Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta Overview

In Vietnam, Mekong Delta is more commonly known as “The Nine Dragon River Delta” thanks to its pours to the East Sea. With its natural advantages, this place is famous for being one of the major food sources for Vietnam, resulting in a variety of exotic products and a unique ecosystem.

Mekong Delta Overview

Aside from that, Mekong Delta is also home to four ethnic groups of Vietnam, including Kinh people (or Viet people), Khmer people, Cham people, and Hoa people. Since settlement, the four ethnic groups have created such a distinctive and spectacular beauty of culture, lifestyle, and cuisine in this region.

What To Do And What To See In Mekong Delta?

Tan Lap Floating village eco-tourism area

Tan Lap Floating village is a great place for taking photos, sightseeing, and other water activities. When you’re here, you will be immersed in the beautiful nature of the Southern Vietnam River.

Tan Lap Floating village eco-tourism area

Dong Tam Snake Farm

Dong Tam Snake Farm is one of the largest snake-raising centers in Vietnam, with over 50 species of snake living here. This farm is divided into three sections that have three different kinds of snakes. The first section contains small lakes that raise frogs and banded bullfrogs to be used as a food source for the snakes, this is also a place to keep non-venomous snakes. The second section is reserved for pythons, while the third one contains venomous snakes.

Dong Tam Snake Farm

Sa Dec, Dong Thap

Sa Dec is a small and peaceful town in the Dong Thap province, it was used as the original setting for the famous novel “The Lover” by Marguerite Duras. This city preserves a lot of architecture from colonial times, including old markets, houses and mansions, merchant homes, cafés, and the old French church.

Sa Dec Flower Village in Dong Thap

Floating markets

From the seventh to the ninth lunar month, the Mekong Delta experiences "floating season," when water levels rise and rivers and canals expand. The annual floodwaters bring in nutrient-rich alluvium to farmland and a significant amount of fish, shrimp, and other aquatic species. This is also the season for one of the most unique tourist seasons.

Floating Markets

Phong Dien fruit orchards

Phong Dien fruit orchards are an ideal experience for all visitors. It's a place with the idyllic beauty of luxuriant fruit gardens that everyone must adore. Breathe in the fresh air as you sit and relax under the lush green trees, taking in the scenery that will provide you with an unforgettable experience.

Bac Lieu wind farm

Not only is it the symbol of the clean energy industry of the whole country but is also a famous tourist destination, Bac Lieu wind farm is the biggest wind power project in the country and the first wind farm in Southeast Asia.

Tra Su Forest

The Forest is also known as Tra Su Flooded Forest, Tra Su Mangrove Forest, Tra Su Bird Sanctuary, or Tra Su Melaleuca Forest. Tra Su Forest is an ecosystem of cajuput trees that line dusty dirt paths and provide habitat for a wide range of birds and other wildlife - the ideal place to explore the typical Mekong Delta ecosystem for those who appreciate the beauty of wild nature.

Tra Su Forest

What To Eat And Drink In Mekong Delta?

Fried Elephant Ear Fish

It is called Elephant Ear Fish because it looks like the ears of an elephant. This is the food that is mentioned first once you come to visit Mekong Delta. To get the perfect taste of this dish, you must wrap it in rice paper and dip it into its sweet and sour sauce which is made of garlic, chili, fish sauce, and tamarind sauce.

Fried Elephant Ear Fish

Grilled Snakehead Fish

Grilled snakehead fish is a unique food in Mekong Delta, the fish itself doesn’t need any primary preparation or marinating, once caught, the fish will be washed and pierced with a long stick from the mouth to the tail, then buried in the haystack and burned under open fire. After finishing, you can just take the meat and dip it into salt and pepper sauce or fish sauce with tamarin.

Grilled Snakehead Fish

Banh Xeo Mien Tay (Mekong Delta crispy pancake)

Banh Xeo - a Mekong Delta creation inspired by the French crepe -  is a crispy crepe filled with boiled pork, minced pork, bean sprouts, and shrimp, then folded in half, it is to enjoy with a dipping sauce made of vinegar and fish sauce.

Banh Xeo Mien Tay (Mekong Delta crispy pancake)

Bun Nuoc Leo Soc Trang

The soup base is made from slow-boiling fish stock, originally made with Khmer prahok, the Vietnamese version uses pickled river fish instead. The broth is served over rice vermicelli, whole shrimp, roasted pork, pork crackling, and fish balls, and topped with herbs, crunchy soy beans, and shredded banana flowers.

Bun Nuoc Leo Soc Trang

Banh Pia

Banh Pia, which is the Vietnamese version of Bak Pia or Hopia, is one of the most popular kinds of desserts. Originally made by Teochew refugees in Vietnam and eaten during Full Moon Festival, Banh Pia is now sold all year round, and Soc Trang - the place where Teochew people first settled. Banh Pia is made of many layers of flour to create a flaky effect and is filled with crushed mung bean, durian, and a salted egg in the center. 

Makapuno coconut of Tra Vinh province

The Makapuno coconut found in Tra Vinh Province is unique in many ways, one of which is that the content of this magnificent species is a yogurt-like mixture - the end result of a natural process in which coconut juice and meat combine to form a unique, edible type of wax. After being removed from the hood, the mixture is blended with milk, sugar, and ice before being served with selected fruits and toppings such as jelly and pearls.

Makapuno coconut of Tra Vinh province

Baked honeycomb cake with palm sugar

This version of baked honeycomb cake uses palm sugar that can only be retrieved in the province of An Giang, it tastes less sugary, and creamier, and has a better smell than normal ones.

Hu Tieu My Tho (My Tho noodle soup)

A traditional dish originating from the Chinese and Phnom Penh noodle soups, My Tho Noodle is rice noodles, submerged in broth sweetened by bone, vegetables, and dried squid. There’s also a dry version where all the mentioned ingredients are put together with the noodles and mixed with soy sauce and oyster sauce, the broth is served separately.

Hu Tieu My Tho (My Tho noodle soup)

When To Visit Mekong Delta?

The Mekong Delta's dry season lasts from mid-November to mid-May. The dry season is the best time to visit the Mekong Delta to immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of culture that has developed over its many years of existence. The flower blooming season lasts from late January to mid-March, when an already colorful landscape bursts forth with yellow daffodils and pink orchids, most notably at the Sa Dec Flower Village in Dong Thap Province. The fruit season begins in April and May, so this is an excellent time to visit the Mekong to stock up on exotic, tropical fruits at rock-bottom prices. This would also be a great time to visit the various bird parks or take a relaxing boat ride around the Ben Tre backwaters.

Mekong Delta Overview

The Mekong Delta's wet season lasts from mid-May to mid-November, and it has some unique charms that you won't be able to experience at any other time of year. This is the time to go to the floating markets, which show the unique life of people who spend their lives afloat. If you've had enough of the rain, you can visit any of the Mekong Delta's tourist attractions, which include temples and museums in a variety of styles, including Vietnamese Buddhist, Khmer Buddhist, and Western Christian. One of which is the Can Tho Museum, which showcases the Mekong Delta through the lens of time, from its earliest ages of settlement to its various wars and up to its modern days.

Mekong Delta Tours

Mekong River Cruise day trip from Ho Chi Minh City

A Mekong River Delta Cruise allows you to experience and enjoy the wonderful scenery of nature. With the Mekong River Cruise trip, you can stop by islands on the way and enjoy all kinds of water activities. Not only that, you can pass by some famous tourist spots and get yourself some of the delicacies here.

Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Rang Floating market

Located just about 6 km away from central Ho Chi Minh City, Cai Rang Floating market is at a perfect distance for a day trip when you want to escape the bustling city. When you arrive here, you will feel as if you have reached a unique part of the world, where every part of life is spent afloat. So, even if you're looking for a weekend trip or a full-on excursion for 2 to 4 days, this is certainly the trip you should go on once in your life!

Explore the river region

My Tho and Ben Tre day tour

Booking a private car with Vietnam Airport Transfer to go from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho - the home to some of Vietnam's most vibrant floating markets, then you will be taken to some famous islands and listen to a Vietnamese traditional music performance of Dan Ca Tai Tu - a UNESCO Cultural Heritage. After tasting the delicacies of this place, you will go sightseeing on a sampan boat, go through numerous small creeks and rivers and observe how local people live and farm here.

Can Tho - Hau Giang - Soc Trang - Bac Lieu - Ca Mau

Want to visit as much of the Mekong Delta as possible? Then pack your bag and get ready for the trip through 4 provinces to reach the southmost point of Vietnam. There are many transport options to choose from, including private cars and by buses, you can even attempt a road trip to and fro by motorbike but that will require a lot of effort. Whatever modes of transportation you choose, the destination - Ca Mau Cape will not disappoint you.

Here is the location of Mui Ca Mau National Park - which has an impressive variety of flora and fauna, including many rare species, two of which are the long-tailed monkey (Macaca fascicularis) and the silver langur (Trachypithecus Cristatus), both listed in the Vietnam Red Book.

Experience the Mekong Delta tour

Want to see more of Vietnam? Vietnam Airport Car organizes other tours in Vietnam, including Hoi An tour, Ba Na Hills day tour, Hanoi city tour, Ho Chi Minh City day tour, and so on.

Feel free to contact us if you want to book private car services from Vietnam Airport Car or want to know more about Mekong Delta Tourism. Let us provide you with the best assistance for your trip to Vietnam!