Delta du Mékong

December to April is the dry season and the best time. Skies are clearer and travel is easier. May to November is the rainy season, with short, heavy showers. From September to November the river is high, and some fields flood. Fruit is at its best from May to August.

Floating markets are busiest in the early morning, so plan an early start in any season. Tet in January or February is quieter on the water because many families close their businesses.

• Floating Market Cai Be is one of the largest floating markets in the delta. Boats sell fruit and vegetables from their decks, mostly in the early morning.
• Cai Rang floating market near Can Tho is the largest in the delta. Go at around 6 am, when the trade is busiest.
• Mount Sam is a holy hill near Chau Doc with temples and a view over the border plains.
• Vinh Trang Pagoda near My Tho is a large temple that mixes Vietnamese, Khmer and European styles.
• Canals and orchards around Ben Tre are known for coconut products and small boat trips.
• The Tra Su cajuput forest in An Giang is a green flooded forest crossed by small boats. It is best from September to November.

• Floating market at dawn: Take a boat to a market at around 6 am, when the traders are busiest.
• Canal boat ride: Move through narrow canals under palm trees in a small rowing boat.
• Fruit orchard visit: Taste tropical fruit straight from the tree.
• Coconut candy workshop: See how coconut candy is made by hand in Ben Tre.
• Homestay on the river: Spend one night in a family home on a canal, with a home-cooked dinner.
• Folk music: Some tours include a short performance of southern folk music in a village house.

• My Tho: about 1.5 to 2 hours from Ho Chi Minh City. The easiest and most common first stop.
• Ben Tre: about 2 hours from Ho Chi Minh City. Small canals, coconut workshops and quiet villages.
• Can Tho: about 3.5 to 4 hours by road. The main city of the delta and the base for floating markets.
• An Giang: about 5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City. Chau Doc, the Tra Su forest and Cambodian influences.
• Phu Quoc: by ferry or flight from the western coast. A beach island for the end of a delta trip.

• East: My Tho, Ben Tre and Tiền Giang are closest to Ho Chi Minh City.
• Centre: Can Tho and Vĩnh Long lie on the main river branches.
• West: An Giang and Kiên Giang lead to the Cambodian border and the coast.
• Gateway: Ho Chi Minh City is the starting point for most trips.

• From Ho Chi Minh City: Buses and shared vans run to My Tho, Ben Tre and Can Tho. My Tho takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and Can Tho about 3.5 to 4 hours on the expressway. Day tours and two-day tours are widely sold.
• By air: Can Tho International Airport (VCA) has domestic flights. Phu Quoc Airport (PQC) serves the western islands. Most visitors fly into Ho Chi Minh City (SGN).
• By train: There is no railway into the delta. Use the road network. Vietnam Railways
• From Cambodia: A river boat links Phnom Penh and Chau Doc in about 5 to 6 hours. Check the border and visa rules first.

• Boats: The main way to travel inside a delta town. Small rowing boats and motor boats run on canals. Agree the price and the route before you board.
• Cycling: Bicycles are common in villages and give the best view of the orchards. Many homestays lend them.
• Taxi and Grab: Available in Can Tho and larger towns. Distances between towns are long.
• Buses and vans: Cheap links between provincial towns. Check departure times in advance.

• Is a car worth it? Only with a driver, for long distances between towns. Boats and bikes serve villages better.
• Parking: Towns have limited parking near markets. Hotels and homestays have their own spaces.
• Restrictions: Village roads are narrow. Ferries and bridges can slow down long trips.

The delta has some of Vietnam's best food and fruit. Try hu tieu, a noodle soup, banh xeo, a crisp pancake, and ca tai tuong, fried elephant ear fish, which is served standing up. River fish and prawns are common. Fruit stalls sell mango, rambutan, mangosteen and, in season, durian.

Eat at riverside restaurants and at the markets. Ask for the price when ordering fish or fruit by weight.

The delta is safe and relaxed. Most problems are small.

• Wear a life jacket on small boats. Some boats have no safety gear, so choose carefully.
• Mosquitoes are common. Use repellent, especially at dusk.
• Agree prices for boats and tours before you go.
• Drink bottled water. Avoid ice from unclear sources in rural areas.
• Heat and humidity are strong. Bring a hat and drink water.

The delta was once part of the Khmer realm. Vietnamese settlers moved south from the 17th century and cleared land for rice. The region later became a base of rebellion and, in the 20th century, a place of heavy fighting.

Traders still arrive by boat in the early morning, as they did for generations. Temples such as the one on Mount Sam reflect the mix of Vietnamese, Khmer, Chinese and Cham cultures here.

Quick practical facts for Vietnam at a glance: