While Ho Chi Minh City is one of Asia’s most exciting urban destinations, even the locals need a break once in a while. The serene Mekong Delta offers the perfect respite, whether it’s a day trip, an overnight escape, or the start of a cruise up the Mekong, bound for Cambodia. Flowing all the way from the Tibetan Himalayas to the South China Sea, through Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos, the Mekong River defines Southeast Asia, sustaining over 60 million people and countless native species.
For Vietnam, the Mekong Delta is the nation’s pantry, producing half its rice and three quarters of its fruit. It’s also one of the best places in the country to experience rural Vietnamese life and taste local specialties. Sure, you can get some of the country’s freshest phở and banh mi, but dip your taste buds into specialties like fried elephant ear fish, nam vang noodle soup, and green bean cake with durian. Try Cái Răng floating market for an early morning feast on the water.
A guided trip through the region’s mangrove forests, or its famous floating forests in a private sampan boat, is a magical Mekong experience. There are options for stand-up paddle boarding, motorized boating, and river tubing too. On dry land, biking is a great way to explore the local villages and the beautiful temples and pagodas of the region.
The leisurely pace of life in the Delta means there’s no rush! To really immerse yourself, book a homestay with a local family. Besides making new friends and enjoying some typical Mekong home cooking, you can experience Delta life up close, lending a hand on the family farm, or chasing up your host’s local tips. Visit during the dry season (November to April) for optimal sightseeing. While the wet season’s rising waters revitalize the region’s farms, they can make getting around a lot harder.
If you prefer an extended river journey, a cruise along the Mekong is the ultimate way to see Southeast Asia up close. Leave the urban rhythms and ever-beeping motorcycles of Ho Chi Minh City behind and sail up the Mekong bound for Cambodia and the incredible temples of Angkor. Sip your Vietnamese coffee while watching sunrise over the river and get to know the Cham people who inhabit the region near the Cambodian border.
Where to from here? Phú Quốc, a tropical island just offshore from the border, rivals any in Asia for beauty and tranquility. It’s an easy ferry ride from the coastal town of Hà Tiên and a great add-on to your Mekong adventure. Alternatively, the Côn Đảo archipelago is just a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City, but its beauty will have you convinced you’ve arrived in another world without ever having left Vietnam.
Christian’s first globetrotting adventure saw him get lost exploring the streets of Saigon. Following his nose to Asia’s best coffee, two lifelong addictions were born. A freelance writer and novelist, Christian’s travels have since taken him around his native Australia, Asia, Europe, and much of North America. His favourite trips have been through Japan, Spain, and Brazil, though with a love of off-beat, artsy cities, he’ll seize any opportunity to return to Paris, New York, or Berlin.
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