6 days - 5 nights
Off the beaten track
Easy
Uncover the authentic beauty of southern Vietnam on this immersive 6-day Insight Mekong Delta journey. From the lively streets of Saigon, venture into the lush landscapes of Vinh Long, where you’ll visit traditional brick-making villages and local workshops surrounded by peaceful waterways and coconut groves.
Continue to Can Tho, the heart of the Mekong Delta, and wake early to experience the bustling Cai Rang floating market — a colorful scene of boats trading fresh produce. Explore scenic rural roads, vibrant markets, and riverside communities rich in charm.
The journey continues to Chau Doc, where highlights include the serene Cham Village, panoramic views from Tapa Hill, and a spectacular sunset over rice fields from the top of Sam Mountain. This thoughtfully paced tour offers a perfect blend of culture, nature, and hidden local treasures.
Vietnam
Customize Tour
Hotel
Any Traveller
Ride/Boat/Walk
Cai Rang Floating Market
Cai Rang Floating Market is the largest and most lively floating market in the Mekong Delta. Experience the vibrant atmosphere as boats brimming with fresh produce, local delicacies, and handicrafts gather for trade. Witness the authentic daily life of locals and enjoy a bowl of hot noodle soup right on the river.
Saigon Food Tour
Dive into the vibrant streets of Saigon and taste your way through sizzling bánh xèo, crunchy spring rolls, smoky grilled skewers, and sweet chè desserts. A flavor-packed adventure where every corner hides a new bite to love!
Red Kingdom of Mekong Delta
Transforming clay into treasures since the 19th century, Vinh Long’s brick and pottery village stretches along the Co Chien River, just 10 kilometers from the city center. Known for its rich clay deposits, the province sustains a thriving industry centered in Mang Thit and Long Ho districts. Dome-shaped kilns dot the landscape, becoming iconic symbols of the area—though they are now at risk of vanishing.
To help you experience the heart of this historic craft, we've put together a guide to exploring Vinh Long’s Red Kingdom. From staying at a pottery homestay to wandering through the brick kiln village and pottery factories, discover what to expect, how to make the most of your visit, and where to find the most stunning views of the kilns.
Tra Su Paperbark Swamp
Nestled in the lush landscapes of An Giang Province, Tra Su Bird Sanctuary (Tra Su Paperbark Swamp) is a hidden gem that showcases the stunning biodiversity of the Mekong Delta. This unique sanctuary is renowned for its towering cajuput trees and the vibrant avian life that inhabits its tranquil waters. Read on to explore more interesting information about this famous attraction!
Cham Ethnic Minority Village
The Cham people in An Giang province primarily reside in villages along the Hau River, particularly in the districts of An Phu, Chau Thanh, and Tan Chau. These villages, like Chau Phong and Chau Giang, offer a glimpse into the Cham Muslim community's unique culture, including distinctive stilt houses, traditional silk weaving, and Islamic traditions. Visitors can explore historical sites like Mubarak Mosque and experience the local way of life.
Welcome to Saigon! Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy some free time to relax after your journey.
At 5:30 PM, your local guide will pick you up at the hotel for an evening excursion. You’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the bustling traffic and vibrant streets of Saigon — a great chance to capture photos of the city’s dynamic energy and local life.
Overnight in Saigon.
You will meet your guide at your hotel in Saigon and drive through the Mekong Delta to the town of Vinh Long. Upon arrival, you’ll take a boat trip to visit a brick & pottery factory, a bonsai garden or an orchard. You will enjoy some Southern traditional music performed by the local people and a sumptuous Delta lunch, including the popular dish of “Elephant ear fish.” You will then drive to the heart of Mekong Delta: Can Tho and stay overnight.
After breakfast at the hotel, embark on a boat trip to visit the famous Cai Rang Floating Market — the largest of its kind in the Mekong Delta. Here, each boat specializes in selling a specific item such as pumpkins, pineapples, or sugar cane. To advertise their goods, vendors hang a sample of their product from a tall pole on the boat, creating a colorful and lively scene on the water.
The afternoon is free at leisure, offering you a chance to relax and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere at one of the most comfortable properties in the Mekong Delta.
Later in the afternoon, experience an authentic countryside bike tour through the hidden gems of Can Tho. Visit a local organic cacao farm, explore peaceful homegrown fruit gardens, wander through charming hidden villages, rice fields, and vegetable farms. This four-hour cycling journey along canal-side roads takes you beyond the typical tourist routes, offering genuine insight into the rural life and culture of the Mekong people.
Overnight in Can Tho.
You will leave Can Tho and head for Chau Doc. This amazing journey takes 4 hours and the town is situated right on the Bassac River, close to the Cambodian border. You will stop to visit the Binh Duc incense stick village and the crocodile farm on the way.
Upon a arrival in Chau Doc, check in at your hotel then rest. At about 5 pm, head to the top of Sam Mountain for the sunset landscape pictures. Overnight in Chau Doc.
Start the day at 5 to get to a palmyra field with the typical trees of Chau Doc. It is a marvelous scene with the trees silhouettes reflecting on the water and the rising sun on the horizons. There are also farmers going to the fields with farming tools on their shoulders or a buffalo if you are lucky. Next stop is a Khmer pagoda. You will capture photos of a very important part of the native Khmer life style. Tour guide will brief this cultural feature to you.
Move to the river to have a model photo shoot with some traditionally dressed local lady working on lotus/ water lily flowers. After lunch, go to Ta Pa Hill. The high ground here offers excellent views looking down the rice fields of Chau Doc. Use of tele lens is recommended. A wide lens is also needed for the picture of the Ta Pa Lake with water in emerald color. Last stop of the day: Tra Su Paperbarks Swamp. In this forest sanctuary, a wide variety of colorful birds and other animals can be found here: storks, bats, snakes, turtles ... The locals in this area built their houses with bamboo canes and fastened the roofs in trees. Overnight in Chau Doc.
Start the day with a morning visit to the vibrant market of Chau Doc. Spend around 45 minutes capturing the lively atmosphere and daily life of local people through your lens — a wonderful opportunity for candid market scenes and authentic portraits.
Next, board a motorboat for a scenic ride along the river, passing through the fish farming areas where you’ll learn about traditional aquaculture practices of the Mekong locals.
Continue by boat to a Cham ethnic minority village. Upon arrival, explore the village streets, interact with the friendly native Cham people, and photograph scenes of daily life. Visit a traditional Cham house and the Jamiul Azhar Mosque, an important spiritual and cultural landmark for the Cham community.
Afterward, return to Chau Doc and begin the drive back to Saigon.
With us, we know very well where you stay is very much part of the experience. Wherever possible we select characterful accommodation to suit your budget, which we have personally tracked down and visited regularly. We selected best accommodation from eco-homestay to luxury hotels.
Meals are included as per the itinerary that we have mentioned. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups.
While traveling with us, you will have the opportunity to not just experience the wide variety of wonderful food available in Vietnam and Cambodia, Thailand, Laos but also get to try some of it too. Your guide will be able to suggest some great restaurants for you to try during your trip.
If you have any specific food requirements (vegetarian, vegan, or food allergies), please inform us in advance so that we can provide a notice to the restaurant or hotel where you will be served.
You will be led by an English-speaking guide who offers local insight, pursues great experiences, and makes every tour exceptional. Our guides are well informed about the local culture, history, and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you.
An air-conditioned vehicle is standing by, fully prepared to take you away on an unforgettable excursion. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the destination in style, with all the amenities you need for a comfortable and enjoyable journey.
The included cold water & tissue, local snacks, and fresh fruit will keep your energy levels up while you enjoy the tour and ensure that you stay hydrated and well-nourished.
We organized and ran our trips to ensure they had a minimum impact on the environment and a positive impact on the local communities and cultures we operate in. Siem Reaper was founded not only to provide memorable and meaningful travel experiences for our guests but also to build a sustainable adventure-travel business that supports the local communities. We aim to support all of our local communities, whether it be through our unique educational tours, visits to nature preserves and wildlife sanctuaries, or by purchasing locally grown produce from farms in the region.
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)
Arrival Flight Info
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) / Hotel
Departure Flight Info
Want to know more about this adventure and how to plan for your trip? Essential Trip Information is a one-stop resource that provides everything you need to know about this trip. Read about your destination country's requirements for passports, visas, vaccinations, baggage restrictions, packing lists, and tipping guidelines before you go.
Visitors to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos require a passport to enter the country, and all travelers must hold a passport with validity for 6 months after their planned exit from above countries
Citizens of the UK, EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and almost all other nationalities will require a visa. Non-UK residents should check with the Embassy in their country of residence for the most up-to-date information. Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at airports without prior registration. A visa is issued on arrival for most nationalities for US $25/pax to $30/pax, and the visa has a one-month validity. You need to pay in cash and in US dollars and provide two recent, identical passport photographs.
Read more about applying for an eVisa here:
You will be met by your guide in the arrivals hall, after immigration and baggage reclaim. He/She will be wearing the Footsteps Indochina Travel logo and will be holding a meeting board displaying your name.
You will be met by your tour guide and driver at your arrival point. They will be holding a Footsteps Indochina Travel name board with your name on it. It is possible you will be a little bleary-eyed after a long flight and there are also likely to be a large number of meeting boards displayed, so please take your time to locate them.
Firstly, do not panic - let the crowds clear a little and stay with your luggage. After 15 minutes, if you still have not been met then one of you should locate the airport information point and check that you are in the correct place (many airports have several terminals and your guide will be waiting for you at the timetable arrival terminal).
Travel insurance is not included in the tour price. You can arrange travel insurance with your preferred insurance company. As medical facilities in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand & Laos are rather limited, it is imperative for you to take out a good medical insurance policy when traveling.
Although not mandatory, for the safety of travelers, we strongly recommend immunization against malaria, infectious hepatitis, tetanus, typhoid, diphtheria and polio. Travelers should visit their general practitioners for advice on the best pills to take for malaria prevention. Although it is not required in all circumstances, travelers may want to consider immunization against Japanese Encephalitis as an added precaution.
Meals are included as per the itinerary that we have mentioned. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups.
While traveling with us, you will have the opportunity to not just experience the wide variety of wonderful food available in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand & Laos but also get to try some of it too. Your guide will be able to suggest some great restaurants for you to try during your trip.
If you have any specific food requirements (vegetarian, vegan, or food allergies), please inform us in advance so that we can provide a notice to the restaurant or hotel where you will be served.
Keeping you hydrated is one of the most important parts of our tours. We provide cold water, as well as local fruit and soft drinks to keep you energized and refreshed during your trip. Beers and alcoholic drinks are freely available everywhere but are not included in the price.
At Footsteps Indochina Travel, we’re ensuring that we’re fulfilling the core values of our business. We operate in a responsible manner to protect our local culture and environment, as well as youth development in our community. We’ve made a commitment to be a responsible business and live up to this promise every single day.
