Located in southwestern Vietnam, the Mekong Delta region encompasses an area of over 40,500 square kilometers. The size of the area criss-crossed by a dense network of canals. The area is home to large numbers of rice fields, fruit orchards, and wild animal species, which create the most impressive views for those interested in ecotourism. The region comprises 13 provinces with many tourist attractions. Therefore, in this post, Viet Dream Travel would like to show you some of the Mekong Delta tours and places that you should visit in this lovely land.
Which season is most ideal to explore the Mekong Delta River?
Choosing the right time to travel will make your experience as complete and unique as possible. Unlike in other provinces and cities, the right time to travel will determine your exploration experience.
If you want to visit orchards when they are ripe, summer is the “golden time” to visit. You can immerse yourself in the fragrant scent of the lush orchard in season, enjoy ripe fruit right in the garden, as well as buy it as gifts for friends and relatives at extremely reasonable prices.
If you want to experience the feeling of traveling by boat, Vietdream suggests that the floating season from September to November is an ideal time. During this season, the water level of the Mekong River rises quite high in the southwestern provinces, but is not as high as in the mountainous provinces.
Traveling to the Mekong Delta River this season, you will not be able to visit places on land, but in return, you will enjoy the poetic and tranquil scenery of mangrove forests, fishing villages, and floating markets – these are “special products” that can only be found here during the flood season.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Mekong Delta region
The Mekong Delta attracts tourists not only for its lyrical river scenery but also for the simple and kind character of its people. Travel anywhere in the 13 provinces of the region, and you will feel the hospitality of the people here. Let’s explore Mekong Delta tours with us now!
Floating markets in Mekong Delta
Floating markets have existed in Vietnam for hundreds of years and have become a crucial part of daily life in the Mekong Delta. Every day, there are a hundred boats filled with fruits, vegetables, agricultural products, soft drinks, breakfast, and other products along the banks of the river from 4 a.m.
Unlike on the mainland, goods are traded by boat, creating a unique and colorful scene. Not only do trading activities take place on boats, but for some people, they’re also their homes.
Each boat has a bamboo tree hanging from it, along with the typical items the owner sells, so customers can easily recognize them from afar.
Here are some of the most famous floating markets that you should visit:
- Floating markets in Can Tho city: Cai Rang Floating Market, Phong Dien Floating Market, Nga Nam Floating Market
- Cai Be Floating Market in Dong Thap.
- Long Xuyen Floating Market in An Giang.
Tourist gardens
With a network of canals and rivers, a series of local orchards have appeared on every land and water route in the Mekong delta. Visiting the orchards, visitors can promenade among star apple, mango, purple mangosteen, durian, jackfruit, banana, longan, orange, tangerine, etc., go fishing, and taste fresh Southern fruits and specialties.
In any season, especially in the summer, you will be taken around the gardens by dinghy, pick up fresh fruit and enjoy them right in the garden.
Some of the tourist gardens that you should not forget:
- Phong Dien, Chin Hong, Rach Ke and My Khanh garden in Can Tho City
- Cai Mon orchards and An Binh islet in Vinh Long
- Vinh Kim, Cai Be orchards in Dong Thap
- …
Explore islets and islands in Mekong Delta
Many islets have become tourist attractions in the delta. These areas feature traditional houses inhabited by many generations, gardens with fruit trees. By visiting these islets, visitors can enjoy many exciting experiences, such as rowing in a sampan along small canals beneath the green canopy of water coconut trees, observing the daily activities of local people, admiring handicraft production facilities, or cycling around the islets…
Here are some of the islets that attract many visitors:
- Thoi Son islet in Dong Thap
- Phung Islet, Tortoise Islet, An Binh Islet in Vinh Long.
Besides these islets/islands, there is another one located in the Gulf of Thailand, considered a “Pearl of the Southern sea area”. It is Phu Quoc island. This island is the largest one in Vietnam. It is endowed with splendid landscapes and surrounded by the coastline. The island is a fantastic destination for tourists, offering a wide range of activities such as relaxing, camping, and trekking.
Eco-tourism parks and tourist areas
When they come here, visitors have opportunities to join many recreational and entertainment activities. Also, most of them are decorated with charming scenery, luxuriant orchards, a variety of bonsai and flowers, birds and animals, fresh lakes, and diverse entertainment services such as fishing, sauntering, enjoying traditional southern music, and bird watching.
Here are some of the most famous tourist areas in the Mekong Delta:
- Gao Giong Eco-tourism site and Xeo Quyt in Dong Thap
- Binh An tourist area and My Khanh tourist area in Can Tho
Sanctuaries and national parks
The Mekong Delta is home to thousands of storks, herons, bats, and many other bird species, as well as plant and reptile species and mammals. Some of them are considered rare and endangered species. It would be wonderful to see thousands of birds flying into the sky in search of food at dawn and returning to their nests as the sun descends behind the forest.
You may also find yourselves getting lost in the world of birds with various shapes and sounds. Such an admiring visit could be combined with a trip by motorized boats to go through a network of canals to learn the customs and habits of local residents.
Some sanctuaries and national parks you should visit:
- Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary in Vinh Long
- Tra Su cajuput forest and Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap
- Tan Long Stork Sanctuary in Can Tho
- U Minh Thuong National Park in An Giang
- Bac Lieu bird Sanctuary, Ngoc Hien bird Sanctuary, and Mui Ca Mau National Park in Ca Mau.
- …
Visit and admire the most spiritual temples and pagodas
The Southwest not only has vast rice fields, rich fruit gardens, and bustling floating markets, but also many ancient and sacred temples. Temples in the West have long been spiritual tourist destinations that attract many Buddhists and other visitors to worship.
Tourists come here with the wish for a lucky, successful, and happy new year, to find peace and relaxation in their souls, and to get rid of worries and sadness from the hustle and bustle of life. The poetic, peaceful pagoda scene, with its ancient features and valuable historical artifacts, will certainly offer you an interesting experience. If you are planning to travel to the Mekong Delta, quickly save the famous temples and pagodas below.
- Som Rong Pagoda and Truc Lam Phuong Nam Monastery in Can Tho
- Vam Ray Pagoda in Vinh Long
- Vinh Trang Pagoda in Dong Thap
- Lady Chua Xu Temple in An Giang
- …
Mekong Delta specialties
Besides fruits, it is quite easy for you to try many specialties provided, such as snakes, crocodiles, turtles, shrimp, fish, crabs, chickens… and all kinds of birds.
Mekong Delta tour is not only for discovering the beauty of nature and culture of local people, but also for enjoying the unique cuisine of this region. Some must-try dishes are:
- Coconut worm
- Grilled snakehead fish
- Tortoise grilled on salt
- Tortoise steam with citronella
- Snakehead fish soup
- Crab fried with tamarind
- Hotpot sauce
- Fish paste hotpot
- Grilled rat
- Pancake
- Fish soup cooked with dien dien flower
- Braise anabas
- Crab rice noodles or soup
- Fish cooked with fish sauce bowl
- Shrimp cooked with caramel
Some recommend daily Mekong Delta tours
Mekong Delta river has a lot of interesting things to do, so if you have the opportunity, don’t hesitate to visit this place once. Viet Dream Travel is organizing daily group tours, package tours, and car/bus rental service to visit any part of Mekong Delta. Here are some popular tour routes:]
- Mekong 1 day: My Tho – Ben Tre.
- Mekong 1 day: Cai Be – kayaking and cooking class
- Mekong 1 day and Cu Chi tunnels
- Mekong 1 day: Cai Rang – An Binh – Cai Be.
- Mekong 2 days 1 night: My Tho – Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – HCMC.
- Mekong 2 days: Tien Giang – Sa Dec – Gieng Islet – Bird National Park – HCMC
- Mekong 3 days: My Tho – Can Tho – Cai Rang floating market – Tra Su Cajuput forest – Chau Doc – HCMC
- Mekong 3 days: My Tho – Can Tho – Cai Rang floating market – Bac Lieu – Ca Mau – HCM.
You can book for scheduled tours or we will design them according to your needs and preferences. If you have any specific requirements for travel tours to the Mekong Delta or any other tourist destination in Vietnam, you can contact Viet Dream Travel at (+84)2838388322 or [email protected]. Our enthusiastic and professional tourist consultants are always ready to answer all of your questions.
Comment (0)