The Mekong Delta in six days

6 days · 4 stops · South

Most visitors see the Mekong Delta on a rushed day trip from Saigon. Give it a week and it becomes one of the most rewarding parts of Vietnam: river life at dawn, orchards, homestays and a mix of cultures you won't find anywhere else.

The dry season (December–April) is easiest. From September to November the flood season transforms An Giang and Dong Thap — beautiful, if wetter.

1. 1

   directionsAbout 2 hours by road from Ho Chi Minh City

   

   Days 1–2

   Ben Tre

   1 night

   Canals by sampan, coconut-candy workshops and a riverside homestay.

2. 2

   directionsAbout 2 hours by road

   

   Days 2–3

   Dong Thap

   1 night

   Sa Dec's flower village and the Huynh Thuy Le house from Marguerite Duras's "The Lover", then a boat through Xeo Quyt forest.

3. 3

   directionsAbout 1 hour by road from Sa Dec

   Can Tho

   Days 3–4

   Can Tho

   1 night · full guide coming soon

   Up before 5 am for Cai Rang floating market, then the Binh Thuy ancient house and an evening on Ninh Kieu Pier.

4. 4

   directionsAbout 3 hours by road

   

   Days 4–6

   Chau Doc & An Giang

   2 nights

   The floating village and Cham mosques around Chau Doc, Tra Su melaleuca forest by boat, and a ride around the Seven Mountains.

5. flag

   5–6 hours by road back to Ho Chi Minh City, or continue by boat to Phnom Penh