Mekong Delta Day Trip: Sampan Ride, Coconut Candy & Lunch

Summary

Row narrow Mekong canals taste coconut candy and laugh with locals

You’ll paddle through Mekong Delta’s shaded canals by sampan, sip honey tea at a local farm, try your hand at wrapping coconut candy, and share lunch along the riverbank. Expect laughter with your guide and moments of quiet wonder—this isn’t just sightseeing; it’s feeling part of daily life for an afternoon.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to be balancing on a tiny wooden boat before noon, but there I was—knees knocking a little—rowing down one of those narrow canals in My Tho. The water was this muddy green, quiet except for the soft slap of the paddle and some bird calls I couldn’t name. Our guide, Minh, pointed out a cluster of floating houses where families still live off the river. He laughed when I asked if anyone ever falls in. “Sometimes,” he said, grinning. The air smelled sweet and damp, like wet leaves and something sugary—maybe from all the coconut trees lining the banks.

After that we stopped at a bee farm. There were so many bees that I almost chickened out, but Minh handed me a tiny cup of honey tea before I could bolt. It tasted warm and flowery and left my fingers sticky. We sat under these big banana leaves while an old man played music on what looked like half a guitar (I never caught the name). It was sort of hypnotic—between the music and the heat I nearly dozed off right there.

The coconut candy workshop was next. Honestly, watching them pull hot caramel across a wooden table made me wish I’d skipped breakfast. They let us try to wrap our own pieces in rice paper—mine looked terrible but tasted perfect, chewy and just salty enough. Lunch was at this open-air spot by the river; fish cooked whole (eyes staring right at you), piles of fresh herbs, rice that steamed up my glasses. There were jokes about who could eat the most chili peppers—I lost badly.

On the way back to Ho Chi Minh City, I kept thinking about how everyone we met seemed to know each other—a quick wave here or someone shouting across the water there. It felt like we’d been let in on something small but real for just a few hours. The day trip to Mekong Delta wasn’t what I pictured at all—I still think about that slow boat ride sometimes when city noise gets too much.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Mekong Delta and local culture

• Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
• Visit orchards and bee-keeping farm
• Taste honey and tropical fruit
• Attend coconut candy workshop
• Listen to traditional local music
• Ride horse in cart
• Row sampan through narrow canals
• Enjoy lunch at riverside restaurant
• Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Mekong Delta day trip?

No, but pickup is provided from central meeting points in Ho Chi Minh City.

How long does it take to get from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho?

It usually takes around 1.5–2 hours by air-conditioned vehicle.

What activities are included in this day trip?

You’ll visit orchards and a bee farm, taste honey and fruit, see coconut candy made, listen to traditional music, ride a horse cart, and row a sampan through canals.

Is lunch provided during the tour?

Yes, lunch at a riverside restaurant with local specialties is included.

Are there any physical requirements for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels but not recommended for pregnant travelers.

Can infants join this Mekong Delta tour?

Yes, but infants must sit on an adult’s lap during transport.

Will we have an English-speaking guide?

Yes, an English-speaking guide accompanies your group throughout the day trip.

Is public transportation available nearby after the tour?

Yes, public transportation options are available near drop-off points in Ho Chi Minh City.

What’s included

Your day includes bottled water throughout the trip, travel by air-conditioned vehicle from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho and back again, all boat rides including motorized boat and hand-rowed sampan through canal channels, entrance fees for every stop along the way (like Vinh Trang Pagoda), an English-speaking guide who actually knows everyone along the route it seems—and lunch by the river with local specialties before heading home in late afternoon.