Mekong Delta Day Trip: Rowboat, Fruit Tasting & Vinh Trang Pagoda

Summary

Row through shaded canals taste fruit and visit ancient pagodas in the Mekong Delta

You’ll drift through Mekong Delta’s shaded canals by rowboat, sip honey tea at a local farm, taste tropical fruits with live music, sample coconut candy in Ben Tre, and explore Vinh Trang Pagoda—all with pickup from central Ho Chi Minh City and lunch included. Expect warmth from both locals and weather—and maybe a few surprises you’ll remember long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

The day started early—honestly, I was still half asleep when our guide, Minh, waved at us outside the hotel in District 1. The drive to My Tho took about two hours but it didn’t drag; Minh told us stories about growing up near the river and pointed out little things along the road—like those tiny coffee stands with plastic stools. When we finally reached the pier, the air felt heavier and sweet, like cut grass mixed with something sugary. I didn’t expect the river to be so wide. We hopped onto a motorboat and passed floating fish farms and families waving from their wooden houses. The Rach Mieu bridge looked massive overhead—I tried to take a photo but my camera fogged up from the humidity.

We stopped at Con Lan island first. There was this honey bee farm tucked under trees—Minh handed me a cup of honey tea that tasted floral and warm (I spilled some on my shirt, classic). They let us try fresh lychee and rambutan while a group played traditional Southern music nearby. It’s hard to describe how gentle it all felt—the music mixing with bird sounds and people chatting in Vietnamese. Then came my favorite bit: squeezing into a hand-rowed boat for those narrow shady canals. The water was brownish but calm, and I kept ducking under low branches while our rower grinned at my clumsy paddling attempts.

Afterwards we rode an electric cart through fruit gardens—mangoes everywhere—and then got back on the bigger boat to Ben Tre. The coconut candy oven smelled like burnt sugar (in a good way) and they let us taste pieces straight off the line. Lunch was simple but really tasty—rice, fried fish, some kind of tangy soup. I sat next to an older couple from Hanoi who joked about my chopstick skills (I’m hopeless). By mid-afternoon I was sticky with sweat but honestly didn’t care anymore.

The last stop was Vinh Trang Pagoda—a bright white temple surrounded by bonsai trees and gold Buddhas. Minh explained some Buddhist symbols but mostly just let us wander quietly. There were monks chanting somewhere out of sight. I remember standing in that courtyard feeling oddly peaceful after all the noise of Ho Chi Minh City. The drive back blurred by—I think I dozed off for part of it—and even now, weeks later, I still think about that slow boat ride under green leaves.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Full day Mekong Delta tour

• Depart Ho Chi Minh City at 7:30 AM
• Drive 2 hours to My Tho
• Boat ride on Tien River to fish farms and Rach Mieu bridge
• Visit Con Lan honey bee farm and taste honey tea
• Ride electric cart to fruit garden
• Try fresh tropical fruits and listen to Southern music
• Rowing boat experience on canal
• Return to motorboat and travel to Ben Tre
• Visit Ben Tre coconut candy oven
• Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
• Drive 2 hours back to Ho Chi Minh City

Top questions

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

The tour lasts a full day including about four hours of travel time round-trip between Ho Chi Minh City and My Tho.

Is lunch included on this Mekong Delta tour?

Yes, a traditional Vietnamese lunch is included during the tour.

What activities are part of this Mekong Delta day trip?

You’ll visit a honey bee farm for tea tasting, sample seasonal fruits with live music, ride hand-rowed boats through canals, see coconut candy making in Ben Tre, and explore Vinh Trang Pagoda.

Does this tour include hotel pickup in Ho Chi Minh?

Pickup is included from central District 1 hotels in Ho Chi Minh City.

Are entrance fees covered on this Mekong Delta tour?

Yes, all entrance fees are included in the price of your tour.

Is this day trip suitable for travelers with health issues?

This tour isn’t recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal or cardiovascular conditions.

Do guides speak English on this Mekong Delta trip?

An English-speaking guide leads the tour throughout the day.

What should I bring for this Mekong Delta day trip?

Bring comfortable clothes for warm weather; bottled water is provided during the tour.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup in central District 1 by air-conditioned vehicle, entry fees at all stops including Vinh Trang Pagoda, motorboat rides along Tien River plus hand-rowed canal boats, honey tea tasting at a local farm, seasonal tropical fruits with live Southern music performances, coconut candy sampling in Ben Tre province, bottled water throughout the journey, and a traditional Vietnamese lunch before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City.