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

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/16

Duration11h

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Crawl through wartime tunnels, then float the Nine Dragon river delta

You’ll crawl through Cu Chi Tunnels with a local guide sharing family stories, then float past coconut palms in the Mekong Delta by boat and tuk tuk. Taste tropical fruits straight from the garden and enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch (vegan options too). Expect laughter, dirt on your shoes, and moments that linger long after you’re back in Ho Chi Minh City.

11h

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta

Visit Cu Chi Tunnels network
See war traps and crawl tunnels
Travel to My Tho in Mekong Delta
Observe coconut farms and agriculture

The Experience

The first thing I noticed after we left Ho Chi Minh City was how the city noise just faded out, replaced by this soft whirring from our minivan and the occasional rooster crowing as we got closer to Cu Chi. Our guide, Huy, started telling stories about the tunnels—his uncle actually fought here, which made everything feel less like a museum and more like someone’s memory. Crawling through that narrow tunnel (I’m not exactly small) was… well, humbling. The air inside smelled of earth and something metallic. I kept thinking about what it must’ve been like during the war—Huy pointed out some of the old traps too, which were both clever and kind of chilling. I got dirt on my shirt but didn’t care; it felt right somehow.

After Cu Chi, we drove out toward My Tho in the Mekong Delta—about an hour or so? It’s funny how quickly the scenery shifts: suddenly there are rice paddies everywhere and kids waving from water buffaloes. We hopped onto a motorboat first (the engine was loud but you get used to it), then switched to these tiny rowing boats that glide under palm leaves. At one point, a woman handed me honey tea and coconut candy—I tried to say thank you in Vietnamese but probably butchered it because she just laughed kindly. The fruit tasting was simple but honestly some of the best pineapple I’ve ever had.

Lunch was at this open-air spot near the river—lots of fresh veggies and tofu for me since I asked for vegan food when booking (they actually remembered). There was live music too; not staged or anything, just locals playing while they ate their own lunch nearby. On the tuk tuk ride through a village after, I caught this moment where an old man nodded at us from his porch—one of those tiny things that sticks with you for no real reason. The whole day felt packed but never rushed. If you’re looking for a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City that mixes history with real daily life—and you don’t mind getting your hands a bit dirty—this is it.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop off within central districts of Ho Chi Minh City, all entrance fees at Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta stops, Vietnamese lunch with vegan options if needed, tropical fruit tasting across four seasons, rides by motorboat and rowing boat plus a tuk tuk journey through local villages. You’ll also get snacks like honey tea and coconut candy along with live traditional music performances before heading back in an air-conditioned minivan or tourist bus.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by KIM TRAVEL

Is this one for you?See both the tunnel networks and floating villages without coordinating separate bookings—everything's arranged so you spend your time exploring, not organizing.