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Mekong Delta Best Things To Do | Travel Guide
Mekong Delta Best Things To Do
The Mekong Delta, a vibrant region in Southern Vietnam, is a labyrinth of rivers, swamps, and islands teeming with life. Known as the “Rice Bowl” of the country, it produces a significant portion of Vietnam’s rice and fruit, making it a vital agricultural hub. Travelers are drawn to its lush landscapes, floating markets, and traditional villages, where local culture thrives amidst the scenic waterways.
Exploring the Mekong Delta offers a unique glimpse into the daily lives of its inhabitants, who rely on the rivers for transportation and sustenance. Visitors can take boat tours to witness the bustling markets, sample delicious local cuisine, and experience the warm hospitality of the locals. Whether you’re kayaking through serene canals or enjoying a homestay in a traditional stilt house, the Mekong Delta promises an unforgettable adventure filled with natural beauty and rich cultural experiences.
Many tourists believe that they can experience the Mekong Delta sufficiently in a short day trip from Ho Chi Minh City. However, there is much more to explore beyond just a pagoda and a floating market. The region is home to unique ecosystems and diverse communities.
5 reasons to visit the Mekong Delta
- Take a boat trip through the small waterways of the Mekong
- Visit a floating market
- Discover the unique life of the local population
- Visit a National Park to spot more than 100 different birds
- Cycle through the rice fields and local villages
Oc Bom Boc Festival: Once a year the Khmer community from all over Vietnam and even Cambodia appears for this festival, with boat racing on the Soc Trang River. Races are held according to the lunar calendar on the 15th day of the 10th moon (approximately in November) Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year): Around February, you can see how the locals prepare their festivities. They decorate their houses with flowers and prepare special dishes made only during this time.Practical Information
The Mekong Delta is a huge area that many travelers visit on a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City. But especially if you want to see the floating markets early in the morning, it is recommended to at least go for two full days.
ATMs are mainly found in the cities. Cash is preferred, but debit and credit cards can be used in many hotels.
The best time to visit
Best travel time: The weather is pleasant all year round. Even when it rains, you still see interesting aspects of local life.
If you want to avoid the rain, visit the Mekong Delta between December and March.
May to August: Summer in Vietnam and this is the season that a lot o[f fruit grows in the area.
Rainy season: September to November is the rainy season with many floods.
10 Best Things To Do in The Mekong Delta
Tourists visit the Mekong Delta not just for its beautiful rice fields but also for the vibrant life along the river. The region’s residents are known for their friendliness and openness. In addition to admiring the rice fields, visitors can enjoy a variety of experiences such as tasting colorful fruits, exploring orchards and fish farms, visiting floating markets and villages, cooking with the locals, or staying with families in traditional villages. This is the complete list of the best things to do in the Mekong Delta.
1. Boat trip
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Tip: If you fancy a wonderful boat trip, check out our Mekong Delta tours. As an alternative to these boat trips, you can also take a look at our Mekong Delta cruise, where you spend the night on a luxury boat while cruising through the Mekong.
2. Floating markets
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Tip: Would you like to see a floating market? Because they start early, it is best to be in the area the day before. Check out our Mekong Delta tours to plan a multi-day trip, including a visit to a floating market.
3. Explore the Mekong by bicycle
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The Mekong Delta is extremely flat and has numerous interconnected roads running through the countryside, linking villages, small local factories, rice fields, and fruit orchards. These rural roads are typically free from heavy traffic, making the area ideal for cycling in Vietnam.
Most accommodations in the countryside offer free bicycle rentals, allowing you to explore the region independently or with a guide. You will have the opportunity to appreciate the stunning landscapes, meet friendly locals, and cycle along peaceful roads. Due to the abundance of rivers and canals, you may need to cross waterways by boat or use bridges built by the local population.
4. Tra Su Indigo Forest
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Besides the villages and countryside, you will find unique vegetation and nature in this region. The Tra Su Indigo Forest is one of these places. Here, you will find a forest that is completely flooded. It is home to many rare species of fauna, some of which are on the endangered list. You can navigate the forest by motorboat. Along the way, you can take beautiful photos and spot birds.
5. Stay in a homestay
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Spending a day in a homestay in the Mekong Delta is the best option to relax and enjoy a peaceful life, and you will also learn more about the local culture.
The big advantage of a homestay is that it is a more personal experience. Stay with a local family where you learn more or their culture. You do not have to worry about the lack of comfort because some homestays have a lot of luxury and sometimes even a swimming pool.
6. Tram Chim National Park
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Tram Chim National Park is a biological treasure house with no less than a quarter of the bird population in Vietnam. This makes it one of the best national parks in Vietnam.Â
Bird spotting in general is already one of the best things to do in the Mekong Delta because you find a lot of rare birds here and there are huge areas of reserves for them to live. The park is located in Dong Thap province, close to the cities of Chau Doc and Long Xuyen. The area is a submerged in-land ecosystem that you explore by boat.Â
7. Picking fruit
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The Mekong Delta provides 70% of the fruit consumed in all of Vietnam, and there are numerous fruit orchards spread across the various provinces that make up the Delta. When exploring the area by bike or boat, you can stop at a fruit orchard and pick your own fruit to eat.
8. Climb Sam Mountain
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Sam Mountain is more of a hill than a mountain, with dozens of pagodas, tombs, and even a temple on the way to the top. The views from the hill are beautiful, with rice fields, pole villages, and beautiful greenery. This pilgrimage site is located in An Giang province near Chau Doc and the Cambodian border.
9. Bang Lang stork garden
The Bang Lang stork garden is one of the best stork sanctuaries in the Mekong Delta. It is surrounded by immense rice fields and the Can Tho canals. Again, a boat trip through the nature reserve is the best way to spot the birds and explore the reserve.
This is home to over 20 species of birds, and 10 species of storks with the population standing at more than 10 thousand. It is one of the largest sanctuaries in the Mekong River Delta. In the past, the stork garden was a rice farm which is surrounded with mango trees, Bang Lang trees, and the shade of coconut trees. In 1983, there were about 200 storks gathered around there and settled on his field. Because the owner is a nature-loving farmer, he did not annoy them to run away with any traps or poisons. On the contrary, he wanted to protect and help all of them such as: planting a lot of bamboo trees as a warm home for them. In 1994, numerous birds and species of storks from everywhere flock more and more.
Top tip:Â This garden is still under control by the locals.
10. Vinh Trang Pagoda
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One of the best things to do in the Mekong Delta is to visit the many different temples and pagodas. The Vinh Trang Pagoda is the most famous in this region, built-in 1849. The pagoda brings together Chinese, Vietnamese, Khmer, and European architecture and features various Buddha statues. The temple is located in Tien Giang province, only 5 km from My Tho.
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an important market town in the Mekong region. Because it is a local trade center, this city is quite busy compared to some of the quieter destinations in the area. This makes it an interesting place to visit and see the daily bustle of the many local shops and stalls. It is also a great place to start if you want to see the famous floating markets on the way to Can Tho. Just a short drive past the busy My Tho, you’ll find quiet Ben Tre, a picturesque province. Stay here for the tranquility of this area and enjoy the beautiful natural environment full of tropical flowers and green foliage waterways. Boat trips are the center of a visit to Ben Tre. The largest city of the Mekong Delta, is also one of the most popular destinations in the Delta region, mainly due to the famous floating markets. It is a good place to observe life in the river. It is an important transport hub for the surrounding towns and villages. Great photo spots in the area – small villages, cycle paths, green countryside intersected by local canals and floating markets. Although 12 provinces are part of the Mekong Delta, the usual route for most tourists to reach this destination is from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho. It takes approximately three hours to reach the Mekong Delta by bus. The most popular way to discover the Mekong Delta is by tour. This is a good option if you don’t have much time. Nowadays, many families consider renting a car for the comfort and convenience it offers. This service is also provided by many hotels. You can only rent a car with a driver because you cannot drive without a valid Vietnamese driver’s license. Boat – Some delta cities have boat connections between them, although road improvement and building bridges reduce water travel. It is still the best way to explore the small waterways and floating markets in the Mekong. Bus – It is easy to travel by public transport and the bus connections are excellent. Every city has a main bus station for both buses and minibusses. Bicycle, motorcycle, and car – The most flexible transport option is a private car, a bicycle, or a rented motorcycle. Riding a bike or motorbike around the delta is fun, especially along the maze of country roads. The delta is fairly flat, but be prepared for toll roads and ferries, although these are gradually being replaced by new bridges. Ferries are cheap and frequent. From the Mekong Delta, you can travel by fast ferry to Phu Quoc (which is officially also part of the Mekong). You can also take a bus to Cambodia. Going up north you will always first need to travel to Ho Chi Minh City. You can also take flights from Can Tho to Da Nang and Hanoi. The Mekong Delta is the perfect place to bring children. Make fun boat trips and cycle with them through the peaceful countryside. It is recommended to book accommodation with a pool, like our Mekong Lodge experience.Other Things
Where to stay
My Tho
Ben Tre
Can thoÂ
Flights to the Mekong Delta
Buses to the Mekong Delta
Private cars to the Mekong Delta
Where to go next?
Mekong Delta with kids
