Tourists Thrilled to Explore the Mekong Delta with Cycling, Fishing, and Rowing

January

Tourists Thrilled to Explore the Mekong Delta with Cycling, Fishing, and Rowing

Leaving the bustling city behind, many families and groups of young friends head to the countryside in the Mekong Delta to experience eco-tourism in lush orchard gardens during the early days of spring.

Exploring Orchard Ecotourism in the Mekong Delta

The extended Tet 2025 holiday provides a perfect opportunity for families from Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and neighboring areas to visit the Mekong Delta. This region offers a refreshing spring getaway with unique and exciting activities.

In recent years, orchard-based ecotourism has been thriving in the Mekong Delta. During the holiday season, many orchards and homestays welcome hundreds, even thousands, of visitors eager to explore and enjoy the local offerings.

Local homestay owners and young travel enthusiasts have collaborated with orchard farmers and boat operators to create innovative tours. These experiences often involve activities “from the land to the river and the fields,” attracting a significant number of travelers.

Before embarking on these adventures, tourists often research on social media or rely on recommendations from friends. Travelers can either join pre-arranged tours or plan their itineraries, with costs ranging from 3 to 5 million VND per person for a 3-day, 2-night trip.

During Tet, visitors to orchard ecotourism sites in the Mekong Delta can marvel at the natural scenery, including vibrant golden apricot blossoms lining picturesque rural roads, making the experience truly unforgettable.

Tourists also have the chance to enjoy the scenic views of rice fields, fish ponds, rowing boats along canals, fishing, cycling through the rural villages of the Mekong Delta, and visiting coconut orchards, honey bee farms, traditional rice wine production sites, and cocoa gardens.

Additionally, visitors can indulge in fresh, delicious local fruits like coconut, pomelo, and jackfruit, while enjoying traditional dishes such as river prawns, grilled pineapple, lemongrass chicken hot pot, sour fish soup, roasted chicken, Linh fish with wild lotus, and banh canh bot xat (noodle soup).

Mr. Chin Cuong, a farmer who raises bees and grows cocoa for eco-tourism in Giong Trom District, Ben Tre Province, shared that he used to grow 5,000 cocoa trees to sell the fruit to traders. However, due to unstable market demand, he gradually cut down most of the trees and now has only 500 left.

In the past three years, Mr. Cuong shifted his focus to combine cocoa farming with tourism, collaborating with Quach Duy Thinh, a local young entrepreneur. This change has increased the value of his cocoa, providing his family with a more stable income.

“During the holiday season, when tourists from the city visit, most of the cocoa in the garden is harvested to serve visitors. As a result, my family’s income has become more stable,” Mr. Cuong explained.

Quach Duy Thinh, one of the successful young individuals with a homestay combining eco-tourism and rural experiences, revealed that in the past three years, he has started offering a combination of accommodation, meals, and tours for visitors.

Thanks to social media, websites, and word-of-mouth recommendations from previous customers, Thinh has been able to build a stable customer base, especially during the holidays. “After losing my job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I returned home to open a homestay and pursue eco-tourism,” Thinh shared.

“To give visitors an authentic river life experience at my homestay, I’ve collaborated with many local orchards. This tourism model has become quite popular with young groups, city families, and foreign tourists, and as a result, the number of visitors keeps growing and the atmosphere gets livelier,” said Thinh.

According to Thinh, visitors to the area enjoy local cuisine that truly reflects the rural flavors. They are also guided by tour guides to ride bikes and explore the village surroundings.

Nguyen Thi Minh Chau, from Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai, who came to the Mekong Delta for a river tourism experience, expressed her excitement about the unique experiences. Chau shared that she learned about this tourism model through a friend’s recommendation and decided to take her family there for the first time during the early days of spring.

“My whole family is excited because everything is new. After busy days in the city, it’s refreshing to be surrounded by nature and enjoy the fresh air. We’re all so happy,” Chau said with a bright smile.