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§ Mekong & the South
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Tell us about your particular interests, and we'll take you to places only the local guides know. Whether it's active travel, sun worship, study tours, Vietnam War sites, or satisfying your culinary curiosity, Mikeland welcomes a challenge!

Home > "Mix & Match Tours > Mekong & the South

In Vietnam, the many branches of the Mekong River are known as "Cuu Long," which means "Nine Dragons."

The rich soil of the Mekong Delta makes it the most productive agricultural region in Vietnam and the warm climate means that people live on the waterways year-round. Traveling in the Delta, you'll visit colorful floating markets, orchards of exotic fruit, and sample the tropical lifestyle. You'll also see museums and pagodas that reflect the unique heritage of the south, with its Khmer, Cham, and Chinese traditions.

The following 4-5 day itinerary would take you up one branch of the Mekong to the Cambodian border, but as you'll see, there are almost as many options as there are branches to the Mekong itself.

Day 1 : Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho
Travel to Can Tho by boat or by car from Ho Chi Minh City. Can Tho is one of the largest cities in the Mekong Delta, and is a good starting point for excursions to the Cai Rang Floating Market, tropical fruits gardens, and to see traditional agriculture implements and demonstrations of wet rice cultivation and local folk song performances. Overnight in Can Tho.

Day 2 : Can Tho – Soc Trang – Can Tho
In the morning, you'll drive to Soc Trang, a region heavily influenced by Khmer culture and Theravada Buddhism. The town of Soc Trang is home to the Mat Toc Pagoda, known for the colony of bats that populates the neighboring grove of trees, as well as the Chen Kieu and Kleang Pagodas, and the Khmer Cultural Museum (open only on weekdays). If you're interested in eclectic folk art, you might also want to drop in on the "Clay Pagoda," known for its collection of clay sculptures produced over many years by one of its monks. Overnight in Can Tho or our new exclusive guesthouse in the town of Tra On, the Mekong Palace.

Day 3 : Can Tho - Long Xuyen - Chau Doc
In the morning, you'll follow the Mekong upstream, stopping at the provincial museum of Long Xuyen, and then continuing to Chau Doc, close to the Cambodian border. Nui Sam Mountain, just to the west of Chau Doc, is home to numerous pagodas, including the temple of Ba Chua Xa, "The Lady of the Realm."

Next to this temple is a tomb to Thoai Ngoc Hau (1761–1829), who was one of the earliest northern settlers in the region. Evening is a good time to hike or drive to the top of Nui Sam mountain, which gives a grand view of the canal system and the Cambodian border to the west. (Note the option to take a sidetrip to Oc Eo and Ha Tien -- see below.)

Day 4 (and optional Day 5) : Chau Doc – Ho Chi Minh City
If you wish, you can continue to explore Chau Doc in the morning, shopping at Chau Doc Market or taking a boat tour through the catfish "farms" to visit a Cham community and mosque. Begin your return trip to Ho Chi Minh City (allow five hours by car, or an extra day with stopover in Can Tho if returning by boat).

 

  • Interested in Cambodia? The Mekong River can take you there. From Chau Doc, it continues north to the capital of Cambodia, Phomh Penh, and is navigable the whole way. In fact, you can travel by boat all the way to Siem Riep, home of the majestic Ankgor monuments.
  • You can extend this trip to visit the regions of Oc-Eo and Ha Tien. Oc Eo was an ancient trading kingdom was the forerunner to the Khmer and Cham empires. From the Oc-Eo archeological site, it's just another 30 km to the Gulf of Thailand, where you can stay in charming coastal town of Ha Tien. This town was founded in the 17th century by Mac Cuu, an immigrant from China and still has several noteworthy temples and tombs dedicated to Mac Cuu and his family. South of Ha Tien, along the coast, you'll find the natural attraction of "Phu Tu," two pillars of stone rising out of the sea that are traditionally characterized as "father and son." Also of note is the port city of Rach Gia, and the temple of Nguyen Trung Truc, a local leader who resisted the French until he was captured and beheaded in 1868.
  • As an alternative, you can visit Oc-Eo and Ha Tien during your stay on the off-shore paradise of Phu Quoc Island. We recommend flying to Phu Quoc from Ho Chi Minh City--see our city tour of Ho Chi Minh City for more details.
  • Take an extra day to visit the Bac Lieu Bird Sanctuary. Overnight in Bac Lieu, where you'll see the Xiem Can Khmer Pagoda, a notable mandarin’s house, and have a chance to shop at Bac Lieu Market.
  • If you're intrigued by the Khmer styles of Soc Trang, you may want to take an extra day to visit Tra Vinh, a neighboring province that is also known for its Khmer temples.
  • If you're traveling by car, you may want to take an extra day to overnight at My Tho, a town known for its extensive orchards and the eclectic Vinh Trang Pagoda. Enjoy the boat ride on the Mekong River to visit My Tho’s Fishing Port, Unicorn Islet (Thoi Son Islet), bonsai farm, orchards, coconut candy factory, and Dong Tam Snake farm. Along the way, you'll be treated to a performance of local songs sweetened with tea, rice wine, honey, fruits.