A day trip shows you the Mekong Delta, but only an overnight lets you feel it. This two-day tour follows the first-day classics, then goes farther into the delta to Can Tho, the region's biggest city, and makes the most of the next morning with the Cai Rang Floating Market. On the first day you drive from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho, visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, take a motorised riverboat to Turtle Island for lunch, ride a hand-rowed sampan through narrow canals, walk through a village and visit an orchard. In the late afternoon you continue to Can Tho and spend the night in a two-star hotel. The next morning begins with an early boat trip to Cai Rang Floating Market, followed by a visit to a rice-noodle factory, lunch at a local restaurant and the return to Ho Chi Minh City. The tour is rated 4.7 from 205 reviews, with 93 percent of travellers recommending it, which is a solid record for a multi-day trip.
How it works
The meeting point is 22 Bui Vien Street in District 1, and the tour ends back at the same place. Pickup and drop-off at central District 1 hotels is available if selected. The group is capped at forty travellers. The price covers breakfast and two lunches at local restaurants, air-conditioned transfers, boat trips, an English-speaking guide, sightseeing as per the programme and one night in a two-star hotel in a twin or double room for two people sharing.
Dinner is at your own expense, and a single-room supplement applies for solo travellers. Flights, insurance, drinks, tips and meals not mentioned are not included.
What to expect
The first day is a long but varied sequence of drives, boats and short walks, and the second is an early start for the floating market, when traders are busiest. Can Tho is a livelier base than the towns on day one, with a riverside walk and plenty of cafes. The hotel is simple, which is typical for the price, and the point is the time on the water, not the room. This is a group tour with set stops, so it suits travellers who want the delta handled for them.
Making the most of it
Choose this over the day trip if the floating market matters to you, because it cannot be reached from the city and back in a single day without a very long journey. Pack a small overnight bag, sun protection, insect repellent and cash for dinner.
The dry season from November to April is the most comfortable. If you only have a single day, the standard Mekong day trip is the better fit, and the Can Gio mangroves offer a lighter alternative. Ask the operator about the return time so you can plan your evening.
Think about luggage and timing too. You return to the Bui Vien meeting point on the second afternoon, so do not plan a flight or a tight connection for the same evening, and leave your larger bags at your hotel in the city if the hotel will hold them. The two-star standard of the overnight hotel is normal for this price, and the trade is a longer, richer taste of the delta. Solo travellers should read the single-room supplement carefully before booking.
What to expect
The experience
A guided two-day tour with boats, a sampan ride, a village walk, a night in a two-star hotel in Can Tho and an early visit to the Cai Rang Floating Market.
Best time
The dry season from November to April, with the floating market visited early on day two.
How long
Two days and one night, from the Bui Vien meeting point.
Tips
Pack a small overnight bag, bring cash for dinner and ask about the single-room supplement if you travel alone.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers who want the Mekong Delta in more depth and a floating market on the second morning.
- Families
- Fine for older children, though the two long driving days are tiring for the very young.
- Couples
- A relaxed way to see the delta at a slower pace, with a night in Can Tho.
- Pair with
- A day of Cu Chi or the city sights before or after, since this tour takes two days.
- Time needed
- Two days and one night.
Good questions
Where do I stay overnight on the tour?+
In a two-star hotel in Can Tho, in a twin or double room for two people sharing.
What is included in the tour?+
Breakfast, two lunches, air-conditioned transfers, boat trips, an English-speaking guide, sightseeing and one hotel night. Dinner is at your own expense.
Where does the tour start?+
At 22 Bui Vien Street in District 1, with pickup from central District 1 hotels if you select it.
Do I pay extra to travel alone?+
Yes, a single-room supplement applies per night.
When does the Cai Rang Floating Market happen?+
The tour visits it on the second morning by early boat trip, when trading is busiest.
