The Mekong Delta is one of Vietnam’s most mysterious and attractive destinations. There are some ways to discover it, such as cruising along mangrove-lined riverways, riding a bicycle through coconut groves, or jumping headfirst into local life at a rustic homestay — whatever you do, you should prepare to make memories that last. Here are five ways to go.
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Take a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City
Choosing the right trip is the most important thing about day ones. You may spend a whole day cruising peacefully on a sampan or have a non-stop excursion taking in pagodas, workshops, and floating markets. It’s all up to you.
Many day trips will feature the strange traditional Cai Be Floating Market or go through Ben Tre for a day of kayaking, coconut candies and shaded hammocks. You may head to factories to learn about local products, such as Ben Tre coconut candy. You can discover a local brick kiln or sample Mekong cuisine in a pagoda by the river. A sampan ride through the coconut trees will be almost always included, and a must-do photo opportunity.
TIP: If you want to save time and skip crowds, book a tour by luxury speedboat, or a one-day motorbike trip with a focus on local life.
Cai Be Floating Market – Top 5 things to do in Mekong Delta
Sleep in a Mekong Delta homestay
Another way to have a truly local experience in the Mekong Delta will be to stay with a Vietnamese family. Depending on the homestay that you choose, you might spend your time discovering the village by boat, going fishing with your hosts, or even helping in the rice fields.
Homestays in Vietnam are known for their delicious food and guests are often invited to join in the cooking process. You can follow your host to the local market to buy ingredients, and then watch how locals prepare the meal before sitting down to an amazing meal together. Homestays are often set next to riverways or surrounded by rice paddies.
TIP: If homestays are not your like, keep an eye out for eco-friendly lodges and low-key resorts nestled in the Mekong Delta.
Mekong Delta homestay – Top 5 things to do in Mekong Delta
Go sightseeing by bicycle
Cycling is one of the most popular ways to explore the Mekong Delta. A number of companies offer guided cycling tours to the region, from quick day trips near Ho Chi Minh City to longer adventures through remote and unexplored provinces. There is no rush on two wheels, travels will move slowly through the countryside, weaving through small walkways, passing bridges just wide enough for one person to cross, and passing green fields and coconut groves, stopping in the shade for an iced coffee or tropical fruit.
TIP: Companies offering great cycling tours consist of SpiceRoads, Mekong Bike Tours, and Grasshopper Adventures, Vietnam Bike Tours.
Cycling – Top 5 things to do in Mekong Delta
Unwind on a luxury river cruise
Going on a luxury river cruise can be a wonderful way to see the Mekong Delta. Try imagining days and nights drifting wide, tropical waterways, with mangroves and coconut trees lining the riverbanks, plus a constant stream of passing villages and up and down boats.
Once you are aboard, all you have to do is enjoying for a few days of complete relaxation. You should wake up at sunrise and watch the sky turning a soft pink over the coconut trees. you will enjoy dinner on the water before resting in a cozy wooden cabin. As you cruise, you will be able to choose to disembark to explore bustling markets and local towns, buy fresh tropical fruit or take a stroll in emerald-green rice fields before returning to your boat for more relaxation.
TIP: If cruises are your speed, you may want to book connecting cruise all the way to Phu Quoc or across the border into Cambodia.
Cruise – Top 5 things to do in Mekong Delta
Plan a motorbike road trip
The wide flat planes of the Mekong Delta are ideal for pillion riders or motorcycle enthusiasts. Get out your map and see the Mekong Delta by motorbike. The beauty of this mode of travel is that you can come almost anywhere at your own speed. Take your time driving through scenic roads, pausing at roadside cafes for a coffee, or digging into hot bowls of hủ tiếu on the road. The Mekong Delta is home to many picturesque and ancient pagodas, and the locals are kind, they will always be willing to point you in the right direction if you need help.
Motorbike tour – Top 5 things to do in Mekong Delta
Tips for getting around the Mekong Delta
- Chartered Bus: If you are going deep into the Mekong Delta, you can book online with a commercial bus company. A ticket to Ben Tre with the Thao Chau Express is over VND 100,000/person.
- Local Bus: Local buses connect most provinces of the Mekong Delta with each other and with Mien Tay Bus Station in Ho Chi Minh City. The prices of these buses are cheaper than chartered buses.
- Taxi: Taxis and xe om (motorcycle taxis) are available in the Mekong Delta. Check the meter as you get into a taxi and be sure to bargain before getting on a xe om.
- Bicycle: Cycling can be a wonderful way to get around the Mekong Delta. You can ask your hotel about rentals in the area.
- Motorbike: Motorbike tours are the best way to see more of the Mekong Delta. Be sure to wear a helmet and look out for passing trucks.
