Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Tour from Ho Chi Minh City

Two regions in one day: underground tunnels, then river life on the Mekong

A small group tour from Ho Chi Minh City that explores the Cu Chi Tunnels' underground network and then travels to the Mekong Delta for motorboat and rowboat rides through islands and fruit orchards. The tour includes hotel pickup in central districts, an English-speaking guide, lunch, entrance fees, and stops at a coconut candy factory and bee farm. Groups stay under 12 travelers. The drive to Cu Chi is around 60 km, and you return to your hotel by early evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Cu Chi Tunnels4h · entry included
2. My Tho6h

Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Tour

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

The experience

Your hotel pickup in Ho Chi Minh City's central districts happens in the early morning, and the drive to Cu Chi takes about an hour. At the tunnels, a documentary film shows how Vietnamese resistance fighters built the underground network and made bamboo traps, rice paper and rice wine by hand. Then you walk into the tunnels themselves (a web of passages dug beneath the earth), and see how people lived and fought in that space.

After Cu Chi, you travel to My Tho in the Mekong Delta. A motorboat takes you along the upper Mekong through islands named after four animals in Buddhist writings: Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Turtle. You watch how daily life here depends on the river (fishing, farming, transport), and then switch to a rowboat for the narrow waterways. That's where you see the orchards, coconut groves and bee-keeping farms up close. You stop to drink honey tea on a bee farm, taste fresh coconut candy and seasonal fruit, and listen to southern Vietnamese folk music. Lunch of Vietnamese cuisine (vegan options available) is included. The drive back to Ho Chi Minh City ends around 18:00.

The tour runs about 10 hours total. An air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, all boat trips and entrance to Cu Chi are included. Your guide speaks English throughout. Groups max out at 12 travelers, which keeps the pace manageable and the boat rides less crowded than the standard bus tours that fill up fast.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Ho Chi Minh City.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking guide.
• entrance ticket to Cu Chi Tunnels.
• documentary film and tunnel exploration.
• motorboat and hand-rowed boat rides on the Mekong.
• stops at a bee farm for honey tea and a coconut candy factory.
• seasonal fruit tasting.
• lunch of Vietnamese cuisine with vegan options.
• bottled water.
• travel insurance.

Options for this experience

6 options

Shared bus, pickup in central districtsGuide in English · 07:30Travel by shared bus, with hotel pickup and drop-off available in central Districts One, Three and Four, included in the price.

Minibus small group, pickup or meeting pointGuide in English · 07:30

VIP limousine group, hotel pickup in central districtsGuide in English · 07:30Hotel pickup in districts one, three and four is included in this VIP limousine group option.

See 3 more options

VVIP limousine group, centrally located hotelsGuide in English · 07:30

Private car or minibus, citywide pickupGuide in English · 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30Pickup and drop-off from any hotel or private residence in Ho Chi Minh City, by private car or minibus.

VIP private limousine, citywide pickupGuide in English · 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30Pickup and drop-off from any hotel or private residence in Ho Chi Minh City, by VIP limousine for you alone.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Indochina Heritage Travel

Is this one for you?Choose the Small Group Tour if you want the same itinerary with a tighter group: 12 is the maximum, which keeps the boats and tunnel sections less crowded than the standard option. If you prefer private transport and a guide only for your party, the Private or VIP options run the same route without sharing the boat rides or lunch stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What exactly are the Cu Chi Tunnels and what do you do there?

The Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground network dug by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the war. You watch a short documentary about how the tunnels were built and used, then walk through sections of the passages yourself to see how people lived and worked underground.

How much of the day do you spend on the Mekong River?

After leaving Cu Chi, you spend the afternoon on the Mekong. You start with a motorboat ride through the delta islands, then switch to a hand-rowed boat through smaller waterways and orchards. The boat time, plus stops for honey tea, fruit tasting and lunch, fills the second half of the day.

Is lunch included, and what if I'm vegetarian?

Yes, lunch of Vietnamese cuisine is included. Vegan food is available, so let your guide know your preference when you book or mention it at pickup.

What's the difference between the Standard Group Tour and the Small Group Tour?

Both tours follow the same route and itinerary. The Small Group Tour caps at 12 passengers, while the Standard Group Tour may run larger. If you prefer a smaller group, the Small Group Tour option keeps numbers tighter.

Do I need to be fit or flexible to crawl through the tunnels?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The tunnel sections you explore are walkable passages, not tight crawls, so most travelers can manage them comfortably.

What time does the tour end and how do I get back to my hotel?

The tour returns you to your hotel by around 18:00. Hotel drop-off in central Ho Chi Minh City (Districts 1, 3 and 4) is included, so you don't need to arrange separate transport home.