Mekong Delta tour: sampan ride & local lunch

A sampan glides through coconut-lined canals while you sit still and watch the Delta's everyday life drift past.

This guided tour from Ho Chi Minh City takes you into the Mekong Delta by motorboat and traditional sampan, with stops at Vinh Trang Pagoda, Unicorn Islet for local tastings and lunch, and Ben Tre's Coconut Village. The day runs eight hours with pickup from central Ho Chi Minh City hotels, an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, Vietnamese lunch with vegan options, fruit tasting and water included. Pickup is not available from TanDinh and Dakao Ward unless you book the VIP or Private option.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mekong Delta tour with boat rides and lunch

• Pickup from Ho Chi Minh City hotel
• Travel through countryside to Mekong Delta
• Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda in My Tho
• Motorboat cruise on Mekong River
• Transfer to traditional sampan
• Sampan ride through coconut-lined canals
• Visit Unicorn Islet for local experiences
• Enjoy fresh fruits, honey tea, and folk music
• Have local lunch with vegan options
• Explore Coconut Village in Ben Tre
• See traditional coconut product making
• Sample coconut specialties
• Relax or cycle in Coconut Village
• Return to Ho Chi Minh City

The Experience

You get picked up from your hotel in central Ho Chi Minh City between 7:30 and 8:00 in the morning and travel through rice fields and lush countryside toward My Tho, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. The first stop is Vinh Trang Pagoda, a working Buddhist temple with ornate architecture and peaceful grounds. From there you board a motorboat to cruise the Mekong River itself, then transfer to a traditional wooden sampan—the kind locals use to navigate the narrow, coconut-lined canals. The sampan moves slowly enough that you can watch fishermen, floating gardens and riverside houses pass without the noise and wake of a motor.

Unicorn Islet is where the day opens up. You step onto the island to taste fresh tropical fruits, drink honey tea sweetened and warm, and listen to traditional folk music played live. Lunch is a Vietnamese set menu served family-style with vegan options available if you've requested them. The meal sits in the middle of the day—you're not rushed through it, and the guide explains what you're eating and where it comes from. After lunch, you have free time to wander or rest before the group moves on.

Ben Tre's Coconut Village is the last real stop. You see how coconut products are made by hand—the oil, the candy, the fiber—and taste specialties you won't find in Ho Chi Minh City. There's time to cycle through the village if you want to, or simply sit and watch the work happen. The return journey to Ho Chi Minh City takes about an hour, and you're dropped off at Ben Thanh Market or the Vietnam Adventure Tours office around 4:30 to 5:00 in the afternoon.

What’s included

• Pickup from central Ho Chi Minh City hotels.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• air-conditioned transport to and from the Mekong Delta.
• motorboat cruise on the Mekong River and traditional sampan ride through coconut canals.
• entry to Vinh Trang Pagoda.
• Vietnamese set-menu lunch with vegan options available.
• fresh fruit tasting and honey tea at Unicorn Islet.
• visit to Ben Tre's Coconut Village with time to see coconut products made and taste local specialties.
• one bottle of water.
• travel insurance.
• drop-off at Ben Thanh Market or Vietnam Adventure Tours office.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Viet Nam Adventure Tours JSC

Is this one for you?Choose the Small-Group option (max 12 people) if you want the same stops and pace but fewer travelers in the sampan and at lunch; the Standard Group (max 25) works well if you're comfortable with a larger group and want the most affordable rate; the Private tour suits anyone traveling with family or friends who want the day built around their schedule and pickup from TanDinh or Dakao Ward; the VIP Limousine option is worth it if you prefer luxury transport and the flexibility of a private departure time.

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Top questions

What is Vinh Trang Pagoda like when we visit it?

Vinh Trang Pagoda is a working Buddhist temple in My Tho with ornate architecture and peaceful grounds. It's the first stop after you arrive in the Mekong Delta, before you board the motorboat.

Can I get a vegetarian or vegan lunch on this tour?

Yes, vegan options are available for the Vietnamese set-menu lunch served at Unicorn Islet. You need to request this when you book.

How does the sampan ride work—is it motorized or paddled?

The sampan is a traditional wooden boat without a motor. After you cruise the Mekong River by motorboat, you transfer to the sampan to glide through the narrow coconut-lined canals at a slower pace, which is how locals navigate those waterways.

What happens at Unicorn Islet?

At Unicorn Islet you taste fresh tropical fruits, drink honey tea, listen to traditional folk music, and eat a Vietnamese lunch. You have free time to rest or explore the island after the meal.

What do we see and do in Coconut Village?

In Ben Tre's Coconut Village you watch how coconut products are traditionally made by hand—oil, candy, fiber—and taste coconut specialties. You can cycle through the village or simply watch the work if you prefer.

What's included in the price of this tour?

The tour includes pickup from central Ho Chi Minh City hotels, an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, all boat trips, Vietnamese lunch with vegan options available, fruit tasting, one bottle of water, and travel insurance. You're dropped off at Ben Thanh Market or the Vietnam Adventure Tours office.