Starting at Tibet, the river runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and then through Vietnam before outing the East Sea. Mekong river is also called “Cuu Long” symbolizing 9 branches creating such a vast delta. With the geographic features, Mekong Delta becomes one of the most unique destinations of Vietnam. Most of land here is covered by wetlands and rivers, thus people in Mekong Delta has adapted to by developing an unique lifestyle. 

There are 13 provinces/cities with the immense beauties and cultural charms. The Mekong Delta is the agricultural heartland of Vietnam. Taking a trip with kids along the Mekong Delta is an unforgettable experience that allow you to show your kids about the natural beauty. As you know, Mekong Delta is well-known for a dense network of rivers, so locals mostly use boats as a mean of transportation. It would be a little challenging to keep balance when embark and disembark the small boats or canoes. Therefore, over 6 year-old kids would be easier for you to carry with.

Mekong Delta Map

I. Best time to visit 

Given the region’s seasonal flooding, the best time to visit the Mekong Delta is in the dry season which runs from December to May.

II. Where to go with kids

With such an unique landscape,  Mekong Delta allows your kids to experience outdoor activities so as to encourage their awareness of the world, and leaving them meaningful lesson of the environment.

1. Floating Markets

One of the highlights of Mekong Delta is to make visit floating markets which all existed here hundred of years ago, creating an unique local feature in Mekong Delta. These markets has been existing just simply for local farmers to sell fruits and vegetables. It would be an unforgettable outdoor activities for your kids during in Vietnam.

Cai Rang Floating Market – Can Tho

Cai Rang Floating Market is the most iconic floating market not only in Mekong Delta but also in all Vietnam. In recent years, Cai Rang is even more worthy to visit, even though you might find the market quite touristy. Located just 5 kilometers from Can Tho City, it takes you only 30 minutes away from Ninh Kieu Wharf by boat. Cai Rang Floating Market has existed for more than 100 years, making it one of the oldest cultural practice in Mekong Delta.

To take the best photos, your family need to arrive at this floating market by 5 a.m. By 6 a.m, having traditional breakfast of coconut leaf cake or pancakes made from bananas or corn will definitely please your kids. Then, let your kids wander around the boats selling local produce, especially fresh fruits. 

Cai Be Floating Market – Tien Giang

At Cai Be District, there’s a floating markets transporting goods, fruits, veggies, and even seafood not only within Mekong Delta region but also to the rest of Vietnam. It’s quite close to Ho Chi Minh City Cai Be, so you can save your time, but still discover the whole delta. Moreover, you don’t have to wake up too early like the other markets since the market opens until later hours of day.

Boat rental is available for a 2-hour tour with a tour guide costing $2/person. Private boat for group of 10 at cost $25/boat.

Phung Hiep Floating Market- Hau Giang

Phung Hiep (also called Nga Bay) starts very early in the morning every day. Fruits, vegetables and other household goods all stack up on the sellers’ boats, making it a wonderful sight to witness. You can take a taxi or bus because it’s just 30 km away from the city. Boat rental is available, but it’s best to rent with groups for saving.

Nga Nam Floating Market – Soc Trang

Nga Nam floating market is in the junction of five rivers – Ca Mau, Vinh Quoi, Long My, Thanh Tri and Phung Hiep. And for its special location, Nga Nam market is bustling with all the colors and the sounds of the locals. This floating market is very much untouched by the tourism and still remains the unique characteristics of a Mekong Delta floating market.

Nga Nam market starts at 3:00AM, becomes busiest at 5:00AM, and dismisses at 8:00AM. Buses are available to Ca Mau, Nga Nam market, costing about $8-$9 for one-way ticket.

Boat rental is available for cost at $1/person and you can visit the whole market.

2. Tan Lap Floating Village

Tan Lap Floating village in Lily season

About 100 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Lap Floating Village is currently a popular destination among young backpackers. The floating village is like an island hidden in a vast capujut forest, which makes you feel like you are lost in a fairy tale jungle.

Your kids can enjoy hiking or biking around the villages to explore the amazing scenery of the rural area and peaceful atmosphere. Additionally, your family can join in helping the host to do farm works which seems to be very interesting and helpful for your children to enrich their insight.

3. Tra Su Mangrove Forest – An Giang

Admire Tra Su Mangrove Forest by Boat

During the journey to Mekong Delta, there is a very famous flooded forest- Tra Su Mangrove Forest that you can’t miss. This destination is about 25 km southeast of Chau Doc city. With an area of 850 hectares, Tra Su Forest is home to an ecosystem of cajuput trees living in dusty paths and a submerged mangrove forest where you can find a wide variety of colorful birds and other animals: storks, bats, snakes, turtle, etc. It would be an useful experience for your kids to study about the wildlife. 

4. Ancient Houses

Ancient houses in Mekong are all constructed based on the unique combination between Indo architecture and Champa. More specially, the Indo architecture and sculpture made under France colony mark the interference between the Western architecture and the Vietnam traditional one. It would be an interesting outdoor activities to study about the history.

Binh Thuy Ancient House

Binh Thuy ancient house surrounded by orchid garden was built in 1870 by Duong family. Binh Thuy ancient house is supposed as the most beautiful old house in Mekong Delta Vietnam. Binh Thuy ancient house outside has French-style architecture. However, the design inside is typical for the traditional interior decoration of Vietnam.

Bac Lieu Dasher’s Palace

The owner of the palace was Mr. Tran Trinh Huy – Bac Lieu Dasher who was about 19 or 20 years old had this place designed by a French engineer in 1919. All the construction materials were transported from France. Thus, this place became the most luxury house in the South of Vietnam at that time. Moreover, all of the furnitures inside like desks, chairs, bed, cabinets, precious potteries proved a prosperous stage of this renowned person.

Huynh Thuy Le’s Ancient House 

In the outside appearance, Huynh Thuy Le ancient house was constructed in the style of Western Europe villa, but the internal structure tends to the Eastern style. Huynh Thuy Le ancient house is a romantic love story of the French woman writer named Marguerite Duras and the owner Chinese native named Huynh Thuy Le. After the sad love story, she wrote a novel L’Amant, and now it has been translated into 43 different languages and gained the Goncourt price – the most precious literary award in France.

5. Tram Chim National Park – Dong Thap 

Leaving Ho Chi Minh City to the park, your kids will have chance to enjoy the wetlands peaceful life of Mekong delta and learn more about the rare birds in this park through conversations with local residents to get know more about Mekong Delta culture values and lifestyle.

Unlike other trips, your kids are often aboard to enjoy nature. Moreover, there are unique activities for your family such as visiting local traditional handicraft workshops, learning how to make water hyacinth product (optional), fishing and rowing on a lotus field. Besides being aboard, your family can get some exercise with eco-friendly vehicles including bicycles and hand-rowing boats inside Tram Chim national park during the trip.

6. Fruit Orchards

Visiting Mekong Delta, your family might fall in love with the fruit orchards. There is nothing better than trying fresh fruits right under trees. Even your kids can join in harvesting fruits, and flowers with locals. Some fruit orchards you can visit by are My Khanh (Can Tho), Cai Be (Tien Giang), Vinh Kim (Tien Giang), Cai Mon (Ben Tre).

Best time to visit fruit farm

There isn’t much changes in the weather here, so you can travel at anytime. However, the best time is in the summer (fruit season) from May to September. 

7. Private Sampan Cruise in Ben Tre or Can Tho

It is just two hours from Saigon so it’s perfect for a sampan cruise from the city. Regardless where you start the tour, the boat will take visitors to Dragon (Con Tan Long), Tortoise (Con Quy) and Unicorn (Con Thoi Son) islands. With Sampan, interesting activities and amazing knowledge about the water area will keep your kids entertained.

You should spend at least a full day for Mekong excursion, and spending night aboard will be a great experience for your kids. If you have more time, cruise company also offer you 2-day 1-night tours or 3-day 2-night tours. Best options for private sampan cruises are listed below: 

Song Xanh sampan cruise

Song Xanh sampan cruise

This private sampan operator is highly ranked on Mekong Delta cruises Tripadvisor; so its sampans are always in great demand so you are highly recommended to book six months ahead.

Mango Cruise

Mango Cruise

This cruise is another good choice for a private sampan to discover Mekong Delta. With a unique route to the less touristy, allowing your family to go in-depth local experiences, their sampan is often sold out, especially during the high season although the price is quite high.

III. What to eat with kids

Mekong Delta cuisine reflects characteristics of locals here too. People in Mekong Delta often refer to strong flavor, like extreme salty, extreme spicy. Moreover, relying on abundant source of food, all of dishes always fresh. This blog is expected to give you special dishes you must try once you visit Mekong River.

Hu Tieu Once speaking of Vietnam, people always think of Pho (beef noodle). But actually, there are also many kinds of Vietnamese noodle soup that we love to eat. Especially in Mekong Delta, Hu Tieu Nam Vang is very famous for crunchy noodles with small pieces of pork, organ, quail egg and seafood.

Fried Elephant Ear Fish Mekong River is well-known for fish. And Elephant ear fish is a must-try dish. You should wrap it with rice paper and dip it into the sweet and sour sauce that is made of garlic, chili, fish sauce, and tamarind sauce.

Banh Xeo Banh Xeo (also called Vietnamese Pan Cake) is one of the most common street food in Vietnam. It is cooked differently in other regions of Vietnam. In Mekong Delta, the local people will cook Vietnamese Pan Cake with veggies and mung beans.

Khot Cake Khọt Cake is another pancake of Vietnamese people. Different from Xèo Cake above, the size of Khọt Cake is much smaller. On the top of Khọt Cake, the locals in Mekong Delta add many kinds of topping from shrimp, squid to green onion or eggs. And like other Vietnamese food in general, you must eat it with fish sauce with Vietnamese pickles.

Recommended Family Tours in Mekong Delta

Family tours recommended by Vietprestigetravel below are expected to be helpful for your upcoming tours. We try to create friendly-kid activities as many as possible for them to experience the best authentic Vietnam.

With this tour tailored by Vietprestigetravel, your family can travel from the North to the South of Vietnam to experience all the unique lifestyle across Vietnam in 12 days.  Itinerary: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta – Hoi An – Hanoi – Halong – Hanoi

A 8-day adventure tour for family allows you to explore all the best of the Southern Vietnam. Itinerary: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta – Cu Chi Tunnels – Hoian Old Town – Tra Que Village – Danang

With a 7-day adventure tour for family, you can enjoy the most local and the most unique lifestyle of people in Mekong Delta. Itinerary: Ho Chi Minh – Cu Chi Tunnels – Nam Cat Tien National Park – Ben Tre – Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market

If you want to plan your own tour, check out our website or email us to sales@vietnamholidayfamily.com. 

We’ve completed our travel guide to Mekong Delta Vietnam with all the highlighted things to do and see that can’t be missed in your trip. Mekong Delta is a large region with a lot of sites to check out and it’s understandable if you feel a bit overwhelmed. Why not let our travel consultants help arrange your trip to Mekong Delta by sending your request to sales@vietnamholidayfamily.com today? If you want to go further information, please check out our website Vietnamholidayfamily.com or Vietprestigetravel.com.