Kayaking Mekong Delta: Cycling, Cooking & Fishing Tour
A day moving through water, fields and kitchens instead of sitting in a van
A private day trip from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta combines kayaking through coconut waterways, cycling through rice fields and fruit orchards, and a Vietnamese cooking class at Family Tiny Garden. Hotel pickup starts at 7:30am, and the guide shares the region's cultural and ecological history on the way. You plant rice, catch fish, paddle a canoe, and make spring rolls and banh xeo before eating lunch together.
Step-by-step itinerary
Mekong Delta Nature and Culture Tour
- 07:30-08:00am hotel pick-up
- Tour guide introduction en route
- 09:00am arrive at Family Tiny Garden
- 09:30am cycle through countryside and rice fields
- Visit Xom Trau Pagoda and Underground Tunnel
- Join rice planting and fish catching
- 11:30am cooking class: spring rolls and banh xeo
- Lunch with Vietnamese food
- 02:30pm canoe boat check-in
- Visit fruit orchard: lemon, guava, dragon fruit
- 03:20pm kayak through coconut water forest
- 04:00pm tour ends, depart for Ho Chi Minh City
- 05:00pm return to hotel
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in District 1.
- use of a bicycle, canoe and kayak.
- entrance ticket to Family Tiny Garden.
- hands-on cooking class with spring rolls and banh xeo.
- homemade BBQ lunch.
- air-conditioned vehicle for transport.
- English-speaking guide throughout the day.
Times
- Every day 08:00
Before you book
Operated by Vietnam To Travel
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
The day starts with pickup from your District 1 hotel and a drive to Family Tiny Garden, where the guide explains the Mekong Delta's 13 provinces and what the itinerary holds. From there you cycle through quiet villages, rice fields and fruit orchards (the kind of countryside tourists rarely see), and stop at Xom Trau Pagoda to explore an underground tunnel relic. The cycling is the entry point: you move at a pace that lets you notice things, and the guide points out what matters about the landscape and how people live there.
At 11:30am you join a hands-on cooking class. You make spring rolls and banh xeo (Vietnamese pancakes) from scratch, learning techniques as you work, then sit down to eat what you've made. Lunch is a homemade BBQ with Vietnamese food, eaten communally. After eating, you check in at the canoe boat and visit a fruit orchard growing lemon, guava and dragon fruit before the main event: kayaking through the coconut water forest starting around 3:20pm. The waterway is a maze of narrow channels under overhanging palms, and you paddle through it at your own pace. The tour ends around 4pm, and the driver has you back at your hotel by 5pm.
This is a private booking, so the timing and pace bend to your group. The guide speaks English and can answer questions about farming, local life and the ecology of the delta as you move through it. Children from age 6 are welcome, and the itinerary suits all fitness levels: cycling and kayaking are both moderate, and there's no rushing between stops.
Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so you follow the commentary and questions flow naturally as you move through the day. This works well for English speakers traveling with family or in a small group who want to understand what they're seeing rather than just move through it.
Compare the 12 alternatives
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 9 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What is Family Tiny Garden and what do you do there?
Family Tiny Garden is the base where you start cycling and later return for the cooking class. It's designed around nature, local culture and sustainable farming practices, and you spend time there learning about how the community grows food and lives off the land.
How difficult is the kayaking through the coconut forest?
The kayaking is moderate and self-paced through narrow waterways under coconut palms. You paddle at your own speed with no rushing, and the route is suitable for all fitness levels, including families with children from age 6 onward.
What do you learn in the cooking class, and is it hands-on?
The cooking class is fully hands-on: you make spring rolls and banh xeo (Vietnamese pancakes) from scratch, learning the techniques as you work. After cooking, you eat the food you've prepared as part of your lunch.
Does the tour include time to see the rice fields and orchards, or just pass through them?
You cycle through rice fields and stop to visit a fruit orchard growing lemon, guava and dragon fruit. You also join in rice planting and fish catching during the cycling portion, so you're not just passing through. You're participating in the work.
What's included in the price, and what do you need to bring?
The price covers hotel pickup in District 1, the air-conditioned vehicle, use of a bicycle, canoe and kayak, entrance tickets, lunch, and the cooking class. Bring sunscreen, a hat, water shoes or sandals for the water activities, and a change of clothes if you're concerned about getting wet.
Kayaking Mekong Delta: Cycling, Cooking & Fishing Tour
8h 40m · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 115 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.