Mekong Delta and Cai Rang Floating Market 2-Day Tour Ho Chi Minh City
Overview
This two-day Mekong Delta tour goes deeper than a day trip. On day one you cruise the river and canals by boat and travel on to Can Tho; on day two you reach the Cai Rang Floating Market in the morning before returning to Ho Chi Minh City. All options include an English-speaking guide, entry fees, boat trips, two lunches and pickup and drop-off from central hotels. Choose the option with a night in a 3-star or 5-star hotel, or book your own accommodation.
Highlights
- See the Cai Rang Floating Market, the largest of its kind in the Mekong Delta, on the boat in the morning
- Cruise the Mekong River and small canals by boat and sampan
- Overnight in Can Tho, the delta's main city, with hotel included on two of the three options
- Two lunches included, with vegan options available
- All entry fees and boat trips included
- Pickup and drop-off from central hotels in Ho Chi Minh City
- Try making Vietnamese pancakes and see local village life
Full Description
The Mekong Delta on day one
The Mekong Delta is where the river fans out into channels before meeting the sea, creating a maze of islands, orchards and canals south of Ho Chi Minh City. A two-day Mekong Delta tour gives you time to see it properly rather than rushing back the same afternoon.
On the first day you leave the city in the morning, travel south by air-conditioned vehicle, and spend the day on and beside the water. Boat trips on the main river are followed by quieter sampan-style rides through narrow canals, with stops in local villages where you see how families grow, make and sell their products.
Can Tho, the delta's main city
Can Tho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta and the natural place to spend the night. It sits on the Hau River, with a riverside promenade near Ninh Kieu Wharf that is pleasant for an evening walk once the day's touring ends.
Depending on the option you choose, your night is in a 3-star or 5-star hotel in Can Tho, or an equivalent, with breakfast the next morning. The no-hotel option does not include accommodation, so you book your own stay in Can Tho for the night. Because you sleep in the city, you can reach the floating market early the next day.
Cai Rang Floating Market
Cai Rang Floating Market is the largest floating market in the Mekong Delta, a few kilometres from Can Tho. Wholesale boats gather in the early morning, and traders hang samples of what they sell from tall poles so buyers can spot them from a distance. Watching the boats jostle at dawn is the reason many travellers choose a two-day tour.
The best time to visit Cai Rang Floating Market is early, since trading is busiest in the morning and quietens as the day heats up. A boat takes you between the moored vessels and you can ask about the produce on sale. Opening times are informal and follow the trading rhythm, so your guide plans the boat trip for the busiest hours.
Village life, lunches and heading back to the city
Both lunches are included, with vegan options available, and you get a chance to try making Vietnamese pancakes and sample local dishes as part of the itinerary. Your guide explains what you are eating and how the region's food is linked to its rivers and orchards.
On day two, after the floating market and a short stop or two, you head back to Ho Chi Minh City and are dropped off at a central location. The exact stops can vary with tides and traffic, but the core route stays the same: river, canals, Can Tho and the floating market.
Itinerary
- Day 1: Hotel pickupPickup from central hotels in Ho Chi Minh City in the morning; the exact time is confirmed after booking.
- Day 1: Drive to the deltaTravel south by air-conditioned vehicle with your guide.
- Day 1: Boat trips and canalsCruise the Mekong River and ride small boats along quiet canals.
- Day 1: Lunch and village visitsA local lunch, with vegan options, and stops to see traditional crafts and fruit orchards.
- Day 1: Overnight in Can ThoCheck in to your hotel if your option includes one, or to the hotel you booked yourself.
- Day 2: Cai Rang Floating MarketBoard a boat in the early morning to see the wholesale market at its busiest.
- Day 2: Lunch and returnSecond lunch, then drive back and drop-off in central Ho Chi Minh City.
What's included
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking tour guide
- All entry fees and boat trips
- 2 lunches (vegan options available)
- Pickup and drop-off from central hotels
Not included
- Hotel accommodation in Can Tho
- Additional meals
- Tips and gratuities
Not suitable for
- Travellers who prefer not to rise early, because the floating market visit is in the early morning
- Wheelchair users, due to boat boarding and uneven village paths
- Guests who cannot spend long hours in vehicles and on boats
Meeting point
Pickup from central hotels in Ho Chi Minh City is included; the exact time is confirmed after booking, at about 7:30 or 8:00 AM depending on the option. On the option without a hotel, you arrange your own accommodation in Can Tho for the night. The tour ends with drop-off in central Ho Chi Minh City on day two.
Important information
- Pack a small overnight bag; leave larger luggage at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
- Wear light clothes and comfortable shoes; bring sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent
- On the no-hotel option you must book your own hotel in Can Tho for the night
- The floating market visit happens early in the morning, so plan an early night
- Tell us about vegan or dietary needs at booking so both lunches can be arranged
- Tips, additional meals and personal expenses are not included
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Mekong Delta and Cai Rang tour cost?
The price depends on the option you choose, whether without a hotel or with a night in a 3-star or 5-star hotel. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each option, adult and child.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup and drop-off from central hotels in Ho Chi Minh City are included on every option.
Is accommodation included?
Depending on the option you choose. The 3-star and 5-star options include one night in Can Tho and one breakfast at the hotel. The group option without a hotel does not include accommodation, so you book your own.
How long is the tour?
Two days and one night, with a morning departure on day one and a return to Ho Chi Minh City on day two.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes, children join with a child rate for ages 8 and under. Early starts and long hours in vehicles can be tiring, so bring snacks and something to keep younger ones busy.
What should I wear and bring?
Light clothes, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent and a small overnight bag with toiletries.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
The booking panel shows the open dates. Choose the earliest one and we confirm your pickup time after booking.
What is the difference between the options?
All three follow the same route. One has no hotel included, one includes a night in a 3-star hotel and breakfast, and one includes a night in a 5-star hotel and breakfast.
What is the best time to see Cai Rang Floating Market?
Early in the morning, when the boats are busiest. That is why the tour overnights in Can Tho so you are close to the market at dawn.
Is Cai Rang Floating Market worth visiting?
Yes, it is one of the most distinctive sights of the Mekong Delta. Seeing the boats trade at dawn gives an authentic picture of river life that a day trip cannot easily match.
