A glimpse into the rustic lifestyles that was built
on the narrow waters for hundreds of years

For over 100 years, people living in the Mekong Delta have been used to making a living right on boats along the tropical river, rowing all day. Since then, floating markets have become a way of life and a vital culture of the Mekong Delta dwellers, thanks to the complex and extensive river systems of the region. It is really interesting to see how locals live their daily lives, working, making money, eating, or even shopping on the water.

It will not take much time to feel the peaceful atmosphere of this region. Moments after arrival, you will be immediately surrounded by the rustic beauty of Mekong River, authentic cuisines, and lovely people that are always willing to show you around their world. A trip to the southwestern part of Vietnam will definitely give you a fresh look on life!

Feel the busiest trading places on waters

The Mekong Delta is a complex network of distributaries in southwestern Vietnam, between Ho Chi Minh and Cambodia. The river itself starts from the Himalayas, passes through China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia before reaching southwestern Vietnam, which partly explains the reason why the waters here are so murky. Around two-thirds of Vietnam rice and fruits come from the Delta region, providing sustenance for millions of Vietnamese people. For tourists, the Mekong Delta is a home to a unique floating market culture and peaceful sampan rides through natural tunnels.

Tourists coming to Cai Rang floating market

There are six floating markets in the Mekong Delta. They are Cai Be, Cai Rang, Phong Dien, Nga Nam, Nga Bay, and Long Xuyen. These markets are scattered around the different provinces in the region. Cai Rang floating market of Can Tho is the largest wholesale market of the region and the most popular one due to its proximity to Ho Chi Minh City. In this lively and crowded trading atmosphere, you will find tons of tropical fruits and veggies loaded on long boats and being continuously juggled from one boat to another. If you’d like to immerse yourself in the authentic and genuine vibes of the Delta's people and nature, make a visit to Long Xuyen floating market in An Giang province. It is truly a hidden gem as the market mostly serves local people and is hardly commercialized, which will definitely take you off the tourist trails to feel the peace and ease of the great rive.

Colorful boat filled with tropical fruits

Embrace a unique culture that has existed for over 100 years

There is a wide range of local activities that will keep you busy once visiting the Mekong Delta, with the floating market as the regional highlight. This is the place where local people sell and buy an amazing variety of products catering to their daily lives. Here, you can find many local products at very reasonable prices, from processed specialties such as coconut candy, fish sauce, or dried fish to all sorts of fresh fruits, especially the exotic ones such as Nam Roi grapefruit, Vinh Long pink kiwi kumquat, and the Cai Mon durian. Tourist scams, however, still happen in some areas and may worsen your shopping experience. Therefore, some bargaining tips shared by local people will certainly help you a lot to get the best deal from the sellers.

Taking a sampan boat to row further into the narrow waterways is the best way to see up-close the daily life of local communities. The view over the river with colorful fish and wild mangrove forests settling on the shimmering golden water at sunset is extremely photogenic. Make your way through the tributaries of the Mekong River, snap a few photos and stop over at anything that looks interesting - rice paddies, fruit orchards, stilt houses or riverside restaurants/cafes. The locals here are extremely friendly and may invite you to see their homes or even to join their lunch.

Take a sampan boat to explore the canals

Swamp swimming is another must-do experience on the Mekong river. Swimming in a swamp is way more fun than swimming in the pools, and children living in the rural areas of Vietnam really love doing it. This activity is really enjoyable during the wet season, from September to December, when the water levels are rising. Especially on the hot afternoons, swamp swimming is such a great way to cool off and get the stress released. If possible, join them! A journey back to childhood times with these children is absolutely memorable.

You will also probably come across some locals doing their net fishing while traveling through the canals. They will heartily welcome you, let you have a try, and even share some tips on how to get a big catch. Your catches, of course, will be cooked for your dinner. An Giang, Dong Tap, and Long An are the three most famous places for swamp swimming and net fishing that offer you the true Mekong experience.

Many residents of the Mekong Delta specialize in producing goods such as rice paper, coconut candy, bricks or handicrafts for several decades. They gladly open their homes for you to visit, look around and buy items if you wish. Make a stop at Mien Tay Homestay, which is not only a local homestay but also a fruitful cacao farm owned by Mr. Cuong and his family. He will take you to see around the farm and share lots of things about the farming process. He is always open to show you how fruits from a cacao tree turn into the familiar cacao products that we consume daily such as chocolate, body butter, liquor, or cacao drinks. Go with someone who can help with translating since you wouldn't want to miss any of his farming secrets. Don’t miss out trying a hot cup of chocolate because it's a signature drink of Mr. Cuong's wife! A visit to Mien Tay homestay will certainly be the highlight of your whole adventure.

Visitor coming to a fruit orchard with local guide

Feast on Mekong Delta specialties

There are many amazing local specialties you should not miss out while in the Mekong Delta. Up to 70% of fruit consumed in Vietnam are grown here, so make sure you fill up on as much dragon fruit, pomelo, coconut juice, mango, jackfruit, mangosteen, and durian as possible. You can even eat the freshest ones from the tree if you pay a visit to a local fruit orchard. Some popular ones are Cai Be orchard, My Khanh and Phong Dien. A fruit garden tour would be a great help to show support to these farmers' hard work and sustenance.

A lady with her boat filled with seasonal fruits

Also, exploring the authentic cuisine of the Mekong River served on various floating restaurants is a must-try for all visitors coming to the region. Since the trading activities start early in the morning, many noodle soup ladies even start their stalls at around 3:00 AM to serve both local sellers and shoppers. Despite the limitation of space, those small floating restaurants are still full of fresh ingredients from Vietnamese spices and herbs, rice noodles, to a large pan of broth to make the most flavorful dishes. Rowing along the river, you may find an abundance of local dishes including bún cá (fish noodle), hủ tiếu Sa Đéc (dry noodle), bún riêu (crab noodle), bánh mì (Vietnamese baguettes) and lẩu mắm (salted fish hotpot). With only 30,000 VND (~$1,5), you can treat your hungry stomach with quite a hearty meal, some traditional pancakes for dessert or even a cup of Vietnamese coffee.

Lots of Mekong Delta specialties served on floating boats

Inspitrip

Du lịch như “thổ địa”

Thông tin hữu ích

Chăm sóc khách hàng

Kết nối với chúng tôi

Đối tác thanh toán