Looking for a Mekong Tour beyond the usual floating markets and tourist stops? This is the Mekong Tour that was build by the local community. Hope you love it
Why this Mekong Tour is special?
Where this Mekong Tour take you to?
This 2-day journey takes you to Trà Vinh, a quieter corner of the Mekong Delta where Khmer culture, riverside villages, and everyday local life come together.
Explore a traditional Khmer Buddhist temple, receive a blessing from local monks, cycle through the peaceful island community and enjoy home-style Mekong Delta food made with local ingredients.
You’ll also discover the stories and traditions of Tra Vinh’s Khmer community, visit the peaceful landscape of Ao Bà Om, and try your hand at making traditional com dep (Flatten rice snack) and banh tet Tra Cuon (Tra Cuon sticky rice cake)
This Mekong Tour from Ho Chi Minh City is designed for travelers who want to slow down, meet local people, and experience a different side of the Mekong Delta – one that feels more connected to everyday local life than a typical sightseeing trip.
Other Mekong tour: here
Trip Highlights
- Experience authentic Mekong's Khmer culture and traditions
- Receive a traditional Buddhist blessing from local monks
- Cycle through quiet countryside and experience village life
- Taste authentic Mekong Delta food made with local ingredients
- Enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise along the river at sunset
- Try your hand at making traditional local specialties
Itinerary
This 2-day Mekong Tour takes you beyond the usual tourist stops to experience a quieter side of the Mekong Delta. From Khmer temples and local traditions to peaceful countryside roads and island village life,
you’ll spend two days getting closer to the people, food, and culture of southern Vietnam. Along the way, enjoy local meals, a river dinner cruise, hands-on traditional food experiences, and plenty of time to slow down and take in the everyday rhythm of the Mekong.
06:00 | Ho Chi Minh City – Trà Vinh
Meet your guide and driver at the agreed meeting point in Ho Chi Minh City and begin the journey to Trà Vinh.
Enjoy breakfast along the way before continuing south toward one of the Mekong Delta’s most culturally diverse provinces.
09:00 | Wat Ktung – The Temple in the Snake Forest
Arrive at Wat Ktung, one of the traditional Khmer Buddhist temples in the area.
Take a walk around the temple grounds and learn about its history, architecture, and the stories behind its unusual name. Discover why the temple is associated with a “snake forest” and how the image of the Naga has a place in Khmer Buddhist culture.
10:00 | Ao Bà Om & Chùa Âng
Continue to Ao Bà Om, a peaceful cultural landscape surrounded by old trees, before visiting the nearby ancient Khmer temple of Chùa Âng.
Explore the temple grounds and admire the traditional Khmer architecture. From outside the main sanctuary, observe the local practice of creating and preparing traditional protective charms, and learn about the beliefs and rituals connected to them.
12:00 | Local Mekong Lunch
Stop for lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy flavors from the wider Mekong Delta.
Try bún nước lèo, a local specialty with deep roots in the region, along with other simple Mekong dishes.
13:00 | Hotel Check-in & Rest
Continue to the hotel, check in, and take some time to rest before the afternoon’s cultural experience.
14:00 | Inside a Khmer Community
Head into a local Khmer community and spend the afternoon exploring everyday culture, traditional crafts, and village life.
Visit an Ong Ta house, a traditional community space connected to local beliefs and practices, then continue through small craft workshops where local artisans work with traditional techniques.
See woven crafts, handmade Khmer masks, and traditional decorative work, and learn how these skills are passed from one generation to the next.
Visit local homes and meet families in the community. You may also take part in making cốm dẹp, a traditional Khmer specialty made from young sticky rice, and learn how it is prepared by hand.
Continue to a local workshop where traditional Khmer temple decoration and wood carving are still practiced. See how artisans create and decorate elements inspired by Khmer temple art.
16:00 | Ancient Khmer Heritage
Continue to an ancient Khmer religious site where archaeological remains are being gradually uncovered and recovered from the earth.
Walk among the historical remains and learn about the layers of Khmer heritage that can still be found beneath the modern landscape.
17:00 | Blessing & Dharma Talk
Spend some quiet time with the monks at the temple.
Receive a traditional Buddhist blessing and listen to a short Dharma talk, offering a chance to understand Khmer Theravada Buddhist beliefs beyond what you see in the temple’s architecture.
18:00 | Dinner & River Cruise
As the day comes to an end, head to the river and board a boat for an evening cruise.
Enjoy dinner on the river while watching the sunset and the landscape slowly change as evening arrives. It’s a relaxed way to finish a day spent exploring the history, beliefs, and everyday culture of the Khmer community.
21:00 | Free Time in Trà Vinh
Return to the city and enjoy some free time to explore Trà Vinh at your own pace before heading back to the hotel.
Overnight in Trà Vinh.
06:30 | Breakfast & Check-out
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, check out, and get ready to leave the city behind for a day in the Mekong countryside.
07:30 | Cross the River to a Local Island Community
Take a short ferry ride to a peaceful island community surrounded by rivers, gardens, farms, and small village roads.
08:00 | Cycle Through the Countryside
Hop on a bicycle and follow the quiet paths through coconut gardens, rice fields, orchards, and small farms.
Along the way, see how local families make a living from the land and water — from growing crops to raising fish, shrimp, and other farm animals.
09:30 | Get Involved in Local Life
This is your chance to do more than just look around.
Join local families in simple everyday activities, depending on the season and what’s happening that day. Help pick ingredients from the garden, prepare local food, feed farm animals, or try your hand at a few of the small tasks that are part of daily rural life.
There is also time to simply sit down, have a drink, and chat with the locals.
11:30 | A Home-style Mekong Lunch
Sit down for lunch with fresh local ingredients and simple dishes prepared in the way local families actually eat.
Enjoy the food, take your time, and experience the relaxed rhythm of a Mekong countryside meal.
13:00 | Slow Down & Explore
After lunch, there is no need to rush.
Take another short bicycle ride, walk around the village, relax by the river, or spend some time talking with your hosts before leaving the island.
14:00 | Local Specialty Stop
Before leaving Trà Vinh, make a final stop to discover some of the region’s local specialties.
Taste or pick up a few favorites to take home, such as wax coconut, Trà Cuôn bánh tét, or other seasonal treats.
15:00 | Leave Trà Vinh
Begin the journey back to Ho Chi Minh City, with a short rest stop along the way.
19:00 | Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City
Drop-off in Ho Chi Minh City and end of your Mekong Way of Life experience.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- Transportation: Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers according to the itinerary (Ho Chi Minh City – Trà Vinh – Ho Chi Minh City).
- Accommodation: 1 night stay at a 3-star hotel or boutique eco-resort in Trà Vinh City (twin/double sharing basis, including breakfast).
- Meals:
- 02 Local Lunches featuring regional Mekong Delta specialties (bún nước lèo, farm-to-table dishes).
- 01 Dinner Cruise on the river.
- Daily drinking water on the vehicle (2 bottles/person/day).
- Activities & Experiences:
- Round-trip ferry transfer to the local island community.
- Bicycle rental for island exploration.
- Hands-on cultural experiences: Cốm dẹp making workshop, traditional crafts/mask-making visits, and hands-on farming/cooking activities with local hosts.
- Private Monk Blessing ceremony and Dharma talk at the Khmer temple.
- Cultural & Sightseeing Fees: Entrance fees to all mentioned heritage sites, temples, and community workshops.
- Local Guide: Local professional English-speaking tour guide knowledgeable in Mekong and culture throughout the trip.
Cost Excludes
- Personal Expenses: Drinks during meals (soft drinks, alcohol, extra coffee), laundry, phone calls, and shopping souvenirs (Wax Coconut, Bánh tét Trà Cuôn, etc.).
- Single Supplement: Extra charge for guests requesting a private single room.
- Tips & Gratuities: Tips for the tour guide, driver, boat crew, and local community hosts (optional but appreciated).
- Surcharges: Any applicable surcharges for national holidays or peak season periods.
- Pre/Post-Tour Expenses: Transportation, accommodation, or meals in Ho Chi Minh City before or after the tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. This tour is designed for travelers who want to go beyond the usual Mekong Delta sightseeing. You’ll spend time learning about Khmer Buddhist traditions, visiting local homes and craft workshops, trying traditional food-making, and meeting people in a Khmer community.
Not at all. Everyone is welcome to join. The temple visits are cultural experiences, and the blessing and Dharma talk are optional. Your guide will explain the local customs so you can participate respectfully.
Please wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees when visiting the temples. Comfortable and modest clothing is recommended throughout the day.
Yes. The evening river cruise is part of the itinerary. You’ll enjoy dinner on board while cruising along the river and watching the landscape change as the sun goes down.
The tour involves walking around temples, villages, and craft areas, but there is no demanding trekking. There is also a rest period at the hotel in the afternoon. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
