The Mekong River Delta (or “Delta of Nine Dragons”) is formed by sediments and Mekong river. Through this process, the land is fertile with many agricultural products from the fishery such as rice, fruits, coconut, shrimp, fish, etc. Although the region is mainly rural, it is one of the most populated and well-developed agricultural land. A short trip of 1 day in Mekong Delta is a great idea to deeply understand the culture and lifestyle of the Vietnamese. It is a must-see destination during your travel to Vietnam.
Best places to visit on 1 day in Mekong Delta:
- Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Turtle Island
- An Khanh Ecotourism Area
- Cai Be and Cai Rang Floating Markets
- Coconut Candy Factory
- Binh Thuy Old House
- Sa Dec Flower Village
- Kien An Cung Pagoda
- Huynh Thuy Le Former House
- Gao Giong Ecotourism Area
Sunrise in Mekong Delta
Best Time to Visit The Mekong Delta
This region has three distinct seasons: the floating season (September to December), the rainy season (May to October) and the dry season (January to April). The Mekong Delta welcomes you at any time of the year with different scenery features.
Even though, the best time for you to travel to the Mekong Delta is the floating season from September to December as this region has a pleasant climate with a very low probability of rain.
How to Get to the Mekong Delta?
By bus
From Ho Chi Minh City, you can catch Ben Tre Bus and it will take you about 2 and 3 hours to reach the Mekong Delta. Also, the Thao Chau and Thinh Phat buses are two suitable suggestions for those who want to minimize travel expenses.
By motorbike or car
If you are an adventurer, you can ride a motorbike to the Mekong Delta in about two hours. In this way, you can easily enjoy the atmosphere.
Besides, you can reach the big cities by car or because the cities in the Mekong Delta are distant from each other. By this way, it will be time-saving, which is good for you since you just stay for 1 day in the Mekong Delta.
By boat
Yet it is necessary to take a boat, if you want to visit floating markets, canals or fishing villages.
Suggested Itinerary for 1 Day in Mekong Delta
If you are in love with the river and the culture as well as the life of the people on your tour to Southern Vietnam, this destination is one of the suitable destinations for you. There are many activities you can do for 1 day in Mekong Delta such as exploring floating markets, sampling local food, discovering Khmer culture, etc.
Option 1: My Tho – Ben Tre
Vinh Trang Pagoda
Built in 1849 amidst splendid trees, Vinh Trang is the largest pagoda in the province of Tien Giang. A perfect harmony between the Asian and European architectural styles gives it a beauty without equal. The pagoda houses many precious wooden statues, especially those of 18 Arhats. Since 1907, this pagoda represented the peak of the sculpture of the Mekong Delta.
Vinh Trang pagoda
Turtle Island
This is one of four islets located on the My Tho River, 22km from the city of Ben Tre. Turtle Island always carries such a wild and rustic beauty, a mild and cool climate all year round.
On your 1 day in the Mekong Delta, you can also walk on monkey bridges – a kind of very popular bridge in the countryside. Or you can visit the coconut candy producing facilities and discover the process to make this one of the best candies in Vietnam.
Ecotourism area of An Khanh
This ecotourism area is located near the Rach Mien bridge. You can travel to this ecotourism area by cruising on a sampan under the shade of coconut palms along the natural canals. When you arrive, do not miss a chance to enjoy seasonal fruits and honey tea. Moreover, prepare to get yourself immersed into the sound of Southern folk songs performed by artists in the region.
Cai Be Floating Market
Busy atmosphere at Cai Be Floating Market
Located 140-150 km from Ho Chi Minh City, the Cai Be floating market (Tien Giang province) has become a meeting point for traders (sellers and buyers) and one of the favorite destinations for tourists passing through the region. The main originality of the Cai Be market lies in the way sellers hang their goods on long poles at the front of their boat to help customers identify what is on sale.
Coconut Candy Factory
For many people who have already set foot in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, coconut is a kind of fruit that is familiar to them because it is a symbol of Ben Tre – a province of this water zone. You can also visit the coconut candy factory which is unavoidable here. It is a must during your tour in Southern Vietnam.
Option 2: Can Tho – Floating Market of Cai Rang
Cai Rang Floating Market
Located on the Can Tho River, 5km from the city center, the Cai Rang Floating Market is the best place for visitors to this region. This is one of the most famous floating markets in Can Tho that specializes in buying and selling fruit, and agricultural products. There are hundreds of boats floats close together creating a colorful and unique picture.
Old house of Binh Thuy
This is one of the few French houses still intact in the South. It has become a favorite destination for many tourists. Its architecture shows both Eastern and Western influences, while retaining the characteristics of the Southern Mount. This house is also home to precious and rare objects, many centuries old: bed of planks with feet in console, dresser for the tea service, sofa, transverse panels gilded, table and chairs of the Chinese dynasty.
Option 3: Gao Giong – Sa Dec
Kien An Cung Pagoda
It is a cultural project with unique and beautiful architecture. The pagoda reflects Chinese architecture. On your 1 day in the Mekong Delta, you can visit Kien An Cung pagoda to admire the achievements of ancient beauty.
Flower Village of Sa Dec
Flower Village of Sa Dec under sunlights
Not only during the Tet days, but also at any time, you can visit and take pictures in the flowery village of Sa Dec. The Flower Road Sa Nhien – Cai Dao is the main road of the village with a length of 2 km and all kinds of flowers in competition. In addition, visitors can see people here carrying the flowers in a unique way.
Ecotourism area of Gao Giong
Founded in March 2003, the eco-tourism site of Gao Giong has become an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists in southwest Vietnam. When Gao Giong is at its peak in the flood season, it turns into a huge area covered by the yellow of sesbania sesban flowers, the red water lilies, the purple lilac of India, the pink lotus flowers and the green of the forest of cajeput tiers. Such a romantic scene that can not be found anywhere else!
Former home of Huynh Thuy Le
The home where Huynh Thuy Le spent his life is a cultural space and a must-see destination for any tourist visiting Dong Thap Province. This house was built in 1895 in Sa Dec. The old house of Huynh Thuy Le is the harmonious combination of Eastern and Western architecture. In 2013, it was ranked in the Top 100 “Most Impressive Destinations of Vietnam” by the Vietnamese UNESCO Association.
Best Food to Try on 1 Day in Mekong Delta
Grilled snails with peppers
Can Tho is for those inexpensive but delicious dishes like grilled snails with pepper. You’ll fall in love with this typical flavor, a mix of sweet, salty and spicy. Fresh local snails are grilled on coals. During cooking, fish brine is mixed with pepper and chopped garlic.
Nem Nuong
By tasting Nem Nuong, you will feel the aromas of meat, sweet and sour sauce, crisp and spicy mixture, which is very interesting. In particular, the nuong nem (nem grilled) is served with a green papaya salad that brings an extra taste.
You can enjoy this dish with a plate of fresh herbs and vegetables, all wrapped in rice paper and dipped in a special sauce.
Grilled fish
It is a specialty of Dong Thap. The fish is grilled in the authentic style of southern farmers. There is a bamboo stick in the fish toasting on coal flame and then wrapped in a fresh lotus leaf. The scent of grilled fish in combination with the pleasant smell of the lotus leaf is something that delta tourists never forget.
Siamese fish soup of mud carp and sesbania sesban
Sesbania sesban freshly picked from a tree are cleaned and placed in a basket with other vegetables. The fish is sweet and the flowers slightly bitter, creating a wonderful taste to try on your 1 day in the Mekong Delta.
Xeo cake
This cake has the specificity of being wider than that of the Center or the North. We distinguish its taste thanks to the coconut milk whose filtering is the secret of its delicious flavor. On the side of the game-changing ingredients, the crepe covers mushrooms, bacon, green beans and other vegetables, but also herbs of all kinds generally from the South. Steeping the cake in the famous dark and tasty fish sauce and you will remember the flavor for a lifetime after tasting.
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