Tour riêng và hành trình thiết kế theo yêu cầu khắp Việt Nam

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Southern Vietnam

Mekong Delta

Where the river sets the pace.

10.05° N, 105.75° EVietnam

Introducing Mekong Delta

A green world of rivers, orchards and floating markets, where daily life still moves by boat.

The Mekong ends its long journey from the Tibetan Plateau in southern Vietnam, splitting into branches that spread across a vast, flat delta. The Vietnamese call it Cuu Long, Nine Dragons. Water shapes everything here. Houses stand on stilts along the banks, sampans carry fruit to market, and narrow canals shaded by coconut palms link villages that roads reach only reluctantly.

This is Vietnam's rice bowl and its fruit basket. Days are spent on the water and in orchards, at brick kilns and flower villages, eating fish grilled whole and fruit picked the same morning. After the noise of Saigon, the quiet takes a day to get used to.

This is Vietnam's rice bowl and its fruit basket.
Mekong Delta · Southern Vietnam
Boat woman in a conical hat poling a sampan past weathered palm trunks along a Mekong Delta canal
Mekong River Delta, Vietnam

Why go

Reasons to go

  1. 01

    Life on the water

    Floating markets, riverside workshops and canal-side homes show a way of life still tied closely to the river.

  2. 02

    Orchards and flower villages

    Rambutan, longan and pomelo grow along the canals, and the nurseries of Sa Dec fill with flowers in the weeks before Tet.

  3. 03

    A slower rhythm

    After the pace of the city, the delta is green, gentle and quiet, an easy place to decompress.

Things to do

What to do in Mekong Delta

  1. 01

    Cai Rang floating market at dawn

    Arrive by boat in Can Tho as traders sell pineapples, watermelons and pumpkins from their hulls, each hanging a sample of their goods from a tall pole.

  2. 02

    The flower villages of Sa Dec

    Walk raised paths between rows of potted flowers, and visit the old house of Huynh Thuy Le, whose romance inspired Marguerite Duras' novel The Lover.

    Woman in a conical hat stands rowing a sampan through a tunnel of water palms in the Mekong Delta
  3. 03

    Canals by sampan

    Glide along narrow, palm-shaded waterways and stop at family workshops making coconut candy or rice paper.

  4. 04

    Cycling between orchards

    Follow village lanes past fruit gardens and fish ponds, stopping for tea and fresh fruit along the way.

Before you go

The practical details

The dry season from December to April is the easiest time to travel. From around August to November the river rises and some low areas flood.

Best time to visit

Dec–AprDry season
Sunny and comfortable, with the flower villages in full color ahead of Tet.
May–JulEarly wet season
Hot, with afternoon showers. Fruit season is in full swing, with orchards heavy with rambutan, mangosteen and durian.
Aug–NovFlood season
The river swells and fields go under water. The delta looks dramatic from a boat, though some roads and paths may be affected.

Getting there

By road
The delta begins about two hours south of Ho Chi Minh City. Can Tho is around three and a half hours by car.
By air
Can Tho International Airport has domestic flights, including routes to Hanoi and, depending on schedules, Phu Quoc.

Local tips

  • 01Floating markets are busiest just after sunrise and wind down by mid-morning. Plan an early start.
  • 02Stay overnight rather than visiting on a day trip. The delta's best moments come early and late.
  • 03Bring insect repellent and a light long-sleeved layer for evenings near the water.
  • 04Wear sandals you do not mind getting wet when stepping on and off small boats.

Good to know

Visiting Mekong Delta

Is a day trip to the Mekong Delta enough?

A day trip from Saigon shows you the edge of the delta. An overnight stay reaches Can Tho and the floating market at dawn, which is where the region really opens up.

Are the floating markets still operating?

Yes, though they are smaller than they once were, as roads and bridges have taken over some of the river trade. Cai Rang in Can Tho is still the best known.

Can I stay in a homestay?

Riverside homestays are a popular way to see the delta, though comfort levels vary. Tell us what kind of stay you prefer when you enquire and we'll suggest options.

If you want a route

Journeys through Mekong Delta

4 of our journeys include Mekong Delta. Every route can be reshaped around how you want to travel.

Khám phá tour
6 days

Ho Chi Minh CityMekong DeltaDa Nang +2

Ho Chi Minh City & Da Nang

South to centre in six days: the Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta, then a flight to Da Nang for Hoi An, Ba Na Hills, the Imperial City of Hue and the villages around Hoi An.

  • 6 days, 5 nights
  • Private journey
  • 5 places
View journey
2 days

Ho Chi Minh CityMy ThoBen Tre +1

Mekong Delta & Cai Rang Floating Market

Down the delta to Can Tho for the night, so you can be on the water at Cai Rang floating market while it is still busy.

  • 2 days, 1 nights
  • Private or small group
  • 4 places
View journey
2 days

Ho Chi Minh CityCu ChiMekong Delta +1

Cu Chi, the Mekong & a Cooking Class

The tunnels and a cooking class on day one, a night out in the delta, and the river, the coconut mills and a sampan on day two.

  • 2 days, 1 nights
  • Private or small group
  • 4 places
View journey

Ready for Mekong Delta?

Tell us how you like to travel and we'll build it into a journey that fits.