3 Day Saigon Chau Doc Easy Tour

Discover the quieter side of southern Vietnam on our 3 Day Saigon Chau Doc Easy Tour. Ride through rice fields, fruit orchards, river villages and Khmer communities, with time to explore local markets, temples and waterways along the way. This is a relaxed journey into the heart of the Mekong Delta, finishing in Chau Doc near the Cambodian border…

Tour Overview

Start: Saigon

Finish: Chau Doc

Duration: 3 days / 2 nights

Daily Riding Time: 4–6 hours

Group Size: Small groups of 1–4 participants

Tour Type: Motorbike adventure / cultural experience

Ride Options: Self-ride, Easy Rider with a local driver, or private car

Road Conditions: Mainly scenic backroads through villages, farmland and the Mekong Delta countryside

Accommodation: Comfortable hotels and selected local accommodation

Food & Drink: Local Vietnamese cuisine and regional Mekong Delta specialties

Best Travel Season: January to October

Main Destinations: Saigon – My Tho – Ben Tre – Tra Vinh – Soc Trang – Can Tho – Long Xuyen – Chau Doc

Tour Highlights

• Ride from Saigon deep into the Mekong Delta
• Travel through rice fields, coconut groves and fruit-growing areas
• Experience the waterways and rural life around My Tho
• Explore local villages and traditional cottage industries
• Discover the Khmer cultural heritage of Tra Vinh and Soc Trang
• Visit historic Khmer pagodas and peaceful rural temples
• Experience the famous Cai Rang Floating Market
• Ride quiet backroads through the Mekong countryside
• Meet local people and see everyday river life
• Explore the multicultural communities of Chau Doc
• Discover the Cham, Khmer and Vietnamese heritage of the border region

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Saigon – My Tho – Ben Tre – Tra Vinh

Approx. 150 km | 4–6 hours riding

Your Saigon to Chau Doc Tour begins in the morning as we leave the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City and head south towards the Mekong Delta.

The change is gradual but noticeable. The dense urban landscape gives way to smaller roads, rice paddies, coconut palms, canals and villages. Motorcycles, bicycles, small boats and agricultural vehicles become part of everyday life as we move deeper into the delta.

This is one of the great advantages of travelling by motorcycle. Rather than simply passing through the region on a major highway, you can take quieter roads and stop whenever there is something interesting to see.

Our first major destination is My Tho, the capital of Tien Giang Province and one of the main gateways to the Mekong Delta.

The city sits along the Tien River, one of the major branches of the Mekong system. Here, we take time to experience the river environment and learn how waterways continue to shape local life.

A boat trip takes us into the smaller channels and waterways around the delta. The scenery changes from broad rivers to narrow canals surrounded by coconut palms, gardens and traditional houses.

We may visit a local family workshop where traditional products such as coconut candy or rice-based foods are prepared. These small-scale cottage industries have long been part of life in the Mekong Delta and provide an opportunity to see how local families make a living from the resources around them.

The region is also famous for its tropical fruit.

Depending on the season, you may see mangoes, jackfruit, coconuts, pomelos, rambutans and other locally grown produce. A stop at a family orchard allows you to sample fresh fruit and learn more about farming in this incredibly fertile region.

After lunch, we continue through the countryside towards Ben Tre and Tra Vinh.

The roads become increasingly peaceful as we move away from the larger towns. Coconut plantations, rice fields and small canals dominate the landscape, while farmers work their fields and local boats carry goods along the waterways.

Tra Vinh is particularly interesting because of its strong Khmer cultural heritage.

The province is home to a large Khmer community, and its countryside is dotted with distinctive Buddhist pagodas surrounded by gardens and mature trees.

We take time to explore the local area and, where appropriate, visit a Khmer pagoda to learn about the traditions and religious practices of the community.

By late afternoon, we reach our overnight destination and check into our accommodation.

After the day’s ride, there is time to relax, enjoy a local dinner and experience the slower pace of life in the Mekong Delta.

Overnight: Tra Vinh
Distance: Approximately 150 km
Riding time: Around 4–6 hours, excluding sightseeing and boat trips

Day 2: Tra Vinh – Soc Trang – Can Tho

Approx. 150 km | 4–6 hours riding

After breakfast, we continue our Mekong Delta Motorbike Tour through the southern delta.

The morning ride takes us through quiet rural roads surrounded by rice fields, coconut plantations and small communities.

One of the most interesting aspects of this part of Vietnam is the mixture of cultures found within a relatively small area. Vietnamese, Khmer and Chinese influences have shaped the region’s architecture, food, religion and traditions over many generations.

We continue towards Soc Trang, an important centre of Khmer culture in southern Vietnam.

The province is known for its distinctive Khmer Buddhist temples, colourful festivals and a cultural landscape that differs noticeably from the areas around Ho Chi Minh City and the upper Mekong Delta.

We visit Bat Pagoda, also known as Mahatup Temple, a peaceful Khmer Buddhist temple set among large trees. The temple is particularly well known for the fruit bats that traditionally inhabit the surrounding trees.

The atmosphere here is very different from the busy tourist attractions found elsewhere in Vietnam. The grounds provide a quiet place to appreciate the architecture and learn about the religious traditions of the local Khmer community.

We then continue to another important cultural site, Clay Pagoda, known for its unusual handmade sculptures and distinctive interior.

Your guide will explain the background of these places and how Buddhism has influenced the cultural identity of the Khmer people in the Mekong Delta.

After lunch, we get back on the motorcycles and continue towards Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta.

The ride remains largely rural, with narrow roads passing through fields, villages and waterways. Along the way, you will see a side of the delta that is rarely experienced from a standard coach tour.

There are frequent opportunities to stop for photographs, local coffee or a short conversation with residents.

As we approach Can Tho, the countryside gradually becomes busier and the waterways more active.

Can Tho has long been an important commercial centre because of its location on the Hau River. Today it combines a lively urban environment with the traditional river culture of the surrounding delta.

We arrive in Can Tho in the late afternoon and check into our hotel.

The evening is free to explore the city, walk along the riverside or enjoy dinner featuring local Mekong Delta dishes.

Overnight: Can Tho
Distance: Approximately 150 km
Riding time: Around 4–6 hours, excluding sightseeing stops

Day 3: Can Tho – Cai Rang – Long Xuyen – Chau Doc

Approx. 150 km | 4–6 hours riding

The final day begins early with one of the most memorable experiences of the journey: a visit to Cai Rang Floating Market.

The market is at its busiest in the early morning, when boats carrying fruit, vegetables and other goods gather on the river.

Instead of stalls lining a street, traders conduct business directly from their boats. Larger boats often display their produce from tall poles so buyers can see what is available.

A boat trip through the market gives you the chance to observe this traditional form of river commerce at close range.

After exploring Cai Rang, we return to the road and continue west towards Long Xuyen.

The scenery once again becomes predominantly rural. Rice paddies stretch across the flat landscape, canals run between villages and farmers work the fertile delta soil.

This is the part of the journey where travelling by motorcycle really comes into its own.

The route allows us to use smaller roads and explore areas away from the main tourist circuit. We can make short stops at local markets, roadside cafés and viewpoints whenever something catches our attention.

As we approach An Giang Province, the character of the countryside begins to change.

The area around Long Xuyen and Chau Doc has a particularly diverse population, including Vietnamese, Khmer and Cham communities. The proximity to Cambodia has also influenced the region’s culture, trade and religious traditions.

Continuing towards Chau Doc, we pass through rural communities where Khmer Buddhist temples and traditional houses appear alongside Vietnamese villages.

Chau Doc is one of the most culturally diverse towns in southern Vietnam. Its location near the Cambodian border has made it an important centre for trade and cultural exchange for generations.

Depending on the itinerary and available time, we can explore parts of the town and visit sites connected with the local Cham Muslim community and Khmer Buddhist tradition.

The contrast between the different communities is fascinating. Mosques, Buddhist pagodas and Vietnamese places of worship can all be found within the wider Chau Doc area, reflecting the multicultural character of the region.

By afternoon, we arrive in Chau Doc.

This marks the end of our three-day journey from Saigon through the Mekong Delta.

After experiencing river markets, rural villages, Khmer heritage, tropical agriculture and the everyday life of the delta, you will have seen a very different side of southern Vietnam.

End of Tour: Chau Doc

From Chau Doc, you can continue your journey through the Mekong Delta, travel onward towards the Cambodian border, or arrange onward transport to Ho Chi Minh City.

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,, and yes I got wet,, lol,, but ive still got a smile on my face after the trip,, great country, great people, great trip, many great memories,, oh yes, & a great guide,, Thanks Mr Nam

(Andy. Liverpool, United Kingdom)