The Mekong Delta – the complex ecosystem of rivers, swamps, and islands – is rich in biodiversity and scenic beauty and is home to a vibrant culture. Often called the “Rice Bowl" of Vietnam, this area is a critical agricultural land provider of rice, fruits, and fish. Mekong Delta provides travelers insight into rural Vietnamese life, with vibrant floating markets, luscious fruit orchards and traditional craft villages.
Perfect for the traveler on a limited time, a half day Mekong Delta tour is a great chance to glimpse into the other part of the lives of the Vietnamese living on the Mekong River. The itineraries are designed to be brief but full, allowing for a half with all the best bits. We look at these best half-day tours in the Mekong Delta to maximize your time.
Cai Rang Floating Market
At the heart of the Mekong Delta, Cai Rang is a famous and top choice for floating markets. It’s a hive of activity as traders from around the Delta come to buy and sell produce straight from boats. The market is particularly bustling in the morning, so you get off to an interesting and colorful start to your day.
The tour departs from Ninh Kieu Quay at 5 AM. You are greeted with a nice, crisp morning air, and it is nearly dawn, so it is the first light as you board the tiny boat. Cai Rang Floating Market Tour gently starts with the relaxing voice of water hitting the boat. Once you arrive, you will be greeted by various activities, such as vendors hawking an assortment of goods, from fresh produce to piping hot breakfast items.
The lavish breakfast on the water is but one highlight. Boats-turned-carts serve savory favorites like pho and banh mi, resulting in an unforgettable dining experience. After a wander around the market, we head next to some local workshops where the traditional rice noodles – that new staple of our diet – are produced.
The Cai Rang Floating Market is more than just a commercial fiesta; it proudly embodies the cultural roots of the Mekong Delta. The restaurant complex best demonstrates the creativity and resiliency of local residents, who have lived within this abundant water resource for generations. When visitors talked about their experiences, they often mentioned the kindness the vendors operate with, offering a glimpse into their way of life.
Fruit Gardens in Ben Tre
Due to the coconut isles, Ben Tre is known as the land of coconuts, a heaven for fruit gardens and abundant local dishes. It is an incredibly peaceful boat ride through the narrow canals with scenic beauty and live culinary experiences, making it a perfect mix for the foodie and nature lover in you.
This half-day tour starts at Ben Tre Pier and will take you on a peaceful boat ride through some small canals covered by the shadow of the coconut palms. This journey provides a more intimate view of the countryside and rural life along the waterways. Once you reach the fruit gardens, you can walk through the rows of tropical fruits like rambutans, longan, and mangosteen.
Its crowning glory is a cooking class where you can pick up traditional Vietnamese recipes with fresh local ingredients. This tangible experience is informative and incredibly fun as you get to eat after creating.
Agriculture is the soul of Ben Tre, so these fruit gardens, and a gift, represent a fertile earth and climate. Cheerful locals and gastronomic heritage are often the first observations from visitors. Some include personal stories that capture the enjoyment of cooking for and eating with villagers for a closer feel of the local culture.
Phoenix Island
In the heart of the Mekong Delta, Phoenix Island combines different wonders of nature and human life. On this tour, you get close to village life and experience a magical cultural performance.
The tour starts at My Tho Dock, from where you will be ferried by boat to Phoenix Island. An island is a beautiful place with greenery throughout it and peacefully serene. While visiting the traditional villages, you will see and experience local people’s way of life, keeping customs and traditions alive. Traditional Music and Dance Performance This activity gives you an interesting view of the traditional cultural life in the Mekong Delta. Guests can also taste local snacks like coconut treats and nectar tea.
Although the performers do not do any traditional pieces or dances, traditional music forms a large part of the Vietnamese performing arts tradition and is, therefore, very much a part of Vietnamese representation on Phoenix Island. The elaborate dance rituals and rhythmic songs narrate the saga of their land, past, and daily life. Tourists worldwide have written positive comments stating they had a great time living in such a native culture, which helped them learn more about and understand the authentic Mekong Delta better.
My Tho Cruise Port
A half day Mekong Delta tour gives you an exclusive opportunity to explore the region’s vibrant tapestry of culture and natural beauty. Each half day Mekong Delta tour has memorable experiences, be it negotiating Cai Rang Floating Market, cruising along Ben Tre with a sampling of fresh fruits or watching a dazzling performance on Phoenix Island. This is a great solution for travelers wanting to experience the Mekong Tour essence but needing more time for a full day. Don’t forget to regularly follow our Fanpage for more interesting information about traveling to Mekong and to book Mekong Tours at the best prices.
Yes, absolutely! The Mekong Delta offers various half day Mekong Delta tour options, which are perfect for travelers with limited time. These tours provide a rich experience of the Delta’s unique culture and scenery in a short amount of time.
Most Mekong Delta tours start at the crack of dawn. Take the Cai Rang Floating Market tour, which begins around 5 AM! At the bustling time of the market.
Common challenges include:
What is included: Transfer, tour guide, hotel in Can Tho, lunch, entrance fee(s), boat trip in Cai Be
What is included: Transfer, tour guide, hotel breakfast, lunch, entrance fee(s), boat trip in Can Tho
| Hotels in Can Tho | ||
| Star | Hotel | Room Type |
| 3-Star hotel in Can Tho | Hau Giang Hotel | Superior |
| 4-Star hotel in Can Tho | Muong Thanh Hotel | Superior |
| 5-Star hotel in Can Tho | Victoria Hotel | Superior |
We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress.
Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.
My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide).
Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .
We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress
