Things to Do in the Mekong Delta : Markets, Boats & Cycling

The Mekong Delta’s best activities are all water-based or river-adjacent. Plan around the floating market timing and the boat access schedule.

Cai Rang Floating Market (Can Tho)

The largest and most active floating market in the delta. 6km from Can Tho city centre by boat (30 minutes upstream). Hundreds of boats trade produce - each boat hangs its goods from a bamboo pole (what they sell is displayed above the boat to attract buyers).

Best time: 05:00–08:00. The market is busiest at dawn. By 09:00, most trading has finished and the boats are dispersing.

How to visit: Hire a boat from the Can Tho waterfront the evening before. Early morning trips: ₫150,000–250,000 ($6–10) per person for a shared boat. Private boats: ₫500,000–800,000 ($20–32). The boat passes through the market slowly - vendors in small rowing boats come alongside selling coffee, pho, and fresh fruit. Book a Mekong Delta floating market tour on GetYourGuide.

Phong Dien Floating Market (25km south of Can Tho)

A smaller and less visited floating market than Cai Rang. Operates from 04:00–08:00. The trading here is primarily between local sellers rather than tourist-facing. Hire a bicycle from Can Tho and cycle to the market area (25km, flat road) or take a motorbike.

Canal boat tours (Ben Tre and Vinh Long)

Ben Tre province is the heart of the coconut delta - narrow canals through dense coconut palm groves with rowing boats navigating the shadowed waterways. Organised boat tours from Ben Tre town: ₫200,000–400,000 ($8–16) per person for a half-day.

Vinh Long’s river islands (An Binh Island) are accessible by boat from the Vinh Long ferry pier. The island fruit orchards, walking paths, and homestay options make it the best island base in the northern delta.

Cycling the delta

The flat terrain and quiet farm roads make the Mekong Delta excellent for cycling. The best cycling is on the islands and peninsulas where motor traffic is minimal. An Binh Island (Vinh Long), the Ben Tre province roads between Can Tho and Ben Tre, and the roads around Chau Doc are the best routes.

Bicycle hire in Can Tho: ₫50,000–80,000 ($2–3.20) per day.

Fruit orchards and coconut candy

Organised tours from Ben Tre and Can Tho visit working fruit orchards (longan, durian, rambutan, jackfruit depending on season) and coconut candy workshops where you can watch the candy being made and taste the results.

Tram Chim National Park (bird sanctuary)

A wetland bird sanctuary near Cao Lanh, notable for Sarus cranes during the dry season (December–May). Boat tours through the wetland: ₫200,000–350,000 ($8–14) per person.

Chau Doc and Sam Mountain

The delta town of Chau Doc is near the Cambodian border and is a significant Buddhist and Muslim (Cham community) site. Sam Mountain (Nui Sam) has a cluster of pagodas and temples and a viewpoint over the flat delta landscape. Sunrise and sunset over the delta from Sam Mountain is distinctive.

Cooking classes and hands-on experiences

Several operators in Can Tho and Ben Tre run half-day cooking classes focused on delta cuisine. These cover the basics of Vietnamese southern cooking — spring roll wrapping, claypot fish (ca kho to), and the preparation of rice paper — with a market visit included.

Can Tho cooking classes: Operated from private homes and small cooking schools near the Ninh Kieu waterfront. Prices: ₫500,000–800,000 ($20–32) per person for a 3-hour session including ingredients, instruction, and a full shared lunch. Book through guesthouses or the Can Tho tourism office.

Ben Tre experience tours: Ben Tre operators combine a coconut candy factory visit, a traditional boat ride on narrow canals, and a cooking demonstration at a family home. Half-day: ₫300,000–500,000 ($12–20) per person. Better for seeing the production process than hands-on cooking.

What to bring on Mekong Delta activities

For floating market boat trips: a light jacket (the river at 05:00 is cooler than you expect), a waterproof bag for cameras, cash in small denominations for market food purchases (₫10,000–30,000 notes are practical), and mosquito repellent for canal tours through dense vegetation.

For cycling: light clothing, sun protection, and a bottle of water per hour of riding. The flat terrain means physical exertion is minimal, but the sun exposure on open paddy roads is significant between 10:00 and 15:00.

Top Tours at a Glance

Here’s a quick comparison of top-rated Mekong Delta tours on GetYourGuide:

Tour	Duration	Price (from)	Group Size	Highlights
Mekong Delta 1-Day Tour — My Tho and Ben Tre	Full day	from $35/person	Group	Sampan canals, coconut candy factory, honey farm, local lunch, rowing boat
Can Tho Floating Market 2-Day Tour from HCMC	2 days	from $90/person	Group	Overnight Can Tho, Cai Rang floating market, cycling, Mekong canal cruise
Mekong Delta Cycling Tour — Ben Tre Villages	Full day	from $45/person	Small group	Cycling through coconut groves, mangrove channels, village home visit
Mekong Delta by Speedboat — 1 Day Express	Full day	from $55/person	Small group	Fast river transfer, floating market, river village, back to HCMC by evening
Mekong Delta 3-Day — Can Tho, Chau Doc, Sa Dec	3 days	from $145/person	Small group	Full delta loop, Sam Mountain, floating village, flower village in Sa Dec

Browse all Mekong Delta tours → GetYourGuide

More in Mekong Delta

• Best Hostels in the Mekong Delta 2026: Can Tho and Beyond
• Best Hotels in the Mekong Delta 2026: Can Tho River Hotels
• Mekong Delta Boat Tours 2026: Canal Trips, Day Cruises and River Life
• Cycling in the Mekong Delta 2026: Island Routes and Canal Roads
• Mekong Delta Floating Markets 2026: Cai Rang and Phong Dien
• Getting to the Mekong Delta 2026: Buses, Boats and Day Trips from HCMC
• Best Hotels in the Mekong Delta 2026: Can Tho, Vinh Long and Beyond

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