Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Full-Day Tour Ho Chi Minh City
Overview
Two of southern Vietnam's best day trips in one long, well-paced day. In the morning our English-speaking guide takes you underground at the Cu Chi Tunnels, then you head south to the Mekong Delta for a boat trip, a coconut village and a Vietnamese lunch. The standard shared group includes hotel pickup, entry fees, boat trips, fruit and water; small-group and limousine versions are available. Ideal if you have only one day and want both history and river life.
Highlights
- Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, then cruise the Mekong Delta on the same day
- Boat trips on the Mekong River and through quiet coconut-lined canals
- Visit a coconut village and see how local products are made
- Vietnamese lunch included, with vegan options available
- Entry fees, boat trips, fruit, water and travel insurance included on all options
- Hotel pickup from central hotels with drop-off near Ben Thanh Market
- Choose a shared group, a small group of up to 12 or a limousine
Full Description
The Cu Chi Tunnels, a wartime underground network
The day starts with a Cu Chi Tunnels tour, roughly an hour and a half north-west of Ho Chi Minh City. The tunnels were dug by hand over decades and grew into a multi-level network holding kitchens, hospitals, meeting rooms and living quarters, hidden just below fields and forest.
Your guide explains how people lived and moved underground, and you see camouflaged trapdoors, reconstructed traps and a widened tunnel section you can crawl through if you wish. Visitors often ask whether combining the Cu Chi Tunnels with the Mekong is too much for one day; with an early 7:30 start it works well, and opening hours at the site change with the season.
The Mekong Delta by boat
After Cu Chi you drive south to the Mekong Delta, the green, water-threaded region where Vietnam grows much of its rice and fruit. A Mekong Delta day trip from Ho Chi Minh City is popular because the change of scenery is so complete: wide brown river, palm-lined banks and small islands.
You travel on the river by boat, passing fishing boats and floating fish farms, with time to take photographs and hear how life in the delta follows the tides. All entry fees and boat trips are included, so there is nothing to organise once you are on the road.
Coconut village, canals and a sampan-style ride
The delta is famous for its coconuts, especially in Ben Tre province, and a coconut village visit shows why. You see how coconut is turned into sweets and other local products, taste the results, and walk through village lanes shaded by palms while your guide explains how families here live and work.
Smaller boats then take you along narrow canals under overhanging nipa palms, a quiet highlight after a busy morning. If you are wondering what to expect on a Mekong Delta boat trip, this is the part most travellers remember: slow, shaded and very photogenic.
Lunch, timing and how the day runs
A Vietnamese lunch is included on all options, with vegan options available if you tell us in advance. Fresh fruit and a bottle of water are included too. Your day begins with hotel pickup at about 7:30 AM and lasts around 11 hours, ending with drop-off near Ben Thanh Market.
The best time to visit the Mekong Delta is generally the drier months, though the tour runs all year and the route can vary with tides and traffic. Choosing between the standard group, the small group and the limousine mostly changes comfort and group size, not the itinerary.
Itinerary
- Hotel pickupPickup from central hotels in Ho Chi Minh City around 7:30 AM.
- Cu Chi TunnelsAbout an hour and a half's drive, then a guided visit with the tunnel crawl and war-era sites.
- Drive to the Mekong DeltaHead south to the delta, with your guide sharing background on the region along the way.
- Vietnamese lunchA local lunch with vegan options available, included on all options.
- Boat trips on the MekongCruise the river and move into smaller boats for quiet canals under palm trees.
- Coconut villageSee how coconut products are made and enjoy fresh fruit.
- Return to Ho Chi Minh CityDrive back and drop-off near Ben Thanh Market after about 11 hours in total.
What's included
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking tour guide
- All entry fees and boat trips
- Fresh fruit and bottled water
- Vietnamese lunch (vegan options available)
- Travel insurance
- Pickup from centrally located hotels
Not included
- Bullets at the shooting range
- Tips and gratuities
Not suitable for
- Travellers who dislike long days on the road, since the trip lasts around 11 hours
- Guests uneasy in narrow, enclosed spaces may skip the tunnel crawl
- Wheelchair users, because of the uneven paths and boat boarding
Meeting point
Hotel pickup from central hotels in Ho Chi Minh City is included, at about 7:30 AM, with the exact time confirmed after booking. If your hotel is outside the pickup zone, meet at the tour office at 123 Ly Tu Trong Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1. The tour ends with drop-off near Ben Thanh Market.
Important information
- Wear comfortable shoes and light clothes; bring a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent
- Bring a little cash for optional extras such as the shooting range at Cu Chi
- Bullets at the shooting range and tips are not included
- Tell us about vegan or dietary needs at booking so lunch can be arranged
- The order of stops can change with traffic, tides and weather
- Bring a light rain jacket during the wetter months
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta tour cost?
The price depends on the option you choose. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each option, adult and child.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup from central hotels in Ho Chi Minh City is included on all options, and drop-off is near Ben Thanh Market. If your hotel is outside the pickup zone, you meet at our office in District 1.
How long is the tour?
About 11 hours from the 7:30 AM pickup to drop-off, including driving time to both destinations.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes, children join with a child rate for ages 10 and under. It is a long day, so bring snacks and entertainment for younger ones; the tunnel crawl is optional.
What should I wear and bring?
Comfortable shoes, light clothes, sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent and a little cash for extras. A light jacket helps in the air-conditioned vehicle.
Is lunch included?
Yes, a Vietnamese lunch is included on every option, with vegan choices available. Fresh fruit and bottled water are included as well.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
The booking panel shows open dates. Pick the earliest date available and we send your exact pickup time after booking.
What is the difference between the options?
The itinerary is the same on all three. The standard option is a shared group, the small-group option is limited to 12 guests and the limousine option travels in a limousine for extra comfort between the tunnels and the delta.
Are entry fees and boat trips included?
Yes, all entry fees and boat trips are included, along with travel insurance, fruit, water and an English-speaking guide.
Is it too much to visit Cu Chi and the Mekong in one day?
It is a full day, but the route is planned so that the drive and the visits fit together, and most guests find it a good way to see both sides of southern Vietnam if time is short.
