Southern Vietnam
Mekong Delta
Where our story began: canals, coconut groves, floating markets and island homestays.
About Mekong Delta
Life On The Water
Before it reaches the sea, the Mekong River spreads into a maze of branches, canals and islands across southern Vietnam. This is the Mekong Delta, the rice bowl of the country, where life moves with the water: markets are held on boats, children paddle to school and families grow fruit on islands linked by ferries and small bridges.
This is where Mekong Adventures began, and where we know the small roads best. We explore by bicycle along canal paths and village lanes, by sampan through narrow water coconut channels, and on foot through orchards and brick-making villages. Nights are spent in riverside lodges or with families in island homestays.
The delta is wonderful for a day trip from Saigon, but it rewards those who stay longer. Go further south and west, to Can Tho, Long Xuyen and Chau Doc, and the river grows wider and quieter, with Khmer pagodas, Cham villages and floating markets that start before sunrise.
Best time to visit
December to April for dry, sunny days. From August to November the water is high, which is the best time for the flooded forest of Tra Su.
Getting there
Ben Tre and Cai Be are about 2 hours from Saigon; Can Tho about 3.5 hours; Chau Doc about 5 to 6 hours.
How long to stay
1 to 8 days, from a day trip to a full journey to Chau Doc.
Good for
Cycling, boat trips, homestays, food, slow travel.
Highlights
What We Love About Mekong Delta
Ben Tre coconut country
Cycle shady lanes and paddle sampans through water coconut canals.
Vinh Long island homestays
Orchards, brick kilns and nights with local families.
Cai Rang floating market
The largest floating market in the delta, busiest at sunrise.
Cycling the back roads
Flat canal paths and village lanes, easy for most riders.
Chau Doc
Cham villages, Sam Mountain and the Tra Su flooded forest.
Into Cambodia by river
Continue by speedboat up the Mekong to Phnom Penh.
Tours
Mekong Delta Tours
From one-day cycling trips to eight-day journeys deep into the delta, and onward by boat to Cambodia.
Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta Cycling Day Tour
Cycle beyond the main roads into the quieter side of the Mekong Delta.
New Mekong Delta
Mekong Deep South Cycling, 5 Days: Ben Tre to Chau Doc
Five days by bike from coconut country to the borderlands of the Mekong.
New Mekong Delta
Mekong Cycling: Vinh Long and Can Tho, 3 Days
Island life in Vinh Long and the river culture of Can Tho, by bike and boat.
New Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta Cycling and Vinh Long Homestay, 2 Days
Two slow days of village roads, island paths and a night with a family on the river.
New Ho Chi Minh City
Deep South: Saigon to Chau Doc in 8 Days
Eight days on the small roads and waterways of the Mekong Delta.
New Cambodia
Mekong Waterways: Saigon to Phnom Penh
Three days down the Mekong Delta and across the border by river.
Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta Cycling from Saigon to Can Tho
Three days of flat, easy cycling through rice fields, orchards, and river towns.
Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta Cycling: Cai Be to Can Tho
Ride quiet Delta roads, cross the Mekong, and meet daily river life.
Plan Your Trip To Mekong Delta
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