Mekong Delta Ben Tre day tour: Boat, bike, local home lunch

A brick factory and coconut canals show you how the Mekong Delta actually works.

This 8 to 10 hour day tour from Saigon takes you by boat and bicycle through Ben Tre Province in the Mekong Delta, stopping at a working brick factory, a coconut farm, and narrow waterways lined with palms. You'll cycle through villages, watch locals make sleeping mats and coconut products, and eat lunch at a local home. Groups stay under 10 people, and an English-speaking guide leads the day. Pickup from District 1 or District 4 hotels is included. You can book as a small group or private.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Mekong Delta and Ben Tre

• Pickup from District 1 and 4 hotels
• Travel to Ben Tre with stops
• Boat trip to brick factory
• Visit coconut farm and learn production
• Experience sleeping mats making
• Rowing boat ride through coconut canals
• Bicycle ride through villages
• Lunch at local home
• Return to Saigon hotel

The experience

The day starts with a 30-minute pickup from your Saigon hotel, then a drive south through rice paddies toward Ben Tre. Once you arrive, a boat carries you along the Mekong to a brick factory where you'll watch the traditional brick-making process: the same method used for centuries. From there, you move to a coconut farm to see how the locals turn coconuts into products and to try your hand at making sleeping mats alongside them. The boat then takes you through the narrow coconut canals that thread the region, waterways so tight the palms hang over the water.

After the canals, you switch to a bicycle and ride through the quaint villages and farmland, stopping to talk with locals going about their day. This is where the tour slows down enough to actually see how people live here, not rushing through a list of stops. Lunch happens at a local home, a five-course Southern Vietnamese meal made with fresh ingredients from the area. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free versions are available if you request them when you book.

The return to Saigon takes the afternoon, and you're back at your hotel around 6:00 PM. The tour includes all boat rides, the bicycle, an air-conditioned vehicle for the drive, two bottles of water per person, fruit and coconut juice, and all fees and taxes. An English-speaking guide leads the whole day.

What’s included

• All boat rides on the Mekong and through the coconut canals.
• use of a bicycle for the village portion.
• entry to the brick factory and coconut farm.
• the sleeping mat-making experience.
• a five-course lunch at a local home (vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available on request).
• two bottles of water and fruit and coconut juice per person.
• air-conditioned vehicle for pickup and the drive to and from Ben Tre.
• all fees and taxes.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private TourGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 09:30Pickup is included

Premier tour for groups of up to 10 peopleGuide in English · 07:00 and 07:30Pickup is included

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Joy Journeys

Is this one for you?Choose the Premier Group option if you want the day structured and guided but don't mind sharing the experience with up to nine other travelers. Book the private tour if you're traveling with your own group and want the itinerary shaped around your pace and interests. Both versions follow the same route and include the same stops. The difference is who else is on the boat and bicycle with you.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

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 the brick factory stop actually like on this Ben Tre tour?

The brick factory is a working site where you watch the traditional brick-making process that has stayed the same for centuries. You see locals shaping clay and stacking bricks by hand, and the guide explains how the trade fits into the local economy.

How much cycling do I do, and is it hard?

The cycling portion happens after lunch and takes you through the villages and farmland around Ben Tre. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, and the pace is slow enough to stop and talk with locals along the way.

Can I book this as a private tour, or does it have to be a group?

You can choose between the Premier Group option with a maximum of 10 people or book it as a private tour. Both options include the same itinerary, guide, pickup and meals.

What time does pickup happen, and where do you pick up from?

Pickup happens from hotels in District 1 or District 4 in Saigon and usually takes around 30 minutes to collect all guests. The full day, including the drive to Ben Tre, takes 8 to 10 hours total.

Is lunch included, and can you handle dietary restrictions?

Yes, lunch is a five-course Southern Vietnamese meal cooked at a local home and included in the price. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free versions are available. Just request them when you book.

Do I need to bring my own water or snacks?

Water and snacks are provided: two bottles of water per guest, plus fruit and coconut juice throughout the day. Breakfast or a toilet stop happens on the drive to Ben Tre before the tour activities begin.