong Delta is an extremely fertile region, crisscrossed with water and land, canals, arroyos, drawn with verdant checkerboard rice fields whose rice is reputed to be the most fragrant in the country. This generous land is home to abundant fruit gardens, fish farming and shrimp farms are developing there, and all this together contributes to saying that the Mekong Delta is the “rice bowl of Vietnam.”

Floating markets on the Mekong

The floating markets of the Mekong are an immersion in the lively world of river trade where huge barges collapsing under the weight of fruits and vegetables trade daily and crisscross it tirelessly.

Aquatic wandering by slaloming in the canals which reveal the richness of the land with the abundant fruit gardens of a verdant universe. Small stops for fruit tasting, visits to coconut workshops, or small brick or rice cake factories.

Cruises under the stars of the Mekong Delta

For a cruise for two, with family or friends, very pretty teak wood boats with a dozen bedrooms invite you to spend a romantic night on board and glide nonchalantly to discover the activity of the Mekong and the people who live along the river.

What to see in the Mekong Delta

The floating markets and the forest of cajeput

Cai Be Floating Market in Tien Giang

The big boats of the wholesalers of this river market of Cai Bé are each specialized in the sale of a species of fruit or vegetable and use a long wooden pole on which their product is hung.

The scenery of hundreds of boats coming to stock up is a sight not to be missed.

Things to do in Cai Be Market:

• Sampan rides at the Cai Be floating market, heart of the Mekong Delta.
• Visit an old colonial house, a puffed rice factory and tasting of local specialties including coconut candies.

Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho

Impressive floating halls where hundreds of loaded and colorful boats, overflowing with fruits and vegetables, gather every day.

Things to do in Cai Rang floating market:

• You will go to this market on a sampan in order to weave through the canals and arroyos to discover all the life organized around water and trade.
• Indulge in a tasty breakfast while aboard the boat.
• Delight in an abundance of fruits while exploring the garden located by the river.
• Take a tour of the “Que Toi” coconut candy oven, which means “my hometown”.
• Observe the process of making traditional noodles at the kiln.
• Take pleasure in listening to the traditional folk music performed on the river.

Phung Hiep Floating Market in Soc Trang

Phung Hiep floating market 30 km from Can Tho.
The impressive and colorful spectacle of rowing boats loaded with fruits and vegetables are the original hallmark of this floating market. They also sell snakes and turtles.

In Soc Trang, you will approach the Khmer culture with its very beautiful Khmer temples.

Things to do in Phung Hiep Floating Market:

• Cruise through the canals to discover all the life organized around water and trade and discover the floating market of Phung Hiep.
• Visit the Bat Pagoda which is both a place of worship and a reflection of Khmer culture. Bats have invaded places and gardens and are an attraction at any time of the day.
• Visit the Clay Pagoda, so called because of its many clay sculptures. You will see 1000 clay Buddhas, elephants, dragons, lions, all made of clay.

Provinces at the Mekong Delta

Ben Tre, land of coconut palms, in the heart of the Mekong Delta

Located 85 km from Saigon, Ben Tre, land of coconut trees is in the heart of the Mekong Delta.

Known for its scenic rivers, coconut trees, and agricultural products.

Things to do in Ben Tre:

• Visit local coconut candy factories and learn how coconut candy is made and try some samples.
• Take a boat tour to explore the area and see local life. Visit local fruit orchards, rice paddies, and fishing villages.
• Cycle around the countryside, through scenic rice fields and small villages.
• Visit a rice paper factory, see how it’s made and try some samples.
• Explore the local markets, where you can find local fruits, vegetables, and handicrafts. One of the most famous markets is Cho Lach, which is known for its ornamental plant and flower stalls.
• Visit the Dong Khoi Museum, which showcases the history and culture of Ben Tre, including exhibits on the local Khmer and Vietnamese communities, traditional crafts, and the region’s agricultural products.

Can Tho

160 km from Saigon, and located in the heart of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta, renowned for the beauty of the site and the hospitality of the inhabitants.

Things to do in Can Tho:

• Explore Cai Rang floating market, the largest in the delta, and impressive floating halls where hundreds of loaded and colorful boats, overflowing with fruits and vegetables, gather every day.
• Visit a colonial house and an orchard (Ba Cong) where you can taste exotic fruits where you will see plantations of durian, mangosteen and orange trees.
• Visit the centenary house of Binh Thuy. This excursion will allow you to appreciate the peaceful surroundings in which some inhabitants of the Delta live.
• Discovery of the specialty of the region by savoring the “giant gourami fish” which is eaten accompanied by rice pancakes and a typical sauce.
• Discover the market halls of Can Tho.

Sa Dec Town – Dong Thap

130 km from Saigon, in the heart of the Mekong Delta, so famous as a region of flowers. The many canals that surround it make this charming town a real little “Venice”.

Things to do in Sa Dec:

• Visit the old house dating back to 1890, the house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, the lover of the famous writer Marguerite Duras.
• Visit the horticultural village of Sa Dec where you can find flowers of all kinds, which makes this region the largest supplier of flowers in the Southwest.

Chau Doc Town – An Giang

Situated on the Hau River, which is a tributary of the Mekong River. Known for its diverse population of ethnic Vietnamese, Cham, Khmer, and Chinese people.

Things to do in Chau Doc:

• Discovering Chau Doc on the banks of the Bassac and its Chinese, Cham and Khmer communities.
• Discovery by boat of floating fish farms (floating houses) where thousands of fish are raised for export.
  Stop in a Cham village and visit its mosque.
• Visit the famous pilgrimage site of Nui Sam in the afternoon. Nui Sam, which brings together a number of temples of Chinese, Cham or Khmer influence, then continues to Tri Ton, a place renowned for its many Khmer sanctuaries, some of which date from the Angkorian period.
• Return to Chau Doc in the afternoon.

When to go to the Mekong Delta

It is much warmer there, all year round. Alternation of the rainy period and the dry period:

• Dry period (December to April): Temperature can reach 35°.
• Wet period (May to November): violent and short showers at the end of the afternoon.

Best time to travel to Mekong Delta is in the dry season.

How many days to visit the Mekong Delta

If you have 1 day to visit the Mekong Delta

• Visit of Ben Tre – 4.5 hours drive (round trip)
• Visit an artisanal and traditional brick production workshop with brick kilns along the Ham Luong River. The peculiarity of the ovens is that they are heated with rice husk.
• Visit a coconut and ginger candy workshop where you will discover how a coconut is opened and peeled by hand.
• Meet a farmer who specializes in the manufacture of natural mats woven with the raw material he produces himself.
• During lunch, you will discover the specialty of the region by savoring the “giant gourami fish” which is eaten accompanied by rice pancakes and a typical sauce.
• Short walk in a relaxing environment, in the heart of a green and flowery nature, in the middle of coconut groves for a ride in rowing boats (about 15 minutes) on a canal to see plants on the edge.
• Transfer by boat to the port of Ben Tre. Welcome by the driver and return to Saigon.

If you have 2 days to visit the Mekong Delta

Day 1: Saigon – Ben Tre – Can Tho

• Depart for the lush landscapes of the Mekong Delta. Arrival in Cai Be.
• Sampan ride in the floating market of Cai Be, heart of the Mekong Delta.
• A delicious lunch will be waiting for you in the “Le Longanier”, a superb residence of Indochinese architecture located on an old plantation, on the banks of the river.
• A stop on the islet of Dong Hoa Hiep to visit an old mandarin residence dating from the end of the 19th century, where you will be welcomed by the owners.
• Your cruise to Vinh Long. We will cross the islets of An Binh and Binh Hoa Phuoc, renowned for their fruit plantations, where we will stop.
• We will cross the impressive “Co Chien” river to end the cruise in Vinh Long.
• Disembarkation and drive to Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta.

Day 2: Can Tho – Cai Rang floating market – Saigon

• Early cruise through the canals to discover all the life organized around water and trade, and discover the floating market of Cai Rang, the largest in the delta, where boats full of fruit and vegetables gather every day.
• Visit a colonial house and an orchard (Ba Cong) where you can taste exotic fruits where you will see plantations of durian, mangosteen and orange trees. Then visit the century-old house of Binh Thuy.
• Discovery of the Can Tho market halls before heading back to Saigon. Arrival in Saigon at the end of the afternoon.

If you have 3 days to visit the Mekong Delta

Day 1: Saigon – Ben Tre – Can Tho

Same as day 1 of option 2

Day 2: Can Tho – Cai Rang floating market – Chau Doc

Same as day 2 of option 2

• Discovery of the Can Tho market halls before heading back to Chau Doc
• Overnight in Chau Doc

Day 3: Chau Doc – Tra Su Forest – Saigon

• Transfer to the Tra Su cajuput forest, a flooded forest typical of the Mekong Delta. Very nice sampan ride through the green waters of the mangrove, a dream place for nature lovers!
• Back to Saigon

Where to stay in the Mekong Delta

The Island lodge

Located in My Tho, Tien Giang. Built on the banks of the ocher river, at the end of a winding road between cassava plantations, longan trees and betel palms, the latter respects the style of the native buildings.

Victoria Hotel

Close to Can Tho town, the Victoria Can Tho Resort is a tranquil retreat on the banks of the Hau River, amidst beautiful gardens with a plethora of exotic plants.

Azerai Can Tho resort

A peaceful retreat located on green Con Au, a secluded island on the Hau River in the Mekong Delta with 60 rooms and 5 pool villas accessible only by boat.

Azerai Can Tho offers seclusion and privacy on campus surrounded by plenty of green space and centuries-old banyan trees. 2.5 hours drive from Saigon, the resort is located in the heart of Can Tho city, just a few minutes drive away.