Tien River Cruise My Tho – Ben Tre: Sampan Boats, Don Ca Tai Tu Music & One-Day Travel Guide

Just about 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho – Ben Tre is the easiest place to experience the Mekong Delta waterways in a single day: cruising along the Tien River, riding a sampan through water coconut canals, listening to Don Ca Tai Tu music, and savoring fresh orchard fruits. This article compiles the most common itineraries, reference prices, and tips for a complete trip.

Typical My Tho – Ben Tre Tour Itinerary

From Ho Chi Minh City, vehicles usually take the expressway to My Tho, a journey of about 1.5–2 hours. At the My Tho tourist pier, visitors board a boat to cruise the Tien River, admire the four islets of Long, Lan, Quy, and Phung, then stop at Thoi Son Islet (Con Lan) and Con Phung Islet on the Ben Tre side.

A tourist boat stopping at Con Lan (Thoi Son Islet) on the Tien River. Photo: Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Experiences Not to Miss

• Sampan ride through water coconut canals: sit in a small boat paddled by locals, weaving through narrow canals shaded by water coconut palms. This is the most-photographed moment of the trip.

• Don Ca Tai Tu music: a performing art recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, typically performed right in the garden.

• Tropical fruits and honey tea: enjoy seasonal fruits such as rambutan, longan, and mango, and sip honey tea at a bee farm.

• Ben Tre coconut candy workshop: watch handmade coconut candy being made and buy some as souvenirs.

• Horse-drawn cart on village roads: some tours include a horse-drawn cart ride through the countryside.

Orchard fruits served to visitors on Thoi Son Islet. Photo: Jean Weber (INRA DIST) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Reference Tour Prices

Group day tours from Ho Chi Minh City are typically priced at a few hundred thousand Vietnamese dong per person, depending on the lunch package and services included. If you travel independently, you can purchase boat tickets at the My Tho tourist pier; be sure to clarify the route, duration, and what is included in the price.

Best Time to Visit

• Dry season (approximately December to April): little rain and convenient travel conditions.

• Fruit season (approximately May to August): orchards are laden with fruit, though afternoon showers are possible.

Boats on the Tien River passing through My Tho. Photo: Yuqiao / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.

Handy Tips

• Wear a life jacket when on the boat and sampan, especially for young children.

• Bring a hat, conical hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent.

• Hold your belongings securely when stepping from the boat to the sampan.

• For a more leisurely trip, continue on to Can Tho, stay overnight, and wake up early to visit Cai Rang Floating Market.

Which Province Do My Tho and Ben Tre Now Belong To?

Following the administrative reorganization in 2025, My Tho (formerly part of Tien Giang) now belongs to Dong Thap Province, while Ben Tre now belongs to Vinh Long Province.

Tour prices and itineraries vary by operator and are subject to change. Please verify at the time of booking.

Photo Credits

Featured image: "Ho Chi Minh (Mékong vers l'ile de Thoi Son)-15-cliche Jean Weber" – Jean Weber (INRA DIST) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Photos within the article are credited directly below each image.