Exploring the Mekong Delta on a 2-Day Tour from Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam Purple Travel Guide

After the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, today we are starting a 2-day tour of the Mekong Delta. Tonight, after checking into our hotel, we explore the waterfront in Can Tho (map).

Here are some photos that we took:

Here at Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides, we promote self-guided walking tours.
But we realize that not everybody likes to walk by themselves in a foreign city. So, just in case that you rather go with ab guide: NO PROBLEM! Please see the Viator tours below.

How to choose the Mekong Delta tour that is right for you

There are many 1-day tours and longer tours from Ho Chi Minh City, as the Mekong Delta is a very popular tourist destination.
The vast majority of these tours bring you to the exact same destinations, resulting in tours that feel rushed, as you are competing for attention and the attractions with many other tourists, and more like a circus than a relaxing and tranquil journey to a beautiful natural habitat.
On the positive side, since there is a lot of competition, prices form these tours are incredibly low.
Just be advised that there are some tours that advertise that they bring you to less touristy sites, but if you read the reviews, you will find that there are still quite a few tourists on these routes.

You can find many of those popular tours here:

• Viator Mekong Delta Tours

• GetYourGuide Mekong Delta Tours

• Tripadvisor Mekong Delta Tours

The perfect 2-day Mekong Delta tour

Are you looking for a truly special Mekong Delta experience? We have crafted a unique two-day itinerary that takes you away from the usual tourist crowds.

Proposed Itinerary

Day 4: Off-the-Beaten-Track Mekong Delta Tour in Ben Tre
Explore the rural parts of Ben Tre and a tributary of the Mekong River, where you will encounter minimal other tourist groups (expect 0-2 at most). After your tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Can Tho.

Day 5: Explore Can Tho's Floating Markets & City
Start your day early by exploring the floating markets of Cai Rang and/or Phong Dien. Afterwards, you will have time to discover the charm of Can Tho before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

How to Book This Unique Experience

While this is not a standard package tour, don't worry – it's easy to arrange!

Part 1: Ben Tre Tour & Transfer to Can Tho

1. Book the Mekong Zig Zag Full day: Scooter, Sailboat, Food (HCM-BenTre) tour.

2. Crucially, inform the tour operator that at the end of the tour, you wish to be dropped off at your hotel in Can Tho (that you book yourself) instead of returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

Part 2: Can Tho Floating Markets & Return to Ho Chi Minh City

1. On Day 5, depart early for your chosen floating market tour(s) (see Day 5 for details on the tours).

2. After the markets, you will have some time to explore Can Tho at your leisure.

3. At the time chosen by you, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Arranging Your Transfer from Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City

This non-standard transfer cannot be booked through major travel companies. We highly recommend contacting Ms. Huyen at Hai Phong Tours (WhatsApp: +84-93-265-5278). She expertly arranged a comfortable, nearly brand-new SUV for our transfer to the hotel we booked in Ho Chi Minh City near the airport. They also offer regular sedans, which are a bit more budget-friendly.
Here are the private transfer prices we were quoted (payable by credit card), and which are subject to change:

• 4-seat sedan: 2.2 million VND

• 7-seat SUV: 2.3 million VND

Our driver, who spoke basic English, picked us up punctually at 2 PM from our hotel. The journey took approximately 4.5 hours, about an hour longer than expected due to Ho Chi Minh City's bad rush hour traffic.

Hotels in the Can Tho in the Mekong Delta

Here you can find hotel options in Can Tho.

Review of the Unforgettable tour: Mekong Zig Zag Full day: Scooter, Sailboat, Food (HCM-BenTre)

The tour unfolds as described below, though slight variations may occur. Rest assured, everything mentioned was included in the price.

Your adventure kicks off bright and early on Day 4 with a hotel pickup in Ho Chi Minh City around 6 AM. From there, you will embark on a picturesque 2.5-hour drive to the tour's starting point in Ben Tre (map).
Upon arrival, you will be greeted with a refreshing welcome drink and a fascinating demonstration of traditional Vietnamese carpet weaving. You will even have the chance to try your hand at it!

Next, get ready for a fun lesson in how to pick coconuts.

Then, it is time for your first motorcycle ride of the day! If you prefer, a tuk-tuk is available as an alternative, but we highly recommend the motorcycle for an exhilarating experience. In our experience, the drivers are incredibly safe – after all, they do this every day. Please note, you will be riding on the back with an experienced and friendly driver – you will not be driving yourself.

The ride takes you along paved and compacted dirt roads, leading to a charming homestay where your sampan (traditional Vietnamese sailboat) awaits.

The serene boat ride will carry you through a tranquil tributary of the Mekong River. You might spot an occasional fisherman and perhaps one or two other tourist boats, but for most of the journey, it will just be your group immersed in nature. Keep an eye out for kingfishers and other beautiful birds, and observe the water coconuts – you might even get to taste one! As you go, the canals will narrow, eventually forming a breathtaking, solid canopy over your boat. It is truly beautiful.

After your sampan ride, you will hop back on the motorcycles for a short trip to the starting point, where a traditional and colorful Vietnamese lunch awaits. Following lunch, you will learn how coconut candy is made. Then, you will have some time to relax in a hammock, chat with your tour guide and locals, or explore the surrounding area.

The afternoon continues with a longer motorcycle ride, featuring multiple fascinating stops:

• A drink shop, where you can make your own ice-cold cumquat sugar cane juice.

  

• A coconut processing factory.

  

• A coconut farm.

  

Your motorcycle journey concludes in Ben Tre, where your pre-arranged transfer to Can Tho, complete with your luggage, will be waiting. The drive to Can Tho typically takes 2-3 hours, depending on traffic.

Exploring the Waterfront in Can Tho

If you stay at TTC-Hotel – Can Tho, then you can start right there. Here you can find hotel options in Can Tho.
Across the street from TTC-Hotel are a park and a promenade that stretch along the Can Tho River for about 2,000 ft (600 m). At its northern end lies the Can Tho Love Bridge, which is beautifully illuminated at night. You can find more information about the bridge here.

Walking along the promenade southwards, you will pass the Ninh Kiều Wharf with its two large river boats offering dinner cruises.

Here are some photos that we took:

The promenade is beautifully illuminated at night. End your walk at the Ho Chi Minh Monument (map), or keep walking further if you like.
Surprisingly, there are only few restaurants across the street from the promenade between Can Tho Love Bridge and the Ho Chi Minh Monument. But you will find more restaurants if you keep walking south.

Where do you want to go now?

Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel

Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.

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