Mekong Delta

One of the most memorable breakfast experiences in all of Vietnam awaits aboard this small wooden pho boat drifting at Cai Rang floating market. Vendors ladle rich, aromatic beef broth over silky noodles right in front of you as market activity buzzes all around in the early morning mist. Arrive before 6am for the freshest bowls and watch locals trade seasonal produce from boat to boat.

This beloved local com tam restaurant in Can Tho has been serving perfectly grilled pork over broken rice for more than two decades and locals swear nothing else compares. The char on the pork chops is beautifully caramelized, and the accompanying pickled vegetables and sweet fish sauce are made fresh each morning. Sitting at low plastic tables beside Mekong street life while eating here feels wonderfully authentic and alive.

Famous across the Mekong Delta, this riverside restaurant in Can Tho is widely regarded as the best place to eat sizzling Vietnamese crispy pancakes stuffed with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts. Each banh xeo arrives golden and crackling in a cast iron pan, best wrapped in fresh lettuce and dipped in their house nuoc cham sauce. The open-air dining area overlooks fruit orchards and canal boats, creating a truly atmospheric setting for every meal.

My Tho is the proud birthplace of hu tieu, a delicate noodle soup distinct from pho, and these beloved night stalls along the riverfront are where locals come to enjoy the best version of it. The broth is light yet deeply flavored with dried shrimp and pork bones, and toppings include crispy shallots, fresh herbs, and tender sliced meats. Eating here under string lights beside the Mekong as motorbikes hum past is an experience both humble and absolutely wonderful.

Nestled along the tranquil banks of the Mekong River in Can Tho, this resort offers beautiful bungalows surrounded by lush tropical gardens. Wake up each morning to the gentle sound of river boats passing and enjoy fresh fruit platters delivered to your terrace. The friendly staff arrange private sampan tours at sunrise, making every stay feel deeply personal and unforgettable.

This elegant colonial-style resort sits gracefully on the Hau River, blending French-inspired architecture with warm Vietnamese hospitality. Spacious rooms feature rich wooden furnishings, private balconies, and stunning river views that glow golden at dusk. Guests rave about the resort-organized floating market excursions and the rooftop pool overlooking endless green waterways.

Tucked deep inside Ben Tre Province, this charming family-run homestay is surrounded by swaying coconut palms and winding canal paths. Your hosts greet you with homemade coconut candy and fresh sugarcane juice upon arrival, setting a wonderfully warm tone for your visit. Sleeping in traditional wooden rooms with mosquito nets and bamboo furniture feels like a genuine retreat into rural Vietnamese life.

Located on peaceful An Binh Island near Vinh Long, this garden guesthouse is reachable only by a short, scenic ferry ride across the river. Rooms are simply decorated with local rattan and silk touches, and each opens onto a courtyard filled with hibiscus and mango trees. The owners cook seasonal Mekong meals over wood fires and share wonderful stories about life on the island with every guest.

The largest and most vibrant floating market in the Mekong Delta comes alive before sunrise as hundreds of wooden boats gather to trade fresh produce, fruits, and local goods on the water. Vendors hang their wares from tall poles called cay beo so buyers can spot them from a distance, creating a colorful and chaotic spectacle unlike anything else. Hiring a small wooden rowing boat to glide between the trading vessels is the very best way to truly immerse yourself in this living tradition.

This small, surreal island on the Ben Tre River is home to an extraordinary dragon-adorned temple founded by Dao Dua, a Vietnamese mystic known as the Coconut Monk who preached peace and unity here for decades. The elaborate multi-tiered riverside complex is covered in colorful mosaics, dragon pillars, and symbolic towers that reflect a uniquely eccentric spiritual vision. Exploring the island by bicycle through coconut groves before arriving at the temple makes for a deeply memorable and thought-provoking afternoon.

Hidden in the An Giang province near the Cambodian border, Tra Su is a flooded cajuput forest of breathtaking beauty, especially between October and November when water levels are at their highest. Gliding silently through the forest on a narrow wooden boat beneath a canopy of green leaves and past lotus flowers is an experience that feels genuinely otherworldly and serene. Hundreds of species of birds including storks, cormorants, and herons nest here, making it a paradise for nature lovers and photographers.

One of the most visually striking pagodas in southern Vietnam, Vinh Trang in My Tho blends Vietnamese, Chinese, and Cambodian architectural styles into a spectacularly layered and colorful facade that rewards careful looking. The grounds are vast and peaceful, filled with ornate stone gardens, serene courtyards, and towering statues of the Buddha gazing calmly toward the Mekong. Visiting in the early morning when monks are chanting and incense smoke drifts through the halls gives this centuries-old temple a profoundly spiritual atmosphere.