The region in southern Vietnam is steeped in cultural diversity, with highlights such as the Cham villages in An Giang Province and craft villages in Ben Tre Province, where traditions have been preserved for generations.
The Mekong Delta is also a culinary haven, offering dishes that highlight the region’s abundance, from coconut-infused specialties in Ben Tre Province, fish hotpots in Can Tho City, to Cambodian-influenced noodle soups in An Giang.
Whether you are cruising the waterways, exploring markets, or simply enjoying the laid-back atmosphere, this land of water offers visitors a glimpse into rural life and the beauty of Vietnam’s landscapes.
Climate
The Mekong Delta has a tropical climate, with two main seasons: dry and rainy. This warm and humid weather shapes the region’s agricultural cycles and daily life.
The dry season lasts from November to April, characterized by warm, sunny days. This is the best time to visit as it is ideal for exploring the outdoors.
The rainy season runs from May to October, bringing heavy but short rains. While travel is still possible, some areas may become difficult to access due to flooding.
How to get there
Traveling to the Mekong Delta is easy, with multiple transportation options:
– By air: The nearest airport is Can Tho International Airport, which connects to major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
– By road: From Ho Chi Minh City, it takes about 2-4 hours by bus or car to reach popular destinations like Can Tho City.
– By boat: Cruise tours along the Mekong River offer a unique way to experience the delta.
Well Three
Ben Tre, located 85 kilometers south of HCMC, is known for its year-round pleasant weather and diverse attractions. The best time to visit is during the summer months of June to August, when orchards are in full harvest, offering fruits like durian, rambutan, and mangosteen.
Key destinations include Con Quy and Con Phung islets, famous for their fruit orchards, coconut candy processing, and activities like crocodile fishing and feeding carp. Visitors can also explore the Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary and Binh Dai Beach, which remains untouched by commercial tourism.
Ben Tre is also home to craft villages, such as the My Long Rice Paper Village, Son Doc Banh Phong Village for rice crackers, and the bamboo weaving village. River tours through nipa palm canals and walks on monkey bridges add a touch of rural charm.
Coconut-based dishes are a highlight, including coconut candy, rice cooked with coconut, and coconut porridge. Other specialties include banh xeo oc gao (crispy crepes with snails), and banh canh bot xat (thick noodle soup with duck). Visitors can also enjoy seasonal fruits and delicacies like grilled bananas with coconut milk.
Dong Thap
Dong Thap, located 147 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is known for its lotus ponds and cultural attractions.
Key attractions include the Lotus Leaf Pagoda in Chau Thanh District, where visitors can stand or sit on massive lotus leaves, and Tram Chim National Park, a Ramsar site home to over 230 bird species, including the rare red-crowned crane.
Countless birds soaring through the skies at Tram Chim National Park. Photo by Ngo Tran Hai An
The Huynh Thuy Le Ancient House in Sa Dec City, tied to the inspiration for the work “The Lover” (L’Amant), later adapted into a movie, and the Kien An Cung Pagoda, showcasing Chinese cultural architecture, are must-visit sites.
Historical and natural destinations like the Xeo Quyt Tourist Area and the Dong Thap Muoi Ecotourism Area feature wetlands, cajuput forests, and lotus flowers. Visitors can also explore the Sa Dec Flower Village, known for its year-round blooms, and the Lai Vung Tangerine Garden, especially vibrant during the Lunar New Year.
Dong Thap is famous for over 200 lotus-based dishes, such as lotus seed rice and lotus root salad. The Sa Dec Batter Village offers local delicacies like football (steamed rice cakes) and banh xeo (crispy pancakes).
Lotus field in My Hoa Commune, Thap Muoi District, Dong Thap Province. Photo by Nhut Minh
Can Tho
About 170 kilometers from HCMC, Can Tho City is famous for its floating markets, rivers, and canals. The best time to visit is from May to August for orchard harvests or September to November during the flood season, which enriches the landscape and attracts wildlife.
Vendors serve breakfast from their boats on a floating market in Can Tho. Photos by Phong Vinh
Key attractions include the Cai Rang Floating Market, the biggest in the delta, bustling with boats trading produce and specialties like dried fish and coconut candy. Visitors can enjoy breakfast on floating eateries serving dishes like pho or crab noodle soup.
Other highlights are the Binh Thuy Ancient House, known for its blend of Vietnamese and European architecture, and Son Islet, where tourists can experience floating fish farms, local crafts, and cake-making workshops. For birdwatchers, the Bang Lang Stork Sanctuary offers a setting to observe storks in their natural habitat.
Can Tho’s cuisine includes signature dishes like fermented fish hotpot and banh xeo (crispy pancakes).
An Giang
An Giang is known for its spiritual sites and landscapes. It attracts millions of pilgrims during the Ba Chua Xu Festival from March to May, while the flooding season between September and November offers boat rides through the Tra Su Cajuput Forest.
Landmarks include the Lady of the Realm Temple at Sam Mountain, a spiritual site, and Phuoc Dien Pagoda, also called the “Snake Pagoda”, with its distinct Vietnamese architecture. Early risers can visit the Long Xuyen Floating Market to experience the trade of fresh produce and enjoy breakfast dishes like banh tam bi (thick noodles with coconut cream).
Nature enthusiasts can explore Ta Pa Mountain, surrounded by rice fields and an emerald lake, or visit the Cham villages to learn about Islamic culture through traditional crafts and designed mosques.
An Giang’s cuisine showcases Mekong Delta flavors with dishes like Chau Doc fish noodle soup, influenced by Cambodian origins, featuring turmeric-marinated snakehead fish in a fermented broth, banh hoi thit nuong (rice vermicelli with grilled pork and fish sauce), and lau, I have it (fermented fish hotpot) with shrimp, squid, pork, and vegetables.
Apr Su Cajuput Forest
Tra Su Cajuput Forest, located in Tinh Bien District of An Giang, spans nearly 850 hectares and serves as an important ecological site in the Mekong Delta. Around 250 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, this forest regulates the region’s water and climate. Tickets cost VND100,000 ($4) per person, with additional fees for motor boat or canoe rides.
The best time to visit is from September to November during the flood season when the forest is lush, waterways are full, and birdlife is abundant. Early mornings and late afternoons are ideal for spotting birds and enjoying cooler weather.
Tra Su features Vietnam’s longest bamboo bridge, stretching four kilometers and using over 500,000 bamboo trees. Motorboat and canoe tours take visitors deep into the greenery, offering opportunities to spot wildlife and photograph lotus blooms.
A watchtower provides a panoramic view of the forest and nearby Khmer villages, while a pigeon yard near the entrance lets visitors feed and interact with birds. Local souvenir stalls sell items like cajuput flower honey, palm sugar, and brocade towels.
Ca Mau
Ca Mau is more than 300 kilometers southwest of HCMC. The Vietnamese southernmost province offers visitors a chance to explore mangrove forests, interact with locals, and enjoy regional specialties. The best time to visit is the dry season (December to April), although the rainy season (May to November) showcases greenery and seafood.
Highlights include Ca Mau Cape, where visitors can watch the sunrise over the East Sea and the sunset over the Gulf of Thailand. The Ca Mau Cape World Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO, features Ca Mau Cape National Park, U Minh Ha National Park, and the West Sea coastal protection forest. Visitors can enjoy activities like boat trips, mangrove planting, and bee-eating experiences in U Minh Ha.
Wildlife enthusiasts can explore the Ngoc Hien Bird Sanctuary, home to rare bird species and diverse flora. Nearby islands such as Hon Khoai and Hon Da Bac offer natural landscapes.
Ca Mau is famous for its crabs, mud clams, sea snails, and dishes like braised spotted scats with bush grapes and bee pupae salad.
Unique local ingredients like cattails and specialties such as mangrove crab salad add to the culinary medley.
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