A Guide to Mekong Delta

Over the 200 km journey to the sea, the mighty Mekong River is divided to form nine mouths, hence, are called “Cuu Long” (Nine Dragon). The southeast Asia’s greatest river is the central to the livelihoods of millions of people as well as important transport corridor. As an indispensable part of daily lives, it makes the way of life along the banks truly special and worth experience.

When you should go

With two distinguishable seasons, many travelers prefer to visit Mekong during the dry season (November to January) which is the coolest time of the year in sweltering Southeast Asia. However, as for us, it’s also a great choice to travel to Mekong in the beginning of the rainy season in June with greater variety of tropical fruit available. The rain, however, does not last long with sun shining which guarantees to bring distinctive Mekong Delta experience. Additionally, you can easily find available rooms for both hotels and guesthouses which are often a lot cheaper than during the peak season. We don’t recommend traveling from during September and November since the occasional flooding is expected.   

Activities to try

The main tourist draw for Mekong Delta is the floating markets – centre commerce on the river that’s endured for centuries. The most popular markets are Cai Be market – My Tho and Cai Rang – Can Tho. Make sure you leave for floating markets as dawn breaks since from 7- 8 am is the market’s most uproarious time when local people trade fruits and other commodities on their vessels. On bigger boats, you expect to see different fruits or goods hanged on poles called “cay beo”. This way, buyers can know exactly where they have to go from a certain distance. By sunrise, the waterway is overflowed with sampans with hundreds of poles pointing sky-ward to attract customers.  Despite the fact that the markets are gradually less uproarious, but the authenticity is beyond your imagination.

Other than a scenic cruise under lush palm trees, cycling is also a great way to get around and explore the sleepy Mekong, and tranquil countryside. It’s environmentally friendly and what’s more, it’s good for your health. The thrill of stumbling on something new is plenty on the way. Woman washes their clothes on the river bank while still managing to balance on shaky boards, fisherman bathes in Mekong, and children wave their hand, say hello to you loudly.

Visiting fruit orchards and plant nursery may sound touristy but it doesn’t mean it’s any less fun. You can see a great variety such as durian, coconut, banana, pineapple and dragon fruit, learn some gardening tips and enjoy these tasty fruits.

Where to stay

Hotels are plenty from 1 to 5 stars for your choice. However, homestay is ideally suited for travelers who wish to experience the life of Mekong community along the river. Many people here still depend on the flow of the river for farming and fishing. Despite the hardship of local lives, a homey dinner gathering will always be filled with joy and inspiring stories. People here will definitely win your heart with their friendliness and charm. Moreover, the local elements are highlighted through a range of activities such as gardening, fishing, visiting coconut candy factory, making rice paper and more so you will have various chances to see different aspects of their daily life. Here are some hotels and homestay that we recommend for you:

Victoria Can Tho hotel (4*): Cai Khe ward, Can Tho city

Kim Tho Hotel (3*): 1 Ngo Gia Tu street, Can Tho city

Hau Giang Hotel (3.5*): 34 Nam Ki Khoi Nghia street, Can Tho city

Chau Pho Hotel (3*): Trung Nu Vuong, Chau Doc city

Homestay, My Khanh commune, Can Tho city

Mekong Rustic homstay: 260 Tan Thien village, Cai Be

Phuong Thao Homestay: An Binh, Vinh Long province

What to eat

You will be incredibly surprised by the diversity of authentic food choices available, not to mention tasty tropical fruits. Be prepared to be spoilt for choice. The most popular dish is “Hu Tieu”- stir-fried rice noodle with chicken, shrimps (or tofu) and vegetables in sweet peanut soy sauce. And here are the other options that you may not want to miss:

“Nem Nuong”: pork BBQ rolled up in rice paper with rice noodles, banana, Asian basil, mint, pineapple, fresh herb and sauce.
Beggar’s chicken: wrapped in thick clay and baked over a charcoal fire, it is guaranteed to satisfy even the most demanding palate. It goes perfectly with a pinch of salt and garden chili and a bottle of rice wine.
“Banh Cong”: pie cake made from a mixture of green beans, little shrimp and minced pork, which is served with fresh herbs and leaves and special sauce.
Grilled snail: one of Can Tho’s specialties. Flesh of snails after grilling on fire coal should be crispy, tender, sweet and spicy
Roast sticky banana: sweet dessert with crispy outside layer and sweet flavor of banana underneath

How many days to stay

If you wish to explore Vietnam in different way, from lively city to tranquil countryside from classic Mekong River cruise to cycling, My Tho is near enough to Ho Chi Minh City to set off for an extra day trip, cruise along Mekong Delta’s tributary, explore the fruit orchards to enjoy fresh seasonal fruits in Dong Phu Island and bike along the serenity rural riverside villages before heading back to Saigon.

If you have 2-3 days, make sure you visit the floating markets in Can Tho as well, Ca Mau covered with swamplands where a variety of wading birds call home. Here are some suggestions on nearby destinations that you can connect from Mekong. From Can Tho, you can catch your one-hour flight to Phu Quoc island for a beach getaway or travel to Chau Doc – a cultural melting pot of Khmer and Cham community before boarding a speedboat to Phnom Penh.

Departure checklist

Travel documents
Vietnamese dong and credit card/ATM card
Camera
Insect repellent spray
Waterproof jacket
Comfortable and sturdy walking shoes
Sunscreen, lip balm, sunhat and sunglasses
Any necessary medicine
A small gift from your home to give to the host if you are planning to stay homestay.

Testimonials

“My husband and I visited Vietnam for the second time in February. Both trips were arranged by Footprint Vietnam. The first was to Hanoi , Halong Bay and Hoi An. The second to Saigon, Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc. Everything was perfect, as we had hoped . We had a Cycling tour in Mekong Delta including a homestay, the experience was something that I will never forget . The first trip was planned by Hang and the second by Hanna. Both girls did everything to make our stay in Vietnam memorable. There is so much to see and taste in Vietnam that we hope to come back some day. And for sure with Footprint.” – Maija N

 “We visited the Mekong Delta, Can Tho and Phu Quoc island over a period of a week and received good value for money and had a great guide – Phong who I can highly recommend.” – Ropet

 “Back home reflecting on our recent trip to Vietnam, we agree the highlight has to be our time cycling in the Mekong Delta. We loved every minute of the experience and this was largely due to the care and professionalism of our wonderful guide, Phuc. He is a genuinely great guy who worked so hard to inform us about our ever changing surroundings. He led us in an unfamiliar situation and we felt comfortable and safe at all times. Taking our Vietnam experience as a whole, we feel that our cycling tour gave us exactly the insight into the culture and countryside we had hoped for. We learned so much about everyday life in the villages and towns we passed through, not to mention the more well known tourist spots ….floating market etc. Such a valuable and enriching experience is not to be missed. Don’t be put off by the cycling. Good bikes, easy terraine and not at all taxing. We also had the chance to meet other travellers with a keen sense of adventure.” – John F

Book your truly unique experience of beautiful Mekong region with Footprint, fall in love with its natural beauty and people here.