Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta: Small-Group Day Tour by Limousine

Summary

Cu Chi’s wartime secrets and Mekong river life in a single day

You’ll crawl through history in the Cu Chi Tunnels with a local guide, then float along the Mekong Delta by boat and sampan. Taste honey tea in a riverside garden, sample coconut candy, and listen to traditional folk music — all with hotel pickup and lunch included. It’s an honest look at Vietnam’s past and present that lingers long after you’re back in your hotel room.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, crawling through the Cu Chi Tunnels wasn’t exactly what I pictured when I signed up for a “comfortable” day trip from Ho Chi Minh City. But there I was, knees in the red dust, listening to our guide Tam explain how people lived underground for years. The air down there felt heavy — almost sweet with earth and something metallic. Tam pointed at scratch marks on the walls and said, “Imagine cooking here without smoke.” It made me shiver, honestly. Above ground, it’s just birds and distant motorbikes now. Hard to picture what it must’ve sounded like back then.

The drive out was kind of soothing in its own way — rice paddies flashing past, water buffalo flicking their tails at egrets. Our little group swapped stories (someone snored, not naming names). After lunch — sticky rice with lemongrass chicken and a veggie option that surprised me — we headed for My Tho in the Mekong Delta. The river looked muddy but alive; boats everywhere, kids waving from shore. We switched to a narrow sampan rowboat at one point and glided under palm leaves so close they brushed my hat. There was this moment where everything went quiet except for the sound of oars cutting water.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much at the coconut candy place (Li laughed when I tried to say “dua” in Vietnamese — probably butchered it), or that honey tea could taste like flowers and sun at the same time. The folk music felt old but somehow familiar, even though I couldn’t understand a word. Maybe it was just being there together in that garden, sticky with fruit juice and sweat, listening to voices drift over the tables.

By the time we got back to Ho Chi Minh City (around 6:30 PM), I was tired but wired — you know that feeling? Like you want to write everything down before it fades. If you’re looking for a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City that actually gets under your skin a bit, this one’s worth it. I still think about that tunnel air sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta

• Depart Ho Chi Minh City in morning
• Travel scenic route to Cu Chi
• Explore Cu Chi Tunnels
• Drive to My Tho in Mekong Delta
• Boat ride on upper Mekong River
• Visit Four Animal Islands
• Rowboat through delta waterways
• Taste honey tea and seasonal fruits
• Enjoy southern Vietnamese folk music
• Return to Ho Chi Minh City
• Drop off at hotel around 6:30 PM

Top questions

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

The tour starts in the morning and returns around 6:30 PM on the same day.

Is hotel pickup included for this small-group tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included for central Districts 1, 3, and 4.

What food is served during lunch on this tour?

A Vietnamese cuisine lunch is included; vegan options are available.

Are entrance tickets for Cu Chi Tunnels included?

Yes, entry fees for Cu Chi Tunnels are part of your tour package.

Do we get to try local foods like coconut candy or honey tea?

Yes, you’ll taste coconut candy at a workshop and honey tea at a beekeeping farm during your visit.

What kind of boats do we use on the Mekong Delta part?

You’ll ride both a motorboat on the main river and a hand-rowed sampan through smaller waterways.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels according to provided info.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in central Ho Chi Minh City districts, travel by air-conditioned vehicle with bottled water provided throughout. Entry fees at Cu Chi Tunnels are covered as well as all boat trips (both motorboat and hand-rowed sampan) on the Mekong Delta. You’ll enjoy seasonal fruits, honey tea tasting, coconut candy sampling, traditional Vietnamese folk music performances in a riverside garden setting, plus a full Vietnamese lunch with vegan options before heading back in the evening.