Leave the busy streets of Saigon behind and discover the quieter side of southern Vietnam on our 2 Day Mekong Easy Ride. The journey follows small country roads through rice fields, fruit orchards and riverside villages, with boat trips, floating markets, local food and a night in a Mekong Delta homestay. It is a relaxed way to experience the Delta beyond the main tourist routes…
Tour Overview
Start: Saigon
Finish: Saigon
Duration: 2 days / 1 night
Distance: Approximately 300 km
Daily Travel Time: 4–6 hours
Group Size: 1–4 guests
Tour Type: Countryside, cultural and river adventure
Travel Options: Self-drive, Easy Rider or private car
Road Conditions: Mainly quiet backroads, village roads and riverside routes
Accommodation: Local Mekong Delta homestay
Main Destinations: Saigon, Tan An, My Tho and Ben Tre
Best Travel Season: January to October
Tour Highlights
- Leave Saigon by quiet backroads
- Ride through rice fields, lotus ponds and rural villages
- Explore the Mekong River by boat
- Visit Thoi Son Island
- Taste tropical fruits and local specialities
- Traditional bamboo sampan ride
- Visit a local bee farm and coconut candy workshop
- Stay overnight with a local Mekong Delta family
- Optional early-morning floating market boat trip
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Discover local craft traditions
- Experience Mekong Delta cuisine
- Travel through water coconut groves and canal-side villages
2 Day Mekong Easy Ride – VIETNAMRIDER
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Saigon – My Tho – Ben Tre
Distance: Approximately 150 km
Start: 7:30 AM
Overnight: Ben Tre
We leave Saigon at around 7:30 AM, after a short briefing and safety check, and head south towards the Mekong Delta.
Rather than taking the quickest route out of the city, we use quieter roads where possible. Within a short time, the dense urban landscape begins to disappear and the countryside opens up.
Our first stop is around Tan An, where we take a coffee break at approximately 8:30 AM.
From here, the road continues through the agricultural landscape of southern Vietnam. Rice paddies, lotus ponds, fruit gardens and small villages line the route, while narrow canals provide a constant reminder that water shapes almost every aspect of life in the Mekong Delta.
The pace is relaxed, allowing time to stop for photographs and observe everyday rural life.
By around 11:00 AM, we reach My Tho, one of the main gateways to the Mekong Delta.
Here, we leave the road and continue by boat.
The Mekong is not simply a river in this region. It is part of the transport network, food supply and daily life of the communities living along its banks. Travelling by boat allows us to see the Delta from a completely different perspective.
We cruise through the waterways around My Tho and visit Thoi Son Island.
On the island, there is time to sample seasonal tropical fruit and experience local folk music. The atmosphere is considerably slower than the streets of Saigon, with gardens, waterways and small family businesses replacing the city’s traffic and buildings.
Around midday, we stop for lunch beside the river.
The meal focuses on local Delta cuisine, with dishes such as fried elephant ear fish, clay-pot caramelised pork, fresh vegetables and tropical fruit.
After lunch, we continue deeper into the waterways.
One of the highlights is a ride in a traditional bamboo sampan, travelling along narrow canals shaded by water coconut palms.
The small boats move quietly through the canals, passing gardens, wooden bridges and riverside homes. It is a much more intimate experience than travelling along the main Mekong River and gives you a better sense of how the smaller waterways connect the villages.
We then visit a local bee farm, where you can learn about honey production and sample honey tea.
Nearby, we stop at a coconut candy workshop to see how a popular Mekong Delta product is made. Coconut production is an important part of the local economy in Ben Tre, and these small family workshops are closely connected to the agricultural landscape around them.
By around 4:00 PM, we leave the main tourist areas and ride further into the countryside of Ben Tre.
The roads become narrower and quieter as we travel through coconut groves, canals and village communities.
Our accommodation tonight is a local homestay.
Rather than returning to a city hotel, we spend the evening in the countryside and experience a more personal side of Delta life.
After checking in, there is time to relax before dinner.
The evening meal is home-cooked and gives you the opportunity to sit down with your hosts and learn more about life in the Mekong Delta.
There is no need to rush. After a full day of riding, boating and exploring, the quiet surroundings of the homestay provide a completely different atmosphere from Saigon.
Overnight in Ben Tre.
Day 2: Ben Tre – Vinh Trang Pagoda – My Tho – Saigon
Distance: Approximately 150 km
Start: Around 8:00 AM
Finish: Saigon around 4:30 PM
The second morning begins with breakfast at the homestay.
Expect a simple local breakfast such as bánh mì, fresh tropical fruit and Vietnamese coffee, followed by some time to say goodbye to your hosts.
For early risers, there is an optional morning boat trip from approximately 6:30 to 7:30 AM.
This gives you another chance to experience the Delta from the water while the countryside is beginning its day. Depending on local conditions, the boat trip can include a visit to a nearby floating market or local trading area.
After breakfast, we get back on the road and continue through the Ben Tre countryside.
The morning route follows quiet roads through water coconut groves, rice fields, orchards and traditional villages.
There are few major attractions along this section, and that is part of the experience. Instead, the journey focuses on the landscape and the everyday life of the communities along the canals.
Small bridges cross the waterways, local shops sit beside the road and agricultural produce is moved between villages.
We eventually make our way back towards My Tho for a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda.
The pagoda is one of the most interesting Buddhist sites in the Mekong Delta and combines several architectural influences, including Vietnamese, Chinese, Khmer and European elements.
Inside the grounds, you can explore the gardens and see the large Buddha statues before continuing to the next part of the journey.
We also have the opportunity to visit a local craft village and see traditional products being made by local artisans.
This provides another perspective on the Delta economy, where agriculture, small-scale production and family businesses remain closely connected.
Around midday, we stop for lunch in My Tho.
The menu features regional dishes and fresh local ingredients, giving you another opportunity to sample the flavours of the Mekong Delta before the final ride back to Saigon.
After lunch, we leave My Tho and begin the return journey.
Rather than immediately joining the busiest roads, we continue through quieter backroads and across small canal bridges where possible.
The landscape gradually changes as we approach Saigon. Rural houses and agricultural land become more frequent, then the traffic begins to increase and the urban environment slowly returns.
Around 2:45 PM, we stop near Tan An for a final coffee break before continuing towards Saigon.
We arrive back at your hotel at approximately 4:30 PM.
The two-day journey ends where it began, but the experience is very different from simply taking a transfer from Saigon to the Delta.
Over the two days, you have travelled through rice-growing country, explored the Mekong by boat and sampan, visited local workshops and temples, shared a meal with a homestay family and travelled through the smaller roads and villages that make the Delta what it is.
End of the tour in Saigon.
2 Day Mekong Easy Ride – VIETNAMRIDER
Testimonials
“Just finished a 21 day tour of Vietnam, Saigon – Hanoi, 3500km trip, taking in most of Vietnam, and many places the tourist doesn’t go, the real Vietnam, with Mr Nam as my guide. A highly recommended trip, on a Honda XR 250… great country, great people, great trip, many great memories… and a great guide.”
Andy – Liverpool, United Kingdom
Tour Pricing
1. Self-Ride
- Honda 125cc Semi-Automatic Bikes: From USD 140 per rider, based on 4 riders
- Honda 125–150cc Dual-Sport Bikes: From USD 168 per rider, based on 4 riders
2. Ride with Our Easy Riders
No riding experience? No problem.
Travel as a passenger with one of our professional local Easy Riders. Sit back, enjoy the countryside and waterways, and let your rider handle the motorcycle and navigation.
Contact us for pricing.
3. For Families or Non-Riders
Prefer the comfort of a car?
The same journey can be arranged by private car and driver, making this option suitable for couples, families and guests who prefer not to ride.
4. Large Group Bookings
We welcome corporate teams, student groups and private groups. Custom itineraries and group quotations are available on request.
What’s Included
- Professional English-speaking tour guide
- Well-maintained Japanese motorbikes for self-drive tours
- Professional Easy Rider when selected
- Private car and driver when selected
- Helmets and raincoats for motorbike tours
- Entrance tickets to listed tourist attractions
- Accommodation: 1 night
- Boat trips included in the itinerary
What’s Not Included
- Personal food and drinks
- Personal surcharges and tips
- Motorcycle fuel for self-drive tours
- Personal and motorcycle insurance
- Damage to motorcycle or additional equipment
- Optional services such as mechanics or luggage vans
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