HCM City: Ben Tre Mekong Delta & My Tho Day Trip with Lunch

The best part of this day is trading the road for a narrow creek, where a hand-rowed sampan slips beneath overhanging coconut trees. The quiet pace gives you a close look at waterways and village life that a motorboat alone cannot provide.

I like that the day pairs this intimate boat ride with two very different stops: Vinh Trang Pagoda, the largest in the Mekong Delta, and a Ben Tre coconut workshop where you can see how candy is made and sample it. One consideration: the schedule packs in several stops, so this is a broad introduction, not a slow, unhurried stay in one village.

At a glance

• A full-day outing: Depart Ho Chi Minh City at 7:30 am and expect to return around 5:30 or 6:00 pm.
• A pagoda visit first: Stop at Vinh Trang, described as the largest pagoda in the Mekong Delta.
• Two kinds of boat travel: Take a motorboat on the Mekong, then a smaller hand-rowed boat through a coconut-lined creek.
• Ben Tre crafts and tastes: See coconut candy making, sample candy, drink honey tea, and try seasonal tropical fruit.
• Lunch and village time: A set-menu Vietnamese lunch is followed by time to relax, walk, or take a short bike ride.
• A low-cost package: At $20 per person, the price includes transport, guide, boats, listed tastings, entrance fees, and lunch.

From Ho Chi Minh City to Vinh Trang Pagoda

The day starts at 7:30 am, with pickup at a meeting point on De Tham Street or, if requested, at a hotel in District 1. You travel to My Tho in an air-conditioned vehicle described as a limousine. The drive takes you out of the city and past green rice paddies, offering a first glimpse of the agricultural south before the river portion begins.

This early departure makes the itinerary possible as a day trip, but it also means a long day overall. You will spend several hours moving between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, then fit multiple visits into the time on the ground. Bring water and wear comfortable clothes so the road portion and the later boat rides are easier.

Vinh Trang Pagoda is the first major stop. Its distinction as the largest pagoda in the Mekong Delta makes it a useful introduction to the region’s religious architecture and a contrast with the village and river visits ahead. The tour includes the entrance fee, so you do not need to budget separately for admission.

The available details do not specify how long you spend at the pagoda or which buildings and features your guide will cover. Treat it as a short, guided visit rather than a lengthy temple tour. If religious sites are a priority for you, ask about the stop’s timing before booking.

Motorboat views on the Mekong

At My Tho, you board a motorboat for a trip along the Mekong River. The route passes fish cages and floating houses, bringing daily river activity into view. It also takes you around four large islands in the My Tho area, a useful way to understand the scale of the waterways before you leave the larger river for a narrow creek.

The motorboat covers more distance than the hand-rowed craft, and the two rides have different purposes. On the river, you get a wider view of the water and riverside activity. In the creek, the pace slows and the boat moves beneath coconut branches. The contrast is one of the day’s strongest features.

The river ride is not an isolated wilderness trip. The itinerary includes fish cages and floating homes, so expect to see signs of work and residence on the water. That everyday setting is part of the appeal: the Mekong is not just scenery, it is a route people use and a place where they make a living.

The sampan through Ben Tre’s coconut creek

The hand-rowed boat is the experience to look forward to if you want a quieter encounter with the Delta. You transfer from the motorboat to a small sampan and move through a creek shaded by overhanging coconut trees. The boat’s slower pace gives you time to watch the banks and notice local life along the water.

This is the part I would value most. The motorboat offers reach; the sampan offers closeness. One short comment from someone who took the trip singled out the rowing through the coconut groves as the day’s best moment, which makes sense: it is a distinct change of pace in an otherwise busy itinerary.

Keep expectations practical. This is a guided group excursion, not a private paddle or an extended journey through remote waterways. The exact duration of the sampan ride is not provided, and the tour includes several other stops. If the small boat ride is your main reason for booking, you may want to ask how much time is allowed for it.

Coconut candy and village life

After the creek, you disembark on a coconut island in Ben Tre. The stop includes a look at coconut candy making, samples of the finished sweets, and time to explore the village. It is a straightforward way to connect a familiar snack with the local ingredient and the work involved in producing it.

The candy demonstration is more than a tasting break. It gives you a glimpse of a local craft and keeps the visit grounded in the region’s coconut production. You can see how the ingredient is used, sample the result, and walk around the village rather than staying only at a viewing point.

The schedule moves on to Unicorn Island, where a motorboat takes you to a performance site. There, you hear traditional Vietnamese music and taste seasonal tropical fruit. The tour also visits a bee-keeping farm, where you can have honey tea and see a typical Mekong house.

These are several experiences close together, each giving you a different taste of local life: food production, music, fruit, honey, and a home. The trade-off is that none is described as a long visit. If you prefer to spend an afternoon talking with one maker or exploring one community at your own pace, this tour’s variety may feel hurried.

Lunch under the trees

Lunch is scheduled for about 12:30 pm and consists of a set menu of Vietnamese food, served under the shade of trees. It is included in the $20 price, along with the listed drinks and tastings. The meal gives you a proper midday pause after the morning’s transfers and activities.

The menu is described as special Vietnamese food, but specific dishes and dietary arrangements are not provided. If you have dietary needs, confirm whether they can be accommodated before you book. Do not assume that a set menu can be changed on the day.

After lunch, you can relax, walk around the village, or take a short bike ride. This is the itinerary’s clearest block of flexible time. It is not presented as a long cycling excursion, so think of the bike ride as a brief option rather than a substantial tour on two wheels.

What the $20 price covers

At $20 per person, this is an inexpensive way to combine transport from Ho Chi Minh City with a guide, a pagoda visit, river and creek boat rides, village stops, food, and activities. The included items also cover entrance fees, a set-menu lunch, fruit, honey tea, candy, water, and a bike ride. You avoid arranging separate transport and boat trips, which would take time and could make the day less straightforward.

The low price is especially appealing if you want a sampler of the Mekong Delta rather than a private, tailor-made trip. It brings together a range of sights and tastes in one day, with an English- or Vietnamese-speaking guide and an air-conditioned vehicle for the road journey.

Value depends on what you want from the region. If your priority is seeing several places and trying different activities, the price is compelling. If you want long stretches at each stop, a detailed food tour, or a quiet rural stay, the packed schedule may not suit you as well. The tour mentions small-group availability, but does not give a group size, so ask if that detail matters to your decision.

Timing, pickup, and a few useful checks

Plan for a full day. Pickup begins at 7:30 am, and the return to Ho Chi Minh City is estimated for 5:30 or 6:00 pm. The return time is an estimate, so avoid scheduling a tight evening commitment if you can. The tour starts either at the De Tham meeting point or with optional hotel pickup in District 1.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, a practical comfort during the drive. Once you reach the Delta, the day alternates between motorboat travel, a hand-rowed boat, village visits, food, and short periods on foot. Light, comfortable clothing and footwear make sense for a day with several changes of setting, though the tour information does not specify a dress code.

The activity is offered with English- and Vietnamese-speaking guides. No individual guide names are provided. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Small-group availability is noted, but you should confirm the group arrangement and pickup details when choosing a departure.

Who should book this day trip?

This is a good fit if you are based in Ho Chi Minh City and want a broad, affordable introduction to the Mekong Delta without arranging transport and boat rides yourself. It suits first-time visitors, people with only one free day, and anyone curious about river life, coconut products, local food, and traditional music.

Families or groups with varied interests may appreciate the mix of boats, tastings, a pagoda, and time to walk or cycle. The itinerary does not specify age limits or cycling requirements, so check those details if you are booking for young children or anyone who needs particular support.

I would be more cautious if you dislike early starts, long day trips, or schedules with frequent transitions. The most praised part of the day is the sampan ride through the coconut creek, but it sits among many stops. Choose this trip for variety and value, not for a slow, deeply focused visit.

Should you book?

Book this tour if you want a full-day introduction to My Tho and Ben Tre at a modest price, with transport, lunch, boat rides, and several local activities bundled together. The hand-rowed sampan is the key draw, while Vinh Trang Pagoda, coconut candy making, honey tea, fruit, and music add range.

Skip it if you would rather spend most of your day in one place or need a very flexible schedule. Before paying, confirm the pickup point, the small-group arrangement, and any dietary needs. If those details work for you, this is a practical way to get beyond Ho Chi Minh City and onto the Mekong in a single day.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The tour costs $20 per person.

How long does the tour last?

It is a one-day trip. Pickup starts at 7:30 am, and arrival back in Ho Chi Minh City is expected around 5:30 or 6:00 pm.

Where does pickup take place?

You can meet at 243 De Tham or request hotel pickup in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

What languages are available for the guide?

Guides are available in English and Vietnamese.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The tour includes a set-menu Vietnamese lunch.

What boat rides are included?

You take a motorboat along the Mekong River and a hand-rowed boat through a creek lined with overhanging coconut trees.

What food and drink are included?

The tour includes lunch, seasonal tropical fruit, honey tea, coconut candy samples, and water.

Does the tour include Vinh Trang Pagoda?

Yes. The itinerary includes a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda, described as the largest in the Mekong Delta.

Is a small group available?

Yes, small-group availability is offered. A specific group size is not provided.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.