Southern Vietnam Unfiltered: 5-Day Food, Culture & Mekong Delta Tour

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Overview

Southern Vietnam Unfiltered: 5-Day Food, Culture & Mekong Delta Tour
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Hồ Chí Minh, Việt Nam
Duration: 5 days
Travel Neutral image
Travel Neutral
$587

About your trip

Embark on a captivating journey from the vibrant streets of Saigon through the tranquil waterways of Ben Tre and Can Tho

What's included

Transportation

private transportation mentioned in itinerary

Meals mentioned in iti

Accomodation

What's not included

Travel insurance

Vietnam visa

International flights

Day 1

Day 1 image

Saigon - Arrival

Welcome to Vietnam and Saigon, the country's most dynamic city and Vietnam's biggest and boldest melting pot. The streets here swirl with life, smells, and sounds from early morning until late at night. It's a feast for all your senses, so get ready to drink it all in on this epic culinary tour. But first, a little history. Formerly known as Gia Dinh, Saigon was under French control for a period of 100 years that lasted until after World War II. During that time the city became known both by its popular name, Saigon, and as the "Pearl of the Orient." 


Let a local guide—or a friendly café owner—steer you to smoky bánh xèo crepes, fresh spring rolls, and gỏi cuốn dipped in rich peanut sauce. Cool down with sâm bổ lượng or cà phê sữa đá as scooters zip by and the city hums around you.


Saigon doesn’t serve up its charm all at once—you taste it, slowly, in every flavorful, affordable dish.


Included meals: Dinner

OPTIONAL Transportation: Airport pick up at Tan Son Nhat Airport and drop off at Saigon hotel

Accomodation: Chez Mimosa or similar

Day 2

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Life on the Mekong Delta

Wake up to a delicious breakfast of European and Vietnamese-inspired baked goods and warm plates before heading south into the heart of the Mekong Delta, where you’ll be immersed in Southern Vietnam’s version of the island life in the stunning province of Bến Tre. The Mekong River has nine different branches (the Vietnamese once called it Cửu Long, or Nine Dragons). And you’ll be island hopping your way through the delta today during a small-boat tour, including a stop at an artisan workshop and lunch with a local farmer family. You’ll see the Mekong Delta at water level, too, entering the narrow canals aboard a traditional boat called a sampan to immerse in the river’s unique nature. 


Later, you’ll head to Cần Thơ and overnight at Vam Xang Rustic, a farmstay lodge surrounded by orchards. Check into your bungalow and relax in the garden before getting back into the kitchen again to have delicious dinner.   

 

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Included activities: Mekong delta tour in Ben Tre

Transportation: Driving from Saigon to Ben Tre, then to Can Tho

Accommodation: Can Tho - Vam Xang Rustic 

Day 3

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The floating markets - a highlight of Mekong delta life

Rise and shine at 5 AM—today promises to be unforgettable as we journey into the heart of the Mekong Delta’s floating market culture, before it disappears into history.

Once upon a time, when roads were few and rivers were life, floating markets were the lifeblood of every village. Though modern life has crept in, a few of these vibrant traditions still thrive in the misty early mornings.


First, we’ll head to Phong Dien, a charming, more intimate floating market where local farmers trade fresh fruits and vegetables straight from their gardens. Then, we’ll wind our way through sleepy canals to Cai Rang, the largest and most iconic floating market in the Delta. Watch the bustling "thuong ho"—proud river traders—ply their colorful boats, heavy with pineapples, melons, and more, destined for markets near and far.


After the morning’s lively sights, return to your lodge for a hearty breakfast and a moment to relax then return to Saigon.


Included meals: Breakfast, lunch


Included activities: Floating market in Can Tho

Transportation: Driving from Can Tho to Saigon

Accommodation: Chez Mimosa or similar

Day 4

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Explore Saigon

Saigon isn’t a city you just see — it’s one you feel under your feet, taste on your tongue, and carry in your heart. On this guided walking tour through its vibrant downtown, you’ll do all three.

Begin at the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, its red bricks glowing in the morning light, then step into the vaulted hush of the Central Post Office, where echoes of the past still cling to the tiled floor and vintage phone booths. Your guide will weave history and local lore into every step — revealing what the buildings don’t say out loud.

From there, wander down elegant Dong Khoi Street, past balconies draped in bougainvillea and boutiques tucked into colonial villas. Pause for a mid-morning cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee with condensed milk) at a tucked-away café where time slows and the air smells like roasted beans and sweet milk.

Refreshed, continue to the Opera House, its belle-époque façade a stage for Saigon’s glamorous past. Then stroll Nguyen Hue Walking Street, where the modern city pulses and pre-wedding photoshoots pop up like wildflowers.

Lunchtime arrives just in time — settle into a cozy local restaurant where southern Vietnamese flavors sing: fresh herbs, crunchy rolls, something grilled and something soupy, of course.

After lunch, a detour to the Fine Arts Museum, housed in a faded mansion that whispers with creativity.

Slow, sensory, and full of surprise — this walk through Saigon isn’t just a tour, it’s a love letter.

 

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Included activities: Saigon walking city tour 

Accommodation:  Chez Mimosa or similar 

Day 5

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Departure

It's the end of your adventure. Enjoy your last shopping spree of travel gifts. Check out is at 12 noon.


If you plan to spend more time in Vietnam, we'd love to help. Check out our 5 days tours in Northern and Central Vietnam


Hope to see you soon on another adventure with us.

About your organizer

Travel Neutral Collective is about the love of traveling, of respecting people and tradition and the reverence for nature. Travel Neutral Collective is about leaving things better than when you found it, about walking with a light heart and leaving no baggage, about treading softly and humbly through the wonders of life.

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