Tours out of Ho Chi Minh City and across Vietnam
Cruises and boat journeys
One night on a rice barge through the delta
A slow wooden barge from Cai Be across the delta to Can Tho, with the brick kilns and back channels by day and the floating market before breakfast.
Overview
A delta trip where the road does half the work
The Mekong Delta is best seen from the water, and most visits see it from a speedboat for an hour. This is the opposite. The wooden rice barges that once carried the harvest between delta towns have been converted into small overnight boats with a handful of cabins, and they travel at the speed of the river.
The route runs from Cai Be on the upper Mekong, across through the Mang Thit canal, where the brick kilns line both banks, and out onto the Bassac, the southern branch, to anchor near Can Tho. In the morning a small boat takes you to Cai Rang floating market while it is still trading, which it mostly finishes doing by nine.
The delta is our home ground. The car, the driver and the guide who travels with you are ours; the barge belongs to an operator we have booked for years.
- Length
- 2 days, 1 night aboard
- Start and finish
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Road
- About 2 hours out, 3.5 hours back
- On the water
- About 22 hours
- Cabins
- Small, private, with bathroom
- Best months
- December to April
Nights
Where you sleep
The cabins are small — wood-panelled, air-conditioned, with a double or twin beds and a compact bathroom. The deck and the open dining area are where you spend your time.
Day by day
Day by day
Day 1
Saigon to Cai Be, and down the canals
The Mang Thit kilns in the late afternoon
We collect you in District 1, 3 or Binh Thanh at 07:30. The expressway to Cai Be takes about two hours. You board at around 10:00, and the barge sets off along the river past the market boats and fruit orchards, with lunch served on deck.
In the afternoon the barge turns into the Mang Thit canal, where the brick and pottery kilns stand like a row of red beehives along the water. You go ashore with our guide to see one working. Later the canal opens onto the Bassac, the barge anchors for the night, and dinner is served as the sun goes down over the river.
Day 2
Cai Rang at dawn, then back to Saigon
Coffee at 05:45, and at 06:00 a small boat takes you to Cai Rang floating market, where wholesalers sell from boats with a sample of their goods hung from a tall pole. After an hour on the market you come back through a narrow canal to a noodle workshop and a late breakfast. You leave the barge in Can Tho at about 09:30, and our driver brings you back to your hotel in Saigon by around 14:00.
Price
Price
| Travellers | Tier 1 — simple | Tier 2 — comfortable | Tier 3 — the good ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 travelling | from 325 | from 405 | from 620 |
| 4 travelling | from 265 | from 335 | from 505 |
| 6 travelling | from 240 | from 300 | from 455 |
The barge sets the price: the higher tiers mean larger cabins, the newest boats and, in some cases, a barge you share with fewer passengers. Chartering a whole barge for a group is possible and often better value for six or more. The road transfers and our guide are the same at every tier.
Included
What is included
What the price includes
- One night in a private cabin on a converted rice barge, at your chosen tier
- All meals on board, from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 2
- Our private car and driver from Saigon to Cai Be and from Can Tho back
- Our English-speaking guide throughout
- The early boat to Cai Rang floating market and the village stops
What it does not include
- Drinks on board
- Tips for the crew and guide
- Visas and travel insurance
Practical
Water, weather and what to bring
The delta is warm all year. The dry season from December to April is the most comfortable; from May to November there are short heavy downpours most afternoons, which on a barge simply means an hour under the deck roof. The water is highest from September to November, and the river is broad, brown and fast, which suits a large boat well.
Bring insect repellent for the evening, a light long-sleeved layer against the sun on deck, and cash for small purchases on the market boats.
Not for everyone
Who this does not suit
If you need a spacious hotel room to sleep well, a barge cabin will feel tight; our two-day Can Tho trip with a riverside hotel gives you the same dawn market. Travellers expecting a quiet, empty river should know the Bassac is a working waterway, busy with cargo boats. And if you have only one day, the delta is better done as a day trip than as half of this.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Is the barge shared?
Usually yes, with a small number of other cabins. Whole-barge charters are possible for families and groups.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, for children happy on a boat all day. There is no pool or play area, and the deck rails suit children who listen.
Can we end in Can Tho instead of returning to Saigon?
Yes, and many people do, continuing to Chau Doc or on towards Cambodia. Tell us and we will build the onward leg.
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Example journey
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Day trips, regional routes and full-length itineraries.
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Start planning
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Or talk to us:+84 766 045 399