Mekong Delta Day Trips from Ho Chi Minh City: Best Tours & Prices

The Mekong Delta begins about 70 kilometres south of Ho Chi Minh City — a flat, green world of river channels, coconut groves, fruit orchards, and floating markets that feels entirely different from the city you left two hours ago. Day trips from HCMC are one of the most-booked activities in southern Vietnam, and the range of options is wide enough to suit any budget and pace.

Day Trip vs Overnight

Day trips from HCMC typically depart at 7–8am, return by 6–7pm, and visit the nearest delta towns of My Tho and Ben Tre. You’ll take a sampan through narrow canals, visit a honey bee farm and coconut candy workshop, and have lunch at a riverside restaurant. For most travellers, a single well-chosen day trip is enough to get a genuine feel for the delta.

Overnight trips to Can Tho allow a visit to the Cai Rang floating market at dawn — the market operates from about 5–9am and is at its best before 7am. If the floating market is a priority, an overnight is worth the extra cost. Can Tho is 3 hours from HCMC; most overnighters stay one or two nights and return by bus or boat.

Operators and Prices (as of 2026)

GetYourGuide group day trip (My Tho + Ben Tre) — from approximately $25–35/person for a shared bus tour, 10–11 hours including transfers. Boat, lunch, guide, and entrance fees included. Multiple operators listed; check that lunch is included and the tour covers both My Tho and Ben Tre rather than just one town.

Sinh Tourist (also known as The Sinh Tourist) — one of the longest-running budget operators in Vietnam. Day trip to My Tho from approximately $18–22/person, departing from their HCMC office on De Tham street. Bus, boat, guide, and basic lunch included. Reliable but busy; groups can reach 30+ people.

Buffalo Tours — mid-range operator with smaller groups (max 12–16). Full-day Mekong Delta experience from approximately $55/person, including a cooking demonstration and a stop at a traditional rice paper workshop. Includes lunch and transfer.

Mekong Trails — budget-end private tours available from approximately $40/person for a couple, less per person with larger groups. Flexible itinerary, direct booking via their website.

Les Rives Experience — premium small-group boat journey (max 8 people), departing from HCMC by speedboat on the Saigon River before transitioning to narrow canals. From approximately $180/person for a full day, including a French-Vietnamese lunch. Best for travellers who want a slower, more curated experience without large tour buses.

Mekong Eyes cruise (Can Tho) — a converted traditional rice barge offering day and overnight cruises on the Hau River. From approximately $120/person for a day cruise, $200/person for a 2D/1N overnight including meals and floating market visit at dawn.

What’s Typically Included

On most group day trips from HCMC:

• Air-conditioned bus transfer (2–2.5 hours each way)
• Sampan boat through narrow canals (~1 hour)
• Visit to a bee farm, coconut candy workshop, or fruit orchard
• Lunch at a local restaurant (usually included; verify when booking)
• English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees

Not typically included: drinks beyond water, tips, additional boat trips beyond the standard itinerary, and personal shopping at local markets.

Can Tho Floating Market

Cai Rang is the largest floating market in the Mekong Delta, roughly 6 kilometres from Can Tho city centre. Vendors sell wholesale fruit and vegetables from boats moored together on the river — produce is hung from long poles to signal what each boat is selling. Activity peaks between 5–7am; by 9am most vendors have left.

To visit, you’ll need accommodation in Can Tho the night before, followed by a small boat hired through your hotel or a local operator (approximately 100,000–150,000 VND per hour as of 2026). The round trip to the market takes about 2 hours.

How to Book

For group day trips, GetYourGuide is reliable with verified reviews. For Sinh Tourist, direct booking via their website or HCMC office avoids commission. Les Rives and Mekong Eyes both require direct booking.

Book at least 3–5 days ahead from November to March when demand is highest. December–January weekend departures sometimes sell out a week ahead.

Best Time to Go

November to April (dry season) is the most practical window. Canal levels are stable, skies are clearer, and the fruit orchards around My Tho are productive.

May to October (wet season) brings heavier rainfall and higher water levels. The delta landscape is greener and more dramatic in flood season, and some travellers specifically prefer it. The main inconvenience is occasional boat schedule disruptions after heavy rain.

Practical Notes

Wear light, breathable clothing — the delta is hot and humid year-round. Sunscreen and insect repellent are both useful; the mosquito situation in canal areas is more active than in cities.

If you visit a coconut candy or fish sauce workshop, small purchases are welcome but not expected. Vendors are accustomed to tourism and prices are generally fixed rather than negotiated.