Tour snapshot
DAILY DEPARTURE
Overview
Three provinces, two floating markets, one mangrove forest, two nights on the delta — the most complete Mekong itinerary TNK runs from Ho Chi Minh City.
Most Mekong Delta day tours from Ho Chi Minh City cover a single province and a single river. This three-day itinerary goes further — into Tiền Giang, Cần Thơ, and An Giang — and stays long enough in each place to let things be genuinely interesting rather than rushed.
Day 1 moves through Cái Bè in Tiền Giang: the floating market, craft workshops, a longan orchard, and an ancient merchant house before settling into Cần Thơ for the night. Day 2 starts early with Cái Răng, the largest wholesale floating market in the delta, then drives south to Trà Sư, an 850-hectare protected mangrove forest in An Giang, before ending in Châu Đốc near the Cambodian border. Day 3 explores the cultural mix of Châu Đốc — floating fish farms, a Cham weaving village, Sam Mountain — before either returning to Ho Chi Minh City or continuing by speed boat to Phnom Penh.
Two overnight stays mean no rushing. The pace of the itinerary matches the pace of the delta itself.
Why TNK Travel for this tour
- Three provinces in three days: Tiền Giang, Cần Thơ, and An Giang each have a distinct character. This tour covers all three without turning any of them into a 45-minute checkpoint.
- Two floating markets, neither rushed: Cái Bè (Day 1) and Cái Răng (Day 2) are different in scale and atmosphere. Visiting both in sequence gives a genuine sense of how river commerce works across the delta.
- Trà Sư is not on most itineraries: the cajuput mangrove forest in An Giang is one of the most visually striking places in the delta and sees a fraction of the visitors that Cái Răng does. Getting there requires driving south of Cần Thơ — something most two-day tours don’t do.
- Cambodia option built in: the speed boat version of this tour ends at Châu Đốc pier for Phnom Penh. No separate transfer to arrange.
- Trusted by over 1,000,000 travellers: TNK Travel has operated tours from Ho Chi Minh City since 2000. Ranked #3 on TripAdvisor with over 24,000 verified reviews.
Tour highlights
- Cái Bè floating market: operates from early morning on the Tiền River. Boats loaded with seasonal fruit — longan, pomelo, jackfruit, watermelon — cluster around the main channel. The market has quieted over the years as road transport replaced river trade, but it remains active and worth seeing.
- Ancient merchant houses & craft workshops: the riverbank villages around Cái Bè have well-preserved 19th-century trader’s houses. The craft workshops — rice paper, coconut candy, fish crackers — are small family operations, not factories.
- Longan orchard: a walk through a working orchard gives a sense of the scale of fruit cultivation in the delta and how the seasonal harvest is managed.
- Cái Răng floating market: the largest wholesale floating market in the Mekong Delta. The ‘hanging tree’ tradition (dào hàng) — sellers tie samples of their goods to tall poles above the bow — identifies cargo from a distance. The Day 2 schedule is built around the 6:00–8:00 AM peak.
- Trà Sư Mangrove Forest: 850 hectares of protected cajuput forest in An Giang. The motorised boat on the main channel gives way to a rowboat in the narrower waterways under the canopy. Storks, herons, egrets, and bats are commonly sighted.
- Bà Chúa Xứ Temple & Sam Mountain: one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in southern Vietnam, at the base of Sam Mountain in Châu Đốc. The optional summit climb (284 metres) gives the widest panorama of the flat delta landscape available anywhere in the region.
- Châu Đốc floating village: raft houses anchored in the Bassac River. Families live on the water and raise basa and tra catfish in cages beneath their homes.
- Cham village: descendants of the ancient Champa kingdom practising Sunni Islam. Hand-loom silk weaving workshops and an accessible mosque.
Important information
Pickup
- Available from hotels in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (excluding Sài Gòn Ward and Tân Định Ward).
- Pickup time: 7:00–7:20 AM on Day 1. Please wait in your hotel lobby.
- Exact pickup time confirmed by email or WhatsApp 24 hours before departure.
- Hotels outside the pickup zone: meet at TNK Travel, 112 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Bến Thành Ward, District 1 by 7:00 AM.
Accommodation
- Night 1: Cần Thơ City — Wink Hotel Cần Thơ or similar (3-star)
- Night 2: Châu Đốc — Châu Phố Hotel or similar (3-star)
- All rooms: twin or double beds, private bathroom, air conditioning, Wi-Fi.
- Single supplement: $45 USD per night (both nights). Select at booking.
What to wear & bring
- Clothing: light clothes for three days. The delta is warm and humid year-round. Pack for overnight — you will not return to Ho Chi Minh City until Day 3 (or not at all if taking the speed boat).
- Footwear: comfortable walking shoes or sandals with straps. The Trà Sư Forest section involves stepping in and out of boats on muddy banks.
- Insect repellent: essential for Trà Sư Forest. Bring your own or purchase in Cần Thơ.
- Sun protection: hat and sunscreen for floating market and Sam Mountain sections.
- Cash: for personal expenses, Day 2 dinner (not included), and shopping. ATMs available in Cần Thơ and Châu Đốc.
- Speed boat option: if taking the Day 3 speed boat, read the Cambodia visa section carefully. Passport details must be submitted at least 7 days in advance. $37 USD cash needed for visa on arrival.
Physical requirements
- Moderate activity level — walking through markets and villages (mostly flat terrain), getting in and out of boats, and optional climbing at Sam Mountain.
- Sam Mountain: the full ascent involves steep steps. The lower Hang Temple is accessible without climbing.
- Trà Sư Forest: the rowboat section is calm. Some stepping over the side onto muddy banks is involved.
- Not recommended for travellers with severe mobility limitations.
Weather
- Tour runs year-round. Dry season (November–April): most comfortable conditions across all three days.
- Wet season (May–October): afternoon rain is common but usually brief. Higher water in Trà Sư makes the boat trip more immersive.
- If TNK Travel cancels due to severe weather, guests receive a full refund or can reschedule.
Itinerary
Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Be - Can Tho
The vehicle and guide collect the group from your hotel. The drive southwest toward Tiền Giang takes approximately 2 hours. Your guide introduces the Mekong Delta — the hydrology of the river system, the role of the delta in Vietnamese food production, and the history of Cái Bè as a trading hub.
9:00 AM Cái Bè floating market — by boat
The group boards a motorboat for the Cái Bè floating market on the Tiền River. The market operates in the early morning; this timing catches the tail end of active trading. Boats loaded with seasonal produce — longan, pomelo, watermelon, jackfruit, cassava — cluster along the main channel. The guide explains the market’s history: it was once the main wholesale distribution point for produce from Tiền Giang, but as road networks improved, most wholesale trade moved to road transport. The market is smaller than it was twenty years ago, but the boats that remain are working vessels, not tourist props.
10:30 AM Ancient merchant houses & craft workshops
The boat continues to the riverbank villages near Cái Bè. A stop at one of the well-preserved 19th-century merchant houses — long, narrow houses built in the French-Chinese hybrid style typical of wealthy Mekong traders of the period. The interior typically combines a Vietnamese altar room at the rear with French-tiled floors and Chinese carved furniture.
Craft workshop visits follow: a rice paper (bánh tráng) production house, a coconut candy (kẹo dừa) workshop, and a fish cracker (bánh phồng tôm) operation. Each is a family-run business. You see the full production process and can buy directly from the family.
12:00 PM Longan orchard — fruit tasting
A walk through a working longan orchard. Longan (nhãn) is one of Tiền Giang’s main cash crops — the province produces a significant proportion of Vietnam’s total longan harvest. The guide explains the cultivation cycle and the economics of fruit farming in the delta. Fruit tasting from the orchard.
1:00 PM Lunch — riverside restaurant, Cái Bè
Lunch at a local restaurant on the Tiền River. Tiền Giang-style Vietnamese set menu with shared plates. Approximately 45–60 minutes.
2:30 PM Drive to Cần Thơ — hotel check-in
The vehicle drives west to Cần Thơ. Approximately 1.5 hours. Check-in at Wink Hotel Cần Thơ or similar. Afternoon free for walking along the Cần Thơ river promenade, the Ninh Kiều night market, or resting.
7:00 PM Dinner in Cần Thơ (own account)
Your guide will recommend restaurants near the hotel. Cần Thơ’s specialties include búnh măm (fermented fish noodle soup) and fresh river fish dishes. Budget approximately $5–10 USD per person.
Can Tho - Cai Rang Floating Market - Tra Su Mangrove Forest - Chau Doc
An early start is necessary to reach Cái Răng Floating Market during its peak trading hours. The market runs from pre-dawn until around 9:00 AM; the busiest period is 6:00–8:00 AM. Your guide and driver collect you from the hotel lobby.
6:00 AM Cái Răng floating market
Cái Răng is the largest wholesale floating market in the Mekong Delta, operating on the Cần Thơ River about 6 kilometres from the city centre. Hundreds of boats arrive before dawn loaded with wholesale quantities of produce from across the delta — watermelon, pineapple, sweet potato, cassava, garlic. The ‘hanging tree’ (dào hàng) tradition identifies each vessel’s cargo: a branch of the goods being sold is tied to a tall pole at the bow, visible from a distance across the market.
The visit is by motorboat. The guide explains the logistics: who the buyers are, how wholesale prices are set, how produce is distributed onward to retail markets and as far as Ho Chi Minh City. Fresh bún bò (beef noodle soup) and cà phê (Vietnamese coffee) are available from small food boats at the market — breakfast on the water.
8:00 AM Rice noodle factory & Khmer pagoda
A visit to a family-run rice noodle factory (cơ sở bún) near the Cái Răng waterfront — the noodle-making process from soaked rice through milling, pressing and sun-drying on bamboo frames. A stop at a Khmer Buddhist pagoda: the architectural style is visibly different from Vietnamese temples, with higher rooflines, deeper eaves, and multi-tiered spires. The Cần Thơ area has a significant Khmer community.
9:30 AM Drive south to An Giang province
The vehicle drives south from Cần Thơ toward An Giang province and Trà Sư Forest. The drive is approximately 3 hours. Lunch is taken at a restaurant near the forest before the afternoon visit.
12:30 PM Lunch near Trà Sư
Lunch at a local restaurant in the area. An Giang cuisine reflects the border region’s influences from Cambodia and the large Cham and Khmer communities — mắm (fermented fish paste) dishes are more prominent here than in the upper delta.
1:30 PM Trà Sư Mangrove Forest
Trà Sư (rừng trà sư) is an 850-hectare protected wetland forest in Tịnh Biên district, An Giang province. The dominant tree is the cajuput (Melaleuca cajuputi) — a papery-barked tree that thrives in flooded conditions.
The visit begins on a motorised flat-bottomed boat on the main channel — the water surface is covered in duckweed (bèo hoa dâu), giving it a vivid green colour. After 15–20 minutes the boat transitions to a rowboat for the narrower waterways deeper in the forest. The canopy closes overhead; light filters through the leaves. Bird species commonly sighted: little egret (cò trắng), purple heron (vạc), Asian openbill stork, and various cormorant species. An observation tower near the main jetty provides a view over the canopy. Insect repellent is essential here.
4:00 PM Bà Chúa Xứ Temple & Sam Mountain (brief stop)
A stop at Bà Chúa Xứ Temple at the base of Sam Mountain on the approach into Châu Đốc. The temple is dedicated to the Lady of the Realm and is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in southern Vietnam. Time permitting, a short walk to the Hang Temple — a cave pagoda with Buddhist statuary set into the rock face.
6:00 PM Châu Đốc — hotel check-in
Check-in at Châu Phố Hotel or similar (3-star) in Châu Đốc.
7:00 PM Dinner in Châu Đốc (own account)
Day 2 dinner is not included. Your guide will recommend restaurants near the hotel. Châu Đốc’s local specialties include bún cá (fish noodle soup) and bò núi Sam (Sam Mountain beef). Budget approximately $5–10 USD per person.
Chau Doc - Ho Chi Minh City (OR Phnom Penh Transfer)
Hàng Châu Speed Boat — 2026 schedule & departure points
Speed boat ticket: $37 USD per person Includes Cambodia visa on arrival. Purchased on board.
Chau Doc → Phnom Penh
07:00 AM — Departure from Chau Doc Pickup at Victoria Chau Doc Hotel 01 Le Loi, Chau Doc, An Giang
01:30 PM — Arrival in Phnom Penh
Drop-off at International Floating Port
103 Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh → Chau Doc
12:30 PM — Departure from Phnom Penh
Pickup at International Floating Port
103 Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh
06:30 PM — Arrival in Chau Doc
Drop-off at Victoria Chau Doc Hotel
01 Le Loi, Chau Doc, An Giang
6:30 AM Hotel checkout — transfer to Châu Đốc pier
TNK’s guide accompanies you to the speed boat departure point at Victoria Châu Đốc Hotel pier, 01 Lê Lợi Street, Châu Đốc. TNK Travel’s service ends at the pier. From this point the boat is operated by Hàng Châu — the guide will introduce you to the crew before departing.
7:00 AM Speed boat departs Châu Đốc
The Hàng Châu speed boat departs at 7:00 AM. The journey follows the Bassac River toward the Cambodian border. The border crossing is at Vĩnh Xương / Kaam Samnor. The boat stops on the Vietnamese side for exit formalities, then on the Cambodian side for entry. Hàng Châu crew handles passport collection and submission — guests do not queue at a counter.
1:30 PM Arrival — International Floating Port, Phnom Penh
The speed boat arrives at 103 Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh — on the Tonle Sap River waterfront in central Phnom Penh, within easy reach of hotels and onward transport.
Option B — Return to Ho Chi Minh City
7:30 AM Hotel breakfast & checkout Hotel breakfast included. Check out and depart with your guide for the morning activities in Châu Đốc.
8:00 AM Floating village — Bassac River
A boat trip on the Bassac River to the floating village (làng nổi) — a community of raft houses anchored in the river. Families live entirely on the water: houses, kitchens, and fish cages (bè cá) are all on floating platforms. The guide explains how basa and tra catfish are raised in cages beneath the houses and how commercial fish farming has shaped the local economy.
9:30 AM Cham village
A visit to a Cham Muslim village on the riverbank. The Cham people of Châu Đốc are descendants of the ancient Champa kingdom and converted to Islam through trade contact with Malay and Arab merchants centuries ago. The village has a working mosque and weaving workshops producing traditional Cham silk fabric (vải thổ cẩm) on hand looms. Visitors are welcome in the mosque with appropriate dress — your guide will advise.
10:30 AM Châu Đốc market
A walk through Châu Đốc’s central market — a mixed Vietnamese and Cambodian trading hub reflecting the town’s position on the border. The market sells dried fish (cá khô), mắm, fabric, and produce from Cambodia.
11:30 AM Sam Mountain — Hang Temple & optional summit
Sam Mountain (Núi Sam) stands at 284 metres and commands a clear view across the flat delta to the Cambodian border. The Hang Temple (Chùa Hang) is set into the lower caves of the mountain, about 10 minutes’ walk from the base. The full summit climb takes approximately 45 minutes on steep steps — the panorama from the top is the widest available anywhere in this part of the country. Guests who prefer not to climb can wait at the lower temple.
1:00 PM Lunch in Châu Đốc (included)
Final lunch at a local restaurant in Châu Đốc before the drive back.
2:00 PM Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City
The vehicle departs Châu Đốc for Ho Chi Minh City. Drive approximately 5–6 hours depending on traffic. Drop-off at District 1 hotels.
7:00–8:00 PM Hotel drop-off — end of tour
Price & Bookings
Cambodia visa — speed boat route (Option A only)
The speed boat route crosses an official river border crossing. Entry requirements for Cambodia via this route are different from entry by air or road. Read this section carefully if you have selected Option A.
| ✅ Cambodia Visa on Arrival — the only valid visa for this route
Visa on Arrival is processed directly on the speed boat at the border crossing. No advance application is required. |
Visa fee & payment
| Detail | Information |
| Visa fee (2026) | $37.00 USD per person (includes service fee) |
| Accepted currencies | USD / EUR / VND (USD preferred — see note below) |
| Payment timing | Collected on board by crew — cash only |
| Who fills the form | Hàng Châu fills the immigration form for each guest |
| Photo required | No |
| Cambodia e-Arrival card | Not required |
Note on currency: the $37.00 USD fee is set by the Cambodian authorities. If you do not have USD, EUR and VND are accepted, but the exchange rate applied at the border is less favourable than bank rates. It is worth having USD cash available.
Passport requirements — check before the trip
| ⚠️ Failure to meet ANY condition below means the speed boat operator can refuse boarding. |
- Submit passport details 7 days in advance: full and accurate passport details must be provided to TNK Travel or Hàng Châu at least 7 days before the boat departure date. The crew fills in the immigration forms on board — your details must be ready before boarding.
- Minimum 3 blank pages: your passport must have at least 3 completely blank pages for the Cambodia entry stamp.
- 6-month validity: your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel date.
- Refusal policy: if your passport does not meet the above requirements, Hàng Châu has the right to refuse boarding. TNK Travel cannot override this decision.
Vietnam E-visa — print A4 before travel
| 🗂️ If you entered Vietnam on a Vietnam E-visa:
Print your Vietnam E-visa on A4 paper before the trip. PDF files on a phone or tablet are NOT accepted at the Vietnamese exit checkpoint at the river border crossing. |
⛔ Cambodia E-visa — NOT valid on this route
| Cambodia E-visa is NOT accepted at the Vĩnh Xương river border crossing.
The Cambodia E-visa lists permitted entry points on the visa document. The Vĩnh Xương river crossing is not on the E-visa list — only airports and certain road crossings are included. If you arrive at the border with a Cambodia E-visa, you will be required to purchase a new Visa on Arrival ($37.00 USD cash) before entry. The E-visa fee is not refunded. You will pay twice if you rely on an E-visa for this crossing. |
Pre-departure checklist — Option A
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond travel date
- At least 3 blank pages remaining in passport
- Passport details submitted to TNK / Hàng Châu at least 7 days before departure
- $37.00 USD cash ready for Cambodia Visa on Arrival
- Vietnam E-visa (if applicable): printed on A4 paper — PDF not accepted
- Cambodia E-visa: do NOT use on this route
- Cambodia e-Arrival card: not required
Price & bookings
.
All rates are per person in USD. Daily departure. Breakfasts (Day 2 & 3 Option B), lunches (all three days), and 2 nights accommodation included.
| Tour option | Group Size | Price per | Holiday + | Single supp. |
| MK3 — 3D/2N return to HCMC | 10 – 25 pax | $150 | $160 | $30 |
| MK3 — 3D/2N + speed boat to Phnom Penh | 10 – 25 pax | $210 | $220 | $30 |
Single supplement $30 USD applies per person per night for guests occupying a room alone (both nights).
Public holidays — holiday surcharge applies
If your departure date falls on or within any of the periods below, the holiday surcharge applies automatically at booking.
| Holiday | Dates |
| New Year’s Day | 1 January 2027 |
| Lunar New Year (Tết) | 15 February – 3 March 2026 |
| Hung Kings’ Festival | 26 April 2026 |
| Reunification Day & Labour Day | 30 April – 1 May 2026 |
| Vietnam National Day | 1–2 September 2026 |
Children’s pricing
| Age | Rate | Notes |
| Under 4 years | Free | Shares bed with parents |
| 4–10 years | 75% of adult rate | Standard children’s rate |
| 11 years and above | Adult rate | Full adult rate |
Children aged 4–10 pay 75% of the applicable adult rate. Children under 4 are free and share a bed with their parents. The single supplement applies to adults only.
What’s included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle throughout (Day 1–3)
- Professional English-speaking guide throughout
- 2 nights accommodation — 3-star hotels (twin or double)
- Breakfasts: Day 2 & Day 3 (Option B only)
- Lunches: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
- All boat trips: Cái Bè floating market, Cái Răng floating market, Trà Sư Forest (motorboat + rowboat)
- All entrance fees throughout the tour
- 1 bottle of mineral water per person per day
- All taxes and service charges
What’s not included
- Day 1 dinner and Day 2 dinner (own account — approx. $5–10 USD per person)
- Speed boat ticket Châu Đốc → Phnom Penh: $37.00 USD (Option A, includes Cambodia visa — purchased on board)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended for a 3-day trip)
- Tips for guide and driver (optional, appreciated)
- Personal purchases and souvenirs
Why TNK Travel
TNK Travel is a Vietnam-based inbound tour operator licensed since 2000. We run daily departures from Ho Chi Minh City and have taken over 1,000,000 travellers on tours across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
- Ranked #3 on TripAdvisor among Ho Chi Minh City tour operators
- 24,000+ verified reviews across TripAdvisor, Viator, and Klook
- Viator Top-Rated Operator badge
- 94% of travellers recommend our tours
- Licensed operator: International Tour Operator Licence No. 79-102/2010/TCDL-GP LHQT
Frequently asked questions
How is this tour different from a 1-day or 2-day Mekong tour?
A one-day tour from Ho Chi Minh City can cover at most one or two provinces and usually rushes through each stop. A two-day tour adds a night in Cần Thơ and typically covers Cái Răng in the morning. This three-day itinerary does all of that and then continues south into An Giang — to Trà Sư Forest, which most two-day tours don’t reach, and to Châu Đốc, which has a completely different cultural character from the rest of the delta. The extra day is not padding; it covers genuinely different terrain.
Do I need to book the Cambodia speed boat separately?
No. If you select the Option A (speed boat) version of the tour, TNK handles the transfer to the Hàng Châu pier in Châu Đốc. The speed boat ticket ($37.00 USD including Cambodia Visa on Arrival) is purchased on board. You do not need to arrange the boat independently. You do need to submit your passport details to TNK at least 7 days before departure so Hàng Châu can prepare the immigration forms.
I already have a Cambodia E-visa. Can I use it on the speed boat?
No. Cambodia E-visa is not valid at the Vĩnh Xương river border crossing. The E-visa lists permitted entry points on the document — this crossing is not included. If you arrive with a Cambodia E-visa, you will still need to purchase a Visa on Arrival ($37.00 USD) on the boat. The E-visa fee is not refunded. Use Cambodia Visa on Arrival for this route.
What is Trà Sư Forest and why is it worth visiting?
Trà Sư is a protected cajuput mangrove forest in Tiịnh Biên District, An Giang — about 90 minutes south of Cần Thơ and well off the standard tourist circuit. The forest is most striking in the wet season when the floodwater rises and the motorboat and rowboat move through a submerged landscape with the tree trunks disappearing into the water below. In the dry season the ground is visible but the bird and bat populations are still significant. It is one of the few places in the delta where the ecosystem feels genuinely wild rather than agricultural. Most two-day tours from Ho Chi Minh City do not go this far south, which is why it sees far fewer visitors than Cái Răng.
What are the Cham people and why are they in Châu Đốc?
The Cham people of Châu Đốc are descendants of the ancient Champa kingdom, which controlled much of central and southern Vietnam before being gradually absorbed by the expanding Vietnamese state between the 10th and 17th centuries. The Châu Đốc Cham community converted to Sunni Islam through contact with Malay and Arab merchants, and have maintained their religious and cultural identity for centuries. They speak a distinct language (Cham), practise Islam, and are known for their traditional silk weaving. The community’s presence in Châu Đốc — alongside Vietnamese, Khmer, and Chinese communities — reflects the town’s position as a border trading hub over many centuries.
Is Sam Mountain worth climbing?
The lower Hang Temple is worth visiting even without climbing — it is set into a cave in the lower rock face and has good Buddhist statuary and a peaceful atmosphere. The full summit climb (284 metres, about 45 minutes up on steep steps) is optional. The view from the top across the flat delta plain to the Cambodian border is genuinely striking — the mountain is the only significant topographic feature in an otherwise completely flat agricultural landscape. Guests in reasonable health and comfortable with steep steps generally find the climb worthwhile. Those who prefer not to climb can wait at the lower temple or in the vehicle.
Book the Mekong Delta 3-day tour
Daily departures from Ho Chi Minh City. Hotel pickup District 1, two overnight stays, all boats and entrance fees, most meals included. Cambodia speed boat option available.
- Online: tnktravel.com — booking form on this page
- WhatsApp: +84 938 195 445
- Email: booking@tnktravel.com
- Walk in: 90 Bui Vien Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
International Tour Operator Licence No: 79-102/2010/TCDL-GP LHQT
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