Mekong Delta Rowing Boat Tour 2025: A My Tho & Ben Tre Review

So, you are probably thinking about getting out of the busy city for a day, right? I mean, Ho Chi Minh City is amazing, but sometimes you just need a change of scenery. This trip to the Mekong Delta, specifically the one that covers My Tho and Ben Tre, is kind of a classic for a reason, honestly. It’s pretty much on every list of things to do. We decided to check out the 2025 version of this popular trip to see if it still holds up. It’s basically a chance to see a completely different side of Southern Vietnam, you know, a much greener, more relaxed way of life that’s so tied to the water. Actually, you can see how everything revolves around the massive river system, and in a way, it’s really something special to witness firsthand. It’s a very popular tour, so you should expect to see other groups, of course, but it’s still a really worthwhile day out.

Leaving the City Behind for My Tho

The morning start is, frankly, quite early, but it has to be. The drive out of the city is an experience in itself, actually. You see the tall buildings sort of melt away, and then, you know, they get replaced by smaller houses and endless green rice paddies. It’s almost like you’re watching the country breathe a little easier. Our first real stop was the Vinh Trang Pagoda in My Tho, which is just this incredibly detailed place. You see, it’s got this interesting mix of architectural styles, a little Chinese, a little Vietnamese, and a bit of Cambodian too, apparently. Anyway, it’s a very peaceful spot before the day’s activities really kick off. After that, we basically went straight to the pier. Getting on the larger motorboat to cross the big, wide Tien River felt like the adventure was, at last, properly starting. The breeze on the water is seriously a welcome relief from the city’s heat, and you can just watch the local life on the riverbanks passing by, like fishing boats and stilt houses and so on.

A Sweet Detour: Honey Bees and Tropical Fruits

Okay, so one of the first stops on one of the river islands is typically a local honey bee farm. It’s sort of a charming little setup, to be honest. You can, like, see the bees up close in their wooden hives, which is a little intense but cool. They sit you down at a table and, well, they serve you this really lovely tea with fresh honey from the farm and kumquat. Honestly, it’s very simple yet incredibly refreshing. While you sip your tea, they usually tell you a bit about the bees and the honey-making process, you know, and all that stuff. Pretty much right next door, you’ll find a fruit orchard. You get to try a plate of different tropical fruits that are, you know, whatever is in season at that moment. For us, it was pineapple, dragon fruit, and jackfruit, and frankly, they tasted so much better than anything you get back home. They are just so fresh. During this fruit tasting, some local villagers will usually perform traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music. It’s kind of a nice cultural touch, for instance, a genuine glimpse into their artistic traditions.

The Famous Sampan: A Row Through the Palm Canals

Now for the part you’ve definitely seen in all the pictures. At the end of the day, this is what everyone comes for: the rowing boat ride. You walk down a little path and, well, you’ll see dozens of these small wooden boats, which are called sampans. Two people from your group, and maybe a third, will get into a boat steered by a local, usually a woman, who expertly paddles you through a maze of super narrow canals. To be honest, it feels like you’ve entered a different world entirely. The canals are completely shaded by a thick roof of water coconut palms, you know, the nipa palms. The only sounds you hear are basically the gentle splash of the oars in the water and the chirping of insects. It’s incredibly peaceful and, in a way, very beautiful. The sunlight filters through the leaves above, creating this dappled light on the water. It’s a pretty short ride, maybe 15 or 20 minutes, but it is seriously the most memorable part of the entire day trip, for sure.

Ben Tre: Welcome to the Coconut Kingdom

After the serene boat ride, you’ll likely hop back on the bigger motorboat and head over to Ben Tre province, which is actually known as Vietnam’s “coconut kingdom.” You can kind of see why as soon as you arrive. There are coconut trees literally everywhere. The main stop here is, of course, a small, family-run coconut candy workshop. You get to see the whole process, pretty much from start to finish, all done by hand. They crack the coconuts, grate the white meat, press it for milk, and then cook it down in big woks. The smell of the sweet, boiling candy is just, like, everywhere. You can watch them roll out the sticky candy, cool it, and then cut and wrap each piece. Naturally, you get to sample some, and it’s still warm and soft, which is absolutely delicious. They have a lot of other things made from coconuts too, like coconut wine or oil and stuff, which are sort of interesting to see.

A Few Tips and Final Musings

So, you are probably wondering what you should bring along. It’s actually pretty straightforward. At the end of the day, the weather is usually hot and humid, so dressing for that is a good idea. Seriously, comfortable clothes and walking shoes are your best friends on a trip like this. Here’s a quick list of what we found useful:

A good hat: You will absolutely need this for sun protection on the boat and when walking around, you know.
Sunscreen: The sun on the river is really quite strong, so definitely apply it generously.
Lightweight clothing: Think cotton or linen to, you know, stay cool and comfortable.
A small amount of cash: Just in case you want to buy some of the coconut candy to take home or, like, tip the boat rower. It’s a nice gesture.
A camera or your phone: Obviously, you will want to take pictures of the beautiful scenery, right?

Honestly, this tour is a very well-oiled machine. It’s designed for tourists, so you are going to be on a fairly set path with other groups. You just have to know that going in. Still, it provides a really accessible and, you know, an enjoyable look at life in the Mekong Delta. It’s perfect if you’re in Ho Chi Minh City for a short time and want to see the countryside without planning a whole lot yourself. Basically, you just sit back and they take you to see all the highlights, which, for a lot of people, is exactly what they want. It is a day well spent, for sure.

“The moment our small boat pushed off into that quiet, green canal, it was, like, all the noise from the rest of the world just disappeared. It was a really simple, but honestly, a quite profound experience.”

Read our full review: Mekong Delta Rowing Boat Tour (My Tho – Ben Tre) 2025 Full Review and Details
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