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

Summary

Cu Chi tunnels by morning then slow boats in the Mekong

You’ll crawl through real Cu Chi tunnels with a local guide, cruise both motorboat and rowboat along the Mekong Delta’s winding waterways, taste honey tea and coconut candy at family farms, and share a Vietnamese lunch with your group. This day trip feels personal — you’ll notice small details most tours miss.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the light flickering through the limousine window as we left Ho Chi Minh City — scooters buzzing past, that faint smell of street food even at 7 a.m. Our guide, Minh, handed me a cold beer (yes, before noon) and grinned when I hesitated. The drive out to the Cu Chi Tunnels took about an hour and a half, but it didn’t feel long; Minh told us stories about his grandfather during the war. I tried to picture him crawling through those narrow tunnels — honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d even fit.

The air changed completely at Cu Chi. There was this earthy scent — damp clay and old leaves — when we ducked into the first tunnel section. My shirt stuck to my back after just a few meters underground. When we came up again, Minh showed us how they made rice paper and those spiky bamboo traps (he laughed when I flinched). It’s strange seeing all that history right under your feet. The main keyword here is “Cu Chi Tunnels day trip,” but what sticks with me is that weird mix of claustrophobia and curiosity.

After lunch — tofu for me, pork for others — we drove south to My Tho in the Mekong Delta. The river was wide and brownish-green, lined with coconut palms. We switched to a motorboat first, then a tiny rowboat that felt like it might tip if you sneezed too hard. Our rower didn’t speak much English but smiled every time we drifted under low branches. There was music somewhere upriver — not loud, just drifting over water like smoke. We stopped at a bee farm for honey tea (sticky-sweet) and tried fresh coconut candy that still stuck to my teeth hours later.

I’m not sure what I expected from this private tour of Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta — maybe more crowds? But it felt quiet in all the right ways. On the drive back, I watched dusk settle over endless rice fields outside Saigon. Still think about that view sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta tour

• Pick up at Ho Chi Minh hotel
• Drive 60 km to Cu Chi Tunnels
• Watch documentary about tunnels
• Learn bamboo traps, rice paper, rice wine
• Explore underground tunnels
• Drive to My Tho in Mekong Delta
• Cruise boat along Mekong River islands
• Observe local river life activities
• Rowboat trip on small waterways
• Visit fruit orchards, coconut groves, bee farms
• Enjoy honey tea and seasonal fruit
• Taste fresh coconut candy
• Watch southern Vietnamese folk music
• Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City
• Drop off at hotel around 18:00

Top questions

How long does the Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta day trip take?

The tour lasts around 10-11 hours including transfers from Ho Chi Minh City.

Is lunch included on this private day trip?

Yes, a Vietnamese lunch is included; vegan options are available.

Are hotel pickups offered for this tour?

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

What kind of boats are used in the Mekong Delta part?

You’ll ride both a motorboat on larger sections of river and hand-rowed boats on smaller canals.

Do you actually go inside the tunnels at Cu Chi?

Yes, you can enter sections of the tunnels guided by your host; it’s optional if you’re claustrophobic.

Are entrance fees included in this private tour?

Yes, entry tickets for all attractions are included in your booking price.

Is there an English-speaking guide throughout?

Yes, an English-speaking guide accompanies you for the whole day trip.

What local foods or drinks do you try on this tour?

You’ll sample honey tea, seasonal fruit from orchards, fresh coconut candy, and enjoy a Vietnamese lunch.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off within central Saigon districts (1/3/4), all entry tickets for Cu Chi Tunnels plus boat rides on both motorboat and rowboat in the Mekong Delta region. You’ll share a traditional Vietnamese lunch (with vegan choices), taste honey tea at a bee farm, sample tropical fruits straight from orchards, listen to folk music performances along the riverbanks—and get back to your hotel by evening.