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

Summary

Cu Chi war tunnels and Mekong riverside life in one day from Saigon

You’ll crawl through real Cu Chi tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City, taste honey tea and tropical fruit in a Mekong Delta village, float along shaded canals by boat, and share laughs with locals over lunch. It’s a day that lingers—a mix of history under your skin and river air in your hair.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to start my morning crawling underground, but there I was—knees scraping cool earth inside the Cu Chi tunnels, just outside Ho Chi Minh City. Our guide, Minh, grinned as he showed us a hidden trapdoor (I nearly missed it; it looked like any patch of dusty ground). He told stories about families living down here during the war—honestly, I can’t imagine that kind of darkness. When we surfaced, everything felt louder: birds, distant scooters, even the smell of tapioca root they gave us tasted sharper. I still think about that quiet tension under the surface.

The drive to My Tho in the Mekong Delta took longer than I thought (Vietnamese traffic is its own adventure), but watching endless rice fields and kids waving from water buffalo made it pass quickly. The air changed—warmer, sweeter somehow—and coconut trees were everywhere. We hopped onto a motorboat first, then switched to a little rowing boat that slid between palm-shaded canals. There was this moment where all you could hear was the oars dipping and someone singing softly from another boat. We tried honey tea and these chewy coconut candies at a village stop; Li laughed when I tried to say “cam on” right (I probably butchered it).

Lunch was simple but good—rice, fried tofu for me (they remembered my vegetarian note), and something called wheat cake that’s stickier than it looks. There was a short tuk tuk ride through narrow lanes where locals waved or just watched us with half-smiles. Not everything is picture-perfect; sometimes you catch a whiff of river mud or see laundry hanging over banana leaves. But honestly, that’s what sticks with me more than anything glossy. By the time we got back to Saigon, my shoes were muddy and my head full of new sounds and smells—worth every minute.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta

• Explore Cu Chi underground tunnels
• See war traps and crawl tunnels
• Travel to My Tho in Mekong Delta
• Observe coconut farms and agriculture

Top questions

How far are Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh City?

The Cu Chi Tunnels are about 75 kilometers northwest of Ho Chi Minh City.

Is lunch included on this day trip?

Yes, a Vietnamese set menu lunch is included—with vegan options available if requested at booking.

Does this tour include hotel pickup?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in Districts 1, 3, and 4 of Ho Chi Minh City.

Can children join this tour?

Yes, children can join—kids under 5 go free but parents cover any extra costs during the tour.

What activities are part of the Mekong Delta visit?

You’ll enjoy motorboat and rowing boat rides through canals, taste local fruits and honey tea, watch traditional music performances, and ride a tuk tuk or electric car through the village.

Are entrance fees covered?

All entrance fees are included in the tour price.

Is transportation air-conditioned?

Yes, transport is by air-conditioned minivan or tourist bus.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in central districts of Ho Chi Minh City, all entry fees for both Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta sites, an English-speaking local guide throughout, Vietnamese set menu lunch (with vegan options if you ask ahead), tastings of tropical fruits across four seasons plus honey tea and coconut candy at village stops, motorboat and rowing boat rides along shaded canals, a short tuk tuk or electric car trip through rural lanes, traditional music performance breaks along the way—and travel insurance for peace of mind before heading back to Saigon in the evening.