Ultimate Mekong Delta Day Tour – Cai Rang Floating Market & Son Islet
05:00 AM – Hotel Pick-Up
Your adventure begins in the soft glow of early dawn .
07:30 AM – Cai Rang Floating Market
Step aboard your private wooden boat and cruise into the legendary Cai Rang Floating Market.
Here’s what makes this stop unforgettable:
Spot the “Cây Bẹo” poles – tall bamboo sticks with fruits and vegetables hanging from the top. A pineapple means this boat sells pineapples, a pumpkin signals pumpkins – rustic “floating hoardings” that help buyers spot sellers from afar.
Enjoy a “wobbly breakfast” – while your boat gently sways, you’ll be served a steaming bowl of hủ tiếu noodles or a fresh bánh mì, a quirky experience that makes every bite a little adventure.
Climb onto the roof for coffee – sip strong Vietnamese coffee as you perch on the boat’s roof, letting the river breeze brush your face while you watch the colourful chaos of boats from above.
Interact with local fruit sellers on a pineaple boat where the smiling owner invites you aboard. Your guide will translate as you chat about their life on the water: how they sleep in hammocks under the deck, cook simple meals on a wood stove, raise children on the river, and spend days navigating the floating market.
Make Your Own “Hủ Tiếu”
After soaking up the energy of the market, you’ll step off your boat and into a small floating noodle workshop. Here, a local family will show you how they make hủ tiếu, the beloved rice noodle of the Mekong.
- 10:00 AM – Return to Shore & Journey to Son Islet
After a gentle 30-minute ride, your boat docks back on land to take you on a short drive to Son Islet – a lush green jewel in the Hau River, where life is as slow and sweet as the tropical fruit.
Son Islet Exploration – Immerse Yourself in Village Life
Son Islet isn’t a tourist stop – it’s a window into real Mekong life.
Your highlights here:
Visit a floating fish farm – see how locals raise fish in cages under their homes, then slip off your shoes for a quirky koi fish foot massage . The tickling fish will make you laugh – and the photos will make everyone back home jealous.
Stroll through fruit orchards, you’ll pluck rambutans, longans, or guavas straight from the branches and taste them while they’re still warm from the sun.
Cross a “monkey bridge” – these narrow wooden bridges are a true Mekong icon. Hold your breath, test your balance, and cross like the locals – it’s part thrill, part triumph, and totally Instagram-worthy.
Learn to make pop rice – try making your own. Taste them warm and fresh – a sweet reminder of simple joys.
12:00 PM – “Flying Menu” Lunch
On Son Islet, lunch isn’t just cooked – it’s shared by the whole community.
Every household prepares one dish, and together they create the Flying Menu
06:00 PM – Return to Ho Chi Minh City with
A camera full of vibrant photos
A belly full of delicious food
And a heart full of memories of life on the magical Mekong