Mekong Delta: Small Group Sampan & Pagoda Day Trip from Saigon

Summary

Ceramic mosaics at vinh trang pagoda, sampan rides, fruit orchards and village paths

You’ll wander mosaic-tiled pagodas in My Tho, float by palm-lined banks on a classic sampan boat, sip honey tea in a Mekong fruit orchard, and share smiles with locals on winding village paths or from a hammock under swaying trees. This day trip from Ho Chi Minh City lingers long after you return—especially that moment when everything slows down on the river.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the sound — not traffic, but birds and the low hum of monks chanting somewhere behind the mosaic walls of Vinh Trang Pagoda. Our guide, Minh, waved us over to look closer at the entrance gate. Up close, you see all these tiny shards of porcelain — blues, greens, bits of gold — pieced together like someone’s memory quilt. I tried to take a photo but it never catches how the light bounces off the tiles. Minh told us some of the stories in those patterns; I only caught half because my brain was still waking up from the drive out from Ho Chi Minh City (it’s about two hours, but honestly feels like another world).

After that we piled into a wooden sampan — those boats with curved ends that look almost too delicate for river life. The Mekong Delta is wider than I’d pictured; water everywhere, edged by palms that slap together when the wind picks up. We passed islands with names like Dragon and Phoenix (I kept mixing them up), and then stopped at Thoi Son islet. There were kids riding bikes along the path and an old man selling something that smelled sweet — turned out to be coconut candy. Li laughed when I tried to say it in Mandarin — probably butchered it. The honey tea was sticky-sweet and tasted faintly of flowers; maybe lychee? Or maybe that was just wishful thinking.

Lunch was riverside — fish so fresh it still tasted of river mud (not in a bad way), plus some kind of crunchy salad I couldn’t name but ate anyway. The breeze picked up while we sat there, which felt good after sweating through my shirt earlier (pro tip: wear something loose). Later we had a choice: pedal through Tan Thach village or just swing in a hammock under the palms. I went for the bike ride and ended up waving at every person we passed — people here wave back with their whole arm, not just their hand. It’s small but it sticks with me.

I didn’t expect to care about plastic bottles but Minh handed us bags for collecting them along the way. It felt awkward at first but then sort of right — like you’re giving something back instead of just passing through. On the drive home, legs tired and clothes smelling faintly of river water and fried garlic, I realized how quiet it got outside the city again. That silence is what I remember most.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Mekong Delta and local culture

• Depart Ho Chi Minh City
• Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
• Boat trip past four legendary islands
• Explore Thoi Son islet village paths
• Visit fruit orchard and taste honey tea
• See coconut candy workshop
• Enjoy riverside lunch with local dishes
• Take serene sampan ride in Ben Tre
• Bicycle tour or relax in hammocks
• Return to Ho Chi Minh City

Top questions

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

This is a full-day tour including transfers; expect to return in the evening depending on traffic.

Is lunch included on this Mekong Delta small group tour?

Yes, lunch featuring local Vietnamese cuisine is included at a riverside restaurant.

What should I wear for visiting Vinh Trang Pagoda?

Wear modest clothing covering shoulders and knees as you’ll visit temples during the tour.

Are hotel pickups available for this tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included for centrally located District 1 hotels (some streets excluded).

Is this Mekong Delta experience suitable for children?

Yes, children can join if accompanied by adults; infant rates apply if they do not occupy a seat.

What activities are included besides boat rides?

You’ll visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, taste honey tea and coconut candy, enjoy lunch, bike or relax in hammocks.

How many people are in each group?

The group size is capped at 12 travelers for more personal attention.

Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

Please advise any dietary needs when booking so arrangements can be made for your lunch.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from central District 1 (with some street exceptions), all entry fees for attractions like Vinh Trang Pagoda, mineral water on board, an English-speaking local guide throughout your journey, boat trips across different parts of the Mekong Delta by sampan and wooden boats, hands-on tastings like honey tea and coconut candy at village stops, plus a traditional Vietnamese lunch served riverside before returning to Ho Chi Minh City in the evening.