Tour snapshot
Depart date:
DAILY DEPARTURE
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
Can Tho - Cai Rang Floating Market - Tra Su Mangrove Forest - Chau Doc
5:30 AM Early departure for Cái Răng
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.
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)
Day 3 has two options. Confirm your choice at booking.
Option A — Speed boat Châu Đốc → Phnom Penh
Hàng Châu Speed Boat — 2026 schedule & departure points
VIsa fee: $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
Hàng Châu Speed Boat — 2026 schedule & departure points
VIsa fee: $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
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