To explore the Mekong Delta, you can partake in a Mekong tour or do it yourself. If you only have one or two days to do it, I recommend taking a tour from the many tour operators in Ho Chi Minh City. It’ll be easier and less stressful since they’ll arrange everything for you – from transport to food to accommodation.
If you still want to do it yourself, below is the itinerary for your reference.
One-day tour
If you have only one day to explore the delta, there is always a way for you to do it. Onetrip has done a good job putting together a very useful itinerary for you to follow.
7 AM: Leave your home and get on the road heading in the direction of the Mekong Delta.
Don’t forget to find something to eat to charge yourself for the day. It could be a banh mi or a bowl of pho and of course, a cup of Vietnamese coffee.
10 AM: This should be your arrival time at Ham Luong River, one of the biggest rivers of the Mekong Delta. From here, find a boat headed to Ben Tre and board it. Now it’s time to settle down and explore the different islands along the river. You will get a chance to paddle a sampan along a small canal with bushy water coconuts on both sides of the banks. Ask the boat navigator to drop you in some local places on the river bank so you can explore.
11:30 AM: By this time you should arrive in Ben Tre. Find a local house that serves fruit and dig in.
1 PM: Lunch time!
One of the specialties in the Mekong is Gourami, also known as elephant ear fish by the locals. It is best when marinated with fish sauce and deep fried. When eating, you roll the fish in some rice paper, top it with pineapple, cucumber, and herbs such as basil and of course some bun (rice vermicelli). Then the roll is dipped into tamarind fish sauce and eaten. Voila!
3 PM: By this time you can start heading back to Ho Chi Minh City.
One day is a pretty short time for you to experience the Mekong Delta, but it can give you a basic understanding of the river people’s lives!
Two-day Tour of the Mekong Delta
If you stay longer than one day in the Mekong Delta, then you can fit the floating markets into your itinerary, and this is one of the most interesting experiences that you should not miss out on while visiting the Mekong Delta.
The first day of your trip will be similar to the one-day itinerary, but then instead of heading back to Ho Chi Minh City at 3 PM, you will continue on from Ben Tre to Can Tho city and find accommodation there to stay for the night.
Day 1:
3 PM: Head to Can Tho city from Ben Tre. Can Tho is the “capital” of the Mekong Delta.
5 PM: Check in to your accommodation in Can Tho.
If you haven’t researched a place yet, then you should consider booking with Hau Giang hotel, Ut Hien homestay, or Nguyen Shack Homestay.
Day 2:
5:30 AM: Go early in the morning to Cai Rang floating market – the biggest floating market in the area.
Take a morning boat ride to Cai Rang and exploring the waterways. It’s a lovely time to take in some fresh air and see how the locals conduct their commerce here.
7 AM: Have some breakfast.
At this time of the day, the market is less crowded so it is perfect to feed your morning growl. Float past Cai Rang and head towards a smaller floating market to have breakfast. Hoi cake or fish noodle would be a good option.
11 AM: Explore around the area or even the city.
1 PM: Now it’s time to head back to avoid traffic. The way back will be a nice ride past some scenic areas. Make sure to stop on the way at a café for some nice coffee to re-energize yourself and then go home and take a much-needed nap!
The Many-day Trip to the Mekong Delta
The one or two-day trips are the only possible options for those who have little time or on a low budget. If you are flexible with time and have no cap on your budget, doing a trip for many days in the Mekong Delta is the best option for you as there are so many things to explore!
There isn’t enough space here to mention all that you can do but I believe the above information should be enough for you to decide what activities you want to experience and which province you want to visit. And then, book a bus ticket or rent a motorbike and get on exploring!
Wonderful food, fascinating fruit, awesome landscapes and, friendly and lovely people are the memories you will take home after your trip to the Mekong Delta. If you are still looking at the computer screen and reading these lines, don’t think, just open another tab and begin planning your trip to the Mekong Delta.
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