Mekong Delta
Vietnam's southwestern delta, where the Mekong splits into many channels and many villages are reached by water or canal.
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The Mekong Delta is the southwestern corner of Vietnam, where the Mekong River splits into many channels before it reaches the sea. Locals call the region Miền Tây, or Western Region. The land is mostly flat and low, with a few hills in the north and west. Life revolves around the river, and many villages are reached by water or canal. Waterways are still the most important form of transport. The region lies west of Ho Chi Minh City, and Cần Thơ is its largest city and economic center.
River and garden tours and trips to river islands, called cù lao, are growing forms of eco-tourism here. Beach trips center on Hà Tiên and Phú Quốc island. Settlers' cooking draws on Khmer, Cham and Chinese influences, with fresh seafood, palm sugar, basa fish and wild herbs. The rainy season runs from May to October and the dry season from November to April. Heavy rain is most common in September and can cause serious flooding, so check local conditions before you set off.
Mekong Delta in five
- Sleep in the Delta instead of day-trippingCan Tho is about four hours from Ho Chi Minh City by bus, and Ben Tre about two. A night on the water gives you the early river light that day tours miss.Can Tho or Ben Tre
- Pick a loop: Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Can ThoThe tourism board's four-day route runs from Ben Tre to Tra Vinh, home to about 140 Khmer temples, then roughly three hours on to Can Tho. Three days works if you drop Tra Vinh.
- Be on the water by dawn for Cai RangThe largest wholesale floating market in the Delta runs from early morning to midday, and the boat ride from Can Tho takes about 30 minutes. Rise around 5am.Cai Rang floating market guide
- Check river levels in the wet seasonFlooding is common in the Mekong Delta regions, and the rain season runs from June to September in the south. Watch the Mekong River Commission and national forecasts.UK travel advice: flooding
- Link the Delta to Cambodia by river or roadCruises on the Hau River link Can Tho with Cambodia, and Ha Tien on the Gulf of Thailand is a land crossing that e-visa holders may use.Ha Tien
Neighborhoods
Can Tho
- Price band: $$
Ha Tien
- Price band: $$
Chau Doc
Chau Doc is a border ward of An Giang Province on the Hậu River, with Cambodia directly to its west. Visitors come for the Sam Mountain temples and the Tra Su cajuput forest.
Ben Tre
A former city on Bảo Island in the Mekong Delta, known for canal boat rides, cycling through coconut groves and coconut candy workshops.
Things to do in Mekong Delta
See all attractions in Mekong Delta
Need to know
- Airport
- Can Tho (VCA), about 20 min from Can Tho city
- Getting there
- About 2 hours to Ben Tre and 4 hours to Can Tho by road from Ho Chi Minh City
- Getting around
- Local buses via Mien Tay station, taxis, xe om, bicycles and boats
- Best base
- Can Tho for markets; Ben Tre for cycling; Tra Vinh for Khmer temples
- Time needed
- 2 nights for one base; 3 to 4 days for a loop
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh31°Low22°Dry, sunnyJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- FebruaryPartly cloudy3 rainy daysHigh32°Low23°Dry, sunnyFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- MarchPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh34°Low24°Dry, hotMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh34°Low26°HottestAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- MayRain26 rainy daysHigh33°Low26°Rain startsMayRain
Poor
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 265 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain starts
- JuneRain28 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°RainyJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 284 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- JulyRain27 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Fruit, rainJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 327 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fruit, rain
- AugustRain29 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°RainyAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 300 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- SeptemberRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°High waterSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 367 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
High water
- OctoberRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Peak floodsOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 383 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak floods
- NovemberRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Floods easeNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 219 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Floods ease
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, breezyDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, breezy
Average daily high and low in Can Tho, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Mekong Delta
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 29°
- Humidity
- 93%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Mekong Delta
05:43 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°24°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed31°24°94%Wednesday: Rain. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Thu32°25°82%Thursday: Rain. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Fri32°24°72%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 72%.
- Sat31°23°86%Saturday: Rain. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Sun31°25°83%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Mon32°24°40%Monday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 40%.
Updated 04:07 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 25,787 VND
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Ben Treabout 2 hours from Ho Chi Minh CityCoconut groves, candy workshops and bicycle lanes between canals.Read the guide
- Tra Vinhabout 3 hours by road from Can ThoQuiet tree-lined streets and about 140 Khmer temples.
- Chau Docabout 3 hours by road from Can ThoBorder town with Sam Mountain temples and the Tra Su cajuput forest.Read the guide
Before you go to Mekong Delta
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Rules for Mekong Delta, checked
- The rain season runs from June to September in the south, and flooding is common in the Mekong Delta; check Mekong flood forecasts before overland trips.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Mekong Delta
The Delta's largest city
Read the guideBen TreCoconut groves and canal cycling
Read the guideChau DocBorder town, Sam Mountain and Tra Su forest
Read the guideHa TienGulf of Thailand beaches and the Kampot link
Read the guideAll of VietnamEntry, seasons, regions and money
Read the guideMekong Delta FAQ
How many days do you need in the Mekong Delta?
Two nights covers one base well, and three or four days lets you loop Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Can Tho. Day trips from Ho Chi Minh City mostly buy road time.
What is the best way to see the Mekong Delta?
Stay overnight, cycle the islets and take at least one boat. Local buses link the provinces via Mien Tay station, and a private car saves time between Tra Vinh and Can Tho.
When is the best time to visit the Mekong Delta?
December to April is dry and easiest for boats and bicycles. Fruit is at its best in the middle of the year, and September to November brings high water and floods.
Which Delta town is best: Can Tho, Ben Tre or Chau Doc?
Can Tho for the floating market, Ben Tre for a quiet cycling stay close to Saigon, Chau Doc for border-town temples and the Tra Su forest. Most first trips pick Can Tho plus one more.
Is Tra Vinh worth adding to a Delta loop?
Yes, if you have a third or fourth day. The tourism board describes about 140 Khmer temples around quiet tree-lined streets, roughly three hours by road from Can Tho. Drop it first if you only have two nights.