Excursion to the Mekong Delta in 2, 3, 4 or 5 days, what to do?

From 2 to 5 days, discover the fascinating region of the Mekong Delta and its vast labyrinth of rivers, marshes and islands, its floating markets, its little villages on its banks, its Khmer pagodas and languorous landscapes. A captivating destination that never sinks into monotony, it can be discovered on foot, by bike, in sampan or on a cruise.

Visit the Mekong Delta in 2 days

In just 2 days, it's best to focus on one destination in the Mekong Delta. Many travellers then concentrate on Can Tho city, capital of the Mekong Delta. It is home to three floating markets: Cai Rang, Phung Hiep and Phong Dien. To enjoy their incredible atmosphere, it is best to go there very early in the morning so to sleep on the spot the day before. Can Tho offers other tourist attractions such as its religious heritage, its land markets and night markets, its beautiful rice fields and villages, crafts or old houses. Some travellers prefer more confidential destinations like Cai Be, which also has a floating market, but is certainly smaller than Can Tho.

Visit the Mekong Delta in 3 days

In 3 days, you will be able to discover two destinations in the Mekong Delta with, of course, a visit to a floating market. You can, for example, go to Ben Tre, a destination off the beaten path of the Mekong Delta. An oasis of tranquility and rustic authenticity is considered throughout Vietnam as the "land of coconut palms" that offers superb cycling, beautiful local crafts and the opportunity to stay with the locals. Then, continue to Can Tho to attend the morning of the third day at one of the three floating markets of Can Tho.

Some travellers will choose to discover Vinh Long and its charming green island of An Binh then Sa Dec to walk in the footsteps of Marguerite Duras, the famous French novelist that had lived there while her mother ran the provincial school between 1928 and 1932. Nicknamed "The Garden of Cochinchina" during the colonial era, it is still traditional for Sa Dec to cultivate plants and flowers.

Travellers wishing to deviate from the beaten path or coming a second time in the Mekong Delta will choose to explore the southern part of the Mekong Delta, which houses the Tra Vinh and Soc Trang cities. Two cities have the particularity of hosting a very important Khmer community, people who were the first inhabitants of this territory. Khmer culture expressing itself in the material heritage, especially the Buddhist pagodas of Theravada architecture, is immediately noticeable.

Travellers to Phu Quoc Island will enjoy a trip through the Mekong Delta to Rach Gia port so they can take the ferry to the island paradise where they will enjoy seaside pleasures.

Visit of the Mekong Delta in 4 or 5 days

Discovering this tropical Eden in a few days can be a good option if you travel to Vietnam during the months of December, January and February. Indeed, these three months of the year are winter in northern Vietnam, so it is very cold in the mountains. The centre of Vietnam is affected by heavy rainfall so it is better to stay in southern Vietnam which has an ideal climate at this time.

In 4 or 5 days in the Mekong Delta, you can discover in depth this high contrast region. You can then discover the Khmer-speaking part of the delta with the Tra Vinh and Soc Trang cities, then continue towards Can Tho and its floating markets and Sa Dec and the remains of the house of Marguerite Duras. Four or five days is an ideal travel time to travel to the Cambodian border and to continue your journey in the Khmer Kingdom for travellers who make a combined Vietnam/ Cambodia trip. You can then decide to go there by car or on a nice cruise. This is an opportunity to discover more upstream cities like Long Xuyen. The capital of the province of An Giang is known for its buoyant floating market where every day hundreds of boats loaded with agricultural products that come to trade on the waters of the Bassac. While in Long Xuyen, you can discover by bike the charming little "island of the tiger", or Lao Ong Ho in Vietnamese, where the beautiful houses typical of the Mekong Delta are nestled.

Before arriving at the Cambodian border, Chau Doc is a stopover of choice. It is a pleasure to discover this city which is a commercial hub located on the trans-Asian axis. In its surroundings, you will climb Sam Mountain, a 230-metre-high mountain that is a Mecca of Buddhist pilgrimage and offers a breathtaking view of the Mekong Delta countryside lined with large expanses of spiky rice fields and sugar palms. The ride in the Tra Su cajuputs forest and that to discover the Chau Doc floating village  will conclude in a wondrous scene of beauty for your trip in the Mekong delta.

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