Joanna James
The Mekong Delta is a wonderful place to explore. While it doesn't garner as much attention as other parts of Indochina do in terms of tourism, there is so much more to this region than meets the eye. You must actually visit to fall in love with this dynamic landscape and here are our tips.
The Mekong Delta is pleasant and tropical with a monsoon climate which means that it is sunny for most of the year. The dry season begins in November and goes on until April and the rainy season goes from May to October. As the heaviest rains come around May to October so, in order to be on the safe side, it is better to visit during the dry season as the region is prone to flooding.
However, if you don't mind getting a little damp, the best time to visit the delta on a Mekong cruise would be April, May and June when the rainy season is just beginning. There are many festivals celebrated around the delta including New Year and the Opening Crop Festival. If you are interested in visiting the delta in time for the fruit season April to May is a perfect time.
In short, the best time to visit the Mekong Delta is around late spring to early summer.
It is very easy to get to the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City. You can travel by road as there are tourist and local buses which make the journey. From Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre which is one of the nearest towns it would take about 4 hours on a bus and costs about 69,000 Vietnamese dollars. You can also book a tour while in Ho Chi Minh city with the likes of Mekong Kingdoms and have all your transport options taken care of.
Taking a cruise from Cambodia to the Mekong Delta is also a very picturesque way to explore the region and is often favoured over travelling by road by tourists. It is an experience you must have at least once. You will have to keep in mind that you must get a visa at the border before you cross from Cambodia to Vietnam. The whole journey would take up to about 10 hours.
The Mekong Delta is home to a thriving culture scene which is apparent by the floating markets. These are usually very crowded and popping with colour and noise. You will get plenty of opportunities to photograph the boats and their peddlers donning the iconic wide-brimmed hats.
When you are visiting the Mekong Delta definitely try the fresh local fruits such as tangerines, durian, mangoes and apples among others. You should also try anything with coconut in them as they are all delicious, particularly the steamed coconut rice. If you are feeling adventurous try the Vietnamese snake dishes. Tastes like chicken!
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
