Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is the low-lying river delta region of southern Vietnam where the Mekong River fans out and drains into the South China Sea; it is one of the world’s major alluvial plains and a core rice- and aquaculture region. The area is characterized by a dense network of distributary rivers, canals and wetlands.

Waterborne activity defines the visitor experience: longboat tours, orchards, floating markets such as Cai Rang and Phong Dien, and riverside villages built on canals and small levees. Agriculture, fish and shrimp farming, and river transport dominate the landscape and economy, and there are extensive bird and wetland habitats to visit by boat.

The delta was formed by millennia of river deposition and has been settled and farmed for many centuries; towns and irrigation networks expanded under successive local and colonial administrations. Modern road and river transport coexist with long-established riverine trade patterns.

The Mekong Delta occupies southern Vietnam where the Mekong’s lower basin meets the South China Sea; major urban centres in the region include Can Tho, My Tho, Ben Tre and Ca Mau.

• Floating markets timing: Floating markets operate early in the morning and are best experienced before 08:00 when trade activity is highest.
• Seasonality: The delta has distinct wet and dry seasons; travel and boat conditions are easier and dryer from roughly November through April.

What to See #

• Can Tho: Can Tho - the largest city in the delta and home to the Cai Rang floating market, a major riverine trading hub.
• My Tho: My Tho - a common gateway town for short boat tours into the Mekong's upper distributaries and fruit orchards.
• Ben Tre: Ben Tre - an area known for coconut groves and small-scale river craft experiences.
• Ca Mau: Ca Mau - the delta's southern coastal province and a region of mangroves, shrimp farms and coastal wetlands.