Planning an itinerary in the Mekong Delta

Hi, We’ve planned a week in the delta, but sometimes I wonder if that’s not too much… We’ll be there in early February, and the idea is to take a taxi straight from Saigon Airport to Ben Tre. I’m counting on 3 nights to recover and adjust after the long trip. Then I was thinking of Sadec, Can Tho, Chau Doc, Ha Tien, and back to Saigon for 3 nights before a flight to Hoi An. We’ve got 6 weeks total, so we have a bit of time. After reading different travel stories, the destinations in the delta seem a bit repetitive—I keep seeing the same excursions. On the other hand, I also think having time is a chance to get to know the local life a little better. My question really comes down to this: for those of you who travel at a relaxed pace, do you have any tips? I’ve heard the floating markets aren’t that interesting anymore. Also, motorbikes aren’t our thing. Thanks

Good evening,

A week in the delta is just right—nothing excessive. And you're absolutely right to take your time.

Our trip was a while ago now, but I’d love to share my travel journal if it might inspire you. You’ll see our top pick for accommodation, which is still around.

Check it out here

Thanks Michel, Actually, I’ve already seen your great video. You used an agency, which won’t be our case, but I noted your stops and your misadventures—at least your wife’s health issues in Chau Doc. Goes to show that 3-star hotels aren’t always recommended. Happy New Year 2025! Anne

Good evening,

Great idea to spend 3 nights in Ben Tre. Don’t forget to explore on foot from the opposite bank along the trails that follow the small river branches, or to rent a boat (with a boatman) for a half-day or full-day trip. Sometimes you’ll glide through creeks so narrow and shallow, with such dense vegetation, that the boat can barely make its way through.

Thanks Songsam, do we *have* to go through an intermediary (homestay or agency) to rent a small boat? I’m still surprised that the price is usually per person, so you have to multiply by 2—it’s still just one boat and one boatman!

Any other ideas for the delta? Anne

Do we absolutely have to go through an intermediary (homestay or agency) to rent a small boat? I’m always surprised to see that the price is usually per person, so you have to multiply it by 2. It’s still just one boat and one boatman.

No, it was while I was strolling around the city by the river that a boatman approached me. I don’t remember the exact price, which was per boat (there were two of us), but if I accepted, it must’ve been reasonable enough.

Any other ideas for the Delta?

Apart from Ben Tre, the only other place I know in the Delta is a village called Cau Quan, located near another branch of the river* southwest of Tra Vinh. I went there randomly because I like getting lost in remote areas. There’s nothing special to see except the atmosphere of a typical Vietnamese village where I stayed for 3 nights (when I travel, I like to take my time). There’s only one basic guesthouse for accommodation. * the one that also flows through Can Tho

Good evening. Given your stops and the possible stops between the cities mentioned, a week would be just fine for me (I’d need double that time just for this route). For example: You don’t mention Long Xuyen between Sa Dec and Chau Doc, with its huge land market (3 halls) and right next to it, the floating market that supplies it—with very few tourists. Near Can Tho to the southeast, there’s a little lost village called Tra On and a wonderful floating market where you go by rowboat. Don’t forget Can Tho—while Cai Rang Market may have lost its appeal for many, it’s not the only floating market in the city. The other one is lesser-known because it’s a bit farther away... A good guide will help you discover all these markets that agencies tend to skip in favor of the big classics. Happy travels

Hi Eric, What a reply—it’s really opened up some possibilities for me, thanks! My itinerary is completely open. I haven’t booked any domestic flights yet. Actually, as soon as we arrive in Saigon, we were thinking of taking a taxi to Ben Tre and only returning to Saigon a few days before flying out to Hoi An. Sometimes I wonder if starting in Saigon and leaving from Can Tho would make more sense. Honestly, my decision is more about taking some downtime away from the capital, which doesn’t really seem like the place for it.

I’ll keep in mind that market in Can Tho—I’d hesitated about stopping there. Long Xuyen, yes, I’d thought about a stop on Tiger Island? I’m not sure about the name anymore. It seems like finding accommodation there is a bit more complicated. I’ve read Larsay’s travel journals and yours too.

I’m very open to your advice. Anne

Hi there, We’ll be in the same area soon, for about the same length of time! Arriving in HCMC, returning from Saigon (weather). I’ve booked 11 days in the delta, split into 4 stops (Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Long Xuyen, Chau Doc) before heading out by boat for a week in Cambodia to revisit Angkor. You might find some inspiration on this amazing site: https://worldwildbrice.net/category/vietnam/ Safe travels!!

Hi Bernard,

Great find with that link! Even though I’m familiar with Brice’s adventures—having drawn inspiration from them in the North—he’s very objective, logical, updated, and full of relevant tips and advice. An5 can rely on it completely; it matches my own observations from my three 15-day trips in the Mekong Delta. Eric

Thanks, I know Brice’s site well, but he travels by motorbike and I’m looking for experiences using public transport. That said, I’ve more or less settled on this little route. Ben Tre, where I’ve booked our first 3 nights—after that, we’ll see how we feel, but the plan is: Sa Dec, Long Xuyen, Ha Tien, Chau Doc, and Can Tho, where we’ll catch a flight. I still have one hesitation: when we arrive in the morning in Ho Chi Minh City, should we rent a taxi to go straight to Ben Tre, or should we spend a night in HCMC and take a bus the next day? Safe travels!

Hi, Inspired by the site I also checked out, did you book with a local agency? I can’t decide on the packages or accommodations for traveling up the Mekong Delta. 😐 There’ll be 4 of us adults, and we’ve got plenty of time

Hello, Without an agency. I booked accommodations on Boo**king. Some hosts replied with transportation details, for example: "Xin Chao" Bernard! Thank you for your booking with us at Ben Tre Farmstay. May you find the below information helpful for you and don't mind asking for any further inquiries! From HCM city, please choose one of the bus lines: THAO CHAU (70B, Hung Vuong) departs every hour from 6AM. The trip takes about 2.5 hours and costs 90,000 VND per person for a one-way trip. The company offers a free shuttle and drops you off just 100 meters from our stay. We’ll manage with local buses. The Chau Doc–Phnom Penh boat will be booked on-site. Have a great trip!

Thanks for the feedback. I’m scouting things out

We’re also heading to Bentre Farm, which we booked a few weeks ago—it’ll be our first stop. Duc from this homestay also gave me tips on how to get there directly from Saigon Airport. We arrive pretty early in the morning, so we’ll buy a SIM card and exchange some money for the first few days there. I know it might feel a bit rough after our long-haul flight to take a bus, but if we can skip Saigon, I’m happy about that. Maybe we’ll run into “Epourquoipas.” Our trip is getting closer, and the more I read, the simpler it seems—I’m just thinking that in the delta, it might get a bit repetitive. Thanks everyone! I’m always on the lookout for great shared tips, addresses, and advice.

Hi there, We probably won’t cross paths since our trip is still a ways off, but it’s starting to take shape more clearly... My big question is which island to head to at the end of August for a beach break and, if possible, some diving. So far, I’m considering KOH RONG and PHU QUOC, but it could also be CON DAO or WHALE ISLAND, depending on the info I can find for that time of year. Thanks for your tips! 😏

HO CHI MINH CITY - 2 nights MEKONG DELTA - 4 nights (BEN TRE - CAN THO - CHAU DOC) PHNOM PENH - 2 nights SIEM REAP - 4 nights Flight => via SIHANOUKVILLE KOH RONG - 3 nights KAMPOT - 1 night (for transfer to Phu Quoc) PHU QUOC - 4 nights Direct flight HO CHI MINH CITY - then INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT TO PARIS

Hello,

Thanks for your feedback HO CHI MINH CITY - 2 nights MEKONG DELTA - 4 nights (BEN TRE - CAN THO - CHAU DOC) PHNOM PENH - 2 nights SIEM REAP - 4 nights flight => via SIHANOUKVILLE KOH RONG - 3 nights KAMPOT - 1 night (for transfer to Phu Quoc) PHU QUOC - 4 nights Direct flight HO CHI MINH CITY - then INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT TO PARIS

Aside from the beach time, this pace is almost ridiculous.

Your itinerary does seem a bit too rushed. Before COVID, we went to Cambodia, and the temples really take time—you definitely need several days around Siem Reap to take breaks and see more than just temple after temple. Getting around is also time-consuming. I feel like I should tell you to choose either the delta or Cambodia, and most importantly, check the weather for the time you're traveling. We spent a week in the delta—Ben Tre, Anh Binh, Sa Dec, Can Tho. Chau Doc was on the agenda, but we ended up skipping it. Happy planning!

Hi Anne, I just read the discussion and I’d love it if you could share your experience from your trip to the Mekong Delta. I saw that we have roughly the same itinerary as yours. We’re heading to southern Vietnam for 13 days: 2 nights in Saigon on arrival, 2 in Ben Tre, 1 in Long Xu Yen, 2 in Châu Đốc, 1 in Hà Tiên, 4 in Phu Quoc, and a final night in Saigon before flying home. That’s 6 nights in the Delta. I’ve drawn inspiration from Brice’s articles and podcasts, as well as comments from other travelers. But your trip is very recent. Thanks in advance for your feedback! Looking forward to reading your reply, Romain Thanks for your feedback

Hi Romain, In the end, we didn’t follow our original itinerary. We didn’t stay in Saigon and instead took a bus to Ben Tre (Ben Tre Farm). From there, we went to An Binh (Nam Thanh Homestay), then Sadec (Bamboo House, outside Sadec in the middle of vast nurseries—the owner speaks French… not the owner’s wife!). Finally, we went to Can Tho, a big city but still nice overall. Note that there’s no longer a floating market, just tourist traps. If you send us a DM, I can add you as a follower on our Polarsteps, where you’ll find photos and our travel journal. We spent 6 weeks total, traveling from the South to the North.

Have a great trip in this amazing country!

Anne

Hi there,

If you send us a PM, I can add you as a follower to our Polarsteps where you’ll find photos

Since so many of us are bummed we can’t be there right now, here are three of my shots from Ben Tre—“better than nothing,” right?

Yeah, this is getting into ultra-confidential territory. Not cool.

I just came across this post—our Polarstep isn’t public because initially it was just so family could follow along. We’re happy to share it, but you’ll need an email address to open the link. So it’s semi-private, but you’re welcome to send us a private message if you’d like access. I’ll admit I don’t have the energy to post everything on VF, even though I use it and reply when I can. See you soon

Good evening,

A week in the delta is perfect—it’s just the right amount of time. And you’re right to want to take it slow.

Our trip was a while ago now, but I’ll share my story in case it inspires you. You’ll see our favorite accommodation in there—it’s still around!

See here

Hi, I just read your travel journal about the Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta stretch… do you still have the contact info for your guide Chu? Thanks in advance! Claude