The Mekong River Delta is delimited by the tributaries of the Mekong River. This area, which is criss-crossed by a dense network of canals, is fertile and excellent for the cultivation of rice and growing fruit trees. There are also immense fruit orchards, the most impressive of which are located on the islands of the river. The Mekong Delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam, covering over 40,500 square kilometers across 12 provinces. Therefore, on this page, we recommend the best places to visit in the Mekong Delta for a short trip.
Dong Thap – where to go for a day?
Vinh Trang Pagoda
Vinh Trang Pagoda, located in My Phong Ward, Dong Thap Province, was built in 1849 on a site covering 2,000 m². The splendid yet simple features of the Buddhist construction result from the harmonious fusion of Asian and European architectural styles. The pagoda has Renaissance-style patterns, Roman-style arches, and Japanese enameled tiles. However, the pagoda’s interior architecture is also imbued with traditional Vietnamese sculpture.
The pagoda stores over 60 precious statues made of wood, bronze, and terracotta, including a collection of 18 Arhats sculpted in 1907. These works of art represent the pinnacle of sculpture in the Mekong River Delta. Besides, there are 3 big Buddha statues in the pagoda’s campus, including an 18m-high Amida Buddha Statue, a 20m-high Maitreya Buddha statue, and a Shakyamuni Buddha statue.
The pagoda also has a 150kg-weighing bell cast in 1853, more than 20 valuable landscape paintings, horizontal lacquered boards, and parallel sentences. Visiting the pagoda around 10:00 a.m., you will hear the sound of monks chanting peaceful Buddhist prayer verses.
Thoi Son Island
Thoi Son Island is famous for its fruits. The area features traditional houses inhabited by many generations, gardens with fruited-laden trees, and modest restaurants amidst fruit and bonsai gardens. Strolling on the small path through the islet, you will be mesmerized by the fragrance from colorful gardens of plum, mango, jackfruit, and longan.
There are ripe fruits all year round. Coming there, you will have a chance to eat fresh fruits, drink honey tea, and listen to folk songs and music of Don Ca Tai Tu.
Next, you can hand-row a boat along two lines of coconuts in the water. After that, you sail along the Tien River to Phung islet where Mr. Dao Dua practiced his belief, visit famous coconut candy establishments or explore the life of friendly, hospitable and open-hearted locals in the hick town in the South.
Cai Be floating market
Cai Be floating market is held where the Tien Giang River forms the border between the provinces of Dong Thap and Vinh Long. Approximately 400 – 500 boats filled with fruits, vegetables, fabric, household items, fresh seafood, food, and drinks are anchored along the banks of the river from 5 Am to 17 Pm every day.
The merchandise sold on each boat is hung on a pole in front of the boat to attract customers. It is one of the largest wholesale markets in the Mekong Delta.
Cai Be Fruit Orchard
There are plenty of fruit orchards in Cai Be. It supplies numerous types of fruits to both domestic and international markets. You will find various fruits, such as mango, grapefruit, guava, apple, jackfruit, dragon fruit, mangosteen, plums, and durian, being cultivated.
You can take a tour of the premises, pick ripe fruit from the trees, and enjoy it right then and there.
10% discount to vist Cai Be market and fruit orchard in 1 day.
Where to go in Can Tho for a day trip?
Cai Rang Floating Market
It’s located just 5km from the center of Can Tho City. The Cai Rang Floating Market is visible from the road, but getting there by boat is more interesting. From Ninh Kieu Wharf, it takes about half an hour to reach the market. Every day in the early morning, bustling between 4 Am and 9 Am, hundreds of boats loaded with agricultural products gather to form a market.
Trading activities take place in boats. Buyers can see the goods hanging on the poles at the boat prow. Other food services are also offered on boats. You can enjoy the specialties of Can Tho and watch the hundreds of boats sail by.
Visit the traditional craft village of making rice noodles
Continuing the 1-day exploration of Can Tho, visitors will visit the rice noodle craft village. This is a traditional craft village that many tourists love when they have the opportunity to visit Can Tho. The rice noodle making village is located next to Cai Rang floating market, so you can easily move to this tourist destination.
By visiting this village, visitors will learn how to make traditional noodle soup and have a fun time participating.
Binh Thuy ancient house
When traveling to the Mekong Delta in 1 day, you should not miss the famous Binh Thuy ancient house. Binh Thuy ancient house is more than 100 years old and is often used as the setting for many famous movies. This is the Duong family’s house built in typical Southern architecture.
Visiting Binh Thuy ancient house, visitors will admire the unique architecture. In particular, you will be able to freely check in and take beautiful photos at Binh Thuy ancient house.
Ninh Kieu Wharf
Ninh Kieu Wharf is located close to the center of the city on the bank of the Hau River, a large tributary of the Mekong River. It’s the city’s main trading center. Ninh Kieu Wharf has been developed into the city’s park with an area of 7000m², treating locals and visitors to unique sensory experiences. Coming to this famous site, they can also taste local specialties in floating restaurants alongside the wharf.
In particular, Ninh Kieu Wharf has attracted more visitors since the walking street, with its food area and night market, officially opened in January 2016. In addition, in February 2016, Can Tho city inaugurated the first pedestrian bridge, measuring 200m in length and 7.2m in width. This S-shaped bridge, Khai Luong Canal, connects Ninh Kieu Wharf and Cai Khe Islet.
Hundreds of boats ply the river, bringing goods from the rest of the Mekong River Delta. Close to Ninh Kieu Wharf is the Can Tho Harbor, which was built to modern design standards to accommodate ships weighing up to 5,000 tons. From Ninh Kieu Wharf, visitors can contemplate Can Tho Bridge – the longest cable-stayed bridge in Southeast Asia.
Are you looking for a tour to visit Vinh Trang Pagoda – Thoi Son Island – Can Tho city – floating market for 2 day 1 night? Book it here!
An Giang – where to go in 1 day?
Positioned next to the river, Chau Doc is a worthy destination for many travelers because it is home to mosques, temples, and monuments; coming here is a chance for them to learn about the sophisticated features of the area’s culture and religion. Some recommendations they can notice are Chau Phu Temple, Murbarak Mosque, Chau Giang Mosque, Tra Su Bird Sanctuary, and local floating markets. It’s surely enough to explore Chau Doc of Mekong Delta within one day.
Sam Mountain
Sam Mountain is located near the border between Vietnam and Cambodia. The mountain, with a height of 230 m and a perimeter of 5,200 m, offers beautiful landscapes and is also the site of many historic and cultural structures deeply cherished by the inhabitants of the Mekong River Delta. Climbing up to the mountain is an adventure. You will pass dozens of shrines, tombs, and even a temple on the way to the top. Once you reach the summit, you will find a small military outpost with a grand view featuring Cambodia on one side and Vietnam on the other.
Visit floating houses and fish farms
This region is a favorable natural environment for many freshwater fish species. It’s the best place to grow fish, so there are many fish farms in the Mekong Delta which are worth a visit. There you can feed the fish with the farmer’s help. You can also catch fish and cook delicious dishes from fresh ingredients. Sometimes you need a bamboo fishing rod to catch snakehead fish, carp, and catfish. It’s not like going fishing in a lake or the ocean. Also, you can try a special fish soup from the local cuisine after catching fish.
Tra Su Melaleuca forest
Located in An Giang Province in the Mekong Delta, Tra Su Melaleuca Forest is one of the most familiar places for many foreign visitors to Vietnam. It is home to many plant and animal species within Vietnam’s special-use forest system. There are 140 plant species, including 22 tree species, 78 medicinal plant species, and 13 aquatic species …
Regarding wildlife, Tra Su Melaleuca Forest is home to over 70 bird species, including 2 precious birds listed in the Red Book. This is an ideal destination for tourists who love ecotourism.
This is also an ideal place for researchers and environmentalists to explore wild nature. However, at the end of the rainy season, the area becomes a flooded forest, making it ideal for a guided boat tour through the region. The best months to visit are from September to November.
Explore Mekong Delta for 3 days with just 80USD!
Source: collected An
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