Hi everyone! I recently took a trip to Mekong Delta trip. More specifically the most common mekong delta day trip most visitors do from Ho Chi Minh City. With little time to spare on my HCMC visit, this appeared to be the pragmatic choice for the seeing of some of the area. In this article, I’ll talk about my actual experience on a mekong delta day trip from ho chi minh. I’ll write about what the day looked like and share my real opinions.
Quick Planning Why I Chose a Day Trip
My Mekong Delta trip was planned pretty simple. My main constraint was time. I only had one full day free between some other planned activities in Ho Chi Minh City.
I also explored option of organizing the trip on my own via public buses. But the thought of lining up the bus schedules, transferring from the bus station to My Tho, finding if it was simple to hire the boat locally, and covering all of that in one day seemed like a stressful fright but also time-consuming, especially traveling solo.
For a brief visit, it seemed so much easier to pretty much just scope organized tours. The regular tours were available online in many places. Budgeting was only one of our decisions in looking into group options, though they seemed to be the cheapest way to get a brief introduction, which is often referred to as a cheap mekong delta day trip. For me, it came down to convenience.
Hence, I just booked a normal mekong delta 1 day tour. I had no trouble finding one on an online platform (similar to Klook or GetYourGuide) with tours from local operators and booked it a few days before. This seemed like the most pragmatic option for my circumstances, prepping me for my mekong delta adventure.
The Journey From Bustling Saigon to Riverside My Tho
My Mekong Delta trip started early, much like most day tours. Around 7:30 AM, the tour operator’s van picked me up from my hotel in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The vehicle was newer, air-conditioned, and already had a couple of other travelers aboard.
We started by navigating the hustle and bustle of the typical morning traffic out of the city centre. Slowly, the overcrowded urban environment turned into unending suburbs, and then into farmland and wider rolling countryside. I began to glimpse stretches of flat rice paddies, small villages and occasional water buffaloes along the side of the road. There was a noticeable visual shift.
The drive to My Tho was around 70 kilometers south-west. The actual journey was relatively smooth and comfortable, mostly thanks to the expressway. After about an hour and 45 minutes we reached My Tho city, arriving close to the banks of Tien River. On stepping out of the van, the air was warmer and less frantic than in HCMC and confirmed our arrival at first stop on my Mekong Delta trip.
First Stop Visiting the Historic Vinh Trang Pagoda
The first stop on our Mekong Delta trip was Vinh Trang Pagoda (Chùa Vĩnh Tràng). It is located just a short drive from the center of My Tho city. Arriving at the entrance, I was immediately aware of the pagoda’s large scale. The main gate itself was quite ornate. It felt surprisingly peaceful compared to the traffic outside.
Our tour guide provided a brief overview of the site’s history. We then had some free time to walk around the grounds. The architecture was the most noticeable feature for me. It presented a curious blend of styles. I could see elements that looked clearly European, perhaps French colonial, mixed with traditional Vietnamese and Chinese motifs on the facade, columns, and roof decorations.
The temple grounds also contain several very large outdoor Buddha statues. A tall, white standing Buddha figure was visible from afar. There was also a large, seated laughing Buddha nearby, and further back, a long reclining Buddha. These statues added a sense of scale to the complex.
Inside the main prayer halls, the atmosphere was quiet and felt respectful. I saw local people making offerings and praying. The air carried the faint scent of incense. As part of the group tour schedule, our time here was limited, perhaps around 30 to 40 minutes in total. It felt a bit short to see everything properly, but it offered a good first look at this well-known religious landmark. It was an interesting start to the Mekong Delta trip.
The Core Experience River Cruising And Islet Hopping
The bulk of my Mekong Delta trip was going out onto the water and visiting some of the nearby islets. This is what most people would think of making a Mekong Delta trip. Following a stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda, we strolled close by to boat landing in My Tho.
Boat Trip On The Tien River
From there, we transferred to a larger motorized boat, this one roofed to give shade. The boat sailed out into the broad Tien River. I noticed the water was that muddy brown color, common in the silt of the Mekong. I enjoyed watching the busy traffic on the river – bigger cargo vessels cruising next to smaller wooden long-tail boats and numerous other such tour boats.
Our guide pointed out sights along the banks. I noticed local houses built right near the water, some propped up on stilts. We also passed what can only be described as floating fish farms, giant pens built right in the river where they raise fish commercially. The wind blown from the river was refreshing after the morning heat in this stretch of the Mekong Delta trip.
Exploring Thoi Son Islet
During our Mekong Delta trip, after spending some time on the main river, our boat pulled up next to Thoi Son Islet (also called Unicorn Islet). Located in the Tien River and part of Tien Giang province, this giant island welcomed us with pathways through lush greenery as we stepped ashore.
- Bee Farm Visit: The first stop we made on the islet was actually a local bee farm. Someone quickly showed us frames from a beehive. We were then invited to sit and sample honey tea, usually honey blended with kumquat juice or preserved lemon, served warm. It tasted sweet and pleasant. Of course, there was a section selling honey products and royal jelly right next door.
- Island Transportation: We sometimes walked short distances along paved paths between the different activity points on the islet. At other times we drove small electric carts or, on some tour variations, old-fashioned horse-drawn carts down the narrow lanes of the village.
- Fruit Tasting and Folk Music: We moved to another area, perhaps attached to a local home or orchard, prepared for visitors. Here, we were presented with a platter of seasonal tropical fruits. Everywhere on my trip did have pineapple and dragon fruit, longan, and I think jackfruit. As we munched on the fruit, local musicians played Đờn ca tài tử, a form of Southern Vietnamese traditional folk music that is on a UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. They accompanied one another on the đàn tranh (zither) and đàn kìm (moon lute), with singers performing short works. (Performance itself was maybe 10-15 minutes long.) These were the ordinary activities on this Mekong Delta trip.
Sampan Ride Through Ben Tre Canals
After the music, a typical next step on the Mekong Delta trip involved walking a very short distance again, just to the bank of a smaller canal. This is where the experience begins to transition geographically into Ben Tre province. Here, we switched to small, traditional wooden rowboats (sampans), usually seating around four passengers as well as a rower paddling from the stern (often local women). They handed us conical hats (nón lá) we could don to set the mood.
The sampan crept slowly and silently through the narrow, twisting canals. The water was thickly shaded by arching water coconut palms (dừa nước) growing right down to the water’s edge, creating a cool, green tunnel effect. Here, it was a lot more peaceful than on the wide open Tien River. Mostly I heard the whoosh of the paddle through the water and birdsong. This part of the day – the 15 or 20-minute ride on the sampan – was visually one of the most striking for me.
Coconut Candy Workshop And Lunch
Our Mekong Delta trip continued as the sampan ride generally ended at another dock, near a coconut candy workshop labeled as being in Ben Tre.
- Candy Making & Tasting Ben Tre: We entered a small facility where kẹo dừa (Ben Tre coconut candy) is made. Staff demonstrated how it is made, and we tasted a variety of flavors. That included watching the thick slurry of coconut milk, malt syrup and sugar get cooked, cooled into sheets and – even at high speed – deftly hand-cut and wrapped. And the aroma of sweet, caramelized coconut permeated the air. Warm, freshly made samples of candy were offered to us to taste. Many times you could also buy other coconut-based products (including coconut oil or handicrafts).
- Lunch: Post workshop, we boarded the larger motorized boat again for a short time or made our way to a special restaurant area along the river, often set up within a garden setting for tour groups. Lunch was often a shared spread of Vietnamese dishes. Typical food may feature fried whole elephant ear fish, spring rolls, a clear soup, stewed pork or chicken, rice and vegetables. The food was average as tour food goes.
- Optional Cycling: Some tours state that there is a short optional bike ride (e.g., 15 minutes) on paths around the lunch area after lunch. This offers a nice stretch but isn’t a significant cycling component. These were the final main stops of the Mekong Delta trip before starting the journey back.
Memorable Moments And What I Wished Was Different
So, reflecting on my Mekong Delta trip, there were certainly aspects about the experience I enjoyed, and some I felt might be improved upon, depending on my personal expectations.
Positive Highlights:
The most pleasurable part for me was the sampan ride through the quiet canals. Drifting slowly in the shade of the water coconut palms was truly peaceful — and the most picturesque scenery of the day. Another simple, enjoyable moment was tasting the platter of fresh tropical fruits offered at the orchard stop. At first, seeing the detailed architecture of Vinh Trang Pagoda was also visually interesting.
Points for Consideration / Wishes:
Still, I harbored a sense that the flow of the day felt too hurried. It seemed we were always in transit, darting from one truncated stop to another without time to stop or soak things in. The lengthy time spent on the bus (approximately 3.5 hours total, round trip) is especially notable against the relatively shorter time devoted to some of the activities. Certain stops, especially the bee farm and, to some extent, the folk music presentation, felt rather regimented, clearly catered to move large groups of tourists along quickly. Having many other tour groups at the same stops, as happened during the sampan ride, also sometimes detracted from the peacefulness. The following points will help you better comprehend Mekong Delta trip practicalities. For me, I would have liked to have more flexibility or even 15-20-min to roam down a village path on our own.
This mixture of fun scenic interludes and the sense of being on a rather hurried, cookie-cutter tourist circuit left me with mixed feelings about my Mekong Delta trip.
Personal Verdict Was the 1 Day Trip Worth It
So the burning question, after my mekong delta experience: all things considered, was the one-day tour worth the time and money spent? As for me personally, the answer is yes with some big caveats.
On the plus side, the tour did enable me to see major sights and experience parts of the Mekong Delta that I can all but guarantee I would not have encountered otherwise, with my extremely limited timeframe. I saw the vast Tien River, rode the tranquil sampan through coconut canals, visited Vinh Trang Pagoda, sampled local fruit and observed the coconut candy process. It was a handy, ready-made introduction.
On the other hand, the downsides I mentioned earlier (the hurried pace, travel time relative to activity time, and the occasionally commercial feel of the stops) were also very real parts of the experience. It did not feel like a deep run through the culture. So is the best mekong delta day trip that could exist in theory? That’s probably not the case if you have more time to spare, a longer trip is likely to be more fulfilling.
- Who I recommend this day trip to: Those who are really, really pressed for time in HCMC (like myself), but would like to at least see some sights, and briefly get acquainted with the Mekong Delta way of life. It serves the “quick look” purpose perfectly.
- Who perhaps wouldn’t enjoy it as much: Travelers who are looking for an in-depth cultural dive, prefer slow travel, don’t enjoy group tours (which are quite structured), or are interested in getting to know more off-the-beaten-path or less touristy aspects of the Delta (like a truly buzzing floating market). For these travelers, the day trip can be too superficial or rushed.
Overall, from my perspective, my review of a personal Mekong Delta trip was useful for my timing. It accomplished the goal of letting me get a taste. It certainly had me reeling from the aftereffects in that a longer trip next time, possibly more of an independent affair or at least a small group trip, would be needed. These limitations allow you to get a proper value out of this variant of mekong delta tour.
Some Pocket Tips For Your Own Day Trip
Here are some practical tips, based on my experience, if you plan to do a similar one-day Mekong Delta trip from Ho Chi Minh City:
- Choosing Your Tour Wisely: If you’re going to book a group tour (easiest if you’re making it a day trip), spend a little time comparing your options online. Read very carefully the description of mekong delta day tour itinerary For the my tho ben tre day tour package common, know where tour activity(s) take place at what time. Look at recent reviews for information on the operator’s punctuality and the quality of the guide.
- Set Expectations: Head into the day knowing the pace is going to be fairly intense and much of the day is spent in the vehicle. Find solace in accepting that popular stops are designed (this is tourism, after all) to be showcases and brief introductions, not nuanced brushes with real culture. Knowing this avoids disappointment.
- Bring Essentials: Definitely bring and use proven sun protection (high-factor sunscreen, hat, sunglasses). The sun can be strong reflected off the water. It is also well amply repellent. Please carry some small denomination Vietnamese Dong (VND) cash for purchasing drinks, snacks at the stops, small souvenirs if you want to buy, and/or optional tips.
- Prepare to Rise and Shine: Many day tours leave HCMC early morning (usually between 7:00-8:00 AM) to make the most out of daylight hours in the Delta. Check with the operator on the day before to confirm your precise pick-up time and location, and be on time.
Such little preparations can make your mekong delta journey smooth sailing.
Conclusion My Day Trip And An Invitation To Explore Further
I returned to the colourful bustle of Ho Chi Minh City that evening after my Mekong Delta trip and reflected on the cacophony of sights and sounds. The day trip surely fulfilled its promise of offering a quick glimpse of riverside life, green orchards, and local crafts packaged and served in just one day.
It certainly met the goal of providing someone who has precious little time, like myself, with an introduction to this famous region. But honestly, looking back, I firmly believe that a day trip like that only scratches the surface of a proper Mekong Delta trip. The speed you need to cover so much in so little time means you only see it in glimpses. The actual rhythm, the quieter moments, the deeper cultural nuances of the Mekong Delta probably need more time to settle in.
So here’s my last thought: although the day trip serves a purpose as an effective sampler, I highly recommend giving some extra time, if your travel schedule allows. Stay for two, three days or longer for a richer and more relaxed experience. It would allow for things such as spending adequate time in Can Tho and at the Cai Rang market, overnighting in one of a local homestay for authentic interaction or biking slowly through less-frequented villages things that you would never have had a chance to fit into the template you need for a day tour where the areas nearby HCMC are the core of the visit. There is clearly more to the region than this little Mekong Delta trip gave me the time to see.
What about your experiences? If you have traveled independently or on longer tours in the Mekong Delta over the course of several days, leave a comment below with your experience and recommendations (if available on the platform this was published)! Your tips could prove invaluable to other travelers planning a deeper dive into this wonderful part of Vietnam.
