Mekong Delta Day Trip: Boat, Sampan & Vinh Trang Pagoda

Summary

Boat rides sampans coconut candy and pagodas in My Tho

You’ll float along Mekong Delta canals by boat and sampan, taste fresh coconut candy at a local workshop, share laughs with your guide over lunch by the river, and pause for quiet reflection at Vinh Trang Pagoda before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City—expect small surprises and real moments along the way.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the Mekong Delta to smell so green. The air hit me as soon as we stepped off the van in My Tho — kind of sweet, with a muddy edge, and something floral I still can’t name. Our guide, Minh, grinned when he saw me sniffing the air like a lost dog. “That’s how you know you’re not in Saigon anymore,” he said. He was right. It felt slower here already, even though it was barely 10am and the riverbank was busy with boats and shouting fruit sellers.

The motorboat ride was louder than I thought — the engine thumped under our feet — but then we drifted past those islands (Dragon, Unicorn… Minh quizzed us on the names; I got two wrong) and everything calmed down. We watched tiny ferries zigzag between banks, kids waving from rickety docks. At one point a woman rowed past us wearing a conical hat and singing under her breath; Minh tried to translate but mostly just laughed at my attempts to say “Bến Tre” without mangling it.

The coconut candy workshop was sticky-sweet in every sense — my fingers glued together after sampling warm pieces straight from the tray. There was honey tea too, poured into chipped cups while someone played a dan tranh nearby (I think that’s what Minh called it). The music sort of floated over us while we sat on tiny stools and tried not to look too touristy. Later, we squeezed into those narrow sampans for a shaded canal ride; I remember ducking under palm leaves and feeling water splash my ankle when our rower steered a little too close to the bank. She winked at me like she’d done it on purpose.

Lunch was five courses at some riverside place where fans spun lazily overhead and everyone seemed to know Minh by name. I couldn’t finish all the dishes — fish caramelized in clay pot, fresh spring rolls, something with lotus root — but I tried everything anyway because Minh insisted (“You’ll regret if you don’t!”). Afterward there was time to wander through a garden full of dragonfruit trees or bike around if you felt like moving (I didn’t).

On the way back we stopped at Vinh Trang Pagoda — white Buddha statues gleaming in afternoon sun, monks drifting by in orange robes. It felt peaceful but also alive somehow; people praying quietly or just sitting in shade watching pigeons argue over crumbs. The drive back to Ho Chi Minh City felt long but soft around the edges — maybe it was all that river air still clinging to my clothes. Anyway, I still think about that canal ride sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Mekong Delta boat trip and village visit

• Pick-up from District 1 hotels
• Drive 1.5 hours to Mekong River
• Stop for refreshments and toilet
• Board motorboat on Mekong River
• Cruise canals and view islands
• See Rạch Miễu Bridge from boat
• Cross river to Bến Tre Village
• Visit coconut candy workshop and honey farm
• Enjoy traditional music and samples
• Take sampan ride along canal
• Explore village by Xe Lôi
• Have Vietnamese 5-course lunch
• Relax in Mekong Delta garden
• Bike ride around village
• Boat trip back to Mỹ Tho pier
• Visit Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
• Transfer 1.5 hours back to Ho Chi Minh City
• Drop-off at pick-up point or city center

Top questions

How long is the Mekong Delta day trip from Ho Chi Minh City?

The tour lasts about 8-9 hours including travel time from District 1 hotels.

Is hotel pickup included for this Mekong Delta day trip?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included for hotels located in District 1.

What is included for lunch on this Mekong Delta tour?

A Vietnamese 5-course set menu is served at a riverside restaurant; dietary requests can be accommodated if advised ahead.

Do you visit Vinh Trang Pagoda during this tour?

Yes, there’s a stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda near My Tho as part of the itinerary.

Are boat rides included on this Mekong Delta day trip?

Yes, both motorboat and hand-rowed sampan rides are included during your visit.

Is this tour suitable for children or families?

Yes, families with children are welcome; child rates apply when sharing with two paying adults.

Can vegetarians or those with food allergies join this tour?

Yes—vegetarian or halal options are available if requested at booking; please mention any allergies ahead of time.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off within District 1, all boat trips (motorboat plus hand-rowed sampan), entry fees for workshops and Vinh Trang Pagoda, snacks like fresh fruits and coconut candy with honey tea tasting, two bottles of water per person, an air-conditioned minivan transfer throughout, a Vietnamese five-course lunch by the river (with vegetarian or halal options if needed), plus guidance from an English-speaking local guide before returning comfortably to Ho Chi Minh City in the evening.