Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City: how to go on your own
How to get from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho, Ben Tre and Can Tho without a tour, where the Cai Rang floating market is and what the delta provinces are called now.
The easiest way to see the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in one day is a trip to My Tho and Ben Tre. Can Tho and the Cai Rang floating market work better as an overnight stay, about 170 km from the city. Agencies in the tours and travel agencies section of Ho Chi Minh City sell guided trips, but you can also go on your own by bus from Mien Tay station.
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What counts as the Mekong Delta, and where to go for one day?
The Mekong Delta is the flat southwest of Vietnam, west and south of Ho Chi Minh City, where the Mekong splits into branches and canals. For a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City people choose My Tho and Ben Tre: they are the closest, 1.5 to 2 hours each way. Can Tho is farther, so it is worth an overnight stay.
My Tho and Ben Tre: how to get there?
My Tho lies about 70 km from the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, a little over an hour by road (mia.vn, 25 September 2023). Ben Tre is about 85 km west, 1.5 to 2 hours. Buses to Ben Tre leave from Mien Tay station (VnExpress, updated 5 January 2026). The road goes through My Tho on National Highway 1A and across the Rach Mieu bridge; turn right just after the bridge and you are in the centre of Ben Tre.
Avoid leaving between 6 and 8 am: traffic is heavy then. Leave earlier or after 9 am. Fruit in Ben Tre ripens in June to August: mangosteen, durian and rambutan.
Can Tho and the floating market: how to go for the night?
Can Tho is about 154 to 170 km from Ho Chi Minh City, depending on the route. The bus takes roughly 3 to 4 hours (vietnam-tickets.com says "nearly 3 hours" with one stop; the page has no date). The Cai Rang floating market is on the Hau River; boats leave from Ninh Kieu wharf and take about 30 minutes (VnExpress, 8 November 2013).
The market starts before sunrise. Between 5 and 6 am there are 350 to 400 boats (Vietnam News, 11 July 2016), and trade slows down by about 10 am (VnExpress, 2013). So it is better to arrive in Can Tho the day before and be on the water by 5 or 6 am. Hours change with the season and holidays, so ask the boatman when you book.
Bus, plane or tour?
| Option | Who it suits | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| FUTA bus (Phuong Trang) | independent trip to Can Tho | tickets on futabus.vn, phone 1900 6067 |
| Bus to My Tho and Ben Tre | day trip | departs from Mien Tay station |
| Plane | not from Ho Chi Minh City | Can Tho airport has no flight to Ho Chi Minh City |
| Tour | if you are short on time | guide and route included; ask the agency what is covered |
Table: ways to reach the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City, 26 October 2026
There is no flight between Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho: Can Tho airport serves Hanoi, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Con Dao, Phu Quoc and Vinh (Tuoi Tre, 17 February 2026). Travel overland from Ho Chi Minh City. FUTA sells tickets at futabus.vn; check the timetable and departure station on the site or by phone before you go.
To reach Mien Tay station, Grab or a taxi is the easiest: see taxis, Grab and the metro in Ho Chi Minh City.
If you choose a tour, find an agency in the tours and travel agencies section of Ho Chi Minh City. For how to check an agency's licence, see how to choose a tour agency (it is about Da Nang, but the checks are the same).
What are the provinces called now?
Since 1 July 2025 Vietnam has 34 provincial-level units. Resolution 202/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly, adopted on 12 June 2025, merged the delta provinces like this (daibieunhandan.vn):
- Tien Giang and Dong Thap became Dong Thap province: My Tho is now part of Dong Thap.
- Ben Tre and Tra Vinh became Vinh Long province: Ben Tre is now part of Vinh Long.
- Soc Trang and Hau Giang were merged into Can Tho city.
- Kien Giang joined An Giang, Bac Lieu joined Ca Mau, Long An joined Tay Ninh.
The cities are where they were; the provincial names changed. Older blogs and maps still say My Tho is "in Tien Giang" and Ben Tre is "in Ben Tre province", so search by the city name.
When is the flood season in the delta?
In An Giang the flood season usually runs from September to November (VietnamPlus, 19 September 2026). In 2026 the flood-season festival in Phu Huu commune ran from 19 September to 3 October. Water levels change from year to year, so check with your host or local news just before you go.
FAQ
How do I get from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho? About 70 km, a little over an hour by road. Buses leave from Mien Tay station.
How do I get from Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre? About 85 km, 1.5 to 2 hours, through My Tho and across the Rach Mieu bridge.
How long is the trip to Can Tho? About 154 to 170 km; the bus takes roughly 3 to 4 hours.
Can I fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho? No. Can Tho airport serves Hanoi, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Con Dao, Phu Quoc and Vinh, and has no flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
When does the Cai Rang floating market open? Early in the morning: 5 to 6 am is the busiest, and it quiets down by about 10 am. Ask your boatman for the day's time.
Can I see the Mekong Delta in one day? Yes, in My Tho or Ben Tre. Can Tho does not fit into one day if you want to catch the market.
Which province is My Tho in now? Dong Thap: Tien Giang was merged into Dong Thap on 1 July 2025.
Which province is Ben Tre in now? Vinh Long: Ben Tre was merged with Tra Vinh.