4-Day Itinerary: The Mekong Delta via Ho Chi Minh City
Down in the far reaches of the south, the Mekong Delta is a more authentic, off-the-beaten-track part of Vietnam. Things move a bit slower, with less infrastructure than other parts of the country and fewer English speakers. Spend as little as a single day from Saigon out to My Tho or Vinh Long, or keep busy for as long as a week, following the Tien River toward the border before hopping over to Chau Doc and onward into Cambodia.
Bookend a trip to Ho Chi Minh City with a long weekend in the delta. It’s an easy bus ride from HCMC to Vinh Long, one of the delta’s northern towns.
Day 1
From downtown Ho Chi Minh City, head to the Western bus station and find a vehicle bound for Vinh Long. Once you arrive, you’ll want to arrange a homestay, either by visiting one of the local travel outfits, stopping by the ferry to An Binh, where you should be able to recruit a willing local to put you up for the night, or simply heading across to the island on your own and scoping out potential accommodations.
Spend some time with your local family, but don’t forget to hop on a bicycle and explore the rest of the island, too. You’ll find a charming church and plenty of fruit orchards down An Binh’s narrow concrete paths. For a locally made gift, give the folks at Viet Artisans a ring to put together your own handmade souvenir in its workshop. Make a point of catching sunset over the river, and eat dinner with your host family.
Day 2
In the morning, travelers have two choices. The first is to enlist the services of your homestay family or an island boat to head out to Cai Be floating market. Do this early, as much of the vibrancy of the market is lost by late morning. The second option is to linger a little longer on An Binh, enjoying your breakfast and a final goodbye to your host family before you head to Can Tho, where another, larger floating market awaits.
Once you arrive, you’ll have the rest of the day to explore the city’s charming waterfront, including the colorful Ong Pagoda, swing by a Khmer wat, or visit the local museum. At some point, you’ll need to arrange your floating market tour for the following day, either with an independent boat at Ninh Kieu Pier or via a hotel or tour outfit.
In the early evening, grab a seat along the river and take in Can Tho’s bustling nighttime activity. If you’re interested in local cuisine, you can hit the town with Open Tour CT, which runs nightlife tours in addition to its daytime offerings. You’ll probably want to get to bed at a reasonable hour, as Can Tho’s floating market is an early-morning affair.
Day 3
Rise before the sun to visit Cai Rang Floating Market, the Delta’s largest on-the-water trading post. Depending upon your tour, travelers can spend most of the morning and even part of the afternoon plying the waters of the Can Tho River.
Get back to the downtown docks by mid-afternoon at the latest and either spend the rest of the day taking it easy or hop straight on a bus bound for Tra Vinh.
Day 4
Enjoy an early breakfast at one of the shops overlooking the town’s main roundabout. From here, you can rent a bicycle and set off for Ba Om Pond, Ang Pagoda, and the Khmer Cultural Museum.
Head back to town for lunch. Spend the afternoon exploring the shaded lanes of Tra Vinh, swinging by Ong Pagoda and Ong Met Pagoda on the way. If you’re up for another Buddhist hall of worship, Hang Pagoda is a cycle or taxi ride away, but you can just as easily relax at one of the local cafés in town. Grab dinner at the local market or stop in to La Trau Xanh for a fancier meal.