Anyone traveling to Vietnam must make a trip to the Mekong Delta. The Mekong Delta Tours from Ho Chi Minh offer visitors a rare glimpse of this region’s lush landscapes, winding waterways, and colorful local life. After having experienced those tours myself, I can confidently tell that taking the proper tour is crucial to a fantastic getaway.
The Mekong Delta (Nine Dragon Delta) is the region in southwestern Vietnam in which the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. There are also 12 provinces across the Mekong River delta, known for its rice paddies, fruit orchards, and fish farms. A paradise for nature lovers and culture enthusiasts alike.
Highlights of the area are the many floating markets where local people buy and sell, especially this time of year, fruits and vegetables fresh from their boats. The traditional music shows are another draw, affording a fine dose of culture. Visits to the nearby workshops to learn the process of making coconut candies and rice paper. On top of that, the region’s numerous ecosystems – from bird sanctuaries and flooded forests – offer jaw-dropping beauty.
Cai Be Floating Market
We left Ho Chi Minh City early in the morning. Traveling for just over 2 hours, it was not too long to enjoy the rural scenery in between the drive to Cai Be. Soon thereafter we made it to the busy Cai Be Floating Market, a wonderfully colorful chaos of goods and trade! While that market is no longer the hub it once was, it does serve as a fascinating window into the local culture.
Another unique experience we had during this tour was listening to traditional music while sampling fresh tropical fruits. The music, an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO, was mesmerizing We then had a quiet rowing boat excursion through the water coconut canals, both peaceful and beautiful.
For lunch, we were treated to the culinary delights of a local village and with authentic Vietnamese lunch. Off lunch, we stopped by the local work plant and observed how to make some of the traditional crafts like infancy & rice crackers. It made our tour slightly educational obviously because of the hands-on experience. After a long day, we hopped in the van for a nap on the way back to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving in the early evening.
Highlights and Unique Experiences:
Tien River
After from Saigon, we took another tour to Ben Tre and My Tho. We hopped on a boat at the Tien River and enjoyed views of the verdant surroundings and arrived at unique islands like Turtle Island, Phoenix Island, Dragon Island, and Unicorn Island along the way. All of them had some charm and top destinations across all of the islands.
Visiting local orchards to indulge in fresh fruit tasting, and ended the day with a music performance complemented with cultural ritual. Each day we visited local workshops like the coconut candy-making shop where we learned how to cut and make traditional coconut candies. The perfect balance of scenery and culture in the Mekong Delta.
Highlights and Unique Experiences:
Cai Rang Floating Market
This two-day tour to Can Tho and the Cai Rang Floating Market was a highlight of the trip. We left Ho Chi Minh City and stopped in Cai Be for a sight of the floating market, then had lunch at a family spot. The last stop for the day was Can Tho, a lovely riverside town famed for its lively markets and scrumptious food.
The following morning we went to the Cai Rang Floating Market, the biggest in the Mekong Delta. The place was busy with locals trading goods from boat to boat. We also visited farms in the area and ate fruit fresh from the trees. What better way to experience the everyday life and culture of the Mekong Delta than with this tour?
Highlights and Unique Experiences:
Tra su Cajuput forest
Our three-day getaway to Chau Doc and Tra Su Cajuput forest was a trip full of wilderness and cultural understanding. Our first visit took us to the Cai Be Floating Market and then on to an overnight stay in Can Tho. The following day we spent the entire day exploring the Cai Rang Floating Market (longer post on that next time) before we rode some more onto Chau Doc.
I would stop along the way, at such bird havens as the Tra Su Cajuput Forest near Chau Doc, containing a wealth of birdlife. Among the highlights was the boat trip through the canals of the forest where you could see some of the interesting species of tropical birds up close as if you were in a botanical garden. We visited local villages as well as fish farms which gave us a very good understanding of life in the Mekong Delta.
Highlights and Unique Experiences:
A common compliment among travelers is that Impress Travel is a small operator focusing much more on providing personal service. Mekong Delta Tours from Ho Chi Minh are customized for the greatest attention to detail and the most personalized adventure each time, ensuring that the tours remain as unique, engaging, and unforgettable as the next.
Lockie’s Mekong River Tour: “I joined Lockie’s tour with my friend, and it was fantastic. Lockie explained Vietnamese history and even sang some traditional songs. His explanations were easy to understand and added so much value to our experience. This tour made my day!"
Nice Day with Tommy: “Tommy was super nice, fun, and professional. Although it was a typical tourist tour, it was quite enjoyable and safe. The local food was delicious and affordable, and there were many stalls to buy souvenirs."
Family Trip with Mr. Lu: “We had a great experience with Mr. Lu as our guide. He was very kind, spoke good English, and was quite funny. We were offered food throughout the trip to taste, which added to the experience. Highly recommended!"
Favorite Day in Vietnam: “Such an amazing day, definitely recommend! We were kept busy and entertained the whole day with lots to see and do. Our tour guide was knowledgeable, and we learned a lot about Vietnam and its culture."
Selecting the best Mekong Delta Tours from Ho Chi Minh, and you could experience the best of the world. Each tour provides an essential aspect of the colorful culture and rich beauty of the Mekong Delta, whether you fancy a 1-day adventure or multi-day in-depth exploration. Times are enjoyed in a life time so I recommend spending time in this beautiful place which will remain within you life long. Don’t forget to regularly follow our Fanpage for more interesting information about traveling the Mekong and to book Mekong Tours at the best prices.
The Mekong River, the ‘Mother of Waters’, is the heart and soul of mainland South-East Asia. Millions of people depend on its waters. It’s a way of life, a home for the spirits, the defining element in the everlasting battle for survival, and the foundation and boundaries of cultures and kingdoms across eons. The river speaks of the past and the future, of the eternally recurring cycles of nature, of the people living upstream and downstream, of survival, beauty and danger.
Foreigners can’t appreciate the role of the river in the lives of those who live in the Mekong basin. It influences every aspect of their daily existence, shaping not only the land, but also the people themselves.
The Mekong Basin extends over 795,000km2. More than 70 million people, 55 million of which inhabit the watershed area lying within Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam, depend on the river and its tributaries for food, water and transport. At 4,350km, the Mekong is the longest river in Southeast Asia and the 12th longest in the world.
The river runs from its source deep in China’s Tsinghai Province through the eastern part of Tibet. From Yunnan province, it becomes the border between Myanmar and Laos, and between Laos and Thailand. From there it surges across Cambodia to Phnom Penh, where the Bassac River branches off. The two rivers continue to divide into nine outlets, the Cuu Long (Nine Dragons) of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, and finally discharge into the East Sea. The river is navigable from the delta to Southern Laos, where massive waterfalls near the Cambodian border prevent boats from travelling further.
About nine-tenths of the people in the Lower Mekong Basin are engaged in agriculture, mostly rice production on a massive scale, for which irrigation from the Mekong River is essential. A substantial proportion is exported, thus providing the staple diet of a far greater number than just those living in the area.
The Mekong River is also very rich in fish, the single most important source of animal protein in the diet of people living in the Lower Mekong Basin.
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
