Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta: Group Day Trip with Lunch

Summary

Cu Chi tunnels’ secrets and Mekong river life in one day

You’ll crawl through real Cu Chi Tunnels with a local guide, cruise quiet rivers in the Mekong Delta by boat and sampan, taste fresh fruit and honey from family farms, and share laughs over lunch with new friends. This tour brings Vietnam’s history and daily life together — it’s not always comfortable but it sticks with you.

What’s the experience like?

The van picked us up right outside our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, still half-asleep but excited. Our guide, Hanh, was already cracking jokes about “Vietnamese coffee being stronger than love” — I’m still not sure if he was kidding. The drive out to the Cu Chi Tunnels took maybe an hour and a half; rice paddies blurred past the windows, and I kept noticing how the light shifted as we left the city behind. When we arrived, Hanh handed out maps and pointed at a model of the tunnels — I had no idea they stretched over 120 miles underground. Walking through those tight passages (I only tried the short bit — some folks went deeper) made me realize how tough life must’ve been down there. The air felt damp and earthy, almost like old clay pots. We even tasted boiled tapioca root, which apparently kept people going during wartime — not bad with a bit of salt, actually.

After that, we piled back into the van for another two hours or so toward the Mekong Delta. It was warmer here, and you could smell sweet fruit somewhere nearby. We hopped onto a long wooden boat that chugged us along the river to Unicorn Island. There were palm trees everywhere — their leaves brushing overhead as we switched to tiny sampan boats for a quieter stretch. The water was brown but calm. Some local musicians played folk songs while we tried slices of pineapple and dragonfruit (I dropped mine in my lap; nobody seemed to mind). At one stop, a family showed us their honeybee hives; I got sticky fingers tasting fresh honey straight from the comb.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much on this day trip from Ho Chi Minh City — especially when Li from our group tried singing along with the musicians (she was way off-key but everyone clapped anyway). Cycling through coconut groves felt oddly peaceful after all that history earlier in Cu Chi; just birds and the whir of bike wheels for a while. By late afternoon I was tired in that good way — sun on my arms, dust on my shoes, brain buzzing from everything we’d seen. If you’re curious about Vietnam’s past but also want to see what daily life looks like now, this Cu Chi & Mekong tour really mixes both.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta tour

• Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels
• Explore Viet Cong traps and workshop
• Attend map and tunnel model briefing
• Optional underground tunnel experience
• Taste tapioca root
• Optional shooting range visit
• Visit lacquer ware art studio
• Travel from Cu Chi Tunnels to Mekong Delta
• Boat cruise to Unicorn Island
• Row sampan on palm creek
• Enjoy traditional folk songs and fruit salad
• Bicycle ride on beaten track
• Visit local honey bee family
• Ride buggy, golf cart, or tuktuk in village
• Visit coconut candy workshop
• Motorboat ride on palm creek

Top questions

How long is the day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta?

The tour lasts a full day, starting in the morning from Ho Chi Minh City and returning in the evening.

Is lunch included on this Cu Chi & Mekong tour?

Yes, lunch is included as part of your day trip experience.

Do you get hotel pickup for this group tour?

Hotel pickup is included for guests staying in central Ho Chi Minh City.

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

The Cu Chi Tunnels are about 1.5 hours by vehicle from central Ho Chi Minh City.

What activities are included at Mekong Delta?

You’ll take boat rides to Unicorn Island, try sampan rowing under palm trees, listen to folk music, visit bee farms and coconut candy workshops.

Is there an option to go inside the tunnels?

Yes, entering parts of the tunnels is optional during your guided visit.

Are entrance fees covered on this tour?

All entry fees and taxes are included in your booking price.

Is this tour suitable for travelers with mobility issues?

This tour is not recommended for those with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health due to walking and tunnel crawling.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in Ho Chi Minh City, round-trip transport by air-conditioned vehicle, all entry fees at both Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta sites, a traditional Vietnamese lunch (with plenty of fruit), plus guidance from a local expert before returning to your hotel by evening.