How do I get from HCMC to Can Tho?

Express buses from Mien Tay Bus Station in HCMC take 3 hours and cost 100,000-150,000 VND ($4-6). Phuong Trang (Futa Bus) is the most reliable operator. Vietnam Airlines also flies direct from Hanoi to Can Tho (1.5 hours).

Can I do the Mekong Delta as a day trip from HCMC?

A day trip to My Tho (70km, 1.5 hours) gives a surface-level introduction with a short boat tour. But for the floating market experience at Cai Rang, an overnight stay in Can Tho is necessary — the market runs at dawn (05:00-08:00).

How do I get from the Mekong Delta to Cambodia?

Chau Doc is the border crossing point. Buses from HCMC take approximately 5 hours (120,000-200,000 VND). A speedboat service from Bach Dang pier in HCMC to Chau Doc takes 4-5 hours.

Getting to the Mekong Delta | The Vietnam Guides

The Mekong Delta is 60–200km from HCMC depending on your destination. All access is by road — no trains serve the delta.

To Can Tho (main delta hub)

Express bus from HCMC: Multiple operators run HCMC → Can Tho buses departing from Mien Tay Bus Station in An Lac (15km from D1 — take Grab from the city). Journey: 3 hours. Price: ₫100,000–150,000 ($4–6).

Bus operators: Phuong Trang (Futa Bus), Kumho Samco, and several others. All are air-conditioned and punctual. Buy tickets online or at the station.

From Can Tho Airport: Vietnam Airlines flies direct from Hanoi to Can Tho (1.5 hours). Useful for travellers arriving from the north who don’t want to transit through HCMC.

To My Tho (closest delta town)

Bus from HCMC (Mien Tay): 70km, 1.5 hours. ₫60,000–90,000 ($2.40–3.60). Regular departures from 05:00.

Day trip buses from D1: Multiple tour operators and open-tour bus companies run direct D1 hotel pickups to My Tho for day trips. ₫350,000–700,000 ($14–28) for the tour.

To Ben Tre

No direct bus from HCMC — change at My Tho (30 minutes, frequent local connections). Or take a day tour that combines both towns.

To Chau Doc (Cambodia border crossing)

Bus from HCMC: Approximately 5 hours. ₫120,000–200,000 ($4.80–8). Phuong Trang runs regular services.

Boat from HCMC: A speedboat service from the Bach Dang pier in HCMC runs to Chau Doc along the Mekong (4–5 hours). Scenic but longer than bus.

HCMC to Can Tho by motorbike

The most flexible option for independent exploration. Highway 1 south from HCMC, then the expressway to Can Tho: 170km, 3–4 hours including traffic. The expressway (Highway 61B) is fast but the old National Highway 1 through the towns is more interesting.

Getting around in the delta

Within Can Tho: Grab is available. Motorbike taxis and bicycle hire are the main local options.

Between delta towns: Local buses connect all the main delta towns — My Tho, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Sa Dec, Can Tho, Chau Doc. Frequency varies; the Can Tho hub is best served.

Motorbike: The most flexible option for independent delta exploration. Roads are flat and navigation is straightforward with offline maps.

Day trip vs overnight

The question most HCMC-based travellers face is whether to do the delta as a day trip or overnight.

Day trip to My Tho (70km): Gives a surface-level introduction — a short boat trip on the river, a coconut candy workshop visit, and some canal scenery. ₫350,000–700,000 ($14–28) per person through HCMC tour operators as of 2026. The experience is packaged and brief but serves as a delta preview.

Overnight in Can Tho (170km): The better option. Staying overnight allows the dawn visit to Cai Rang floating market (which operates 05:00–08:00 and has largely dispersed by the time day trippers from HCMC arrive), plus time to explore the Ninh Kieu waterfront, local restaurants, and a canal boat tour.

2–3 nights across the delta: For travellers with time, a circuit through My Tho, Ben Tre, Vinh Long (with An Binh Island homestay), and Can Tho covers the delta’s different characters. Each town has a distinct feel — coconut groves in Ben Tre, island homestays in Vinh Long, the floating market in Can Tho.

Practical notes

Traffic: The HCMC to Can Tho expressway has reduced journey times significantly. Traffic leaving HCMC on Friday evenings and returning Sunday evenings is heavier — plan around this if possible.

Cash: Bring cash in Vietnamese dong. ATMs exist in all delta towns but are not always reliable. Credit card acceptance outside Can Tho hotels is limited.

Flooding: During the wet season (August–November), some secondary roads in the delta flood. The main highways remain passable. Canal boat tours continue throughout the wet season — the higher water levels can actually improve the boat experience.

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