Mekong Delta

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Mekong Delta Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1-2 Days

Best Time: November to May Read More

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"The Rice Bowl of Vietnam"

Mekong Delta Tourism

The Mekong Delta in south-east Vietnam is one of the world’s greatest river regions. The Mekong River is the twelfth longest river in the world and the seventh longest river in Asia. The delta is a hive of activity and serves as an important transport and agricultural hub. Known as the ‘rice bowl of Vietnam’, it has lush rice paddy fields and colourful fruit orchids, enchanting villages and floating markets. More than half of Vietnam’s need for rice and fish is supplied by the Mekong.

Maintaining a very traditional life, the countryside locals have adapted well to life on the water, travelling, fishing, trading and even eating on their boats. Visitors while interacting with the locals, will be surprised by the stark difference in the lifestyle of the country folks and the townspeople in this region. 

Enriched by the Mekong River, the region is teeming with forests and a variety of wildlife. The forests are home to a variety of animals and birds, and if explored well enough lead to bunkers and other remnants of Vietnam's past wars. Many pagodas from the Khmer reign and Buddhist temples, stand till today and can be visited as well.

Things to do in Mekong Delta

1. Explore the Floating Markets

Explore the Floating Markets
Wake up early to witness the famous floating markets of the Mekong Delta, such as Cai Rang (Can Tho) and Cai Be (Tien Giang). Local vendors sell fresh fruits, vegetables, and traditional Vietnamese fo (Read More)od from their boats, creating a vibrant scene of colors and activity.

2. Cruise Along the Mekong River

Cruise Along the Mekong River
Take a boat cruise through the delta’s maze of canals, enjoying the peaceful surroundings, dense coconut groves, and charming villages. A sunset or sunrise cruise offers an especially magical ex (Read More)perience.

3. Visit the Traditional Villages

Visit the Traditional Villages
Explore handicraft villages that specialize in coconut candy, rice paper, and pottery making. Ben Tre is famous for its coconut workshops, while My Tho is known for its honey farms and orchards.

4. Cycle Through Rural Landscapes

Cycle Through Rural Landscapes
Rent a bicycle and ride through the scenic countryside, passing rice fields, fruit orchards, and stilted houses. The Tra Vinh and An Giang regions offer some of the best cycling routes, with picturesq (Read More)ue bridges and small riverside settlements.

5. Discover the Tra Su Cajuput Forest

Discover the Tra Su Cajuput Forest
Located in An Giang Province, this flooded forest is a haven for birdwatching. Take a boat tour through the mangroves, spotting rare birds, lotus flowers, and lush greenery reflected in the water.

6. Visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda

Visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda
This stunning Buddhist temple in My Tho is known for its mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Khmer architecture. It houses giant Buddha statues and beautifully decorated gardens.

7. Sample Local Mekong Delta Cuisine

Sample Local Mekong Delta Cuisine
Enjoy specialties like Hu Tieu (Mekong-style noodle soup), Elephant Ear Fish, and Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crispy pancakes). The fresh tropical fruits, including dragon fruit, durian, and mangosteen, are (Read More)a must-try.

8. Take a Sampan Boat Ride in Tan Phong Island

Take a Sampan Boat Ride in Tan Phong Island
Glide through narrow, palm-lined canals in a traditional wooden sampan boat. The peaceful waterways of Tan Phong Island offer a glimpse into the slow-paced life of the delta’s villagers.

9. Explore the Khmer Temples of Soc Trang

Explore the Khmer Temples of Soc Trang
Visit Chua Doi (Bat Pagoda) and Kh’leang Pagoda in Soc Trang, which showcase Khmer-style architecture and Buddhist traditions unique to the region.

10. Experience Homestays with Locals

Experience Homestays with Locals
Stay in a traditional riverside homestay, such as those in Vinh Long or Ben Tre, where you can learn to cook Mekong dishes, fish in the canals, and interact with local families for an authentic cultur (Read More)al experience.

 

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Places to Visit

Phu Quoc
Just of a short distance from the delta region, you’ll find an island with beautiful white sand beaches. Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam, it has a total area of 574 square kilometres and approximately 103,000 people living in that area. This island is known for fishing, agriculture and rapidly-growing tourism sector. When you visit Phu Quoc, don’t forget to try their popular fish sauce and black pepper. This island attracts a lot of tourists as one may experience many exciting activities such as snorkelling, deep sea diving, Night Squid fishing, Private boat tours, Visiting bee farm, Jeep tour, Safari and many more. One can also visit the Phu Quoc National Park, which is considered to be the most valuable place in Phu Quoc.

Vinh Trang Temple
It is a Buddhist temple near My Tho in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. Originally built in 1850, it has been through colonial wars, neglect and tropical storms. There is a giant Buddha statue tower over the beautiful grounds of this peaceful temple. The beautiful structure features a mix of Chinese, Vietnamese and Cambodian architectural styles. The giant Buddha statue and the beautiful garden has made this place a major tourist attraction in Southern Vietnam.

Cai Rang Floating Market
Cai Rang Floating Market is located just 6 kilometres from Can Tho. You can tell what each trader is selling by what's tied to the long pole of the boat. This floating market is the biggest and most popular market in the Mekong Delta region. The exciting 30-minute boat ride from My Tho can easily take you to the Cai Rang Floating market. This famous market situated on the Cai Rang River, which was originally formed to meet the trading needs of the people. The trading atmosphere at the market is found to be amusing to the tourists. This market is known for having a wide range of collection of local products and delicious food such as Pho, Hu Tieu, Com Tam, bun rieu and many more. Although the market is open all day, it is advised to go early in the morning when the sun is not too harsh and the weather is cool.

Tram Chim National Park
Tram Chim National Park is the home for several rare birds, especially the Sarud Crane. This 7000 hectares park was created in 1985 to protect over 230 different species of birds. The visitors get the see various birds by boat. One can choose among the three routes offered by the park. Each trip is accompanied by a driver and a guide.

Tra Su Cajuput Forest
Tra Su Cajuput Forest is known as the Green Wonderland in Vietnam. With a very rich ecological system, the forest offers marvellous beauty of immense wetland, emerald green duckweed carpet and dense cajuput forest. The best time to visit Tra Su Cajuput Forest is from July to December when water covers the entire forest, enabling boats to ride around it. While riding on the boat, you will be lost in a green paradise with cool and fresh atmosphere with the bird’s twitters. It is home to 140 species of plants, more than 120 species of water birds, bats, reptiles, animals, fish, including rare and endangered species.

History

The Mekong Delta region was inhabited by the Khmer Krom or ‘downstream Khmer’ during the end of the 17th century. In the 18th century, Viet Nguyen lords aimed to conquer the delta to extended their ruling. But in the 1860s, the French had taken over the government and realised they could make huge profits from the fertile lands in the Mekong.

Best Time to Visit Mekong Delta

How to Reach Mekong Delta

How to Reach Overview

A great way to get an overview of the delta is by boat. You can pick up boat trips locally or in Ho Chi Minh city. One of the interesting things you can experience while travelling on a boat is that you can explore the canals, villages and islands. Reaching Can Tho in the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City is fairly easy. Buses leave from the Western Bus Station and cost between 1,62,000 VND to 302000 VND.The journey takes around 3-4 Hours depending on the travel company chosen.

Mekong Delta Photos

Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta - World's 12th Longest River

FAQs on Mekong Delta

What is the best time to visit Mekong delta?

Best time visit Mekong Delta is during the dry season from September to November. This is the peak season so it may be a bit crowded. However, the weather is wonderful at this time. The wet season, which is from May to August see fewer tourists, but it is not the worst time to visit Mekong Delta as the rainy season is short.
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What is the best way to reach Mekong delta?

A great way to get an overview of the delta is by boat. You can pick up boat trips locally or in Ho Chi Minh city. One of the interesting things you can experience while travelling on a boat is that you can explore the canals, villages and islands. Reaching Can Tho in the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City is fairly easy. Buses leave from the Western Bus Station and cost between 1,62,000 VND to 302000 VND.The journey takes around 3-4 Hours depending on the travel company chosen.

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What are the places near Mekong delta?

The top places near to Mekong delta are Hanoi which is 619 km from Mekong delta, Ho chi minh city which is located 664 km from Mekong delta, Halong bay which is located 679 km from Mekong delta, Hoi an which is located 522 km from Mekong delta, Hue which is located 443 km from Mekong delta

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