Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta: Small-Group Day Trip

Summary

History, flavors, and river life from Ho Chi Minh in one day

You’ll crawl through Cu Chi Tunnels with a local guide, taste cassava like wartime guerrillas did, share lunch with fellow travelers, then drift along quiet Mekong Delta canals by rowboat while folk music plays nearby. Expect moments that linger long after you’re back in busy Ho Chi Minh City.

What’s the experience like?

The day didn’t start exactly as planned — I forgot my hat and realized it just as our van pulled away from the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Our guide, Minh, noticed me squinting at the sun already and handed me his spare (it was bright yellow and a little too big, but honestly, it made for good photos). The drive out to Cu Chi Tunnels took about an hour and a half. I’d seen photos before, but actually ducking down into those narrow tunnels… it’s hard to explain. The air inside felt thick and earthy, almost damp, and Minh told us stories about families living down there for weeks. He showed us where they cooked rice with barely any smoke escaping — I still don’t get how they managed that. We tried cassava dipped in peanuts; apparently that was daily food during the war. It tasted plain but comforting somehow.

Lunch was at this open-air spot not far from the tunnels — plastic chairs, fans humming overhead, bowls of pho steaming up my glasses. I sat next to Li from Singapore and we both tried to pronounce “Mekong” properly (Li laughed when I tried to say it in Vietnamese — probably butchered it). After that we headed toward My Tho city for the Mekong Delta part of the tour. The boat ride along the river was slower than I expected — kind of peaceful though. Kids waved from the banks and you could smell something sweet in the air near a coconut candy workshop (I bought some for later but ate most of it on the spot). At one point we switched to these tiny wooden sampans; there were dragonflies everywhere and someone nearby started playing folk music on a dan tranh — that sound really stuck with me.

I think what surprised me most was how much quieter everything got once we left the main roads behind. There’s this moment floating down a canal where all you hear is water against wood and maybe someone laughing in another boat. It’s strange how quickly you go from city chaos to that kind of calm. By the time we got back to Ho Chi Minh City around 7pm, my shoes were muddy and I’d sweated through my shirt, but honestly? That felt right for a day like this.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Tour

• Pick up from hotel
• Drive 1.5 hours to Cu Chi Tunnels
• Watch introduction video about tunnels
• Explore tunnel network and living areas
• Learn about traps and wartime facilities
• Taste special tea and cassava
• Have lunch at local restaurant
• Visit My Tho city
• Cruise along Tien River
• Visit coconut candy mill
• Ride wooden sampans on small canals
• Savor seasonal fruits and honey tea
• Enjoy Southern Vietnamese folk music
• Return to Ho Chi Minh City by 7 PM

Top questions

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

The tour lasts about 11-12 hours including travel time from Ho Chi Minh City.

Is lunch included on this small-group tour?

Yes, a traditional Vietnamese lunch is included at a local restaurant.

Are hotel pickups available for this tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you’re staying in District 1 or 4.

What do you see at Cu Chi Tunnels?

You’ll explore parts of the tunnel network including kitchens, bedrooms, command centers, weapon factories, traps, and hidden doors.

Is there a boat ride on the Mekong Delta?

Yes, you’ll take both a motorboat cruise along Tien River and ride wooden sampans through small canals.

Are there any food tastings on this tour?

You’ll try cassava at Cu Chi Tunnels plus seasonal fruits and honey tea in the Mekong Delta.

Can infants join this tour?

Infants can join but must sit on an adult’s lap during transport.

What languages does the guide speak?

The professional guide speaks English throughout the tour.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off within central Ho Chi Minh City (Districts 1 & 4), entry fees for both Cu Chi Tunnels and all Mekong Delta activities, a traditional Vietnamese lunch with local specialties, motorboat cruise plus rowboat ride through canals, fruit tasting with honey tea while listening to live folk music performances by locals before heading back in the evening.