Mekong Delta day cruise from Ho Chi Minh City: Ben Tre boat trip

Rice fields, fishing villages, and a rowing boat through coconut shade

A full-day cruise through the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho and Ben Tre, with hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide. You travel by air-conditioned vehicle to My Tho, take a morning boat trip on the Tien River past stilt houses and boat-building workshops, then cruise through Ben Tre's coconut canals by small rowing boat. Lunch (elephant-ear fish and river shrimp) is served in an orchard garden. The day ends with time in a village before the return to the city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Saigon Opera Housepass by
2. My Tho20m

Mekong Delta Day Cruise Experience

• Pickup from hotel in District 1
• Travel to My Tho City by bus
• Visit Vinh Trang pagoda
• Boat trip on the Tien River
• Stroll village road and visit orchard
• Enjoy seasonal fruit and honey tea
• Cruise through Tan Thach Canal to Ben Tre
• Discover coconut agricultural model
• Rowing boat trip on small canal
• Lunch with traditional Vietnamese food
• Stroll village and join local activities
• Motorboat back to cruise
• Return to Ho Chi Minh City by bus

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in central Ho Chi Minh City around 7:45 am, then a drive through green rice fields to My Tho. Once there, you visit Vinh Trang pagoda, one of southern Vietnam's largest Buddhist temples at nearly 20,000 square meters, before boarding a motorboat on the Tien River. The morning cruise passes fishing ports, stilt houses, and boat-building workshops, with stops at Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn Islet. You walk a village road, visit an orchard, and sit with locals who serve seasonal fruit and honey tea while playing Southern Vietnamese folk music.

The route then moves into Ben Tre Province through Tan Thach Canal, where the landscape shifts to what locals call "the country of coconut." You see the typical agricultural model of Garden-Pond-Cage and taste coconut candies and honey tea. A small rowing boat takes you through narrow canals fully shaded by water coconut trees: the coolest part of the day and the one most travelers remember. Lunch arrives in the orchard: elephant-ear fish and river shrimp with cold drinks, prepared and plated in the garden itself.

After eating, you have time to walk through the village and join in daily activities with local people before boarding the motorboat back to the main cruise. The return to Ho Chi Minh City takes the afternoon, with cool towels and mineral water provided throughout. The whole day runs about ten hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transport by air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• morning motorboat trip on the Tien River.
• small rowing boat through Ben Tre's coconut canals.
• entry to Vinh Trang pagoda.
• lunch with elephant-ear fish and river shrimp in an orchard garden.
• seasonal fruit, coconut candies, and honey tea.
• cool towels and mineral water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30 and 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (10 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Proud Vietnam Travel

Is this one for you?This is a shared group tour with a fixed itinerary and schedule, so you travel with other visitors and follow set departure and arrival times. Choose it if you want a full day in the delta without arranging transport or a guide yourself, and if you're comfortable with a group pace and the morning pickup time.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): 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's the Tien River boat trip like on this Mekong Delta cruise?

The morning boat trip on the Tien River passes fishing ports, stilt houses, and boat-building workshops, with stops at Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn Islet. You walk village roads and visit an orchard where locals serve fruit and honey tea with live folk music.

Is lunch included, and what will I eat?

Lunch is included and served in an orchard garden. The meal features elephant-ear fish and river shrimp with cold drinks, prepared and decorated on-site.

What time does pickup happen, and where?

Pickup occurs around 7:45 to 8:00 am from your hotel in central Ho Chi Minh City, District 1, with return in the afternoon after the full day in the delta.