Vinh Trang Pagoda & Mekong Delta: A Full-Day Trip Review
Alright, so you’re possibly thinking about heading out from Ho Chi Minh City for a day to check out the Mekong Delta and Vinh Trang Pagoda, right? Well, I recently did exactly that, and I’m here to give you the lowdown, that way you know what you’re getting into. It’s very much one of those trips that sounds amazing in the brochure, but the actual experience can vary. I’m going to share what I saw, what I did, and a few things I maybe wish I’d known beforehand. Hopefully, my insights help you figure out if it is the right adventure for your precious time.
Setting off from Ho Chi Minh City
The trip, naturally, kicked off pretty early in the morning in what they often call Saigon, otherwise called Ho Chi Minh City. That is to say, the starting point was kind of hectic, just trying to meet the tour bus amidst the morning commute chaos. I’d say a good thing to know ahead of time is that the buses, even though they say “tour bus,” can be more like fairly basic coaches. It might be good if you lower your expectations slightly. Mine actually had comfy seats and the much appreciated air-conditioning, and that, to be honest, was a big plus from the start. It’s pretty essential, just given the heat.
The drive to My Tho, arguably where the Mekong Delta part of the adventure begins, is seemingly a bit of a long one – a few hours, give or take, basically, that’s going to depend on traffic. On the way, our tour guide provided, I’d say, somewhat useful bits of info about the region. Truthfully, though, a lot of the information was very generalized. I found myself sort of tuning out a little, however, it was good to learn a little bit. Perhaps I could have done my research ahead, too it’s always helpful. I’d probably suggest doing a little reading beforehand; it helps the place come alive, if you catch my drift.
Vinh Trang Pagoda: A Blend of Styles
First stop, obviously, was Vinh Trang Pagoda. It’s often described, like your brochure might tell you, as this mashup of European and Asian design, and in a way, I guess that is somewhat on point. I mean, you’ve got these fairly grand gates alongside classic Vietnamese architectural features. That is to say, it creates kind of an unusual vibe. It certainly has that kind of “wow” factor the moment you step onto the grounds.
What struck me the most at the pagoda wasn’t just the fancy building design. Instead, it was seemingly the calm. In spite of many other tourists wandering around, the space seemed peaceful. People were praying, monks were tending the gardens, so, generally there was just an aura of serenity. I was told lighting incense is alright if you like. I did. It felt pretty respectful. Truthfully, that short visit to the pagoda was a highlight. It served as almost a quiet break before we jumped into the, shall we say, bustling energy of the Mekong Delta.
Exploring the Mekong Delta by Boat
Okay, so now comes what you’re very likely really going for – the Mekong Delta itself. After the visit at Vinh Trang Pagoda, we hopped on a boat to poke around the waterways. The boat, by the way, tends to be the long, narrow kind you typically see in photos. This is arguably when things get a bit more interesting…and perhaps a little touristy, but we will see.
The boat ride itself is that thing that folks seemingly come for. Gliding through these canals shaded by all those palm trees overhead – honestly, there’s that “tropical paradise” feel that most tourists crave. It’s really gorgeous to see all that green around. Along the way, what will happen, as a matter of fact, is that you will make stops at some islands. At these spots, local folks showcase some regional products.
One particular island stop showed, I would guess, the making of coconut candy. The vendors offer you free samples and an explanation about how they make it. As a matter of fact, it tastes really good. Still, it’s quite apparent they also want you to buy some. You might want to be ready for the fairly strong sales pitches. It wasn’t too pushy, and arguably it’s their livelihood, yet it could be more laid back, I think.
The Not-So-Hidden Tourist Traps
Speaking about things you buy, the tour, you know, seemingly makes these little stops along the way, arguably designed to show local goods. In reality, though, some of those places felt more like a slightly touristy experience than they did, you know, an exploration of true local culture. What they want, is for you to part ways with a few bills for local trinkets. So, it might be good to budget for this!
For example, one stop featured a honey farm. We sampled some honey tea (which, for the record, was quite lovely). Next, a very pleasant salesperson gave a little talk on the health benefits of royal jelly. As you probably guessed, what followed was the opportunity to buy a bunch of honey-related goodies. The presentation was interesting and yet the intent felt quite obvious, right? That is to say, you need to decide what your looking for from the tour, just to manage your expectations and overall enjoyment of these kind of events.
A Rowboat Adventure and Local Music
One piece of this adventure that I really liked was what they called a rowboat trip down what I’d probably call a smaller canal. Several smaller boats, with local women doing the rowing. It took passengers deeper in the watery byways of the Mekong Delta. This was that time when the experience seemingly felt a little less about making the sales and really about being surrounded by calm nature. Very picturesque.
The rowers, actually, steer those tiny boats so smoothly. The waterways got pretty narrow, and that kind of just added to the charm of the whole escapade. Sunlight filters though the thick canopy of leaves, you get a view of traditional riverside homes – honestly, those moments are what create lasting vacation memories. Do take your phone to take pictures, of course, right? In my case, the sky was showing off with a mix of sunshine and scattered clouds. A very great backdrop.
After the rowboat ride, what we found was that we were treated to, you could say, a performance of traditional music by a group of local artists. In fact, what happened, is they sing folk songs while others played classic instruments. I can say the performance seemed pretty heartfelt, even though I surely didn’t get the words to the songs. Very neat to just hear, yet. Actually, though, it’s a setup so they can have an occasion to, you can say, get tips. It’s up to you if you’re in the mood to give a tip. Just have small change or small notes with you.
Lunch on the Mekong Delta
No full-day tour is totally complete without a snack break, obviously, right? What happened with our trip is they take everyone for what they like to call lunch at a restaurant along the river. Meals in the Mekong Delta area seemingly have certain staples, as I discovered, such as fresh spring rolls, flavorful soups, and what most tourists tend to call “elephant ear fish,” That is, it’s a local type of fish that’s fried until very crispy. Is that, it looks almost like, well, an elephant’s ear.
I really enjoyed, or maybe I should use a different word, appreciated having the chance to sample so many dishes particular to the area. I suppose the food isn’t, you know, “gourmet,” however it gives an idea of the area. One piece of advice – even if you have a fairly sensitive stomach, don’t be worried, so maybe, as the saying goes, don’t be afraid of tasting everything. I’m fairly sure it’s pretty good practice to exercise a little culinary bravery when you’re travelling.
Final Thoughts
So, is that full-day trip to Vinh Trang Pagoda and the Mekong Delta coming from Ho Chi Minh City what tourists might call worth it? Well, there are ups and downs to weigh. The pagoda can be peaceful and gorgeous, the rowboat trip seemingly has the feeling of floating though a serene postcard, but you’ll also, potentially, encounter what most travel snobs think of as sales pitches at tourist stops. If I had to state it frankly, you seemingly trade an authentic local experience for an somewhat packaged one.
Even with all that, what happened is I kind of believe that experiencing the Mekong Delta is just very much a rite of passage if you are someone going all the way to southern Vietnam. You get a visual and tactile experience of a way of existence fairly unlike almost anywhere else. Just go in with the information about some commercialization. With realistic expectations, and by that I’m not trying to sound negative, you’ll probably find, as I did, small memories that make the tour very well worth the cost.