Mekong River Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Mekong River. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Mekong Delta and Coconut Village Tour from HCM City

• Mekong Delta Tour: Ben Tre 1-Day by DGT

• Full-Day Off-The-Beaten-Track the Mekong Delta

• Cu Chi Tunnels – Mekong Delta Full-Day Tours

• 3-Day Mekong Delta Tour Including: Cai Rang Floating Market

Guided tours are the best way to experience the Mekong River, and there's something for every budget. Group day tours start at less than US$20, while fuller experiences with floating markets and village visits typically cost US$50–$70. Private full-day tours or group overnight trips start at around US$100, with luxury river cruises reaching upwards of US$1,200.

Yes, the Mekong River is absolutely worth visiting. One of the longest rivers in the world, it winds through rice paddies and traditional villages. A guided tour is the best way to experience it, where you can drift past coconut groves, explore the Cai Rang Floating Market, or cycle through riverside communities—all with local expertise, and hassle-free transportation.

Per one customer who booked the Full-Day Off-The-Beaten-Track the Mekong Delta tour, "What an adventure! We had a small group and our tour guide was amazing. We went to a secluded area on the Mekong to kayak, rode our bicycles through a village, and got to pilot a boat on the river! We were fortunate enough to have lunch with a local family and that was an awesome experience. I highly recommend this tour when visiting Vietnam."

The twelfth-longest river in the world, the Mekong River flows from the Tibetan Plateau through Southwest China to Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, where it empties into the South China Sea. In Vietnam, it flows south of Ho Chi Minh City and forms a river delta around Can Tho city.

The best time of year to explore the Mekong River in Vietnam is from December to April during the dry season. However, though the chance of downpours is less, water levels can get low and the weather quite hot. The rainy season (May–September) can be nice for higher water levels and lusher, greener surroundings.

You can explore the Mekong Delta region on tours from Ho Chi Minh City. Options range from quick day trips to week-long adventures. Most itineraries involve floating down the river in a traditional boat, experiencing rural villages and markets, tasting fresh Vietnamese cuisine, and visiting Can Tho, the largest urban hub in the Mekong Delta.

Yes, you can take a boat tour or cruise on the Mekong River in Vietnam—and you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to options. Most outfitters sail out of Ho Chi Minh City or Can Tho; if you include the smaller canals of the Mekong, you’ll have even more options.

The length of the Vietnamese section of the Mekong River is difficult to estimate, as it flows into a maze-like river delta almost immediately after crossing the border. It’s estimated to flow for around 150 miles (250 kilometers) in southern Vietnam before it empties into the South China Sea.

Along the Mekong River in Vietnam, you can find many bird species, such as egrets, herons, kingfishers, and storks. Reptiles are common, too, and you might spot crocodiles (including the Siamese crocodile), turtles, and snakes if you keep your eyes peeled. Mammals can be rare, but the occasional dolphin or otter does appear.

There are many things to do when you're done visiting the Mekong River. Travelers to Southern Vietnam recommend the following places:

• Cu Chi Tunnels

• Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Saïgon)

• War Remnants Museum (Bao Tang Chung Tich Chien Tranh)

• Saigon Central Post Office

• Reunification Palace (Independence Palace)

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Southern Vietnam.