My Tho Mekong Delta 2026: Vinh Trang Pagoda & Islands

My Tho (Mỹ Tho) is a Mekong Delta river town on the Tien River, about 70 km (1.5–2 hours) south-west of Saigon and now part of Dong Thap province. It is the gateway for the classic day trip: free Vinh Trang Pagoda, boats to Unicorn and Phoenix islands, sampan canals, fruit orchards and a bowl of hu tieu My Tho.

Status (checked October 2026): open as normal. Vinh Trang Pagoda is free and open daily from early morning to early evening, and island boats run all day. Since the mid-2025 mergers My Tho is a ward of Dong Thap province (formerly Tien Giang), and the new Rach Mieu 2 Bridge to Ben Tre has been open since 19 August 2025.

Why My Tho is worth seeing:

Closest Mekong town to Saigon: real river life in under two hours.
Vinh Trang Pagoda: a 19th-century pagoda blending Asian and European styles, with giant outdoor Buddhas.
Four river islands: Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise, reached by boat in minutes.
Sampan canals and orchards: rowing boats under water-coconut palms, honey tea and tropical fruit.
Hu tieu My Tho: one of southern Vietnam’s best-loved noodle soups, on home ground.

My Tho at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Mỹ Tho
Location	North bank of the Tien River; My Tho ward, Dong Thap province (Tien Giang province until 2025)
Distance	About 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City; about 15 km from Ben Tre across the Tien River
Known for	Vinh Trang Pagoda, Tien River islands, sampan canals, hu tieu noodle soup
Recognition	Vinh Trang Pagoda: national historical and cultural relic (1984)
Opening hours	Vinh Trang Pagoda: daily, roughly 6:30–19:00; island tours during daylight
Entrance fee	Pagoda free; island boat trips priced by boat or included in tours
Time needed	Half a day to a full day
Best time	December–April; mornings
Nearby	Ben Tre, Cai Be, Vinh Long
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor · Wikipedia

Is My Tho Worth Visiting?

Yes, as the easiest introduction to the Mekong Delta. My Tho itself is a busy provincial town, but its pagoda and the islands opposite give a full taste of delta life within a day from Saigon. The island stops are well used by tour groups, so choose a private boat or a small-group tour for a calmer experience.

Best for: first-time visitors, families and travellers with one free day in Saigon.
Skip if: you want a big working floating market or untouched countryside; head to Can Tho or Vinh Long instead.
Short on time: Vinh Trang Pagoda plus a two-hour boat trip to Unicorn Island.

History of My Tho

My Tho grew up in the late 17th century when Chinese refugees loyal to the fallen Ming dynasty were allowed by the Nguyen lords to settle in the south. Their market on the Tien River became one of the delta’s main trading ports for rice and fruit.

In 1785, upstream at Rach Gam – Xoai Mut, the Tay Son leader Nguyen Hue defeated an invading Siamese fleet, one of the most celebrated river battles in Vietnamese history. After the French took the town in the early 1860s, My Tho became a colonial provincial capital, and in 1885 the Saigon – My Tho line opened as the first railway in Indochina (it closed in 1958).

In 2025 Vietnam abolished district-level units and merged provinces. My Tho city was split into wards, and Tien Giang province merged into Dong Thap, with My Tho as an administrative centre of the enlarged province.

What to See in My Tho

1. Vinh Trang Pagoda

Completed around 1850 on a block of about 2 hectares beside the Bao Dinh canal, Vinh Trang is My Tho’s most famous sight. Its façade mixes Vietnamese, Chinese, Khmer and French details, with Roman arches and colourful ceramic mosaics. Inside are more than 60 statues, including a set of 18 arhats carved in the early 1900s. In the gardens stand three giant modern statues: a standing Amitabha Buddha, a seated laughing Maitreya and a long reclining Buddha. It was recognised as a national relic in 1984.

Large white Buddha statue in the grounds of Vinh Trang Pagoda, My Tho — Giant Buddha statues stand in the pagoda’s gardens. Photo: GiaoThong2013, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

2. Unicorn Island (Thoi Son)

The largest of the four islands, Thoi Son, faces the town and is the main stop for orchards, honey farms and fruit tastings with đờn ca tài tử folk music. Narrow canals here are where most sampan rides start.

3. Dragon Island (Tan Long)

Closest to the My Tho waterfront, Tan Long is a quieter, residential island with longan orchards and fish farms, good for a short walk away from the groups.

4. Phoenix Island (Con Phung) and Tortoise Island

Across the river on the Ben Tre side, Phoenix Island preserves the ornate platform of the Coconut Monk, Nguyen Thanh Nam (1909–1990), who founded the Coconut Religion in 1963. Today it is a tourist site with coconut workshops and music; see our Ben Tre guide.

5. Sampan ride through water-coconut canals

Two to four passengers sit in a wooden sampan rowed by locals in conical hats, gliding for 15–20 minutes under arching nipa palms. It is the most photographed moment of any My Tho trip.

6. My Tho riverfront and market

The waterfront along the Tien River is lively in the early morning, when boats unload fruit and the market fills with produce, dried fish and household goods.

7. Hu tieu My Tho

The town’s signature dish is a clear, slightly sweet pork broth with chewy rice noodles, prawns, pork and herbs, eaten for breakfast; try it before the boat trip. More dishes are in our Mekong Delta food guide.

Tickets and Opening Hours (2026)

Place	Price	Hours
Vinh Trang Pagoda	Free (donations welcome)	Daily, about 6:30–19:00
Island boat trip (Unicorn / Phoenix)	Priced per boat or per person; included in most tours	Daylight hours
Sampan canal ride	Usually included in island tours; tip for the rower appreciated	Daylight hours

Island prices are set by individual operators and change often, so confirm what is included before you board.

Etiquette at Vinh Trang Pagoda

Cover shoulders and knees; remove hats and shoes before entering halls.
Speak quietly and do not point feet at altars or monks.
Ask before photographing worshippers; a small donation is a kind gesture.

How to Get to My Tho

From	How	Time
Ho Chi Minh City	Private car or tour van via the Trung Luong expressway	1.5–2 hours
Mien Tay bus station	Public bus to My Tho	About 1.5–2 hours
Ben Tre	Car or motorbike over the Rach Mieu bridges	20–30 minutes
Can Tho	Car via the expressway	About 2–2.5 hours

Details on buses and boats are in our Mekong Delta transportation guide.

Best Time to Visit My Tho

When	What to expect
December – April	Dry and sunny; ideal for boats; busiest around Tet
May – August	Hot with short afternoon storms; peak fruit season
September – November	High water and lush greenery; occasional heavy rain
Time of day	Early morning for the market and pagoda; boats before midday heat

Local Expert Tips for My Tho

These tips come from years of arranging Saigon and Mekong Delta tours for international travellers.

Start at the pagoda: Vinh Trang is calm and cool before 9:00.
Book a private boat: you can skip shops you are not interested in and linger in the canals.
Carry small notes: tips for rowers and musicians, plus fruit and honey purchases.
Wear sandals: island paths can be muddy after rain.
Add Ben Tre: the coconut villages across the river complete the day.
Check our Mekong Delta travel tips before you go.

My Tho vs Cai Be

Feature	My Tho	Cai Be
Distance from Saigon	About 70 km	About 110 km
Main sights	Vinh Trang Pagoda, four islands	Riverside church, 19th-century houses
Crowds	Busy with group tours	Quieter
Best for	Shortest day trip	Heritage and calmer canals

Our view: choose My Tho if time is tight; choose Cai Be if you can drive an extra 40 minutes for a quieter day.

Nearby Attractions

Ben Tre: coconut villages and cycling lanes across the river.
Cai Be: church, old houses and orchards 40 km west.
Vinh Long: An Binh island homestays.
Can Tho: the Cai Rang floating market.

Mekong Delta for First-Time Visitors: Where My Tho Fits

One day from Saigon? My Tho and Ben Tre make the ideal pair; read our Mekong Delta day trip from Saigon guide. Two days? Continue to Can Tho for the dawn market and sleep in a homestay. Back in the city, see our Saigon travel tips.

Plan your trip with our Mekong Delta travel guide and Mekong Delta tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions about My Tho

1. Where is My Tho?

My Tho is on the north bank of the Tien River, about 70 km south-west of Ho Chi Minh City; since the 2025 mergers it is a ward of Dong Thap province.

2. Is My Tho still in Tien Giang province?

No. Tien Giang merged into Dong Thap in 2025, so My Tho is now in Dong Thap province, although many maps and tour names still say Tien Giang.

3. How far is My Tho from Saigon?

My Tho is about 70 km from Saigon, roughly 1.5–2 hours by car via the Trung Luong expressway.

4. What is My Tho famous for?

My Tho is famous for Vinh Trang Pagoda, boat trips to the Tien River islands, fruit orchards and hu tieu My Tho, a clear rice-noodle soup.

5. Is Vinh Trang Pagoda in My Tho free?

Yes. Vinh Trang Pagoda in My Tho has no entrance fee; donations are welcome and modest dress is expected.

6. What are the four islands near My Tho?

The four islands near My Tho are Dragon (Tan Long), Unicorn (Thoi Son), Phoenix (Con Phung) and Tortoise (Con Qui); Phoenix and Tortoise now belong to Vinh Long province.

7. Can I visit My Tho on a day trip?

Yes. My Tho is the classic Mekong Delta day trip from Saigon, usually combined with Ben Tre; see our day trip guide.

8. Does My Tho have a floating market?

My Tho no longer has a working floating market for visitors; for that, stay overnight in Can Tho to see Cai Rang at dawn.

9. What should I eat in My Tho?

Try hu tieu My Tho (rice-noodle soup with pork and seafood), elephant-ear fish on the islands, and seasonal fruit such as longan and rambutan.

10. How long should I spend in My Tho?

Half a day covers Vinh Trang Pagoda and an island boat trip from My Tho; a full day allows a sampan canal and Ben Tre.

11. How do I get from My Tho to Ben Tre?

Cross the Rach Mieu Bridge or the new Rach Mieu 2 Bridge (open since August 2025) by car, about 20–30 minutes, or take a tour boat from My Tho to the islands.

12. Can I get to My Tho by bus?

Yes. Buses run from Mien Tay bus station in Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho in about 1.5–2 hours.

13. What is the best time to visit My Tho?

December to April is dry and pleasant in My Tho; mornings are cooler for boat trips, and summer brings the most fruit.

14. Is My Tho touristy?

The island stops near My Tho see many group tours, so a private boat or a visit outside the late-morning rush feels much quieter.

15. Where should I stay in My Tho?

Most travellers visit My Tho as a day trip; for an overnight, choose a riverside hotel in town or a homestay on the islands, or see where to stay in the Mekong Delta.

16. What is the history of My Tho?

My Tho was founded in the late 17th century by Chinese refugees loyal to the Ming dynasty and later grew into a major rice port; in 1885 it became the end of Indochina’s first railway from Saigon.