--- title: "Things to do" description: "" url: "https://www.vietnamck.cz/en/pages/places/mekong-delta" date: "2026-11-03T02:46:43+00:00" language: "en-US" --- ## Things to Do and See in the Mekong Delta [Vietnam](https://www.vietnamck.cz/en/pages/places?tags=28&searching=1) 5.0/5(1 Review) www.vietnamck.cz info@vietnamck.cz +84799085660 ![images/Vietnam_tours/Delta-Mekongu-VietnamCK.jpg]( "Delta-Mekongu-VietnamCK title") ![images/Vietnam_tours/Kouzelny_vietnam.jpg]( "Kouzelny_vietnam title") ![images/Vietnam_tours/SAIGON_-_MY_THO_-_CU_CHI_TUNNELS.jpg]( "SAIGON_-_MY_THO_-_CU_CHI_TUNNELS title") ![images/Vietnam_tours/delta-mekongu.jpg]( "delta-mekongu title") The **Mekong Delta** – known in Vietnamese as the "Nine Dragons River Delta" – is the lush, watery southwest of Vietnam, where the Mekong River splits into countless branches and canals before reaching the sea. It's a fertile world of rice paddies, fruit orchards, coconut groves and floating markets, moving to the rhythm of the river. For many travellers it's the most authentic, slow-paced side of Vietnam. Here's what to do and see in the Mekong Delta. ## Boat trips and floating markets The classic Mekong experience is a **boat ride** – gliding down the main river and then into narrow, palm-shaded side canals by small sampan. The delta's famous **floating markets** are the highlight: **Cai Rang** near Can Tho is the largest and best known, busiest at dawn when boats loaded with fruit and vegetables trade on the water. **Cai Be** and **Phong Dien** are smaller and more local. Along the way you'll pass fishing villages, lotus ponds and riverside workshops. ## My Tho and Ben Tre – the delta closest to Saigon **My Tho** and neighbouring **Ben Tre** are the easiest gateway to the delta, just a couple of hours from Ho Chi Minh City, which makes them a popular day trip. This is coconut country: you can visit a **coconut-candy workshop**, ride a rowing boat through the narrow canals of the "four islands", sample tropical fruit and honey tea, and see the impressive **Vinh Trang Pagoda**, a striking blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, Khmer and French styles. ## Can Tho – the heart of the delta **Can Tho** is the largest city in the Mekong Delta and the best base for exploring it in depth. Stay overnight to catch the **Cai Rang floating market** at sunrise, wander the riverside promenade, and take a boat into the surrounding orchards and canals. It's the natural centre for a one- or two-night delta trip rather than a rushed day tour. ## Chau Doc and the Cambodian border The far western delta around **Chau Doc** feels different – a mix of Vietnamese, Khmer and Cham cultures near the Cambodian border. Climb **Sam Mountain** for sweeping views over the rice plains, visit floating fish farms and Cham villages, and explore the beautiful **Tra Su cajuput forest**, a flooded mangrove sanctuary alive with birds. Chau Doc is also a scenic crossing point for boat journeys onward to **Cambodia** and Phnom Penh. ## Cycling, villages and local life The flat delta is perfect for **cycling or a scooter ride** through the villages and fields. You'll see how locals turn coconut, rice, sugar cane and bamboo into everyday products, and you can join in – picking fruit, fishing, or trying your hand at cooking. This slow, hands-on contact with rural life is what makes the delta special. ## Culture, pagodas and history Beyond Vinh Trang, the delta is dotted with **Khmer temples** (especially around Soc Trang and Tra Vinh), colourful pagodas and colonial-era buildings. The pretty town of **Sa Dec** – setting of Marguerite Duras's novel "The Lover" – is known for its flower gardens and old French houses. It's a region where several cultures and centuries meet. ## Food and fruit of the Mekong The delta is Vietnam's fruit basket and its food is superb: fresh river fish, **elephant-ear fish**, coconut-based sweets, honey tea, and mountains of tropical fruit straight from the orchard. Eating your way through a floating market or a family garden is half the reason to come. ## Best time to visit the Mekong Delta The delta is warm and green year-round. The **dry season (roughly December to April)** is the most comfortable for boat trips and cycling. The wetter months bring higher water and, from around September, the **"floating season"** in the far west near Chau Doc, when the flooded landscape and birdlife are at their most dramatic. ## How to visit – and plan it into your trip You can see the delta on a quick day trip from Saigon, but an overnight stay – or a relaxed [Mekong River cruise](https://www.vietnamck.cz/en/package) – lets you reach the best markets and canals before the crowds. For more ideas, see our guide to [5 unique towns in the Mekong Delta](https://www.vietnamck.cz/en/pages/blog/mekong-river-delta). As a local agency based in Vietnam, we'll build the delta into your route at the right pace – tell us what you'd like to experience. [Plan my trip ✨](https://www.vietnamck.cz/en/customize-your-trip) Comments (1)- ![](https://www.vietnamck.cz/components/com_spbooking/assets/images/default.png "default title")Hassan 23rd Oct, 2024 **5.0** Give Feedback Overall Rating Rate and Review your Experience- Safety and Security - Maintenance - Cleanliness - Service - Hospitality Your Feedback Personal Information ## Schema ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.vietnamck.cz/en/pages/places/mekong-delta#organization", "name": "Vietnam CK", "alternateName": "Poznávací cesty a zájezdy nejen do Vietnamu", "email": "info@vietnamck.cz", "url": "https://www.vietnamck.cz", "telephone": "+84799085660", "foundingDate": "2015-01-01", "logo": "https://www.vietnamck.cz/images/LOGO/VIETNAM%20CK%20-%20LOGO%20TRANSPARENT.webp", "image": "https://www.vietnamck.cz/images/LOGO/VIETNAM%20CK%20-%20LOGO%20TRANSPARENT.webp", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "48 Giang Văn Minh, Phường An Khánh", "addressCountry": "VN", "addressLocality": "Ho Chi Minh City", "addressRegion": "Ho Chi Minh City", "postalCode": "70000" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/vietnammck" ] } ``` ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.vietnamck.cz/en" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Pages", "item": "https://www.vietnamck.cz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Things to do", "item": "https://www.vietnamck.cz/en/pages/places/mekong-delta" } ] } ```