3 Days Mekong Delta Tour: My Tho, Ben Tre, Chau Doc, Can Tho Review

Picture this: you are gliding along the murky yet strangely mesmerizing waterways of the Mekong Delta, surrounded by lush greenery that’s seemingly sprouting straight from the water itself. Seems that a 3-day tour promises just this: an immersive getaway into the heart of southern Vietnam, that will visit spots like My Tho, Ben Tre, Chau Doc, and Can Tho. I’m just about to get into if that’s truly the reality, and what you should anticipate if you’re planning to take this adventure. I’m set to break down what made this trip stand out, where it maybe fell short, and some pieces of advice to make the most out of the trip, like yours.

First Stop: My Tho – The Gateway to the Mekong

My Tho, very often called “the gateway to the Mekong Delta,” is, you know, where things usually kick off on these kinds of trips. Now, you get whisked away on a boat tour the minute you arrive, to view small islands. The vibe is quite touristy but, look, in some respects it’s sort of the start of this, too, giving a good feel for river life. Is that I can remember quite well, there was a visit to a local coconut candy workshop, where you get to view the process and, obviously, try the fresh sweets. This sounds a bit cliché, yet, let’s be honest, it’s an experience; besides that, coconut candy is surprisingly yummy, or I believed it to be anyway.

For what it’s worth, I enjoyed just watching locals get around the waterways on boats which is pretty, like, just their routine lifestyle, you know. This is like watching a show; then you appreciate how different life is right here as compared to the urban chaos of, for example, Ho Chi Minh City. That it is is a bit rushed in My Tho, so too the goal is truly to only get you right into the core of the Mekong Delta.

Ben Tre: The Land of Coconuts

Okay, so after My Tho comes Ben Tre, which, very honestly, steps everything up. This location calls itself “the land of coconuts,” and for a great cause too; it’s very evident pretty much anywhere. So then the boat trips are continuing, but there’s quite a different and very welcome change, a little adventure that starts involving smaller boats which are driven through narrow channels which are thickly coated in mangrove forests.

It’s a lot more intimate and the trees and how they hang on all sides looks incredibly magical. Unlike other adventures, here you actually disembark and also get to, like, tour by bicycle or maybe take a ride on a xe loi (which is a kind of motorized rickshaw) across the little local villages. Is that this bit makes you actually connect and understand better the location that surrounds you, where I passed friendly residents and got some really authentic food. Just so you’re prepared though, the xe loi might get a little bumpy, very much a cultural experience.

Chau Doc: Border Town Adventures

Chau Doc has this really unique spot located near the Cambodian border, bringing in a totally different flavor in comparison to My Tho and Ben Tre. Like your ordinary temple-hopping tourist destination? Nah. Is that visiting Ba Chua Xu Temple and the Sam Mountain area allows you to take a better look into local beliefs that tend to mix Vietnamese and Khmer effects.

That it is, it is also where you could potentially go and see the Tra Su Cajuput Forest, but that, to be honest, totally depends on the tour company that you went with. Unlike other forest adventures, there is this tranquil green spot, which means you explore with a small boat right through a serene, green-coated canal. You might tend to see multiple different kinds of birds around, which is sort of really paradise if you are a bird enthusiast.

Yet, this tour is, maybe, just a bit of a journey to reach, that means that long car rides need to happen, which may impact the time available for all of the actual locations. Even so, in my opinion, Chau Doc still gives you like a memorable culturally and scenic look for the trip.

Can Tho: Floating Markets and Charming City Life

So, eventually there is Can Tho, most widely known for its pretty unique floating markets. You will actually have to get up really early, that so you can watch Cai Rang Floating Market working fully; this generally happens right before sunrise. Arguably, it is more than a spot; this location is a show of everything that happens in Mekong Delta selling as so many boats loaded right up on produce gather as everything is marketed on the waters.

While not the most popular floating market, Phong Dien is a solid, very authentic alternative and tends to not get quite as packed, so just you know. Just you know that after you explore the waters you have time to see what is available on land. That you are able to take walks around Can Tho city, dine around the riverfront locations, and see what’s the authentic urbanized side for the Delta, something so refreshing which has a mix from that rural wonder from the last locations. Yet, honestly, the overall experience genuinely turns mostly towards getting up that little bit early for that market.

Some Good Tips for Your 3-Day Adventure

Make your backpack simple and concise. That you are switching locations nearly every day. Hauling many items with you isn’t ideal at all.
Plan outfits for heat. Here’s a piece of important advice, pack items that are light, breezy, and moisture-wicking. Also that the sun is super strong; ensure that you’re protected by wearing lots of sunscreen.
Get ready for long trips. A bunch of your travel time happens while in transit to and from sites. Remember to carry many activities to keep you quite occupied.
Have small currency at the ready. Then you are more than likely to purchase treats along your way. So small bills might actually be much more helpful.
Please always be polite. Here’s something I hope is clear, knowing very basic Vietnamese terms are highly appreciated and shows that you are actually being considerate.

Things that Stood Out:

The tour can give a rather diverse glimpse within just a short amount of time. Like your boring adventure vacation? Surely no, but the adventure has some fast switches in landscapes.
Exploring smaller boats, like those located in Ben Tre, is arguably among the main and biggest parts to have on that Delta.
Is that getting some downtime right in Can Tho gives such an appropriate change for how the rate always works, and it allows a breather time in between the rural adventures.

A Few Things You Should Know About:

Are we being real that things can get seriously crowded? Look, these days trips can definitely feel jam-packed during busy days, specifically in locations like My Tho along with Cai Rang Floating Market.
Now I feel you should remember that some of your advertised adventures or inclusions can totally change; always double check everything. Also that that kind of flexibility for everything that takes place day-to-day is actually just what occurs in travels.
Honestly I really did notice there are some seriously long trips between everywhere that we wanted to visit, because traffic isn’t exactly a well oiled machine.

Should You Make the Trek?

In a way, yeah, if your timeline is kind of short to go through that Delta area, this type of 3-day experience may definitely work in a big fashion for getting an overview. So just keep in your mind things that have to be considered such as packing for some packed situations, getting many long commutes covered, with that chance of any possible detour from all itinerary specifics. If you go for all the prep for adventure as everything is to take it as something worthwhile that’s to be had, then that might really be a spectacular route towards seeing for all the main attractions along the Mekong Delta.