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

Ben Tre shows you the delta the way locals live it, not the way tour buses see it

A full-day private tour of Ben Tre Province in the Mekong Delta, departing from central Saigon at 7:30 am and returning by 6 pm, with hotel pickup included. You ride a sampan and motorboat on the Mekong, bike through villages, watch brick-making and coconut processing, craft sleeping mats alongside residents, and eat Vietnamese lunch in a local household. The tour prioritizes eco-friendly practices and avoids the standard tourist circuit.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day Mekong Delta Ben Tre tour

• Pick up from hotel at 7:30 am
• Travel to Ben Tre with breakfast/rest stops
• Boat cruise on Mekong River to brick factory
• Visit coconut farm and learn local crafts
• Rowboat ride through coconut channels
• Bicycle ride through scenic villages
• Lunch at local residence with Vietnamese cuisine
• Return to Saigon, arrive around 6:00 pm

The experience

The day starts with a 7:30 am pickup from your hotel in Districts 1, 3 or 4, then a drive to Ben Tre Province passing rice terraces. A brief stop for breakfast or restroom breaks breaks up the journey before you arrive at the river. Once there, a private motorboat takes you out on the Mekong to a brick factory where you watch the hand-making process that has stayed the same for generations, then to a coconut farm where you see how the nuts become rope, oil, and other products, and you get to make a sleeping mat with the people who do it every day. A rowboat glides you through the narrow coconut channels, quiet and green.

The bike ride comes next, winding through village paths where you meet residents going about their day instead of posing for cameras. This is the part most tours skip: no market stalls set up for visitors, no staged demonstrations. Lunch is in a local home, cooked from ingredients grown nearby, and eaten at a real table with the family. You return to Saigon by around 6 pm.

The tour runs as a private experience, meaning the pace and stops are yours to shape with your guide. An English-speaking guide is with you the whole day. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as are all entrance fees, the sampan and motorboat rides, bottled water, tropical fruits, and local honey tea. Travel insurance is covered. If your hotel is outside Districts 1, 3 or 4, an additional charge may apply for pickup.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Saigon.
• private motorboat and hand-rowed sampan rides on the Mekong.
• entrance fees to the brick factory and coconut farm.
• a bike ride through villages.
• the chance to make a sleeping mat with local residents.
• Vietnamese lunch cooked in a local home.
• bottled water, tropical fruits and local honey tea.
• travel insurance.
• an English-speaking guide for the full day.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private TourGuide in English · 07:00 and 08:00Transport by private car or minivan, with pickup from your hotel in District 1, 3, 4, or from the meeting point at 84N Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street; pickup is included

VIP Private TourGuide in English · 07:00 and 08:00Transport by Ford Transit limousine seating 7 to 9, with pickup from your hotel in District 1, 3 and 4 or from the meeting point; includes pickup

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Indochina Heritage Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to see how the delta actually works (brick-making, coconut farming, village life) rather than the polished stops other tours hit. The private format means your guide can linger where you are curious and skip what does not interest you, and the eco-friendly approach means your money goes back into the community instead of a resort chain.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is the brick factory stop like on this Ben Tre tour?

The brick factory is an active workshop where you watch residents hand-make bricks using methods that have been preserved for generations. You see the full process and get a firsthand look at how the work is done, rather than a demonstration set up for tourists.

How much time do you spend biking on this tour?

The bike ride is one segment of the day, winding through village paths. The exact duration depends on your pace and how long you want to stop and talk with locals, since the tour is private and flexible.

Is the lunch included in the tour price?

Yes, a Vietnamese set lunch cooked in a local household is included. It is made from fresh, locally grown ingredients and eaten in the home where it is prepared.

What does the sampan ride cover on the Mekong?

The sampan is a hand-rowed boat that takes you through the narrow coconut channels in the delta, surrounded by vegetation. It is a quieter, slower way to see the waterways compared to the motorboat ride earlier in the day.

Does this tour include hotel pickup from all of Saigon?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in Districts 1, 3 and 4. If your hotel is outside these districts, an additional charge may apply.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English and is with you for the full day, explaining what you see at each stop and helping you interact with locals.