Mekong Delta day tour from Ho Chi Minh City

Overview

My Tho and Ben Tre in a day: Mekong River cruise, island workshops, sampan canals, and cycling through Tan Thach village.

This is TNK Travel’s standard Mekong Delta day tour from Ho Chi Minh City, running daily to My Tho in Tiền Giang Province and Ben Tre. The route is 70 kilometres each way and the day runs from morning pickup to late afternoon drop-off, covering a pagoda, a motorboat cruise on the Mekong River past the four islands, a set of small workshops and farms on the islands, lunch, a sampan ride through narrow palm-shaded canals, and a cycling loop through Tan Thach village.

The day is structured around movement between two provinces, mostly by boat. After the pagoda visit in My Tho, the group is on the river — motorboat out to the islands, then the slow transition to the hand-rowed sampan through the interior canals. The cycling through Tan Thach comes in the mid-afternoon and covers a working village at a pace that lets you actually see it rather than passing through it.

Two group options: an English-language small group (2–12 people) and a Chinese-language big group (2–25 people). The itinerary is the same with one difference: the small group includes a bicycle for the Tan Thach section; the big group does a guided walking tour of the same area. Small group guests who prefer not to cycle can walk or rest in hammocks.

Why TNK Travel for this tour

– Daily departures: the tour runs every day of the year including public holidays (holiday pricing applies on the dates listed in the price section).

– English and Chinese: both languages available on the same daily schedule. Specify your preference at booking.

– Small group maximum 12: the English small group keeps group size at 12 or fewer, which makes a practical difference on the sampan boats, at the workshop stops, and when cycling through the village.

– Cycling included, not an add-on: the bicycle for Tan Thach village is included in the small group price. Walking or hammock rest are available if you prefer.

– All activities included: motorboat cruise, sampan ride, workshops, cycling, fruit and honey tasting, folk music performance, and lunch — all in the tour price, no surprises.

– Trusted operator since 2000: TNK Travel is ranked #3 on TripAdvisor with over 24,000 verified reviews.

Tour highlights

– Vinh Trang Pagoda: a 19th-century Buddhist pagoda in My Tho, unusual for the way it combines Vietnamese, Chinese, Khmer, and French colonial architectural elements across the same compound. The decorative gates, garden layout, and ceramic tile mosaics each reference a different tradition. The pagoda is active — monks are present during daytime hours — and the visit takes about 30 minutes. It sets the historical and cultural context for the delta before the river section begins.

– Mekong River motorboat cruise: from the My Tho pier, the group boards a traditional motorboat and heads out on the Mekong. The river here is wide and busy with working traffic. The boat passes the four islands — Dragon (Cồn Rồng), Unicorn (Cồn Lân), Phoenix (Cồn Phụng), and Tortoise (Cồn Quải) — before docking at the first island for the workshop and farm stops.

– Đờ́n ca tài tứ folk music: a live performance in a family home or riverside pavilion on the island. Local musicians play traditional southern Vietnamese instruments — the đàn bầu (monochord zither), đàn kìm (moon lute), đàn cò (two-stringed fiddle) — and sing. UNESCO recognised đờ́n ca tài tứ as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013. The performance is informal and lasts about 20 minutes; your guide translates and explains as you listen.

– Tropical fruit tasting & honey tea: fresh fruit from the island orchards — longan, rambutan, jackfruit, starfruit, and others depending on the season — served with honey tea made from local bee farm honey. Your guide explains what is in season and where each fruit comes from.

– Bee farm visit: a working honey bee farm run by a local family. The visit covers hive structure, traditional harvesting methods, and the farm’s products. Tasting included. The family explains their approach in a direct, practical way — this is a functional visit, not a staged demonstration.

– Coconut candy workshop: Ben Tre produces most of Vietnam’s coconut output and coconut candy is one of its most recognised products. The workshop covers the full process from raw coconut to finished candy. Guests can participate in stirring, cutting, and wrapping. Finished products available to purchase.

– Vietnamese lunch: a set menu at a riverside restaurant. Typical dishes: elephant ear fish (cá tai tượng) fried whole and served with rice paper and herbs for wrapping, crispy spring rolls (chả giò), stir-fried seasonal vegetables, steamed rice, soup, and fresh fruit. Vegetarian options available if requested at booking.

– Hand-rowed sampan ride: after lunch, the group moves to the sampan dock. Narrow wooden boats carry three to four guests each, rowed by local boatwomen through interior canals too narrow for the motorboat. The canals run under a continuous canopy of coconut palms. The ride covers about two kilometres and takes 30–40 minutes. This is consistently the activity guests mention most in reviews.

– Cycling through Tan Thach village (small group only): Tan Thach’s lanes are flat, shaded, and used mainly by locals. The cycling route runs through fruit orchards and past traditional wooden houses, taking about 45–60 minutes at a relaxed pace. Bicycles are provided. Guests who prefer not to cycle can walk or rest in hammocks at the orchard. Big group guests do a guided walking tour of the same area.

Important information

Pickup

– Available from hotels in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (excluding Sài Gòn Ward and Tân Định Ward)

– Pickup time: 7:00–8:00 AM. 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, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1 by 7:00–7:10 AM

What to wear & bring

– Clothing: light, comfortable clothes. Long trousers are recommended for the temple visit.

– Footwear: comfortable walking shoes or trainers. Sandals are fine for boat rides but less practical on village paths during the cycling section.

– Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. The motorboat cruise and cycling section have significant sun exposure.

– Rain layer: a light raincoat or poncho, especially May–October.

– Cash: Vietnamese dong or USD for personal purchases at workshop stops. Tipping your guide, driver, and boatwomen is optional but appreciated.

Physical requirements

– Moderate activity level. Walking at the pagoda and village, getting in and out of boats several times, and optional cycling on flat paths.

– The sampan boats sit low in the water and require careful boarding — your guide assists. Guests with mobility concerns should advise TNK at booking.

– Cycling through Tan Thach is flat and at a relaxed pace, suitable for most fitness levels. It is fully optional.

– Not recommended for guests with serious mobility limitations that prevent boat boarding or extended walking.

– Pregnant guests should consult their doctor before booking.

Weather

– The tour operates year-round including light rain.

– In the event of severe weather, TNK Travel may adjust the itinerary while keeping all major activities.

– If TNK Travel cancels due to severe weather, guests receive a full refund or can reschedule.

Related tours

•       Mekong Delta 2 days 1 night (GT-MK2): Cai Be floating market, overnight Can Tho, Cai Rang floating market at dawn
•       Mekong Life & Local Secrets — Ben Luc (BL1): a quieter Mekong community off the main tourist circuit, 45 minutes from Ho Chi Minh City
•       A day as a Mekong fisherman & farmer (BL2): canal fishing, duck herding, and a cooking class in Ben Luc
•       Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta small group eco trip (LX-CCBL): Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning + Ben Luc farm in the afternoon

•       Mekong Delta 3 days 2 nights (MK3): Cai Be → Can Tho → Tra Su Forest → Chau Doc, with optional Phnom Penh speed boat connection