Ho Chi Minh & Mekong Delta: A 3-Day Trip Review Covering Cai Rang & Ca Mau

So, are you thinking of a quick escape into the heart of southern Vietnam? This, then, is all about my whirlwind 3-day experience hopping between Ho Chi Minh City, the pretty lively Cai Rang Floating Market, and the natural wonder that Ca Mau kinda is. I’m going to give you the lowdown, my impressions, and honestly, just my plain old opinion to help you decide if this kinda trip is for you. Did it have moments of wonder? Absolutely. Were there a few bumps along the road? Maybe just a tiny few, but all the good and the bad, you will learn about them here, believe that.

First Stop: Ho Chi Minh City – A City Very Much in Motion

Landing in Ho Chi Minh City is almost like stepping into a different world entirely, and trust me, it is truly something. The motorbike frenzy is pretty intense, the energy is definitely palpable, and the sheer volume of people gets very quickly hard to ignore. So, after dropping off my bag, I wanted to explore just a little bit. I swung by the Reunification Palace, walked past Notre-Dame Cathedral (which, I tell you what, is under renovation!), and peeked inside the Central Post Office – classic spots, really. The War Remnants Museum, honestly, is a heavy experience, it just has that type of feeling. Very powerful but super important for a bit of perspective, if you know what I mean.

I took my time checking out the street food in District 1. Got a Banh Mi. A very nice snack to have, but honestly you could just go to the next store and its just as good and half the price!. Pho? I’ve had better. What it really needs, that’s what I call it, to fully capture the taste, is more spices.

Day Two: Cai Rang Floating Market – A Whirlwind Of Colors & Commerce

Getting up super early, that’s what I call it, to hit the Cai Rang Floating Market from Ho Chi Minh City, took a bit, just a bit. The bus journey was about 4 hours, that’s really not fun at all. Yet, let me tell you, the sights there? Oh, it’s worth the trouble.

So, imagine boats packed completely, loaded down with all sorts of fruits and veggies. The sellers hang their samples high up on these poles. Kinda smart right? They act a little bit like floating billboards, so that’s smart.

You get close enough, the boat ladies will ask what you want, “Pineapple madam? How about the water melon!” kind of attitude, very sweet, that’s so like the Vietnamese right?. Grab yourself a pineapple, it might be a bit over priced as a tourist, yet hey! You have to love the culture.

Venturing into Ca Mau – Land’s End and Nature’s Embrace

Ca Mau? Alright, I was kind of intrigued and really, just a little, skeptical. I kept hearing about this place, where the land meets the sea, a true end-of-the-road spot for Vietnam, right? Well I wanted to check it out, what did I have to lose. It’s definitely less touristy and way more laid-back than the cities I know that for certain.

So, the mangrove forests were probably the most amazing thing. Boating through these waterways that were just kinda green, all twisted roots sticking out everywhere. I thought to myself that nature is kind of having a wild party. Bird sanctuaries? Alright, there’s a few of them in there. Spotting these herons and storks was pretty beautiful though, it must be said.

West Sea beach, that was next. I tell you, it felt like the very edge of civilization to me. No crazy waves, just miles of sand meeting the ocean. Quiet you see.