Mekong Delta: Cai Rang Floating Market & My Tho Day Trip

Summary

Early morning boats, fruit gardens and river life in Cai Rang

You’ll ride out before sunrise from Ho Chi Minh City for breakfast at Cai Rang floating market—noodle soup on a rocking boat included. Cruise through My Tho’s islets by traditional boat, try honey tea at a bee farm, sample fresh fruit straight from local gardens, and enjoy lunch before heading back. Expect early hours and real moments of Mekong life.

What’s the experience like?

I nearly missed my alarm—4:30am is not my usual hour—but something about seeing the Mekong Delta before the world wakes up felt worth it. We left Ho Chi Minh City while it was still dark, the city lights flickering out behind us. By the time our van rolled into Can Tho, the air smelled faintly sweet, like wet earth and something floral I couldn’t place. Our guide, Minh, just grinned and handed me a strong coffee at the dock. “You’ll need this,” he said. He was right.

Boarding a small boat at Cai Rang Floating Market felt like stepping sideways into someone else’s morning routine. Boats everywhere—some piled high with pineapples or dragonfruit, others selling steaming bowls of noodle soup right from their decks. Minh pointed to a pole with fruit skewered on top (“that’s how you know what they’re selling”) and then waved over a breakfast vendor. I tried the hu tieu—vermicelli soup—while bobbing gently on the water, balancing my bowl as another boat nudged past. There’s something about eating breakfast surrounded by so much chatter and color that makes you forget how tired you are.

After wandering through a village and sampling fruit straight from someone’s garden (I think I ate three rambutans before realizing I was supposed to share), we headed to My Tho. The river changed character here—wider, quieter somehow. We switched to a bigger boat for the cruise past Turtle and Phoenix Islets; Minh told stories about local legends but honestly I got distracted by all the shades of green along the banks. Then came those narrow sampan boats through coconut palms—so close you could touch the leaves if you wanted (I did, got dripped on). At one point we stopped at a bee farm for honey tea and listened to some local music; I didn’t understand a word but it was soothing anyway.

Lunch was simple but good—rice, vegetables, something spicy that made me sweat in a good way—and after that I just sat back in the van feeling sun-dazed and content. It’s funny how quickly you get used to moving by water instead of road out here. The day trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Rang Floating Market and My Tho wasn’t exactly restful, but there’s an energy to it that sticks with you. Sometimes when I hear motorbikes back home now, I half expect them to be boats instead.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cai Rang Market and Mekong Delta Cruise

• Depart Ho Chi Minh City at 5:00AM
• Stop for breakfast at local restaurant or market
• Arrive at Cai Rang Floating Market at 8:00AM
• Observe bartering and local trading
• Navigate water channels by boat
• Watch vermicelli soup preparation
• Visit fruit garden and taste fresh fruits
• Travel to My Tho
• Board traditional Mekong Delta boat
• Cruise past Turtle, Dragon, Phoenix Islets
• Arrive at Unicorn Islet
• Ride sampan boat through narrow waterways
• Stop at bee farm, taste honey tea and fruits
• Enjoy traditional music and learn local life
• Have local Vietnamese lunch
• Relax and return to Ho Chi Minh City
• Arrive back around 4:45PM and transfer to hotel

Top questions

What time does the Cai Rang Floating Market tour start?

The tour departs from Ho Chi Minh City at 5:00AM.

Is breakfast included during the day trip?

You can have breakfast either at a local restaurant en route or directly at Cai Rang floating market.

How long is the drive from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho?

The drive takes about 2.5 hours each way.

What kind of boat rides are included?

The tour includes both larger boats for cruising and smaller sampan boats for narrow waterways.

Are hotel pickups provided?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Ho Chi Minh City are included.

Is lunch provided on this Mekong Delta day trip?

Yes, lunch with Vietnamese dishes is included; vegan options are available.

Can children join this tour?

Children can join but must be accompanied by an adult; infants sit on an adult's lap.

What attractions are visited during this tour?

Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho and My Tho in the Mekong Delta are visited.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Ho Chi Minh City, private vehicle transport down to Can Tho and My Tho, all boat trips (big river cruiser plus traditional sampan), bottled water along the way, tropical fruits fresh from local gardens, honey tea tasting at a bee farm with live music, plus a Vietnamese lunch before heading back in late afternoon.