Tip: Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta without the hassle
No need to deal with separate buses or complicated transfers. With our Mekong Delta tours by Local Vietnam, transport from Ho Chi Minh City is included, either private or in a small group. We can also tailor the trip to your plans and combine it with onward travel to Phu Quoc or Con Dao.
The Mekong Delta is a region, not a single destination
To understand how to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta, it helps to first know what the Mekong Delta actually is. It’s not one place and not even a single province, but a large region in southern Vietnam. The area is roughly the size of a small European country (ex. Netherlands or Switzerland) and consists of multiple provinces, cities, and rural areas.
This means that “going to the Mekong Delta” is not specific enough on its own. Travel time, transport options, and even the overall experience can vary a lot depending on where you go. Are you planning a day trip, or do you want to stay a few days? Are you looking for floating markets, nature, quiet villages, or a place closer to Cambodia? To help you decide, you’ll find an overview of the most popular destinations in the Mekong Delta below. If your destination isn’t listed, it’s best to search specifically for that place.
Most popular destinations in the Mekong Delta
These are some of the most popular places travelers visit when going from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta. The region is large and diverse, with many more destinations than we can list here. If you’re looking for a specific place, it’s best to check a dedicated guide or browse a full overview of places to visit in the Mekong Delta.
1. My Tho
My Tho is the closest destination to Ho Chi Minh City, making it the most popular choice for day trips to the Mekong Delta. Travelers mainly come here for short boat rides along the Mekong River and a first introduction to the delta landscape. The scenery is green and typical for the region, but some stops and activities are clearly set up for tourism, so the experience can feel less authentic at times.
Read here how to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho.
2. Can Tho
Can Tho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta and is best known for its floating markets, especially Cai Rang. It’s a logical base if you want to spend a few days exploring the region more in depth. With a mix of city life, river culture, and good infrastructure, Can Tho is popular with both backpackers and independent travelers.
Read here how to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho.
3. Ben Tre
Ben Tre is often seen as a quieter alternative to My Tho. The area is known for its coconut plantations, small canals, and relaxed atmosphere. You can visit Ben Tre as a day trip, but it’s also a great place to stay overnight, allowing you to experience local life outside the busiest hours.
Read here how to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre.
4. Chau Doc
Chau Doc is located much further from Ho Chi Minh City, which makes it feel noticeably less touristy. The town is close to the Cambodian border and is often combined with onward travel to Phnom Penh. Nearby highlights include the Tra Su mangrove forest and Sam Mountain, making Chau Doc a good choice if you want to combine nature and culture.
Read here how to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Chau Doc.
5. Cai Be
Cai Be lies along the Tien River and is known for its rural Mekong scenery, with small canals, fruit orchards, and traditional villages. Travelers come here for peaceful boat trips through narrow waterways, visits to local workshops, and a more small-scale experience of delta life. Cai Be is often combined with My Tho or Ben Tre, but it also works well as a quiet overnight stop away from the crowds.
Read here how to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Be.
If your destination isn’t listed here, it’s best to look up that specific place. You can also check our full guide to places to visit in the Mekong Delta for a complete overview of destinations and travel ideas.
By tour from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta
Traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta by tour is the most popular option for many travelers. While “a tour” might sound like one fixed thing, it actually covers a wide range of options: large group tours, small group experiences, private Mekong Delta tours with a guide, or even fully organized trips without a group. What they all have in common is that everything is arranged for you — transport, boat trips, activities, and often meals and accommodation.
This popularity makes sense. The Mekong Delta is a large region, and getting there is only the first step. Especially if you’re short on time, it’s not just about how to reach the delta, but how to get around once you’re there. You might need to arrange bicycles, boat trips, short taxi rides, or local boats, often combining several places in a single day. Doing all of this yourself takes time and can be difficult to organize if you only have one or two days.
If you have three days or more, it becomes much easier to travel independently to one destination, stay there, and arrange activities locally. The pace is more relaxed, and you don’t have to rush. But if you want to visit the Mekong Delta in just one day, it’s very hard to do without a tour. Even two days can be challenging if you’re not sure where to go or how to plan things efficiently. In those cases, a tour simply helps you make the most of your limited time.
In short, the less time you have, the more a tour makes sense. For short visits, it offers structure and convenience, while longer stays give you the freedom to plan things at your own pace.
From Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho
The travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho is around 2 hours, depending on traffic and your departure point. The most comfortable and practical option is a limousine bus. These run multiple times a day and take you directly to the town center or near the main tourist areas.
Sleeper buses heading further into the Mekong Delta also usually stop in My Tho. Both limousine buses and (day or overnight) sleeper buses cost around 100,000 VND, which is roughly $4 per person.
A private car with driver is a more flexible option. You’ll be dropped off exactly where you want, or you can use the car to visit sights around My Tho right away. Keep in mind that this is transport only — there’s no guide included, and you’ll need to arrange boat trips and activities yourself. A one-way transfer from Ho Chi Minh City costs around 1,000,000 VND (about $30).
One important thing to know is that My Tho is not the easiest place to explore fully on your own. Even after arriving, you still need to arrange transport, boats, and activities. Unless My Tho is part of a longer, multi-day route through the Mekong Delta, a day tour is often the more practical choice.
Continue reading to learn how to book bus tickets or how to arrange a private car.
From Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho
The travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho is around 3.5 hours. Thanks to the modern highway connection, this is one of the smoothest routes into the Mekong Delta. Limousine buses are the best option here and run frequently throughout the day.
A limousine bus costs around 200,000 VND, which is roughly $7–$8 per person. Sleeper buses are also available, but since the distance is relatively short, overnight trips often arrive around midnight. This makes them less practical compared to longer routes.
A taxi or private car with driver is another option, with prices starting from around $45. This is especially useful if you want to be dropped off directly at your hotel or make stops along the way, for example in Ben Tre or at Vinh Trang Pagoda. Keep in mind that making stops will increase travel time and you may spend less time on the highway.
It’s also good to know that Can Tho has its own airport. There are no flights from Ho Chi Minh City due to the short distance, but there are connections to destinations like Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Da Nang, and Hanoi. This makes Can Tho a convenient place to combine the Mekong Delta with other parts of Vietnam without needing to return to Ho Chi Minh City.
Continue reading to learn how to book bus tickets or how to arrange a private car.
From Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre
The travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre is around 2 hours, depending on where exactly you need to go within the province. Most travelers use minivans for this route. The number of luxury limousine buses is more limited compared to routes to My Tho or Can Tho, but connections are still frequent and reliable.
Prices are around 100,000 VND, which is roughly $4 per person. Ben Tre is often visited as a day trip, but it’s also a great place to stay one or more nights. In that case, traveling independently by bus or minivan is an easy and affordable option.
Continue reading to learn how to book bus tickets or how to arrange a private car.
From Ho Chi Minh City to Chau Doc
The travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Chau Doc is significantly longer, starting from around 5 hours. In reality, most bus journeys take closer to 6 hours. Many (VIP) sleeper buses operate on this route, both during the day and overnight.
Standard sleeper buses cost around 250,000 VND, which is roughly $9–$10. VIP sleeper cabin buses offer more privacy and comfort and cost around 350,000 VND (about $13–$14). If it fits your budget, the VIP option is clearly more comfortable, especially for a longer journey like this.
A private car with driver is also possible, but keep in mind this is a long drive. Prices start from around $120. This option is mainly interesting if you want to make stops along the way or prefer not to travel by bus.
Continue reading to learn how to book bus tickets or how to arrange a private car.
From Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Be
The travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Be is around 2.5 hours. Transport options are a bit more limited, as Cai Be is a small town with relatively little tourism. From the main bus stations in Ho Chi Minh City, there is usually one direct bus service. It’s a more local-style bus, but for a journey of just over two hours, it’s still a reasonable option.
Many sleeper buses heading deeper into the Mekong Delta also pass through Cai Be. These can drop you off without any issues, usually at a central location. From there, you’ll often need a short taxi ride to reach your accommodation or the exact place you want to go.
A private car with driver is generally the easiest option. Prices start from around $50 and give you the most flexibility, especially if your accommodation is located outside the main town area.
Continue reading to learn how to book bus tickets or how to arrange a private car.
How to book tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta
Online
The easiest way to book tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta is online through booking platforms. In Vietnam, two platforms stand out:
- Vexere: A local Vietnamese platform with the largest selection of bus companies. You’ll find many local routes, different bus types, and often more departure times than on international platforms.
- 12Go Asia: The most well-known transport booking platform in Southeast Asia. Coverage is slightly more limited than Vexere, but the website is easy to use, available in English, and often highlights more tourist-friendly or comfortable options on popular routes.
If you want more background and practical tips, you can also read our guide about traveling by bus in Vietnam.
In Ho Chi Minh City
In Ho Chi Minh City, you can buy tickets to the Mekong Delta at almost any travel agency. This is an easy option, especially if you prefer not to book online. Keep in mind that agencies usually charge slightly higher prices, as commissions on bus tickets are quite low.
On the other hand, they take care of the arrangements for you and often contact the bus company directly, for example to organize hotel pickup. A useful tip is to check ticket prices online first, so you have a general idea of what a reasonable price looks like. In some cases, your hotel can also arrange this for you.
Directly with bus companies
You can also buy tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta directly from bus companies. One of the most well-known operators on these routes is Futa Bus Lines. They have their own website, several offices in Ho Chi Minh City, and ticket counters at major bus stations.
For other bus companies, you can go to the bus station and buy tickets on the spot. Another option is to search online for companies operating your route and contact them directly. Some bus companies that serve international travelers offer support via WhatsApp in English.
With more local companies, this can be more difficult. They often communicate through Zalo, the most widely used messaging app in Vietnam. Without using Zalo, and relying only on translation apps, booking can quickly become complicated—especially if you don’t speak Vietnamese.
