With Guide
Our Tip
Saigon City Explorer
Discover the vibrant energy of Ho Chi Minh City with historic sites and Mekong Delta day trip.
4 days
View
$599
The delta looks different at river level.
Trip duration: 2 days
2 Days 1 Night on the Mekong Delta: Mekong Eyes Classic from Saigon
Trip duration: 2 days
The Mekong Delta looks completely different from the water than it does from a minibus window. Mekong Eyes Classic is a traditional wooden river cruiser built in the style of the delta's own boat-building heritage — right down to the painted eyes on the bow, a centuries-old ceremony performed on newly built Mekong boats to bring good luck and safe passage.
At 250 m², carrying a maximum of 28 guests across 14 cabins, the vessel moves slowly enough for you to actually see the delta. Each cabin has a private bathroom, air-conditioning, and panoramic river windows. The two-day route takes you out of Saigon's noise and into the agricultural heartland: orchards and canal villages on Day 1, a sampan excursion and a live Đờn ca tài tử folk music performance on Day 2, followed by a visit to a handicraft family on Tan Phong island who have been working the same way for generations.
We book this cruise regularly for guests who want something more considered than a standard Mekong day trip. It's one of our consistent recommendations for the south.
Guided tour southern-vietnam mekong-delta cruise 2-days overnight cultural cai-be folk-music
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Trip Itinerary
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Board Mekong Eyes Classic at midday and settle into your cabin before the cruise moves out onto the river. Lunch is served as the boat clears the city and the water widens. The afternoon changes the pace entirely.
Mid-afternoon the cruise moors for a guided excursion into the orchards and small villages that line the delta's edge — the kind of agriculture and daily life that a window seat on a minibus never quite reaches. You're back on board for sunset from the top deck, with the river turning orange and the day winding down slowly. Dinner follows on board, anchored at Cai Be.
Banh Mi moment: cold Saigon beer on the top deck as the sun drops behind the palms — the boat barely moving, the current doing all the work.
Accommodation
Mekong Eyes Classic — cabin with river view, private bathroom, AC
Meals included
LunchDinner
Highlights
Board Mekong Eyes Classic at Cai Be pierPanoramic cruise into the Mekong DeltaLunch on board as the boat enters the deltaGuided afternoon excursion: delta orchards and canal villagesSunset from the top deck, anchored at Cai BeDinner on board
The top deck is the best place to be between 17:30 and 18:30. Bring a light layer — the river breeze drops the temperature noticeably after sunset.
What's included
All essential services for a comfortable and memorable trip.
- 1 night cabin on board: river view, private bathroom, hot shower, AC
- All meals: 1 lunch, 1 dinner, morning tea, 1 lunch on Day 2
- Complimentary bottled water in cabin
- English-speaking guide throughout
- Rowing sampan excursion through the canals
- Đờn ca tài tử folk music performance
- Visit to traditional handicraft family on Tan Phong island
- Bicycle or village walk
- All entrance fees
- Service charge (5%) and VAT (10%)
Not included
Items and services that are not part of the package price.
- Round-trip transfer from Ho Chi Minh City (available to add on request)
- Drinks and beverages on board
- Tips and personal expenses
- Any services not listed above
The cruise boards at Cai Be pier. A return transfer from Ho Chi Minh City (Districts 1 and 3 pick-up at 07:30-08:30, return arrival ~15:30) is available to add on request — ask us when you book. Cabins are twin or double; specify your preference at booking.
1/5
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Why travel with Banh Mi Escape Travel
Trips with English-speaking guide
Our experienced guides speak fluent English and know Vietnam inside out. They share local insights and ensure you have an authentic experience.
Group or individual travel
Choose between small group tours with like-minded travelers or customize a private journey just for you and your companions.
Vietnam specialists for 8+ years
With nearly a decade of experience in Vietnam, we've built trusted relationships and deep local knowledge.
We've tried everything ourselves
Every hotel, restaurant, and activity we recommend has been personally tested by our team. We only offer what we love.
We plan your ideal trip A to Z
From the moment you land to your departure, every detail is arranged. Just relax and enjoy the journey.
Guaranteed customer satisfaction
Our 4.9 rating speaks for itself. We go above and beyond to ensure every traveler returns home with amazing memories.
Weather
Best months to visit this destination
Best
Good
Off-peak
Weather in Ho Chi Minh City in July
Vietnam can be visited year-round. The north is cooler in winter (January, February), sometimes with snow in the mountains. Autumn (September, October) in central Vietnam can be rainy. The south is warm year-round, with minimal rainfall from March to the end of September except for some islands. Best time to visit: February-June and September-December.
Air temperature
30 °C
Water temperature
27 °C
Frequently asked questions about this trip
Not by default. A return transfer from Ho Chi Minh City (Districts 1 and 3 pick-up at 07:30-08:30, return arrival ~15:30) is available to add when you book. Ask us and we'll arrange it.
At Cai Be pier in Tien Giang province, about two hours from central Saigon. Boarding is at 11:30. The cruise departs and returns to the same pier.
A traditional wooden river cruiser built in the style of the Mekong's own boat-building heritage. 250 m², 14 cabins, maximum 28 guests. Each cabin has a river-view window, private bathroom with hot shower, and air-conditioning. The painted eyes on the bow are a centuries-old ceremony performed on newly built Mekong boats.
Southern Vietnamese chamber music, inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013. Slower and more introspective than the folk music most visitors encounter in the north — performed here live on board during the Day 2 sampan excursion.
A maximum of 28 across 14 cabins. The cruise stays intimate — this is not a large group tour.
The Mekong Delta runs year-round. The dry season (December to April) is more comfortable on the water. The wet season (May to November) brings afternoon rain but the delta is greener and the orchards are at their most productive.
Light clothes, sunscreen, and a layer for evenings on the top deck. The sampan excursion on Day 2 is in narrow canals — leave large bags in your cabin and bring only what you need for the morning.
Yes. The cruise departs from and returns to Cai Be, which is a natural extension of any southern Vietnam itinerary. We can connect it before or after the Cai Be and Tan Phong day tour, or combine it with time in Can Tho.
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