Mekong Delta Day Trip: Vinh Trang Pagoda, Boat & Local Lunch

Summary

Vinh Trang pagoda to My Tho boats, fruit gardens and village life

You’ll step inside Vinh Trang Pagoda’s calm halls before drifting down Mekong canals lined with coconut palms. Taste honey tea on Lan Island, try rowing a wooden boat (even if you’re clumsy), sample fresh fruit and enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch before resting in a hammock or cycling through village roads—each moment feels unhurried here.

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered what the Mekong Delta actually smells like at 9 in the morning? It’s not just river water — there’s this mix of incense from Vinh Trang Pagoda and something sweet I couldn’t place (maybe jackfruit?). Our guide, Loan, picked us up in Ho Chi Minh City right on time, and by the time we got to My Tho I’d already lost count of how many scooters zipped past our bus. At the pagoda, she explained how the architecture blends French and Vietnamese styles — I was too distracted by the giant laughing Buddha statue to remember all the details. The air felt heavy but peaceful somehow. I liked watching locals light incense without a word.

After that, we boarded a boat at My Tho port. The river was wide and brownish-green, with floating fish farms along the banks — Loan pointed out which ones belonged to her uncle (she swears his fish are tastier). We passed under Rach Mieu Bridge and stopped at one of those little islands — Lan Island? — where village life just sort of happens around you. Someone handed me honey lemon tea that tasted like summer rain and there were slices of dragon fruit on a chipped plate. A local musician played something called Don Ca Tai Tu; I didn’t understand the lyrics but it made everyone quiet for a minute.

I tried rowing one of those narrow wooden boats through canals lined with coconut trees. Honestly, my paddling was pretty hopeless but no one seemed to mind — even when I splashed myself. The canal was so still you could hear birds arguing overhead. Later we watched women making coconut candy by hand (the smell is sticky-sweet), and I bought some because it felt rude not to after seeing how much work goes into each piece.

Lunch was this big spread of Vietnamese dishes at a local spot — tofu for me since I don’t eat meat, though everyone else dug into crispy fish. Afterward they let us just hang out: hammocks under mango trees, people fishing for crocodiles (not kidding), or cycling down a dusty lane past more fruit gardens than I could name. On the way back to Ho Chi Minh City, my shirt still smelled faintly like river water and lemongrass. I keep thinking about that quiet moment on the boat when everything slowed down for once.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Full day Mekong Delta tour

• Pick up from Ho Chi Minh City
• Drive 1.5 hours to Vinh Trang Pagoda
• Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
• Go to My Tho Cruise Port
• Boat trip on Tien River
• See Long, Lan, Qui, Phung islets
• Observe floating fish rafts and Rach Mieu Bridge
• Walk on Thoi Son island village road
• Visit local houses and fruit gardens
• Visit honey bee farm and drink honey lemon tea
• Enjoy Don Ca Tai Tu Southern folk music
• Eat fresh local fruit
• Row boats through small canals
• See natural coconut trees and garden landscape
• Visit coconut candy shop and learn candy making
• Have local lunch at restaurant
• Relax, fish for crocodiles, visit monkey bridge
• Rest in hammock or cycle village road
• Return to My Tho by boat
• Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City
• Drop off at meeting point or Ben Thanh market

Top questions

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

The tour lasts around 9 hours including pickup and drop-off in Ho Chi Minh City.

Is hotel pickup included for this Mekong Delta tour?

Pickup is included from central meeting points in Ho Chi Minh City such as 165 Pham Ngu Lao Street or Ben Thanh Market.

What do you see at Vinh Trang Pagoda?

You visit Vinh Trang Pagoda to see its unique blend of European and Asian architecture plus large Buddha statues.

Are vegetarian options available for lunch?

Yes, there is a vegetarian option available for the traditional Vietnamese set menu lunch.

Can you row your own boat during this Mekong Delta day trip?

Yes, guests can try rowing small wooden boats through narrow coconut-lined canals as part of the experience.

Is an English-speaking guide provided?

An English- and Vietnamese-speaking guide accompanies you throughout the tour.

What activities are included besides boating?

You’ll also taste honey tea, listen to Southern folk music, visit fruit gardens and coconut candy workshops, relax in hammocks or try cycling in the village.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts with pickup in Ho Chi Minh City and ends with drop-off at your original meeting point or Ben Thanh Market.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from central Ho Chi Minh City locations, all boat rides across rivers and canals, entry to Vinh Trang Pagoda, guided visits to local homes and fruit gardens on Lan Island, honey lemon tea tasting with fresh fruits, live folk music performance, hands-on rowing experience through coconut groves, a traditional Vietnamese set menu lunch (with vegetarian option), bottled water throughout the journey, plus plenty of time to relax or explore village roads before returning by air-conditioned vehicle in late afternoon.