Authentic Mekong Delta Tour With Local Experts
Recommended by 95% of travelers
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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Rather than taking the road, travel by speedboat through the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City on this time-saving tour. Watch the rhythms of daily life unfold along the riverbanks as you visit riverside markets and villages, artisan workshops, a Cao Dai Temple, a Buddhist pagoda, and a family homestead for an authentic cultural experience. Includes a light breakfast, lunch prepared by a private chef, and samples of local fruits and other treats.
- Traveling by speedboat helps you save time in transit
- Visit a Buddhist pagoda and Cao Dai temple, and walk around a riverside market and village
- Check off ample Mekong Delta attractions in just one day
- A small group promises personalized attention
What's Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Refreshments (water & soft drink) and tropical fruits
- Local guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (only in district 1 & 3)
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
- Surcharge for halal meal options, if required
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.8:00 am
Itinerary
Nicknamed 'the rice bowl of Vietnam,' the fertile Mekong Delta provides work, food and shelter for much of Vietnam's population. On your full-day tour, you'll explore some of the delta's vast network of channels and canals by speedboat. Keep your camera handy for great photo ops, and hear informative commentary from your guide about the history, sights and significance of the Mekong Delta.
Begin in the early morning with transfer from your Ho Chi Minh City hotel to the central pier. Board your speedboat and zip along the Saigon River while nibbling on the provided light breakfast.
Your first stop takes in the ornately decorated Tuong Van Pagoda. Learn from your guide about Buddhist spiritual practices, then continue downriver to a colorful waterside market loaded with goods, including mounds of exotic fruits, veggies and fresh fish.
By mid-morning, your boat reaches a web of smaller tributaries of the Mekong River. Wind through lush canals shaded by tropical foliage and enjoy your time on a rowboat. Taste fresh coconut and other produce, or sip fiery Mekong whiskey or wine.
Visit a lovely pagoda where a private chef prepares a Vietnamese lunch featuring traditional favorites, such as fresh spring rolls, ginger chicken, caramelized pork or elephant ear fish — a Mekong Delta specialty.
After lunch, learn about the Cao Dai religion — which combines the teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity — and see a colorful Cao Dai Temple, before visiting a nearby orphanage run by Buddhist monks.
In the afternoon, enjoy the scenery as you return by speedboat to Ho Chi Minh City. Your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel after transfer from the pier where you began your Mekong journey.
Begin in the early morning with transfer from your Ho Chi Minh City hotel to the central pier. Board your speedboat and zip along the Saigon River while nibbling on the provided light breakfast.
Your first stop takes in the ornately decorated Tuong Van Pagoda. Learn from your guide about Buddhist spiritual practices, then continue downriver to a colorful waterside market loaded with goods, including mounds of exotic fruits, veggies and fresh fish.
By mid-morning, your boat reaches a web of smaller tributaries of the Mekong River. Wind through lush canals shaded by tropical foliage and enjoy your time on a rowboat. Taste fresh coconut and other produce, or sip fiery Mekong whiskey or wine.
Visit a lovely pagoda where a private chef prepares a Vietnamese lunch featuring traditional favorites, such as fresh spring rolls, ginger chicken, caramelized pork or elephant ear fish — a Mekong Delta specialty.
After lunch, learn about the Cao Dai religion — which combines the teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity — and see a colorful Cao Dai Temple, before visiting a nearby orphanage run by Buddhist monks.
In the afternoon, enjoy the scenery as you return by speedboat to Ho Chi Minh City. Your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel after transfer from the pier where you began your Mekong journey.
Ho Chi Minh City (Pass By)
1
Long An Province
5 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking; there will be a surcharge for vegetarian or halal options
- Please wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Please note the route can be subject to change due to water levels
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 441 reviews
David_B, Jan 2026
Wonderful experience! The tour felt truly authentic, and our guide Anna was outstanding—knowledgeable, warm, and engaging. She shared great insights into local life and culture, making everything feel genuine rather than touristy. Highly recommended!
David_s, Apr 2025
This was our second Les Rives tour that we booked this week, as we couldn’t fault them after our first trip to the tunnels. We were impressed yet again.. our tour guide was called Lucky who we also had for our first trip. She was great professional knowledgeable engaging the trip itself was the perfect number of us. The boat was clean. The refreshments were great. The lunch was spot-on and the tour itself was personable and we didn’t see any other tourists whilst we did it. Thank you so much yet again, lucky thank you very much. Highly recommend.
Meryl_T, Jun 2024
An unforgettable experience and one of the best day tours we have ever done. We were given an understanding of the life of the people who live along the river and a privileged insight into their customs and challenges. This is not a “touristy” trip, with no stalls selling cheap souvenirs; we visited a market and saw “convenience stores” that simply serviced the local people. Our guide and the crew were informative and concerned for our comfort and safety at all times. There was a never ending supply of chilled water and fresh fru.
Mary_D, Apr 2024
Absolutely top notch experience. Our guide Hang was knowledgable, personable, and engaging—really a perfect guide. We learned so much about village and farming life and life on the river ways and canals. Houses on stilts at high and low tides, industry along the river like fish sauce factories, bird nests, Malala lumber, rice fields, and more. Especially loved the village visit and seeing a house owned by a family for four generations, as well as the delicious grilled fish and many sides the crew served us. Great crew on the boat. Highly recommend this special tour.
Kelly_P, Mar 2024
The guide was great, very knowledgeable and friendly. I enjoyed the lovely food, fresh fruit and real Vietnamese coffee, so delicious! Seeing the agricultural lifestyle in the Mekong Delta was fascinating, thanks.
dvm8xtvd8w, Feb 2024
We enjoyed the tour as feeling very professional and interesting by exploring rural living in the area. We consider only a 3 star, because the tour is not a Mekong Delta tour, you will not reach the Mekong river. The tour is around the Vam Co river. We had this tour on our last day in Ho Chi Minh City, we paid a high price and we feel as being fooled, because now we cannot explore the real Mekong Delta anymore.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Dear guest,
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your recent tour experience with us. We appreciate your insights and the opportunity to address your concerns.
We are pleased to hear that you found our tour to be professional and engaging, offering an insightful exploration of rural life in the area. However, we understand your expectation for a tour labeled as a Mekong Delta experience to include direct access to the Mekong River.
In our Les Rives Mekong Delta tour itinerary, we intentionally focus on showcasing the authentic rural lifestyle and cultural richness of Long An Province, which is one of the 12 provinces comprising the Mekong Delta region. Our decision to explore Long An Province stems from our commitment to providing guests with a genuine and less touristy experience, steering away from heavily advertised destinations like My Tho ( belong to Tien Giang Province.)
While we regret any misunderstanding regarding the distinction between our tour and traditional Mekong Delta tours, we assure you that our focus remains on providing guests with an authentic and immersive experience away from crowded tourist areas.
Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we will carefully consider it to ensure clarity in communicating our tour's itinerary and focus to future guests.
Thank you once again for sharing your thoughts, and we hope that despite this discrepancy, you were able to enjoy the unique insights and experiences offered during your time with us.
Warm regards,
Les Rives Team
Kristy_R, Jan 2024
Loved that we were on a boat the whole time rather than riding in a bus for 2.5 hours each way. We saw a part of Saigon we never would have seen. We also loved that the stops were showing us an authentic part of the culture and we didn’t feel herded through anything- we didn’t see one other tourist aside from our group. There were only 5 of us on the tour, and we felt very well taken care of- plenty of water and fresh fruit available and the lunch we were served was amazing! So glad we found this trip!
James_M, Mar 2020
This was a wonderful tour. If you want an all encompassing tour for Saigon (HCMC) this is it. Boat ride out of the city to the Mekong Delta was much better than other tours by bus. Saw real home. Farm land and crops. Row boat ride. Great lunch with local whiskey. Henry our tour director was fantastic and the crew was great. Could not ask for more!
gunilla_n, Feb 2020
Can strongly recommend this tour! Very interesting boat trip on the Saigon river to the Mekong delta, seeing the backside of the city but mostly, to experience the countryside outside. To learn about local farm life today. We had a fantastic guide who was informative, gave attention to the small details and made the trip really worth while! Great lunch and visit to a local farmer, the local market, school and a beautiful temple in the village. Tasting the range of local fruits on the boat back to the city that our guide bought for us o teh market.
pauldrow, Feb 2020
Complete five star experience. We joined the boat at Ho Chi Min, no 2 hours in a sweaty bus and flew down the river towards the Mekong Delta. Hung our guide was extremely knowledgable and with excellent English, she made it a very relaxing and informative tour. The lunch was excellent, we saw some wonderful scenery and away from the tourist trap. It’s more expensive than the other trips but well worth it. We left at 8am and returned at 16.00. Ask for Hung she is one of the best guides I have ever come across
GoPlaces53422271608, Dec 2018
We had a 'great luck' to have Tony, as a guide. Experienced, cheerful and thoughtful, he knows how to add to a tour 'something very special'. Very unexpectedly, he guided us to an orphanage, operated by an only Buddhist priest of the temple nearby. The establishment is supported by volunteers and good-will people. That was the day when this priest invited musicians for the kids. We were also invited to join the concert, of course thanks to Tony. That was really unforgettable. All the face of children was beaming. Tony made us love Vietnam. I don't know how to thank him. Bravo! Tony!!!
Christoph_T, Nov 2018
I really enjoyed the tour to Mekong Delta by speedboat. Best of all was our guide Tony - Mekong is his home and he knows a lot about living and working in the Delta.Thanks Tony for this great tour.Thomas
Firas_M, Aug 2018
This daytrip was a great snapshot of the Mekong Delta. The staff were extremely knowledgeable and they made the experience a memorable one.
Rolf_A, Jul 2018
great tour guide. All ok, the people were super friendly and the service well done. Sadly the price of 112$ was to much for this tour
Kristy B, Jun 2018
I loved that there were only six of us on this tour. A wonderful way to see the Mekong Delta. The guides were amazing! 100 would do this tour again if I ever get back to Vietnam!
Peta_T, May 2018
Having a small group was great and we went to places that were not crowded with trillions of other tourists. Way better than expected and would highly recommend this tour. Includes hotel pick up, speedboat, canoe, lunch and lots of fun.
Vicky J, Apr 2018
This tour was very well organised, very informative and very enjoyable. I found it difficult to know exactly where we were going before the trip but the experience was interesting nonetheless. It would be good to have a map available to know exactly the route the tour takes. I highly recommend this experience. Great guide.
Clive R, Apr 2018
A genuine experience which I will always remember! Highly recommended.
Emma M, Feb 2018
Loved this trip. Not sure what to expect but the service from the tour operator was fantastic. Drinks and fruit provided through-out the day and all the guides were very pleasant and friendly. Speed boat past the city was great, stops through-out the day were insightful pagoda, local village market, a local's house for some questionable wine.. and a trip on a long boat. Very good and would recommend, particularly as a solo traveller.
shanthi.menon, Dec 2017
The reason the rating is not 5 star is because over all Mekong delta was not really exciting for me, and i was disappointed that the floating market was not included.Also, no fault of the tour company, part of the route to Mekong was very dirty and disgusting.
Les Rives tour arrangements were five star, on time pick up by Hung, our guide who was outstanding. In fact, he was the highlight of the trip. Tour itself had no tourist trap, no pressure to buy anything. In fact, even when we asked if we could buy the wines we tasted, the answer was that perhaps the family who makes it will share with us. Tour took us to remote areas, and as a result, we were in peaceful areas and never saw another tourist.
Generous amount of water, refreshments and wet towels were provided. Lunch was very good, local wine was also great.
Inese A, Dec 2017
this tour was amazing. Can't rate it highly enough. Got to have tea with a local family, got to experience a long wooden boat ride with authentic Mekong Delta people. The lunch stop was amazing and got to learn about local whiskey making at another local family homestead. Going by speed boat along the river to the Delta was amazing seeing the local river life - just awesome. Highly recommend it.
Ellen d, Dec 2017
Absolutely loved this tour. The Mekong Delta is not to be missed and is a great opportunity to see how the locals live. The food was safe and delicious. On the boat we tried many fruits - fruits that are not available in other countries. All prepared hygienically and with gloves. There was never a shortage of sanitary wipes and drinks and food/snacks. The tourguide was extremely knowledgeable and provided interesting background information. The tour included awesome photo ops including one with an authentic Vietnamese hat. This tour is a must do for anyone visiting Ho Chi Minh city!!!
simj91, Nov 2017
Not suitable for those that has never experience the real Mekong Delta cruise. It does not cover the popular usual places to visit.
Michael M, Oct 2017
This tour was awesome! Great tour guide and assistants. More snacks, food and drinks offered than we could even consume. The guide's knowledge and love of his country was obvious. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to visit the Mekong Delta and see sights outside of the city limits.
Amii D, Oct 2017
So glad we chose boat as we really felt we were in the middle of things. Our guide was very knowledgeable if a little pushy about his point of view. We loved each of the sites we visited and it was great to get out of the city to see how people live on the land. Did not visit all sites promised.
Ronald C, Sep 2017
We very much enjoyed this tour. The guide, assistant, and boat driver took exceptional care of us the whole trip. It was a good representation of the varied living conditions outside of main metropolitan areas. We were never wanting for refreshments or a selection of fruits. The guide and her assistant were always enthusiastic, and enjoyable to be with.
Kezza, Jul 2017
Very enjoyable tour, great tour guide, interesting stop offs, highly recommended
Suave5558, Jun 2017
Glad we choose this way of exploring the Mekong Delta and canals For me this was great value for money and worth 5 stars and more Martine- Belgium
Susan T, Apr 2017
Excellent tour - well worth doing. Very interesting.
Michael W, Mar 2017
Was a good tour - great boat and nice not to be on a bus for a change. Staff were excellent and the included meals and drinks were great as well. Itinerary was ok - we did get to see things other tourists dont local market, farms etc but compared to my friends who did a 'big bus' tour on the same day, I'm not quite sure the tour was worth the price - you're paying for the boat. The boat was fun although for a third of the journey about 30 mins or so out to the Mekong was a really really bad smell of the slums - an authentic experience perhaps but I can see why most tours go by bus! Still, it was still a fun tour and the staff were exceptional. But if I had my time again I think I'd have gone on a cheaper tour by bus - the boat didnt add enough to the experience to match the extra cost, in my view.
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