Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta Tour 1 Day

This private Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta tour 1 day takes you about 70 km south-west of Saigon to My Tho and the river islands of the Tien River: Vinh Trang Pagoda, a boat ride to Thoi Son islet, a rowing sampan through water-coconut canals, tropical fruit with southern folk music and a Ben Tre coconut candy workshop, with lunch included.

Status (checked October 2026): the itinerary below is a sample that we tailor to your dates and interests. After the July 2025 provincial mergers, My Tho and Thoi Son islet are in Dong Thap province (formerly Tien Giang) and Ben Tre is part of Vinh Long province. The new Rach Mieu 2 Bridge has linked My Tho and Ben Tre since 19 August 2025. From May to November, expect short afternoon showers.

Tour at a Glance

Is a Mekong Delta Day Trip from Ho Chi Minh City Worth It?

Yes, if you want a taste of the delta without staying overnight. In one day you swap the city for river islands, palm-lined canals and orchards, and you are back at your hotel by evening. My Tho is the closest delta town to Saigon, so this route keeps driving to about 3–4 hours in total.

What a day trip cannot include is a big floating market. The famous Cai Rang market is near Can Tho, about 170 km from Saigon, and is busiest at dawn, so it needs an overnight stay. The My Tho islands are also popular, so expect other boats at the main stops; travelling privately lets us start earlier and adjust the order to avoid the busiest times.

Tour Highlights

1. Vinh Trang Pagoda, My Tho

Completed in the mid-19th century and listed as a national historical and cultural relic in 1984, Vinh Trang Pagoda blends Asian and European architecture, with giant Buddha statues in its gardens. It is free to enter and usually quiet in the morning. Read more in our My Tho guide or on Tripadvisor.

2. Boat Ride on the Tien River to Thoi Son Islet

From My Tho, a motorboat crosses the Tien River – the northern branch of the Mekong – past floating fish farms to Thoi Son, also known as Unicorn Island. The islet is now part of Thoi Son ward, Dong Thap province, and its lanes are lined with fruit gardens and stilt houses.

3. Rowing Sampan through Water-Coconut Canals

The most photographed moment of the day: local rowers in conical hats paddle you along a narrow canal shaded by water-coconut palms. The ride itself is short – usually 10–15 minutes – but it is the quietest, most atmospheric part of the trip.

4. Fruit Orchard and Southern Folk Music

In an island orchard you taste seasonal fruit and honey tea while local musicians perform đờn ca tài tử, the chamber music of southern Vietnam that UNESCO inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.

5. Coconut Candy Workshop in Ben Tre

Ben Tre, now part of Vinh Long province, is known as the “land of coconuts”. At a family workshop you watch coconut candy (kẹo dừa) being cooked, cut and wrapped by hand, and can taste it warm.

6. Mekong Lunch with Elephant-Ear Fish

Lunch is served in a garden restaurant. The local speciality is cá tai tượng chiên xù – a whole elephant-ear fish deep-fried until crisp, then wrapped with herbs in rice paper. It is optional; we can arrange other dishes and vegetarian menus. See our Mekong Delta food guide for more dishes.

Who This Tour Is For – and Who Should Choose Another

Choose this tour if you:

• have only one free day in Ho Chi Minh City and want to see the countryside and river life;
• are travelling with children or older relatives – the boat rides are short and the walking is easy;
• enjoy food, fruit and local crafts more than museums;
• prefer a private boat and guide to a large group coach tour.

Consider another option if you:

• want to see a big floating market – choose a 2-day trip with a night in Can Tho;
• dislike long drives – the round trip by road is about 3–4 hours;
• are looking for untouched, off-the-beaten-track villages – the My Tho islands are well established on the tourist circuit;
• are uneasy in small boats – the river crossings are short, but the sampans are low and narrow.

Why Book Direct with Vietnam Tour Expert

• Local Vietnamese team: we plan and operate our tours ourselves, so you deal directly with the people running your day.
• No middleman commission: booking direct means you pay a local price with our best price guarantee, rather than an online agency mark-up.
• Clear inclusions: hotel pick-up, your private car, guide and boats, the sampan ride, fruit and music, lunch and bottled water are all included.
• Fast replies: we answer every inquiry within 24 hours, and you can reach us on WhatsApp on +84 88 626 1368 before and during the tour.

Send us your travel dates and we will reply with a tailored quote.

Customise This Tour

This full-day programme is a starting point. Popular changes include:

• Cycle the islands: add a gentle bicycle ride along village lanes on the Ben Tre side.
• Stay overnight: turn it into a 2-day trip with a night in Can Tho and an early boat to the Cai Rang floating market.
• Cai Be instead of My Tho: visit the river town of Cai Be, about 110 km from Saigon, for a longer day.
• Combine with the city: pair it with our Ho Chi Minh City or Cu Chi Tunnels day tours for a complete 2–3 days in the south.

Customise this tour – tell us what you would like to change.

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Local Expert Notes by Jimmy

These notes come from years of arranging Mekong Delta tours for international travellers.

• Leave early: a 07:30 start beats the worst of Saigon’s traffic and gets you to the islands before the midday groups.
• Dress for boats: wear shoes you do not mind getting wet, a hat and sunscreen; life jackets are provided on the boats.
• Cash for small things: bring small notes for tips to the sampan rowers and musicians and for any coconut candy or honey you buy.
• Fruit seasons: rambutan, longan and mangosteen are best in the summer months; pomelo and dragon fruit are available most of the year.
• Rainy season: from May to November, showers usually come in the afternoon, so we keep the boat rides in the morning.
• Tet holiday: around Lunar New Year (Tet 2027 falls on 6 February) roads out of the city are very busy and some workshops close.

More planning help: our Mekong Delta travel guide, Mekong Delta day trip guide, Mekong Delta travel tips and getting to the Mekong Delta.

Ready to plan? Send us an inquiry with your dates and group size – we reply within 24 hours.

Updated 10 October 2026 · By Jimmy, Vietnam Tour Expert

About This Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta Tour 1 Day

This private day trip goes to My Tho, the closest Mekong Delta town to Ho Chi Minh City, about 70 km and 1.5–2 hours away by expressway. From there a private motorboat takes you across the Tien River to Thoi Son islet and the Ben Tre bank for village life, fruit orchards, folk music and coconut workshops.

Brief itinerary

• 07:30 – Hotel pick-up in central Ho Chi Minh City; drive to My Tho
• Morning – Vinh Trang Pagoda; boat across the Tien River to Thoi Son islet; orchard, fruit and đờn ca tài tử; rowing sampan ride
• Midday – Lunch at a garden restaurant (L)
• Afternoon – Coconut candy workshop on the Ben Tre side; boat back to My Tho
• About 17:30 – Drop-off at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Price on request. 2026–2027 prices for this tour are being updated. Send us your travel dates for a quote.