Mekong Delta 2-Day Tour: Cycling, Kayaking & Cai Rang Market

5.00

(4 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The morning air in Saigon felt thick and a bit sticky as we gathered outside the old Opera House—still half asleep but buzzing with that “about to leave the city” excitement. Our guide, Minh, greeted us with a grin and a quick headcount before we piled into a van. Two hours later, we rolled into a quiet Mekong town where bikes waited for us under a tamarind tree. The bike seats were surprisingly comfy. We pedaled along narrow paths shaded by coconut palms, passing kids in crisp uniforms waving on their way to school. A woman selling iced coffee from her cart called out something I didn’t catch—but the smell of strong brew mixed with river air stuck with me.

Lunch was at a tiny spot run by an older couple—rice, fish cooked in clay pots, and crunchy pickled veggies that made my mouth water. Afterward, we swapped pedals for paddles and climbed into kayaks at the edge of the river. The water was calm except for the occasional splash from a jumping fish or distant laughter from someone’s backyard. Minh pointed out floating hyacinths and explained how families here still use boats more than scooters. By late afternoon, we were back on dry land and headed to Can Tho for the night. The city felt lively—neon signs flickering over street food stalls—and I wandered down to the riverside before crashing at our hotel.

Before sunrise, Minh knocked on our doors—time for Cai Rang Floating Market. We boarded a small boat just as vendors were setting up shop on their wooden barges. It’s noisy but friendly; sellers hoist pineapples or noodles high so you know what they’ve got. Breakfast was hot noodle soup served right there on the water—a little wobbly but delicious. Later, we cycled through Can Tho’s outskirts again, this time catching glimpses of early-morning market life: baskets of herbs everywhere and folks bargaining over fish prices. By midday, we were back in Saigon—muddy shoes and all—but honestly? I felt like I’d seen something real.