Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho – Ben Tre)

There is no doubt that the full-day tour from Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon) to Mekong Delta is one of the most popular tours from Ho Chi Minh City thanks to amazing things to do in the peaceful and unique land where rivers, channels, fruits orchards are abundant. Within less than 10 hours, travelers have chances to enjoy a wide range of things. Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho – Ben Tre) are sold and operated popularly by various tour agencies and programs are diverse. This blog is to recommend travelers Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho – Ben Tre) so that they learn more about the region and book good tours to My Tho and Ben Tre before their trips.

Enjoy the nice view on the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta

Located about 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho City in Tien Giang Province is perhaps the nearest province of Mekong Delta from Saigon. It is a great destination to experience the must-do Mekong Delta thanks to the good location and a wide range of things to do. Ho Chi Minh is the biggest, most crowded and busiest city in Vietnam so that it has lots of modern buildings, transportation systems, museums, rivers and beautiful bridges, green parks and entertainment centers. Visitors will not see rice fields paddies, coconut fields, fruits orchards in the city but in Mekong Delta. After driving for about half an hour from the city center, passengers have opportunities to enjoy the green spaces along the streets and highway. Rice fields paddies where farmers wearing conical hats and checkered scarfs work. Houses are hidden behind lines of coconut trees, fruits orchards, channels and small brides. Many vendors sell fruits, foods, snacks, drinks on the pavements. Pupils in uniforms (white shirts or Ao dai) ride their bicycles to their schools. Housewives are on their way to local markets to buy foods and commodities in the morning. On Trung Luong highway, passengers can also see green rice fields and trees.

nice view on the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta

nice view on the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta.

Cruise the immense rivers and channels by motorized boats and sampan

If most of the people in developed countries go out by cars, buses, trucks and other motorized vehicles and people in big cities of Vietnam go out by motorbikes, boats and sampans are the most popular means of transportation in Mekong Delta. The 40,577-square-kilometer Mekong Delta has a 28,600-kilometer system of rivers and channels. On wide rivers, they transfer products or transfer between islands and the mainland by motorized boats.

My Tho Tour Map - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

As you can see on the map, Tien Giang Province and Ben Tre Province are separated by Mekong River (Tien River). The four islands are in the middle of the river. Rach Mieu Bridge connects the two provinces but we do not drive across the bridge. The most popular tour route to My Tho includes the first stop at My Tho Tourist Boat Station where travelers cruise motorized boats to Thoi Son Island (Unicorn Island), Phoenix Island, Turtoise Island, Dragon Island and the mainland of Ben Tre Province. On the islands and Ben Tre, there are countless activities as follows:

My Tho Tourist Boat Station - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Let’s take a nice photo at the My Tho Tourist Boat Station.

Relax and enjoy the river as well as the banks - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Tourists just relax and enjoy the river as well as the banks. The boats are usually equipped with roofs, life jackets, wood floors, wooden chairs, sometimes sofas, curtains, microphones and speakers.

Motorized boat on Tien River - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Tourists on a motorized wooden boat on Tien River have a chance to enjoy the blue sky, white clouds, immense river and long-duration waves with slow rates of rise. The water is not clean but muddy thanks to precious silt, enabling farmers to grow fruits and rice.

Mekong Delta Tour My Tho Ben Tre full day

The best way to not miss Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho – Ben Tre) is to join a tour with Tracy’s team.

Rach Mieu Bridge - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

The 2,868 m Rach Mieu Bridge across Tien River.

Tourists learn how to hop off motorized boat - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Tourists should learn how to hop off motorized boat with the help of tour guides.

Motorized boats in channels are smaller than motorized boats used to cruise rivers - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Motorized boats in channels are smaller than motorized boats used to cruise rivers.

sit at the end of the boat - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Are you dare to sit at the end of the boat?

Take a sampan ride

Hop on a sampan and take a fun ride through zig-zag channels, lined with nipa palms - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Hop on a sampan and take a fun ride through zig-zag channels, lined with nipa palms.

Tourists wear nice conical hats and sit on narrow a sampan, ridden by an experienced rider - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Tourists wear nice conical hats and sit on narrow a sampan, ridden by an experienced rider in traditional Ao ba ba set.

Warmest Greetings To All from Tracy Do! Talented and experienced Tracy’s team has provided excellent Vietnam tours and Vietnam travel services to thousands of guests for 10 years. We specialize in Ho Chi Minh City Day Trips including HO CHI MINH MOTORBIKE TOUR, HO CHI MINH FOOD TOUR, MEKONG DELTA TOUR, CU CHI TUNNELS TOUR, HO CHI MINH TRANSFER SERVICE and SHORE EXCURSION and others. Let us have a chance to show you Vietnam to the fullest. If you have any questions about Vietnam including Vietnam tours, do not hesitate to contact me.

Visit coconut candy factory

Coconut trees are abundant in My Tho and Ben Tre Provinces. They are called the kingdom of coconuts thanks to lines of green coconuts stretching along the horizontal. Sometimes travelers see houses made of coconut wood, utensils and lacquered handicrafts made of coconut shells. Coconut milk is the popular ingredient for a large number of main dishes and desserts in the regions, coconut meat is usually used to make candied coconut meat ribbons. Coconut candy is a unique food made in Mekong Delta, especially My Tho and Ben Tre. Exploring a coconut candy factory, learning more about the process of making this kind of candy, sampling the greasy and chewy sweet, buying some to bring home are great things to do in the region.

The special tool used to peel hard coconut fruits - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

The special tool used to peel hard coconut fruits.

The special tool used to shred coconut meat - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

The special tool used to shred coconut meat.

Stiring machines used to make coconut candies - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

In the past, cooks stir the mix of coconut milk, maltose, sugar, and other extras in a pan continuously until the mixture is done. The cooks must be experienced, strong, patient enough because it takes not less than 30 minutes to stir the mixture and stand next to ovens. Nowadays, they use machines to mix the ingredients while cooking.

mold mixture of coconut candies - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

The mixture is mold into long rectangular sticks which are cut into pieces of coconut candies.

Wrap coconut candies - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Coconut candies are wrapped in extremely thin rice paper sheets, then paper wraps. Sometimes they wrap the candies in lottery tickets. Wrapped candies are arranged in special stainless steel trays which are used to put the candies into plastic bags easily.

Troll into fruit orchards on islands and enjoy fresh fruits

Mekong Delta is known as the paradise of fruits in South Vietnam so that fruit trees are everywhere on the mainlands and islands. Walking in the orchards, travelers are surrounded by trees and fruits which are ripened on the trees. These fruits are considered the best in Vietnam. The fruits include papayas, dragon fruits, jack fruits, pineapples, mangos, coconuts, bananas, oranges, plums, guavas, star apples. Travelers should not miss the chance to troll into lush fruit orchards and enjoy great fruits.

Mango trees, coconut trees, amrabella trees

Mango trees, coconut trees, amrabella trees.

Banana orchards with ripe and unripe banana bunches and pink blossoms.

Banana orchards with ripe and unripe banana bunches and pink blossoms.

Plum trees, jack fruit trees, banana trees, orange trees

Plum trees, jack fruit trees, banana trees, orange trees.

Dragon fruit trees - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Dragon fruit trees.

These papayas are ripen on the trees.

These papayas are ripened on the trees.

 

Tourists enjoy red dragon fruits, papayas, jack fruits, mangos - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Tourists enjoy red dragon fruits, papayas, jack fruits, mangos. Many cacao trees are around the house in the photo.

Drink fresh coconut water - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Drink fresh coconut water.

Fresh fruits: papayas, jack fruits, bananas, dragon fruits, longans.

Cacao fruits - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

These colorful cacao fruits have just been harvested.

Chocolate and cacao making process in Mekong Delta

Tourists learn about chocolate and cacao making process in Mekong Delta.

Feed fishes, fish crocodile, see pythons, porcupines, beehives

Mother Nature gives Mekong Delta not only fruits but also animals including chicken, ducks, especially fishes, crocodiles, pythons, porcupines, etc. Interesting activities include feeding hungry fishes, fish fierce crocodiles using rods and catfishes, learn how to farm long pythons, porcupines, bees. Just immerse into the local and learn how locals earn money by farming animals. Kids will definitely like these experiences, the activities are not less interesting than a visit to a forest or a zoo. Stopping at a bee farm, tourists will be served tea with honey and can buy some original honey at cheap prices.

Feed cute fishes in a pond - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Feed cute fishes in a pond.

Fishing crocodiles is not as dangerous as you think - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Fishing crocodiles is not as dangerous as you think.

Beehive - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

A wooden beehive in a bee farm in Mekong Delta.

tea with kumquat juice and honey - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Mekong Delta people usually drink tea in small glasses, their favorite drinks include tea with kumquat juice and honey which is very good for the health.

honey - top things to buy in Mekong Delta.

Bottle of honey – top things to buy in Mekong Delta.

Enjoy delicious specialty foods

Eating is a part of any trip to new countries, regions including Mekong Delta. This rich region has hundreds of specialty foods but the top foods include Fried elephant ear fish, Fried steamed sticky ball, Fried morning glory, Fried spring roll, Boiled shrimp in coconut water, Sweet and sour soup, Braised chicken/duck with ginger.

great foods - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

After a half-day exploration of the Mekong Delta, lunches will be served to tourists. A family takes photos with great foods before enjoying lunch. You can also see jack fruits and papayas outside the house in the photo. What is better than eating in a house with dried nipa palm leaves, surrounded by lots of green fruit trees.

Fried elephant ear fish - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

They do not remove scales and tails which turn crispy and edible after frying elephant ear fishes. The Xoi chien phong look like balls, they are sticky inside, crispy outside and sweet-smelling.

Ride bicycles through peaceful villages

You may ride bicycles around green parks, streets in cities or your gardens. There is no better way to explore nice quiet villages in the delta than riding a bicycle. Many paths in the villages are narrow so that villagers can not go by car. Passing through houses made of leaves, wood, concrete, glass, steel in large gardens. They do not only grow fruit trees but also plants, flowers and vines. Coconut trees, areca trees, Muntingia calabura trees, paper bark tea trees, nipa palms line the paths and produce shade, bikers are not worried about the strong sun. Green grass and a large number of species are on the way. Roosters crow, ducks quacks, cats meow and dogs barks behind green fences. Local people usually dry clothes, rice seeds, fruits, fishes, Lap xuong sausages in the garden. Waterways are everywhere in the region, narrow bridges challenge bikers to cross.

Take a fun ride under the shade of green trees.

Take a fun ride under the shade of green trees.

Cross through small bridges - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

A tourist rides a bike across a small bridge.

Listen to Southern Vietnamese folk music

For hundreds of years, Southern Vietnamese folk music has fed the spirit of Mekong Delta people since they were born. Babies are lulled to sleep by the melodies of Vọng cổ, Cải lương. Sampan riders sing the folk songs when they are paddling. Đờn ca tài tử is a form of Vietnamese folk music, with artists playing traditional Vietnamese musical instruments including Đàn bầu, Đàn nhị, and singing the folk music. On Mekong Delta Tour, tourists usually listen to Southern Vietnamese folk music at local restaurants or fruit orchards.

Two singers in Ao dai and three male artists perform Southern Vietnamese folk music - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

Two singers in Ao dai and three male artists perform Southern Vietnamese folk music.

Tourists take photos with a singer who wears Ao ba ba top and bottom, hang flowers in her hand and sing a passionate folk song

Tourists take photos with a singer who wears Ao ba ba top and bottom, hang flowers in her hand and sing a passionate folk song.

Visit the old Vinh Trang Pagoda with unique architecture

Built in the begining of the 19th century, Vinh Trang Pagoda is a mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, French, Thai, Cambodian, Roman architectures. The spacious garden with stupas, huge Buddha statues, water lily lakes make visitors feel calm and forget all the troubles in their life. It is a perfect place to end a Mekong Delta Tour. Read more…

7-story stupa and statue of sleeping Buddha Vinh Trang Pagoda - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

The 7-story stupa and statue of sleeping Buddha.

A huge statue of Maitreya Buddha Vinh Trang Pagoda - Top things to do on Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre)

A huge statue of Maitreya Buddha.

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