This Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong 1 day tour combines two of southern Vietnam’s most compelling attractions into one comprehensive 12-hour journey from Ho Chi Minh City.
The morning takes you deep underground into the historic Cu Chi Tunnels, where over 250 kilometers of passageways tell the story of Vietnam War resistance.
Cu Chi Tunnels And Mekong Delta 1 Day Tour
The afternoon shifts to the tranquil Mekong Delta, where you’ll cruise along the Tien River, taste honey tea at local bee farms and watch coconut candy being crafted by hand in Ben Tre.
Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong 1 day tour itinerary
07:00 AM: The guide pickup in Ho Chi Minh City center
Your Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong 1 day tour begins with convenient pickup from your hotel lobby.
Your English-speaking guide will greet you with your name board, and settle you into a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle for the journey ahead.
The journey to Cu Chi District takes approximately 1.5 hours, covering 70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City.
During the drive, your guide will share a short documentary about the Vietnam War and the strategic role of the Cu Chi Tunnels.
A rest stop along the way allows you to stretch, use restrooms, and browse local handicrafts.
09:00 am: Explore the historic Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnels are a vast network of underground passages located approximately 70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, in the Cu Chi District of southern Vietnam.
Foreign tourist lifting a wooden camouflage trapdoor from an underground bunker
Originally constructed in 1948 during the First Indochina War against French colonial forces, the tunnel system was significantly expanded between 1960 and 1968 during the Vietnam War, eventually stretching over 250 kilometers underground.
Tour guide demonstrating various types of bamboo and iron booby traps used during the war to a group of tourists
The tunnels were designed to provide shelter and support including facilities like kitchens and hospitals, allowing soldiers to survive and operate during the war.
Activities at Cu Chi:
Watch an original wartime documentary film
Examine camouflaged booby traps and guerrilla weapons
Visit the reconstructed village showing daily life of soldiers
See the B52 bomb crater — a real scar of the war
Crawl through an authentic tunnel section (optional, widened for tourists)
Explore the underground kitchen (Hoang Cam stove), field hospital, and weapon workshop
Explore various features including trapdoor entrances, ventilation shafts, and weapons manufacturing areas
Sample tapioca with sesame salt and hot jasmine tea — the soldiers’ wartime food
Optional experience:
Visitors may have the option to shoot weapons at a firing range with AK-47, M16, or M60 rifles (approximately $2–3 USD per bullet, not included in tour price)
Tourist holding an AK-47 rifle at the Cu Chi Tunnels firing range, experiencing real bullet shooting
The tunnels are dark and narrow; if you’re claustrophobic, you can skip this part and explore the above-ground exhibits without missing key highlights.
11:30 AM: Local lunch at a Cu Chi restaurant
The tour pauses for a well-deserved midday break at a highly-rated local restaurant within the Cu Chi area.
Serving lunch here ensures passengers enjoy fresh, authentic regional specialties, including the area’s famous “Bò Tơ” (young beef) or traditional family-style platters, immediately after their morning walking tour without having to wait during the long drive south.
12:30 PM: Transfer from Cu Chi to My Tho
After exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels, we begin the scenic two hours drive south through Ho Chi Minh City toward My Tho City, the gateway to the Mekong Delta.
This leg covers approximately 140 km via the HCMC–Trung Luong Expressway. Relax and enjoy the changing landscape from urban outskirts to lush rice paddies and coconut groves.
2:30 PM: Arrive at My Tho Pier & board Mekong boat
Upon arrival at My Tho Pier, board a traditional wooden motorboat for your Mekong River adventure.
You to the Mekong Delta can enjoy a scenic boat trip along the Mekong River as you cruise along the mighty Tien River.
Scenic boat cruise on the Mekong River, tourists enjoying the view of the water and riverbanks from inside a traditional vessel
You can enjoy panoramic views of the four legendary islets: Dragon (Long), Unicorn (Lan), Tortoise (Quy), Phoenix (Phung) and the iconic Rach Mieu Bridge connecting Tien Giang and Ben Tre provinces.
3:00:PM: Thoi Son Islet (Unicorn Island)
Disembark at Thoi Son Islet, the largest of the four islets spanning over 1,200 hectares, famous for its lush fruit orchards and tranquil village atmosphere where over 1,500 households have transformed their orchards into welcoming tourism destinations since the 1990s.
Tourists enjoying a live Don Ca Tai Tu musical performance under a thatched roof pavilion in My Tho
Experiences on Thoi Son:
Stroll along shaded village paths through coconut palms
Traditional Vietnamese folk music performances are a highlight: enjoy live Don Ca Tai Tu, Southern Vietnam’s traditional folk music recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
3:45 PM: Sampan rowboat ride through coconut canals
You can experience hand-rowed sampan rides through the narrow canals of the Mekong Delta, providing a unique perspective of the lush surroundings and local life.
Tourists in a narrow sampan boat with non la hats
You will board a traditional hand-rowed sampan (xuong ba la) and glide through narrow canals shaded by dense water coconut palms.
This is one of the most photographed moments of the tour — a peaceful, authentic slice of Mekong life.
The sampan delivers you to a local bee farm, where you’ll learn about traditional beekeeping and taste honey tea along with:
Fresh honey tea with kumquat
Banana wine (ruou chuoi hot) — a local specialty
Royal jelly and honey products (optional purchase)
5:15 PM: Traditional horse cart village tour
You will experience the Mekong Delta the old-fashioned way — aboard a traditional horse cart (xe ngua).
Clip-clop through quiet village lanes, passing rice fields, fruit orchards, and traditional Vietnamese homes.
Tourists enjoying a traditional horse-drawn carriage ride through the rural villages of Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Your guide will share stories about local customs, agriculture, and daily life in the Delta with the locals.
6:15 PM: Return to My Tho & Drive Back to Ho Chi Minh City
You will board the motorboat back to My Tho Pier, where your vehicle awaits for the 2-hour return drive to Ho Chi Minh City.
The driver drop you off at your hotel between 7:00 and 7:30 PM, depending on traffic conditions.
Travel Tips
Footwear and clothing: You should wear comfortable walking shoes and casual clothing. The morning at the tunnels involves dirt paths, while the afternoon involves boarding multiple types of boats and stepping onto muddy riverbanks.
Claustrophobia management: The narrow underground tunnels are entirely optional. You who prefer to stay above ground can easily skip the crawling sections and view the outdoor military exhibits with the guide.
Sun and Insect Prep: Bringing high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses and mosquito repellent is highly recommended.
Shopping and Tip Cash: Passengers should carry physical cash in Vietnamese Dong (VND). Small bills are essential for purchasing local coconut candies, handicraft souvenirs, extra drinks, or tipping the local boat rowers and horse cart drivers.
