Mekong Delta Day Trip: Boats, Food & Village Life

A full day on the water instead of another city tour

A full-day Mekong Delta tour from Ho Chi Minh City combines a private longtail boat cruise, stops at working fish and coconut farms, a motorized cart ride to a bee farm, and lunch at a local restaurant serving set-menu dishes like Mekong lobster and Vietnamese pancake. The guide speaks English, children from age 6 are welcome, and the day runs eight hours with hotel drop-off included in the price.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City

• Meet guide in Ho Chi Minh City
• Travel to Mekong Delta
• Board private boat in My Tho
• Cruise Mekong River and visit fish farm
• Stroll island gardens and sample tropical fruits
• Visit coconut candy factory
• Ride motorized cart to bee farm
• Explore smaller canals by rowing boat
• Enjoy traditional lunch at Vuon Dau restaurant
• Return to My Tho
• Travel back to Ho Chi Minh City
• Drop off at hotel

The experience

You meet your guide at the Saigon Opera House in the morning, then ride 2.5 hours by private transport to My Tho, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. The drive itself shows the shift from urban sprawl to farmland and waterways: by the time you reach the river, the landscape has already changed. From there, you board a private longtail boat and begin moving through the waterways that define life here.

The boat stops first at a fish farm, where you see how one of the region's biggest industries actually works, not a museum display, but an active operation. Then you move to a nearby island with tropical gardens where you walk and sample whatever fruit is in season. A second island stop shows you a coconut candy factory. You watch the process and taste a coconut drink made on the spot. The motorized cart ride to the bee farm comes next, a short inland detour that breaks up the water time. After that, you transfer to a rowing boat to explore the smaller canals: narrower, quieter, a different pace from the main river.

Lunch happens at Vuon Dau restaurant and arrives as a set menu: Elephant Ear fish, Vietnamese pancake (bánh xèo), Mekong lobster, Mekong sour soup, and braised pork in coconut juice with quail eggs, served with rice. The menu is fixed, but vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free versions are available if you request them at least 24 hours ahead. After lunch, you head back to My Tho and the drive returns you to Ho Chi Minh City by late afternoon.

What’s included

• Private longtail boat cruise on the Mekong River with stops at a fish farm and tropical fruit gardens.
• motorized cart ride to a bee farm and rowing boat exploration of the smaller canals.
• visit to a coconut candy factory with a taste of coconut drink.
• set-menu lunch at Vuon Dau restaurant featuring Mekong lobster, elephant ear fish, Vietnamese pancake, and other regional dishes.
• English-speaking local guide.
• private transport from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho and back.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private optionGuide in English · 08:00Exclusive tour just for your own party, not shared with other travelers.

Small group optionGuide in English · 08:00Shared group outing, a smaller party than a private tour.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “Pick up at the front entrance of the Saigon Opera House - Dong Khoi St, District 1 (intersection of Le Loi St)”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h 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 today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Intrepid Urban Adventures - Vietnam

Is this one for you?Book the private tour if your group wants the boat and guide to yourselves. Choose the small group option if you're traveling solo or don't mind sharing the experience with other travelers. Either way, the eight-hour day keeps you on the water and away from the city without requiring you to arrange transport, navigate the delta yourself, or figure out where to eat.

Traveler reviews

4.74★★★★★★★★★★

1,621 verified traveler reviews

5 ★1,336

4 ★199

3 ★52

2 ★20

1 ★14

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years). Under 6: they can't be included in the booking.

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 24h before the start.

What's the difference between the private tour and small group option?

The private tour is just your group. The small group tour shares the boat and guide with other travelers. Both follow the same route and stops, and both include the same meals and activities.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the meeting point at Saigon Opera House?

Yes. The tour includes the 2.5-hour transport from My Tho back to Ho Chi Minh City at the end, but you'll need to get yourself to the Opera House in the morning to meet your guide.

What happens if I have dietary restrictions?

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free versions of the set lunch can be arranged if you notify the operator at least 24 hours before your travel date. Other dietary requirements cannot be accommodated.

How much time do you actually spend on the water?

The itinerary includes the longtail boat cruise on the Mekong, stops at the fish farm and fruit gardens, and a rowing boat ride through the smaller canals. The motorized cart ride to the bee farm and lunch break account for the rest of the eight-hour day.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes private transport to and from My Tho, the private longtail boat and rowing boat rides, entrance fees to the attractions, the motorized cart ride, the set lunch at the restaurant, and an English-speaking guide. Gratuities are not included.