Cu Chi Tunnels And Mekong Delta 1 Day Tour

Overview

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.

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.

Looking for more adventures near Ho Chi Minh City? Explore our featured tours Cu Chi Tunnels Full Day Tour From Ho Chi Minh 2026, Ho Chi Minh City 1 Day Tour

Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong 1 day tour ỉtinerary 

07:00 – 07:30 AM | Hotel Pickup in Ho Chi Minh City

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.

07:30 – 09:00 AM | Scenic Drive to Cu Chi Tunnels

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 – 11:30 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.

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.

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)

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 – 1:30 PM | Transfer from Cu Chi to My Tho

After exploring the 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.

1:30 – 2:00 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. Visitors to the Mekong Delta can enjoy a scenic boat trip along the Mekong River as you cruise along the mighty Tien River.

Enjoy panoramic views of the four legendary islets — Dragon (Long), Unicorn (Lan), Tortoise (Quy), and Phoenix (Phung) — and the iconic Rach Mieu Bridge connecting Tien Giang and Ben Tre provinces.

2:00 – 2:45 PM | Thoi Son Islet (Unicorn Island) Village Walk

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.

Experiences on Thoi Son:

• Stroll along shaded village paths through coconut palms
• Taste seasonal fresh tropical fruits (rambutan, longan, dragon fruit, jackfruit, depending on season)
• 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

2:45 – 3:15 PM | Sampan Rowboat Ride Through Coconut Canals

Travelers 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.

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)

3:15 – 4:15 PM | Cross Tien River to Ben Tre – The Land of Coconuts

Re-board the motorboat and cross the Tien River to Tan Thach commune in Ben Tre Province, Vietnam’s coconut capital.

Activities in Ben Tre:

• Visit a traditional coconut candy workshop and watch the hand-crafting process from boiling to wrapping
• Sample fresh coconut candy in multiple flavors (original, pandan, durian, cacao)
• Explore a local handicraft village where artisans create coconut wood souvenirs, handbags, and decor

4:15 – 5:00 PM | Traditional Horse Cart Village Tour

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.

Your guide will share stories about local customs, agriculture, and daily life in the Delta with the locals.

5:15 PM | Return to My Tho & Drive Back to Ho Chi Minh City

Board the motorboat back to My Tho Pier, where your vehicle awaits for the 2-hour return drive to Ho Chi Minh City. Drop off at your hotel between 7:00 and 7:30 PM, depending on traffic conditions.