3-Day Mekong Delta Tour from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh

Boat through floating markets and narrow canals, cook with local families, bike through villages where tourists rarely go.

A 3-day guided tour of the Mekong Delta starting from Ho Chi Minh City, with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, and accommodation in Can Tho and Chau Doc. You travel by boat through Cai Rang Floating Market and Tra Su Forest, visit temples and antique houses, take a cooking class on Tan Phong Island, and cycle through rural villages. The tour ends with a transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City or an optional fast boat to Phnom Penh.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho City

• Pickup from Ho Chi Minh City hotel
• Travel to Cai Be
• Boat journey on Tien River
• Explore Mekong Delta villages and antique house
• Visit family-run confectionery and taste sweets
• Boat ride through Upper Mekong Delta canals
• Enjoy authentic Mekong Delta cooking class and lunch
• Leisurely bicycle ride on Tan Phong Island
• Boat ride back to Cai Be
• Transfer to Can Tho City and hotel check-in

Day 2: Can Tho to Chau Doc Province

• Breakfast at hotel
• Boat excursion on Bassac River
• Visit Cai Rang Floating Market
• Tour traditional noodle factory
• Visit Munir Ansay Pagoda
• Boat trip to Con Son and cake-making workshop
• Explore fruit orchard and taste seasonal fruits
• Visit Tra Su Forest by sampan
• Visit Ba Chua Xu Temple
• Dinner and overnight in Chau Doc

Day 3: Chau Doc to Phnom Penh or Ho Chi Minh City

• Optional transfer to boat meeting point
• Visit Hang Temple on Sam Mountain
• Explore floating village and Cham Village
• Visit Chau Doc Market
• Enjoy Mekong Delta cuisine lunch
• Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City or Phnom Penh

The experience

The tour picks you up from your Ho Chi Minh City hotel and heads south to Cai Be, where a boat carries you down the Tien River past fruit orchards and into the delta's narrow canals. You'll stop at a century-old wooden house built in Vietnamese, Chinese, and French colonial styles, then watch a family make coconut sweets and rice popcorn by hand. On Tan Phong Island, you join a cooking class in a garden full of tropical herbs and learn to roll spring rolls and craft rice paper before eating what you've made. A bicycle ride follows through dirt trails and villages where you meet farmers and artisans at work. By evening you're in Can Tho City, the delta's main hub.

Day two starts early on the Bassac River to catch Cai Rang Floating Market at its liveliest: vendors calling out from boats, goods displayed on sample poles, produce and household items changing hands on the water. Afterward, a noodle factory shows how rice noodles are made from raw ingredients using methods that haven't changed in generations. You visit Munir Ansay Pagoda, a Khmer temple with intricate murals and carvings, then head to Con Son for a hands-on cake-making workshop and a walk through a fruit orchard where you taste seasonal fruits like durian and mangosteen. In the afternoon, a silent sampan glides you through Tra Su Forest's mangrove canopy, where birds and insects live among the trees. The day ends with dinner at a restaurant in Chau Doc and a night at your hotel there.

On day three, you explore Hang Temple inside Sam Mountain, then visit a floating village and Cham Village to see how the Cham people live in the delta. Chau Doc Market comes next: a crowded, aromatic place packed with local produce and goods. After lunch, you either board a fast boat to Phnom Penh (optional, requires a passport photo submitted before departure) or return to Ho Chi Minh City by car. The tour includes all boat trips, entrance fees, accommodation in 3-star hotels, an English-speaking guide, and most meals. Mineral water is provided daily.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from central Ho Chi Minh City (District 1, excluding Tan Dinh and Da Kao wards).
• English-speaking guide for all three days.
• boat trips and entrance fees at Mekong Delta sites including Cai Rang Floating Market and Tra Su Forest.
• two nights' accommodation in 3-star hotels (twin or double share) in Can Tho and Chau Doc.
• cooking class and hands-on cake-making workshop.
• bicycle ride through villages.
• dinner each evening.
• mineral water daily.
• air-conditioned vehicle for transfers.
• fast boat or bus ticket to Phnom Penh if you choose the optional Cambodia exit (subject to real-time availability).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30Last departure this season: 31 Jan 2027

AgesAdult (11 to 65 years) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by TNK Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Ho Chi Minh City without your own transport. The tour includes hotel pickup and covers three provinces, or you can extend to Phnom Penh on the final day if you're heading into Cambodia.

Traveler reviews

4.70★★★★★★★★★★

249 verified traveler reviews

5 ★204

4 ★28

3 ★9

2 ★4

1 ★4

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (under 4): free.

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 24 h before the start.

What is Cai Rang Floating Market like, and why is it best visited early in the morning?

Cai Rang Floating Market is a bustling marketplace on the Bassac River where vendors sell fresh produce, household goods, and other items from boats. The tour visits at dawn or early morning because that's when the market is most active, with vendors calling out and goods being traded on the water. Later in the day, the activity slows down.

Do I need a passport to book this tour, or only if I choose the optional boat to Phnom Penh?

A passport photo is required only if you choose the optional fast boat to Phnom Penh. You'll need to provide it before the departure date. If you return to Ho Chi Minh City by car instead, no passport is needed.

What kind of cooking class is included, and what will I learn to make?

The cooking class takes place on Tan Phong Island in a garden with tropical fruits and herbs. You learn traditional techniques from local cooks, including how to roll spring rolls, craft rice paper, and blend the herbs and spices used in regional dishes. Family recipes passed down through generations are shared, and you eat what you prepare.

Is the bicycle ride on day one suitable for someone who hasn't cycled in years?

The bicycle ride follows serene dirt trails through the island's countryside and is described as leisurely. The tour notes it is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though you should be comfortable on a bike to enjoy it fully.

What is Tra Su Forest, and what will I see there?

Tra Su Forest is a mangrove ecosystem near Chau Doc with diverse plants and animals. You travel through it by traditional sampan (a small, quiet boat) gliding under a green canopy along tranquil waterways. Birds, insects, and other wildlife live in their natural habitat there, and the setting is peaceful and good for photography.

Are vegetarian meals available, and how do I request them?

Vegetarian options are available. You must advise the tour operator at the time of booking if you need them. Inform them of any other dietary requirements as well so they can arrange appropriate meals throughout the three days.