Travel to the Mekong Delta is not only attractive because of its beautiful nature but also because of the authenticity and simplicity in the lives of the people here, giving visitors close and memorable experiences.
The Mekong Delta is famous for its intricate river system, small canals, floating markets and vast rice fields. Visitors can take a boat to explore peaceful villages, enjoy the fresh air and admire the wonderful natural scenery. One of the special features of the Mekong Delta is the floating markets, where people trade agricultural products, fruits and seafood right on the boat. Famous floating markets such as Cai Rang floating market (Can Tho), Phong Dien floating market… always attract visitors to experience the life on the river.
This land is also famous for its large fruit gardens. Tourists can visit fruit gardens such as durian gardens, coconut gardens, mangosteen gardens, rambutan gardens, star apple gardens, and enjoy fresh fruits right in the garden. In addition, tourists can visit craft villages such as rice paper making villages, handicraft villages, or traditional Khmer villages in Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, and Bac Lieu.
When traveling to the Mekong Delta, you cannot miss the diverse and rich cuisine of the West. Tourists can enjoy dishes such as hot pot with fish sauce, noodles, spring rolls, broken rice, pancakes, and especially dishes made from fresh seafood.
The Mekong Delta has many famous tourist destinations, each with its own unique culture and nature of the Southwest. Here are some outstanding tourist destinations that visitors should not miss when coming to this land:
- Can Tho
• Cai Rang Floating Market: One of the largest and most famous floating markets in the Mekong Delta, visitors can experience river life, participate in shopping on boats and enjoy specialties of the West.
• Ninh Kieu Wharf: This is the center of Can Tho, where visitors can walk, enjoy snacks, watch the Hau River and activities on the wharf.
• Bang Lang Stork Garden: Where thousands of storks gather, creating a unique natural landscape.
2. Tien Giang
• Thoi Son Islet: Known as “My Islet”, this place is famous for its fruit gardens, eco-tourism activities such as rowing, cycling, and visiting craft villages.
• Vinh Trang Pagoda: One of the beautiful and ancient pagodas in Tien Giang, bearing the strong influence of Oriental architecture combined with European features.
3. Soc Trang
• Bat Pagoda: A famous Khmer pagoda, with unique architecture and peaceful landscape.
• Bay Nui Coconut Forest: Famous for its beautiful landscapes, especially the areas with towering water coconut trees.
• Chen Kieu Pagoda: This is one of the special pagodas of the Khmer community, standing out with its beautiful architecture and artistic murals.
4. Ben Tre
• Cu Lao An Binh: This place stands out with its canal system, visitors can take a boat to visit the fruit gardens and enjoy coconut products, especially Ben Tre coconut candy.
• Ba Tri Port: This is where boat trips to explore the islets and traditional craft villages begin.
5. Vinh Long
• Cu Lao Long Binh: An ideal place for those who love eco-tourism, with lush fruit gardens and peaceful scenery.
• Vinh Long Floating Market: This floating market is smaller than Cai Rang, but is still an interesting place for visitors to experience the typical river atmosphere.
6. Ca Mau
• U Minh Ha Forest: A large mangrove forest, visitors can visit by boat, admire the rich ecosystem, and participate in eco-tours.
• Ca Mau Cape: This is the southernmost point of Vietnam, where there is a unique mangrove ecosystem, visitors can take boat trips along the river and sea to admire the scenery.
7. Bac Lieu
• Bac Lieu Prince’s House: Famous for the history of a wealthy family in the past, visitors can visit this building to learn about the history and culture of Bac Lieu land.
• Bac Lieu Wind Power Field: With giant windmills, this is one of the quite new and attractive destinations for tourists.
8. Tra Vinh
• Ang Pagoda: One of the famous Khmer pagodas in Tra Vinh, with a peaceful space and unique architecture.
• Tan Qui Islet: A place with fruit gardens, especially coconut gardens, along with ecotourism activities.
9. Hau Giang
• Phu Huu Ecotourism Area: This place has ecotourism activities such as visiting fruit gardens, rowing boats, participating in folk games.
• U Minh Thuong National Park: This is a large cajuput forest area, with a rich flora and fauna, an ideal place for those who love ecotourism and exploring nature.
10. Long An
• Rach Gam – Xoai Mut relic site: A famous historical site, associated with the victory of our army and people in the resistance war against invaders.
When traveling to the Mekong Delta, you need to pay attention to a few things to have a safe, enjoyable and complete trip. Here are some important notes:
- Prepare your health and endurance
• Hot and humid weather: The Mekong Delta has a tropical climate, hot and humid all year round. You should prepare comfortable, cool clothes, and wear a hat to avoid the sun.
• Bring mosquito repellent: Melaleuca forests and canals may have mosquitoes and insects, so prepare mosquito repellent or insect repellent cream.
• Drink enough water: Because of the hot and humid climate, you can easily become dehydrated, so remember to drink enough water throughout the trip.
- Choose the right time
• Dry season (November to April): This is the ideal time to travel to the West, when the weather is cool, there is little rain, making it easy to travel and visit.
• Rainy season (May to October): The rainy season often has heavy rain, which can disrupt schedules or affect outdoor activities. However, this season also brings green landscapes and is suitable for visitors who want to experience the beauty of this land in a time when there are few people.
- Prepare necessary items
• Sports shoes or sandals: For easy movement, especially when going by boat or walking in eco-tourism areas, you should choose sports shoes or waterproof sandals. • Raincoat or umbrella: If you go in the rainy season, you should bring a raincoat or umbrella to avoid sudden rain.
• Camera or phone: The Mekong Delta has many beautiful landscapes, you should bring a camera or phone to capture beautiful moments.
- Be careful when participating in activities on the river
• Safe boating: When boating on canals or participating in floating market tours, you need to make sure the boat has enough life jackets and do not stand or move while the boat is moving to avoid accidents.
• Be careful when rowing: If you participate in kayaking or small boat rowing, you need to pay attention to safety rules and have a guide.
- Explore local cuisine
• Fresh food: Seafood dishes or fresh food are very popular in the West. However, you need to choose a reputable place to avoid the risk of food poisoning.
• Pay attention to spicy dishes: Some Western dishes can be very spicy, if you cannot eat spicy food, please tell the waiter in advance to adjust the dish accordingly.
- Be polite and respectful of local culture
• Respect customs and culture: The Mekong Delta is home to many ethnic groups, especially the Khmer. You should respect customs, especially when visiting temples or historical sites.
• Greetings and thanks: People in the West are very hospitable and friendly. When meeting local people, you can greet them with simple sentences like “Hello” or “Thank you”.
- Notes on traffic and travel
• Traffic in rural areas: The Western provinces have traffic mainly by motorbikes and personal vehicles. If you travel on your own, be careful when traveling on small roads with many vehicles and motorbikes.
• Traveling by boat: When visiting areas with canals, you will travel by boat. Pay attention to choosing boats that are insured and have professional drivers to ensure safety.
- Prepare cash
• Bring cash: Rural areas in the Mekong Delta may not be convenient to use credit cards. You should bring enough cash to pay for services, sightseeing and shopping.
• Keep your belongings safe: Although the West is quite safe, you should still keep your personal belongings, especially cash and phones, in a safe place to avoid loss.
- Join tours
If you are not familiar with this land, joining a guided tour of the Mekong Delta will help you better understand the history, culture, and famous tourist attractions, and help you move more conveniently.
- Respect the environment and protect nature
• Keep clean: When visiting natural areas such as forests, orchards or eco-tourism areas, always keep the environment clean and do not litter.
• Respect wildlife: If participating in activities such as bird watching, fishing or nature reserves, keep a safe distance and do not disturb the animals.
Each locality in the Mekong Delta has its own unique features, from natural beauty, historical relics, unique culture to rich cuisine. If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, the above notes are useful reference information for your journey. Wish you a safe and memorable trip to the Mekong Delta.
