Cu Chi and the Mekong in one day

Can you do Cu Chi and the Mekong Delta in one day?

Yes. The combined tour visits both in about 10 to 11 hours, starting at 7:30 to 8 am and returning between 6:30 and 7 pm.

The combined tour collects you from a central hotel or a meeting point on Ly Tu Trong Street in District 1. Mornings are at the tunnels, afternoons on the water at My Tho. Guiding is offered in English and French, and the listing includes bottled water, travel insurance, lunch with vegan options and the shooting range bullets.

What do you see at the Cu Chi tunnels?

Part of the underground network used during the Vietnam War, with the option to crawl through selected sections and a shooting range.

The tunnels were a hidden network of passages, rooms and hatches. Visits walk the forest, show concealed entrances and traps, and give the option to go underground in sections widened for visitors. The crawl is optional; tall or claustrophobic travellers can watch from above.

How much of the delta does the combined tour show?

A shorter visit to My Tho: a river cruise, a sampan through coconut canals, a family house with fruit, honey tea and folk music.

Compared with the classic delta day, the combined tour drops the bee farm on Unicorn Island, the Ben Tre coconut candy workshop and the cycling, and gives the delta an afternoon rather than most of a day. The essentials, the brown river, the palm canal and the orchard, are still there.

Is the combined tour too long?

It is a long day, with several hours in the van. It suits travellers who prefer one full day to two early starts.

The two sights lie on opposite sides of the city, so the drive between them adds time. Expect to be tired by the evening and to have little time for anything else that day. Families with young children may find two shorter days easier.

When are two separate trips better?

When you have two free days. A dedicated delta day gives you the islands, Ben Tre and more time on the water.

With two days, book the classic delta day or the four-islands day for the river, and a half-day Cu Chi trip for the tunnels. With three or more days, consider the two-day Cai Rang tour instead, so the delta trip includes a floating market at dawn.

A full day on the delta's near edge: islands, honey tea, coconut candy and a sampan.

My Tho & Ben Tre: Islands, Sampans & Coconut Village · 9 hours · free cancellation

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What should you wear for Cu Chi and the delta?

Clothes you do not mind getting dusty, closed shoes for the tunnels, and a hat and sunscreen for the boats.

The tunnels are cramped and earthy; the boats are sunny and sometimes wet. Light trousers, a breathable top and shoes with grip work for both. Carry water and insect repellent. Our seasons and clothing guide has more.

Who should book the combined tour?

Travellers with one free day and both sights on their list. Anyone set on a floating market should book an overnight tour instead.

The combined day does not include a floating market, and neither do the other day tours from the city. If seeing one matters, plan a night in Can Tho. If time is tight and the tunnels matter as much as the river, the combined day is a sensible use of it.

Frequently asked questions