Your 7-Day Journey
A route that moves from city heritage to river life, with time built in for the rhythms of the Delta.
Saigon Arrival & First Impressions
Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, your guide can arrange a gentle introduction to the city — a short walk around Dong Khoi, a first bowl of phở, or an evening stroll along Nguyen Hue Walking Street. No fixed sightseeing is scheduled today.
Saigon Heritage & War History
A full day exploring Saigon’s historic centre. Visit the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, the Saigon Central Post Office, and the Notre-Dame Cathedral area. In the afternoon, choose between Chinatown (Cho Lon) with the Thien Hau Temple and Binh Tay Market, or the Jade Emperor Pagoda.
Saigon → Ben Tre → Can Tho
Depart Saigon for Ben Tre, the “land of coconut.” Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, cruise along the Chet Say River, and stop at a brick kiln and coconut workshop. Enjoy a hand-rowed sampan ride through water coconut canals and a short cycling loop through village roads before continuing to Can Tho for the night.
Cai Rang Floating Market → Chau Doc
An early start to catch the sunrise at Cai Rang Floating Market, the liveliest in the Delta. Enjoy breakfast on the water, visit a rice noodle workshop, and drift through narrow canals. Afternoon transfer toward Chau Doc, with a visit to Sam Mountain and the sacred Ba Chua Xu Temple.
Tra Su Cajuput Forest & Chau Doc
Morning visit to Tra Su Cajuput Forest, a biodiverse bird sanctuary. Glide through flooded forests by motorboat and traditional sampan, then climb the bird-watching tower for panoramic views. Afternoon visit to a local fish farm, a Cham village, and the floating houses of Chau Doc. Evening at leisure.
Chau Doc → Saigon | Mekong Countryside
Morning departure from Chau Doc back to Saigon by private vehicle, with optional local stops depending on timing and interest. The drive offers a final, unhurried look at Delta countryside — rice fields, river crossings and small market towns. Arrive in Saigon in the late afternoon. Evening free at leisure.
Saigon Departure
Free time until your transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your onward flight. End of services.
Why Travel Saigon & the Mekong?
Southern Vietnam offers a rare combination — a fast-moving modern city on one side, and one of the world’s great river civilizations on the other, less than two hours apart.
Saigon: Heritage & Energy
Vietnam’s largest city blends French colonial architecture, wartime history, a celebrated food culture, and one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic street scenes. It is a natural starting point for understanding modern Vietnam.
The Mekong: Life on the Water
The Mekong Delta is where Vietnam’s rice, fruit, fish and river culture come together. Floating markets, canal villages, Khmer and Cham communities, and wetland forests make it one of the most distinctive regions in Southeast Asia.
Highlights of the Route
Saigon Heritage
Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Central Post Office, and the historic Dong Khoi quarter.
Vietnamese Food
Phở, bánh mì, bún chả, Mekong-style meals, and street food along the way.
Cu Chi Tunnels
Optional extension to the underground network used during the Vietnam War.
Mekong Waterways
Ben Tre’s coconut canals, sampan rides, and river life in the Delta.
Cai Rang Floating Market
Sunrise on the water at the most famous floating market in Vietnam.
Chau Doc & Tra Su
Sam Mountain, Cham villages, floating fish farms, and the cajuput wetlands of Tra Su.
Saigon & Mekong Route
Six stops, one continuous journey through southern Vietnam.
Time to Slow the Pace
Shorter Saigon & Mekong tours often compress the Delta into a single day trip. Seven days allows you to travel at a more natural pace — one night in Can Tho, one in Chau Doc, and a full day at Tra Su. The result is a route that feels less like a checklist and more like a journey.
When to Go
The Mekong Delta is a year-round destination. The dry season (December to April) offers easier travel and clearer skies. The green season (May to November) brings lush landscapes and dramatic river scenes. Cai Rang Floating Market is at its most active in the early morning, year-round.
Accommodation Along the Route
A mix of city hotels and riverside stays, selected for location and comfort.
Saigon
Central hotels in District 1, walking distance to Dong Khoi, Ben Thanh Market and the river.
Can Tho
Riverside hotels and lodges near the Cai Rang Floating Market departure point.
Chau Doc
Riverside hotels with views toward the Mekong and easy access to Sam Mountain and Tra Su.
Private & Customizable
This itinerary is a suggested framework, not a fixed departure. Every Asia Travel Mates journey is private and can be adapted — pace, accommodation, activities, and extensions. Your local specialist will refine the route with you based on your interests, travel dates and group size.
Planned by People Who Know the Region
From Cai Rang to Tra Su, our specialists have travelled these routes many times. They know which floating market to visit at which hour, which village roads are best for cycling, and where to stop for the best local meal along the way.
Where to Go Next
Pair the Saigon & Mekong route with another chapter of Indochina.
Included & Not Included
What’s Included
Not Included
Questions About This Journey
Can this itinerary be customized?
Yes. Every Asia Travel Mates journey is private and customizable. Pace, accommodation, activities and extensions can all be adjusted by your local specialist.
How much driving is involved?
Day 3 (Saigon → Ben Tre → Can Tho) and Day 6 (Chau Doc → Saigon) involve the longest drives, generally 4–6 hours each with stops. Other days involve shorter transfers.
When is the best time to visit the Mekong Delta?
The Delta is a year-round destination. The dry season (December to April) offers easier travel and clearer skies. The green season (May to November) brings lush landscapes and dramatic river scenes.
Can we add Cu Chi Tunnels or Cao Dai Temple?
Yes. Both are best arranged as a half-day or full-day extension from Saigon, either before or after the Delta portion of the journey.
Can we extend to Phu Quoc, Cambodia or Central Vietnam?
Absolutely. Popular extensions include Phu Quoc (via Rach Gia), Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia, and Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Hue, Da Nang). Your specialist can integrate flights, transfers and accommodation.
Is this tour suitable for families?
Yes. The pace is relaxed, and the boat trips, sampan rides and markets are especially popular with children. We can adjust activities and accommodations for family travel.
Customize Your Saigon & Mekong Journey.
Tell us your travel dates and preferences. Our local specialists will refine this itinerary into a private journey built around you.