Best Day Trips from Ho Chi Minh City: Cu Chi & Mekong Delta

I landed in Ho Chi Minh City with two must-do day trips on my list: the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta. The problem was that every tour operator in District 1 sells a combined version that crams both into one day. I tried it, regretted it, and then went back to do each properly. Here’s what I learned so you don’t waste your time or money.

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

Technically yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Most agencies on Pham Ngu Lao Street push a “Cu Chi + Mekong” combo for around $25–$35. You get picked up at 7 AM, spend two hours at the tunnels, eat a rushed lunch in My Tho, take a 30-minute boat ride, and are back in the city by 6 PM. The problem is that both places deserve a half-day minimum. By combining them, you spend more time on the bus than actually seeing anything.

Morning-only trips to Cu Chi leave around 7:30 AM and return by 1 PM.
Full-day Mekong tours from Ho Chi Minh City usually run 7 AM to 5 PM.
Private car hire from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi costs about $50 round trip and saves you two hours of group pickup stops.
Luxury group tours to the Mekong Delta (e.g., with Saigon River Tours) often include lunch at a local home in Ben Tre rather than a tourist canteen in My Tho.

If you only have one free day, pick one and do it well. If you have two days, do Cu Chi on a half-day morning, then spend a full day in the Delta.

What’s the best way to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels?

Go early. I joined a group tour with The Sinh Tourist on De Tham Street, and we left at 7:30 AM sharp. By 9 AM we were at the Ben Dinh tunnel site — the more touristy of the two entrances, but also the one with the best demonstrations. You get to watch a guide show how trapdoors and booby traps worked, and you can actually crawl through a 100-meter section of tunnel. It’s narrow, dark, and hot. I’m 5’10” and I had to crab-walk. Claustrophobic? Skip the crawl.

Ben Dinh is closer to Ho Chi Minh City (about 60 km) and has more English-speaking guides.
Ben Duoc is farther (70 km) but less crowded and feels more authentic.
Bring repellent with DEET — the mosquitoes at Ben Dinh are aggressive.
The shooting range lets you fire an AK-47 for 10 rounds at about $2 per bullet. It’s loud, and the ear protection they give you is flimsy. I’d skip it.

I preferred Ben Duoc on my second visit. Fewer selfie sticks, more actual tunnel sections you can walk through, and a quieter vibe overall.

Which Mekong Delta tour should you choose?

The standard tour goes to My Tho and Ben Tre — that’s the closest part of the Delta to Ho Chi Minh City, about 1.5 hours by bus. You get a boat ride down the Tien River, a stop at a coconut candy workshop, a sampan ride through narrow canals, and lunch with elephant-ear fish. It’s fine, but it’s also the most packaged version.

My Tho tours are the shortest (8 hours total) and cheapest ($15–$25).
Ben Tre tours add a cycling leg on rural paths — I did this with Mekong Rustic and liked it more than the My Tho version.
Can Tho is 4 hours from Ho Chi Minh City — doable as a day trip but better as an overnight. The Cai Rang Floating Market starts at 5 AM.
Private boat tours from Ben Tre (book through Ben Tre Homestay) let you skip the souvenir stops.

I did a group tour to My Tho first and felt like I was on a conveyor belt. The second time, I hired a private guide through Saigon Boat Tours for $80 per person. We spent two hours paddling through Coconut Island canals with zero other tourists. That was worth the upgrade.

How do you get between these destinations without a tour?

If you want to go independent, it’s doable but takes planning. For Cu Chi, take bus 13 from Ben Thanh Market to Cu Chi Bus Station, then a local taxi to the tunnel entrance. Total cost: under $5. The bus takes about 90 minutes. For the Mekong Delta, catch a bus from Mien Tay Bus Station to My Tho (1.5 hours, $3). From My Tho, you can hire a boat driver at the pier for about $20 for a two-hour tour.

Bus 13 runs every 20 minutes from 5 AM to 6 PM.
Phuong Trang (Futa Bus) has air-conditioned coaches from Mien Tay to My Tho every hour.
Grab from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi costs about $30 one way.
Renting a motorbike in District 1 and riding to Cu Chi takes 1.5 hours — I did it on a Honda Blade, but traffic on National Highway 22 is chaotic.

What should you eat on these day trips?

Lunch is usually included in group tours, but the quality varies wildly. On my My Tho tour, the included meal was at a restaurant on Unicorn Island — fried rice, spring rolls, and lukewarm fish. Edible but forgettable. On the Ben Tre tour with Mekong Rustic, we ate at a local house in An Hoa Village: fresh spring rolls, caramelized pork in clay pot, and a whole fried snakehead fish. That meal alone made the upgrade worth it.

Coconut candy is made fresh at Ben Tre Coconut Candy Workshop — free samples, and it’s actually good.
Honey tea at the bee farm stops is heavily sugared, but the royal jelly is legit.
Elephant-ear fish is a Delta specialty — wrap it in rice paper with herbs and dip it in fermented fish sauce.
Skip the fruit platter at the tourist orchards — it’s pre-cut and often not ripe.

When is the best time for these day trips?

Dry season (November to April) is ideal. The tunnels won’t flood, and the Delta canals will be navigable. I went in late February and had clear skies both days. Wet season (May to October) means afternoon downpours that turn the tunnel paths into mud and make the Delta boat rides less pleasant. If you go in wet season, book a morning-only tour.

December to February is peak season — book tours at least two days ahead.
March and April are hot (35°C) but dry — bring a hat and electrolytes.
June to August has the heaviest rain, but also fewer crowds and lower tour prices.

FAQ

Is the Cu Chi Tunnels tour worth it if I’m claustrophobic? Yes, because you don’t have to crawl through the tunnels. The site has widened sections that are well-lit and ventilated, and you can just walk the above-ground trails. The booby trap exhibits and the underground kitchen are visible without squeezing into tight spaces. I’d still go — the historical context is compelling — but skip the tunnel crawl.

Can I visit the Mekong Delta without a guide? Absolutely. Take a bus to My Tho, walk to the ferry terminal, and negotiate a boat ride directly with a local driver. Expect to pay about 400,000 VND ($16) for a one-hour tour of the islands. The downside is no English explanation, and some boat drivers will try to drop you at commission-paying shops. I preferred having a guide for the cultural context.

Should I book tours online or in person in Ho Chi Minh City? In person, at least a day ahead. The tour shops on Bui Vien Walking Street in District 1 offer the same tours as online platforms but for 20–30% less. I booked my Cu Chi tour at Sinh Tourist for $12 — the same tour was listed online for $18. Just check that the itinerary includes English-speaking guides and lunch.

Conclusion

Do Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta on separate days if you can — the combined tour is rushed and unsatisfying.
For Cu Chi, choose Ben Duoc over Ben Dinh if you want fewer crowds and a more authentic experience.
For the Mekong Delta, skip the My Tho conveyor belt and pay extra for a Ben Tre private tour with a local meal.
Book tours in person on Bui Vien Street to save money, and always confirm the lunch stop is a local home, not a tourist buffet.
Dry season (November to April) is the best window — you’ll avoid rain and muddy tunnel paths.