Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta: Day Trip from Ho Chi Minh

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/12

Duration11h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Vietnam war tunnels then riverside life in one day

You’ll crawl through historic Cu Chi Tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City, taste cassava like wartime soldiers did, then float along quiet canals in the Mekong Delta with a local lunch included. Expect moments of silence underground and laughter over honey tea—this day trip is full of contrasts you’ll remember long after.

11h

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta

Pick up from Ho Chi Minh City
Travel to Cu Chi Tunnels
Explore Cu Chi Tunnels system
Watch war documentary footage
See homemade weapons and bamboo traps
Crawl in the tunnels
Watch rice paper and rice wine making
Shoot guns at shooting range
Depart to Mekong Delta region
Board boat at My Tho Cruise Port
Travel Tien River and see four islands
Arrive at Thoi Son island
Walk village road and visit fruit gardens
Visit honey bee farm and enjoy honey tea
Visit coconut candy factory
Enjoy Don Ca Tai Tu Xu Dua melodies
Eat free fruit
Row boat through small canal
Admire water coconut trees and garden landscape
Have lunch at local restaurant
Return to boat and depart for Ho Chi Minh City

The Experience

I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure if packing both the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta into one day was a good idea. It sounded like a lot. But by 7am, we were already in the van, our guide Minh handing out cold water bottles and cracking jokes about “Vietnamese air-conditioning” (windows down, hair everywhere). The drive out of Ho Chi Minh City felt like slowly peeling away layers—first the honking scooters, then rice paddies flickering past. When we finally reached the Cu Chi Tunnels, there was this earthy smell—damp clay and something almost metallic. Minh showed us how tiny those entrances really are (I tried to squeeze in… let’s just say I’m not built for guerrilla warfare).

Inside the tunnels it was darker than I expected, even with little bulbs strung up here and there. You could hear your own breath echoing off the walls. There was this old man making rice paper nearby—his hands moved so fast it almost looked fake. He smiled when I waved, probably used to tourists gawking at his work. After watching some grainy black-and-white footage about the war (Minh translated bits for us), we got to try some cassava dipped in peanuts—honestly, not bad if you’re hungry enough.

The switch from war history to river life happened fast. Suddenly we were boarding this wooden boat at My Tho port, drifting onto the Mekong Delta. The air changed—warmer, sticky-sweet with fruit trees everywhere. On Thoi Son island, we sipped honey tea (a bit too sweet for me) while a woman sang Don Ca Tai Tu with this voice that kind of lingered after she stopped singing. We watched coconut candy being made; I bought some but most of it melted in my bag before we got back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Lunch was at a local spot tucked under palm trees—a proper Vietnamese set menu with six or seven dishes (I lost count after my second helping of fish). There was time to just sit quietly by the river before heading back; I remember watching two kids chase each other around a mango tree and thinking how different it all felt from that morning underground. Even now, sometimes I think about that shift—from dark tunnels to bright riverbanks—and it sticks with me.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off at your hotel in central Ho Chi Minh City, entry fees for both Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta sites, all taxes covered, snacks and mineral water during transport, plus a full Vietnamese set menu lunch with local specialties before heading back in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cong Ty TNHH Du Lich Anh Nhu