Mekong Delta: 2-Day Homestay Bike & Kayak Tour with Cooking

Summary

Mekong delta villages by bike sunrise markets home cooking & river kayaking

You’ll wake early for misty bike rides past rice paddies, share laughter over homemade spring rolls at your Mekong Delta homestay, kayak winding canals with local guides, and taste honey tea right where it’s made. This small-group tour lets you slow down and really feel village life — you might even find yourself singing karaoke after dinner.

What’s the experience like?

I never expected the Mekong Delta to feel so quiet at sunrise — not silent, just soft. We’d left Ho Chi Minh City early (the van was cool and a bit sleepy inside), but by the time we reached Family Tiny Garden homestay near My Tho, the air was heavy with green smells and there was this gentle hum from somewhere — frogs maybe? Our guide, Minh, handed us bikes right away. I wobbled past dragon fruit trees and kids waving from behind their grandmothers’ market stalls. The rice fields looked almost too bright under the sun, like someone had turned up the color.

I’m not much of a cook but somehow ended up rolling spring rolls with a woman named Lan who laughed every time my pancake fell apart. Lunch was smoky barbecue — I still remember the way the lemongrass hit first before anything else. After that we visited Vinh Trang Pagoda, which is bigger than it looks in pictures (the gold Buddha statues are enormous). Later we drifted on a boat down the Tien River listening to Đàn Ca Tài Tử music — honestly I didn’t understand a word but you could feel how proud everyone was of it. There was honey tea at a bee farm (sticky sweet) and coconut candy that stuck to my teeth for ages.

The next morning Minh convinced us to get up before dawn for a bike ride out to see sunrise over the rice fields. It’s hard to explain but everything felt slower — mist rising off the water, farmers already out in those wide hats. We stopped for coffee at a tiny roadside place; it tasted stronger than what I’m used to but sitting there watching people set up their stalls made me wish I could stay longer. Kayaking through narrow waterways later felt like slipping into another world — water everywhere, birds flashing past, and sometimes you’d hear someone singing from inside the palms.

We did some hands-on stuff too: tried transplanting rice (harder than it looks) and even caught fish with our bare hands — or tried to anyway. Minh just grinned and said “practice!” By lunchtime I was covered in mud but weirdly happy about it. The whole thing felt less like a tour and more like being let into someone’s routine for two days. On the way back to Ho Chi Minh City I kept thinking about those early morning sounds — frogs or maybe crickets? Still not sure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — HCMC to Mekong Delta homestay

• Pick up at hotel
• Travel to Bến Lức - My Tho - Ben Tre
• Check in Family Tiny Garden homestay
• Bike visit orchards and rice fields
• Join cooking class for Vietnamese dishes
• Enjoy BBQ lunch
• Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
• Check in cruise on Mekong river
• Boat ride on Tien river
• Enjoy traditional Vietnamese music
• Relax on hand-rowed sampan
• Visit bee farm and taste honey tea
• Visit coconut candy factory
• Return to homestay by bus
• Learn rice growing and fish catching
• Have BBQ dinner
• Relax and sing karaoke at homestay

Day 2 — Countryside cycling and kayaking adventure

• Early bike ride to watch sunrise
• Breakfast and visit local market
• Cycle to orchards and rice fields
• Kayaking through waterways maze
• Transplant rice and catch freshwater fish
• Have lunch at restaurant
• Check out from homestay
• Bus returns to Ho Chi Minh City
• End tour at pick up point

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Mekong Delta homestay tour?

Yes, pickup from your Ho Chi Minh City hotel is included in the tour price.

Are meals provided during the 2-day Mekong Delta trip?

All meals are included: breakfast, barbecue lunches and dinners at the homestay.

What activities are part of this small group tour?

You’ll go biking through villages, join cooking classes, kayak waterways, visit markets and temples, try fishing and farming activities.

Is kayaking suitable for beginners?

Yes, kayaking is guided and suitable for travelers with moderate fitness; no prior experience needed.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

Yes; vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options can be arranged if you inform your guide when booking or departing.

What kind of accommodation is provided?

You’ll stay overnight at Family Tiny Garden Homestay with air conditioning and hot water.

How big is the tour group?

This is a small group tour; exact numbers vary but groups are kept intimate for a relaxed experience.

Is travel insurance included?

Yes; travel insurance is included in your booking price.

What’s included

Your two days include hotel pickup in Ho Chi Minh City, private transport throughout the trip, all entrance fees (like Vinh Trang Pagoda), an overnight stay at Family Tiny Garden Homestay with air conditioning and hot water, all meals from barbecue dinners to local breakfasts (dietary needs covered if you ask), guided cycling tours through orchards and rice fields, kayaking adventures on hidden waterways, hands-on cooking classes plus fishing or farming activities if you want them — plus travel insurance so you can relax about logistics while you’re out there getting muddy or sipping honey tea by the river.