Delta day trips from Ho Chi Minh City
Tours · Private day
A private Ben Tre day, on your own clock
Your party only, from your hotel door. The car crosses the Rach Mieu bridges straight to the Ben Tre side, so the day starts in the canals rather than at the busy My Tho wharf. You choose the start time, the stops and when to head back.
At a glance
- Length
- 1 day, about 7.5–9 h, your choice
- Party
- Private: your party only
- Starts
- Your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
- Ends
- Your hotel
- Road time
- About 3.5–4.5 h round trip
- Price
- On request
Who this day is for
This day was written for parties of two to eight who want the delta without the timetable of a shared group: families with children who need a rest after lunch, grandparents who walk slowly, friends who want to linger over photographs, or anyone who simply prefers not to wait while a coach collects people from other hotels.
It differs from the My Tho and Ben Tre day in one practical way. Instead of driving to the My Tho wharf and crossing the Tien River by motorboat, the car crosses by road, over the Rach Mieu bridge or the newer Rach Mieu 2 bridge that opened on 19 August 2025, and the boats start on the Ben Tre side. That cuts out the most crowded wharf of the area and one boat transfer, which matters more with children than people expect. Ben Tre town is about 85 km from central Ho Chi Minh City by road.
Sources: Doanh nghiệp Hội nhập — Rạch Miễu 2 opens, 19 Aug 2025; VietnamFinance — Rạch Miễu 2 inauguration, 19 Aug 2025; OSRM / OpenStreetMap route model, queried 11 Oct 2026 · checked .
What private changes in the day
| On a join-in day | On this private day | |
|---|---|---|
| Start time | Fixed, usually 08:00–08:30 | Yours; 07:00 is common in the hot months |
| Collection | Central wards, possibly several hotels | Your hotel door only |
| Boat transfers | Several, with the group | Fewer; boats for your party only |
| Lunch | Set time and set menu | When the children are hungry; order what you like |
| Rest | None scheduled | An hour in the shade after lunch if you want it |
| Return | About 17:00, after the group plan | When you decide; mid-afternoon avoids the evening traffic |
Private prices are quoted per person but built per vehicle, so they fall as the party grows. The join-in or private page shows where the two cross over.
A typical private day
Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City to the Ben Tre canals and back
A rowing boat for your party alone, with no queue at the jetty
The car collects you at your hotel at the time you set; we suggest 07:00 from March to May, when afternoons are hottest. After the expressway and the bridge crossing you reach the Ben Tre side in about 1.75 to 2.25 hours. If a child needs a stop on the way, the driver stops; there is no group waiting.
The first boat is a small hand-rowed one through a canal under water-coconut palms, life jackets on for everyone. Then a short walk or a cycle on a village lane to a family workshop where coconuts are split, grated, pressed and boiled into candy, then cut and wrapped by hand.
Lunch is at an orchard restaurant in the shade, at the hour that suits you. If you want to rest, we plan an hour's break in the shade before the afternoon. In the fruit months, roughly May to August, the guide can add an orchard where the fruit is picked in front of you. Then the car takes you back across the bridge; leaving at about 13:30 to 14:00 usually puts you at your hotel by mid-afternoon.
Families and small groups: practical notes
- Life jackets are worn on every boat. On cross-river ferries this is a legal requirement for everyone aboard; on our boats it is our rule for every passenger, adults included.
- Children's sizes: tell us ages in the form so the boat operator can bring small jackets.
- Child seats cannot be assumed in a hire car. Tell us if you need one and we confirm in writing whether one can be fitted before you book.
- Heat: mean daily highs in the delta run from about 30 °C to 34 °C all year, with April the hottest. An early start and a rest after lunch make more difference than any other choice.
- Toilets on the route are simple; the restaurant and the workshop have the cleanest ones.
Sources: Circular 15/2012/TT-BGTVT (vbpl.vn); Wikipedia — Cần Thơ climate table (Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology) · checked .
Price
| Party | Vehicle | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| 2 travellers | Car | On request |
| 3 travellers | Car | On request |
| 4–5 travellers | Minivan | On request |
| 6–8 travellers | Minivan | On request |
| Children | Under-12 price for each child | On request |
The pricing page explains the cost of a private day line by line; how to book covers changes and rain.
What the price includes
- Private air-conditioned car or minivan from your hotel and back
- English-speaking guide for your party only
- Rowing boat and any motorboat on the plan, for your party, with life jackets
- Workshop visit and tastings
- Lunch at an orchard restaurant; bottled water
- Bicycles for the village lane, where you choose to ride
What it does not include
- Drinks other than water
- Child seat, unless confirmed in writing
- Tips for the guide, driver and boat crew
- Travel insurance
- Anything you buy at the workshop
Photos from the route
Who this day is not for
- Solo travellers on a tight budget — a join-in day costs much less for one person
- Groups of nine or more; we would quote a different vehicle and two guides, so ask first
- Anyone wanting the big-river motorboat crossing at My Tho — that is on the My Tho and Ben Tre day
- Travellers wanting a floating market — none on this route
- Anyone who needs a fixed published price before sending dates
Read more
For the place itself, read Ben Tre. For pick-up details and what to pack for children in the heat, see pick-up and timing.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Can we start at 06:30?
Yes. On a private day the start time is yours. Earlier starts help in the hot months and get you back before the evening traffic.
Is this suitable for a toddler?
Usually, with an early start and a rest after lunch. Bring a carrier rather than a pushchair; lanes are narrow and boat steps are steep. Tell us the child's age so small life jackets come with the boat.
Can we pick up from outside the central wards?
Yes. Private trips collect from any hotel in the city; if it adds driving time we show that in the quote before you book.
Can the guide speak another language?
Our guides speak English. If you need another language, say so in the form; we will tell you honestly whether we can arrange it for your date.
Related
Read next
Tours · Prices
Pricing
Why prices are on request, published market prices, and what moves a delta day-trip quote.
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Tours · Booking
How to book
The steps from first form to pick-up: what we need, what the confirmation states, payment, changes and rain.
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Destinations · Vinh Long
Ben Tre
Coconut canals, candy workshops, Cho Lach orchards, the Rach Mieu bridges, and when Ben Tre is not worth it.
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Planning
Join-in or private
Join-in against private for each route: pick-up, group, road time, what changes in the day.
View this journey
Planning
Pick-up and timing
Pick-up zones in central Ho Chi Minh City, road times per route, and a packing list for heat and boats.
View this journey
Example journey
My Tho and Ben Tre day trip
One day, shortest drive, most time in boats: My Tho, Thoi Son islet and the Ben Tre bank.
View this journeyStart planning
Tell us which trip and which day
The trip, the date, how many of you and whether you lean to join-in or private are enough to start. We reply by email with a price per person, the pick-up window and what is included.