The Mekong Delta β the vast river plain south of Ho Chi Minh City where the Mekong splits into nine branches before reaching the sea β is one of Vietnamβs most productive and distinctive landscapes. Rice paddies stretch to the horizon, waterways serve as roads, floating markets open before dawn, and coconut-palm canals connect villages that see few independent travellers. Most visitors reach the delta on a day tour from Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 70β90 km south), though overnight and multi-day itineraries open up the quieter corners around Ben Tre, Vinh Long, and Can Tho.
We have mapped 9 top-rated tours across the Mekong Delta, organised by traveller type and trip length.
Prices are approximate in USD as of 2026 and vary by season and group size.
Mekong Delta Tours at a Glance
| Tour | Duration | Price (from) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small-Group Mekong Delta Tour with Coconut Village | Full day | from $25/person | First-timers, small groups |
| 1-Day Floating Market & Islet Tour | Full day | from $30/person | Culture lovers, foodies |
| Mekong Delta Full Day Tour | Full day | from $28/person | Budget travellers |
| Mekong River Delta Day Trip with Boat Ride | Full day | from $30/person | Families |
| Mekong Delta Private Day Tour | Full day | from $65/person | Couples, private groups |
| Non-Touristy Mekong Delta Day Tour | Full day | from $35/person | Experienced travellers |
| Mekong Delta Luxury 1-Day Group Tour | Full day | from $55/person | Comfort seekers |
| 3-Day Mekong Delta Tour with Cai Rang | 3 days | from $150/person | Multi-day explorers |
| 3-Day Mekong Delta Overnight Tour | 3 days | from $160/person | Deep-dive travellers |
For First-Time Visitors: Small-Group Day Tours
The Mekong Delta Small-Group Tour with Coconut Village Visit is consistently one of the highest-rated introductions to the delta. Departing Ho Chi Minh City at around 7:30 am, the tour drives to My Tho and then takes a sampan (narrow wooden boat) through coconut-palm canals to Ben Tre Province. Highlights include a coconut candy factory where you can watch the production process, a honey bee farm with free tastings, a dragon fruit orchard, and a short bicycle ride through a village. Lunch is local Vietnamese food at a riverside restaurant. Group size is typically 8β15 people. Duration approximately 9 hours; from approximately $25/person.
The 1-Day Floating Market & Islet Tour focuses more specifically on the Cai Rang floating market β the largest wholesale floating market in the delta, operating from dawn to mid-morning near Can Tho β and visits Son Islet, where travellers can try making rice noodles, rice paper, and steamed cakes alongside local families. Coffee served on the boat in the morning. Full day from approximately $30/person; includes hotel pickup from central HCMC.
Duration: 9 hours | Price: from $25/person | Includes: Boat rides, sampan canal trip, local lunch, guided commentary
For Foodies and Culture Lovers
The delta produces much of Vietnamβs rice, tropical fruit, and freshwater fish, and its floating markets remain working wholesale hubs β not tourist performances. The Mekong River Delta Day Trip with Boat Ride visits Tan Phong Island on the Tien River, crossing between four islets named after the four mythical animals of Vietnamese cosmology: Dragon, Kirin, Tortoise, and Phoenix. Each island produces a different local product β rambutan, longan, pomelo, or handmade goods. The river crossing is by traditional wooden ferry, and lunch at a local family home is included. Duration full day; from approximately $30/person.
The Mekong Delta Full Day Tour covers My Tho, the Vinh Trang Pagoda (an ornate French-Vietnamese Buddhist pagoda built in 1849), boat transfer to Phoenix Island, and a coconut candy workshop. This format covers the main cultural landmarks in a logical sequence and is good for travellers who want both historical sites and natural scenery. Full day from approximately $28/person.
Duration: 9 hours | Price: from $28β30/person | Includes: Boat ride, island visits, local lunch, fruit tastings
For Experienced Travellers: Off-the-Beaten-Path Tours
The Non-Touristy Mekong Delta Day Tour specifically routes away from My Thoβs well-trodden circuit. Instead, it focuses on the quieter waterways of Ben Tre Province, visits a working rice paper mill, a brick kiln, and a local wet market that sees almost no other tourists. The pace is slower and the guide tends to facilitate more genuine local interaction than the standard itinerary. From approximately $35/person in a small group of 6β10. Good for: independent-minded travellers on their second or third Vietnam visit, anyone who found the mainstream delta tours too packaged.
Duration: 9 hours | Price: from $35/person | Includes: Small group (max 10), non-tourist routes, local market visit, rice paper mill
For Couples and Private Groups: Private Day Tours
The Mekong Delta Private Day Tour is a fully private format β your own vehicle, your own guide, and the flexibility to spend longer at stops that interest you or skip those that donβt. The route visits the Tien River islets, a snake wine distillery, a local lunch restaurant, and traditional boat workshops. Private tours include hotel pickup and drop-off. Duration approximately 8 hours; from approximately $65/person for groups of 2 (lower per-person for larger private groups).
The Mekong Delta Luxury 1-Day Group Tour offers the group-tour format at a higher comfort tier: air-conditioned vehicle, a set menu lunch at a better-quality restaurant, and smaller maximum group size. From approximately $55/person. Good for: travellers who want the delta experience without the minibus-and-buffet package format.
Duration: Full day | Price: from $55β65/person | Includes: Private vehicle or premium group, flexible itinerary, hotel pickup
For Multi-Day Exploration: 3-Day Mekong Delta Tours
A single day from Ho Chi Minh City gives a solid introduction, but the deeper delta towns β Can Tho, Chau Doc, the Cai Rang Floating Market at sunrise, the bird sanctuary at Tra Su β are not reachable on a day trip. The 3-Day Mekong Delta Tour with Cai Rang covers My Tho on day one, then travels to Can Tho for a night, takes a pre-dawn boat to Cai Rang floating market on day two, and continues to Chau Doc near the Cambodian border on day three before returning to HCMC by express boat or minibus. Accommodation in basic guesthouses is included. From approximately $150/person.
The 3-Day Mekong Delta Overnight Tour follows a similar route with a slightly different day sequence, including a homestay night in a local familyβs house on a delta island. This format gives a more authentic sense of rural Mekong life β early mornings, sounds of roosters and water traffic, meals cooked in a family kitchen. From approximately $160/person.
Duration: 3 days | Price: from $150β160/person | Includes: Accommodation, most meals, boat transfers, Can Tho floating market sunrise visit
Practical Notes for Mekong Delta Tours
Getting there: All tours listed here include hotel pickup from central Ho Chi Minh City (Districts 1, 3, and Binh Thanh). Travel time to the delta is approximately 1.5β2 hours by minibus.
Best time to visit: The dry season (November to April) gives the most comfortable weather for boat rides and outdoor activities. The wet season (May to October) brings floods that can be dramatic β local life carries on and tours run year-round, but the landscape is waterlogged and some rural tracks become impassable.
Cai Rang Floating Market: The market operates from around 5 am to 8 am daily. To visit at peak activity, you need to be there by 6 am β which means staying overnight in Can Tho the previous night. Day trips from HCMC arrive too late to see the market at its busiest.
What to bring: Light clothing, sunscreen, insect repellent, and sturdy shoes or sandals that can get wet. For boat tours in the rainy season, pack a light waterproof layer.
Motion sickness: If you are prone to motion sickness on boats, take medication beforehand. Narrow canal boats move through waterways that can be choppy near the main river.