The Mekong Delta is the bread basket of Vietnam or more accurately the rice basket of Vietnam. As amazing and beautiful as the terraced fields of the north are over 50% of Vietnam’s rice comes from the Mekong Delta. Even more dominant is the fruit production at 70% of the country’s output. There is also a huge seafood industry.
For tourists the Mekong can be overwhelming and even disappointing. Hundreds come daily from Saigon for day trips. They are hustled from gift shops, to “tourist factories”, and other fabricated experiences. I really don’t recommend a day trip to the Mekong, worse are the trips that also cram in Cu Chi tunnels. Better to spend 2-3 nights or more if you can. Go to the less traveled places beyond Ben Tre.
Here are my favorite spots in the Mekong:
- Cai Rang Floating Market
- Chau Doc
- Bai Chuc
- Tra Vinh
- Mang Thit
- Tra Chim National Park
- Tra Su Cajuput Forest
The best time to visit the Mekong is during the flooding season from August to December; October and November are particularly nice.
