Mekong Delta Cai Rang Floating Market 2-Day Tour

The floating market runs on boats, not stalls, and you see it before the crowds arrive at 6am.

A 2-day guided tour from Ho Chi Minh City into the Mekong Delta, staying overnight in Can Tho and visiting Cai Rang Floating Market at dawn, the region's largest. The itinerary includes boat trips through coconut-lined canals, a rice noodle factory, a hands-on Vietnamese pancake cooking class, and visits to local villages and farms. An English-speaking guide, all transport, one night at a 3-star hotel, and meals are included. Hotel pickup and drop-off in central District 1 are part of the booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho via Mekong Delta

• Depart Ho Chi Minh City at 8:00AM
• Visit Vinh Trang pagoda
• Boat cruise on Mekong River in My Tho
• Sampan ride through coconut canals
• Visit local families with fruits and music
• Enjoy local lunch
• Tour coconut farm in Ben Tre
• Witness coconut candy and rice paper making
• Travel to Can Tho City
• Check-in hotel and free time

Day 2: Cai Rang Floating Market and Return

• Visit Cai Rang Floating Market at 6:00AM
• Boat tour with vermicelli and coffee stop
• Visit Rice Noodle Factory
• Explore local market
• Return to hotel for breakfast and check-out
• Stop at 10 Vo ancient house
• Make traditional Vietnamese pancakes
• Enjoy local lunch
• Leisurely bike ride around area
• Return to Ho Chi Minh City by 4:00PM

The experience

The tour departs Ho Chi Minh City around 8am and heads south into the Mekong Delta, passing green rice fields on the way to My Tho. Your first stop is Vinh Trang pagoda, then a boat cruise along the Mekong River where you trade the main waterway for a sampan ride through coconut-tree-lined canals. You'll visit a local village on foot, stop at a family home for fresh fruit, honey tea and traditional music, and eat lunch there. In the afternoon the boat moves to Ben Tre province, known as "The Land of Coconut", where you tour a coconut farm and watch workers make coconut candy and rice paper. By evening you're in Can Tho City, the heart of the delta, with the rest of the night free to explore.

Day two starts at 6am at Cai Rang Floating Market, the biggest in the region. At that hour the market is at its busiest: boats selling fruits, vegetables and local goods crowd the water, and the energy is nothing like a land market. You'll float through it on a boat, stop at a vendor selling vermicelli and coffee to taste them on the water, then visit a rice noodle factory to see how the noodles are made by hand. After a local market visit on land, you return to the hotel around 9am for breakfast and a shower. On the drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, you stop at the 10 Vo ancient house to learn about traditional Vietnamese architecture, then try your hand at making bánh xèo, crispy Vietnamese pancakes, and eat lunch. An optional bike ride around the area is available if you have the energy. You arrive back in Ho Chi Minh City around 4pm.

The tour runs as either a group or private option, with your choice of 3-star or 5-star hotel in Can Tho. An English-speaking guide travels with you the whole time. Transport is by air-conditioned van or bus, and all boat trips are included. Breakfast at the hotel and two lunches are part of the package. Vegan meals are available. Hotel pickup and drop-off happen in central District 1, and you can bring luggage with you since it's an overnight trip.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide for the full 2 days.
• air-conditioned van or bus transport and all boat trips.
• one night at a 3-star hotel (Van Phat Riverside Hotel or Senior Hotel Can Tho) or upgrade to 5-star.
• breakfast at the hotel and two lunches.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in central District 1.
• hands-on Vietnamese pancake cooking class.
• visits to Vinh Trang pagoda, a coconut farm, a rice noodle factory, and the 10 Vo ancient house.

Options for this experience

4 options

Guide in English07:45

Guide in English07:45

Stay in a five-star hotel overnightGuide in English · 07:45Small group with one night at a five-star hotel in Can Tho, Muong Thanh Luxury or TTC Can Tho or similar, and pickup included.

Private car, five-star hotel overnightGuide in English · 07:45Door-to-door private pickup within Ho Chi Minh City, with one night at a five-star hotel in Can Tho (Muong Thanh Luxury or TTC).

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:45

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (3 to 8 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

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 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Viet Nam Adventure Tours JSC

Is this one for you?Book the group tour if you're traveling solo or with one other person and want to meet other travelers. The private tour works better if you're a family or group of three or more and prefer your own pace and vehicle. The 3-star hotel keeps costs down for a budget-conscious itinerary. The 5-star option adds comfort if you want a higher standard of accommodation after a full day of boat travel and village visits.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 8 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What is Cai Rang Floating Market like when you arrive at 6am?

Cai Rang Floating Market is most vibrant in the early morning hours. Boats selling fruits, vegetables and local products crowd the water, and you move through it by boat rather than walking a shore. The market is busiest before the day heats up and before most tourists arrive, so the activity and energy are at their peak.

Do I need to bring my own luggage, or can I take it with me on the tour?

You can bring your luggage with you on the 2-day tour. Since you're staying overnight in Can Tho, there's no need to leave bags behind or arrange separate storage.

What meals are included in the 2-day tour?

The tour includes breakfast at your hotel in Can Tho and two lunches: one on Day 1 in a local village and one on Day 2 after the cooking class. Vegan food is available if you request it. Drinks and snacks you buy from market vendors (like coffee or vermicelli from the floating market boats) are separate.

Is the cooking class a real hands-on experience, or just a demonstration?

You try your hand at making bánh xèo, traditional Vietnamese pancakes, as a hands-on activity. It's a practical experience where you participate in the cooking process, not just watch.

What time does the tour pick me up in Ho Chi Minh City, and when do I return?

Hotel pickup in central District 1 happens around 8am on Day 1. You return to Ho Chi Minh City around 4pm on Day 2 and are dropped off at your hotel in the same central District 1 area.

Can I book this as a private tour, or does it only run as a group?

You can choose between a group tour or a private tour at checkout. Both options are available with either a 3-star or 5-star hotel in Can Tho, so you can pick the setup that suits your travel style.