Vietnam may be a relatively small country, but it’s definitely not a boring one. The Cu Chi Tunnels are a vast network of tunnels stretching nearly 80 miles which served as underground shelter and hiding for Viet Cong soldiers.

Today, they’re visited by countless tourists from around the world who are intrigued by its history and extensiveness. If you want to make the most out of the experience, we highly recommend doing a proper tour.

We have done the work for you, so without further ado, let’s check out the top rated Cu Chi tunnels and Mekong Delta tours!

Best Mekong Delta & Cu Chi Tunnels Tours

	Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta Full-Day VIP Tour from Ho Chi Minh City	Small-Group Day Trip in Mekong Delta From Ho Chi Minh City	Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Full Day Tour From Ho Chi Minh City
Departure:	Hotel pickup and drop-off available	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Hotel pickup and drop-off available
Departure Time:	7:30 am	8:30 am	Variety available
Duration:	11 hours	9 hours	7:30 am
Includes:	Transfers by VIP Limousine or air-conditioned bus, beer, fruits, cool tissue, snacks & mineral water, motor boat trip, row boat trip, English speaking tour guide, lunch with Vietnamese cuisine	Air-conditional minivan transfer, small-group tour, English-speaking guide, all boat trips (motorboat & hand-rowed boat), lunch (5-course set menu), drinks (2 bottles of 500ml/person) , snacks	Transport by air-conditioned minivan or A/C bus, English-speaking guide, boat trips, rowing boat, lunch and fruit, mineral water, traditional music performance, sightseeing tickets, travel insurance
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta Tours For 2024

1. Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta Full-Day VIP Tour from Ho Chi Minh City
2. Small-Group Day Trip in Mekong Delta
3. Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Full Day Tour
4. Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta One Day – Private Tour
5. The History of Cu Chi Tunnels by Luxury Speedboat

Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta Tour Reviews

1. Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta Full-Day VIP Tour from Ho Chi Minh City

This next tour lets you go either as bare-bones or as luxurious as you want to make it. Choose between either bus or VIP limousine transportation, depending on the style of traveling you prefer. The Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta Full-Day VIP Tour from Ho Chi Minh City is always a blast thanks to the customization options and flexibility from the guides.

They sure pack a lot of fun into these 11 hours, visiting 2 of the biggest attractions in southern Vietnam. The tour starts off with them picking you up at your hotel in district 1, 3, or 4. Otherwise you’ll have to meet them in District 1 by 7:45 am. Your vehicle for the day will either be an air-conditioned bus or a VIP car.

The VIP car is extremely luxurious, with heavily-padded reclining leather seats, lots of leg room, and large windows. You’ll also be served beer, fruit, cool tissue, snacks, and mineral water along the way when you choose this option.

Head straight to the Cu Chi tunnels, where you’ll head inside their depths and learn all about the Vietnamese resistance in the war.

While these tunnels are very extensive, you’ll be able to head short distances through the tunnels. Afterward, learn about different types of booby traps, which were very significant in their guerrilla warfare style.

You’ll then head to Mekong Delta, stopping along the way at a local Vietnamese restaurant to try some traditional dishes and regain some energy. Once you arrive to Mekong Delta, you’ll board a small row boat, paddling through narrow canals under coconut tree rows.

Arrive at the coconut island, where you’ll try some tropical fruits, try honey tea and wine, learn how coconut candies are made, and enjoy some live fold music from the area.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

2. Small-Group Day Trip in Mekong Delta From Ho Chi Minh City

We have to start things with one of the most majestic, well-rated tours in the country. The Small-Group Day Trip in Mekong Delta – My Tho & Ben Tre tour is a full-day adventure that will take you through breathtaking natural landscapes, villages, temples, and more.

If you want to immerse yourself quickly into Vietnamese culture, this is a great way to do so! If your hotel is located in District 1, you’ll be able to be picked up between 8:30 to 9:00 at your hotel. The air-conditioned vehicle is comfortable and offers enough space for everyone.

The guides make sure to stop routinely for drinks, snacks, and any bathroom breaks to make for a pleasant journey.

Arrive at My Tho, where you’ll cruise along the river by motorboat. Stop to see a floating fish farm, where you’ll learn all about the village and stilt houses. Next, partake in a workshop at a coconut candy factory and enjoy your creations! Learn about the traditional folk music of the area before heading by Tuk Tuk through the village.

Kick your feet up and relax at a gorgeous riverside restaurant and enjoy dishes made with fresh catches of the day. This lunch consists of a Vietnamese 5-course set menu, which is always a win with everyone.

After refueling, you’ll hop on the motorboat again and then drive over to Vinh Trang pagoda, which is a stunning Buddhist temple standing on a whopping 2-hectacre block filled with fruit trees.

The enormous exterior is certainly impressive, though the precisely-carved statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva are equally as magnificent.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Full Day Tour From Ho Chi Minh City

Next up is another highly-rated tour, revered for its variety of adventures and professional guides. The Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Full Day Tour will take you on an excursion full of learning and seeing some of the most beautiful and interesting places on planet Earth.

This informative tour is laid out perfectly, with obvious organization on behalf of the guides to make it all possible. You can choose to travel either in an air-conditioned minivan or tourist bus, depending on your preferences.

Along the way, enjoy spacious and comfortable seats and great sightseeing from the large windows. You’ll be picked up from your accommodations around 7:30 am, so you can have the whole time for excitement and fun.

Once you arrive to the Cu Chi Tunnels, you’ll watch a 3D movie about the massive US ground operation in the Vietnam War and how they were used by the Viet Cong. Then, you’ll get to see them for yourself, using a small hiding entrance in the tunnels.

Learn how they moved around in this maze with tons of trap doors, storage spots, weapon factories, and much more. Surrounded by forests, you’ll be able to check out the local flora and fauna and even try shooting an M16 rifle at the shooting range.

By this time, you’re probably ready to get some food, so enjoy head over to a local restaurant. Here, you’ll enjoy a meal consisting of popular dishes during the Vietnam War – particularly the cassava.

After getting some calories in, you’ll row in a sampan through a complex network of canals surrounded by communities. Here, you’ll get to try many exotic fruits and check out a coconut-processing workshop and honey farm where you can learn how to make candies and other treats while listening to a live local music performance.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta One Day – Private Tour

While there are many great tours out there, the vast majority involve large groups and crowded transportation. Perhaps you want a more personalized experience, where it feels like the guide is taking just you and your specific group along for the ride.

If that sounds like fun to you, then check out the Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta One Day – Private Tour. Just like with the other tours, you’ll be picked up at your accommodations around 7:30 am.

The type of vehicle you travel in will depend on how many people are in your group, but all vehicles are air-conditioned and comfortable. The guides are very friendly, local to the area, and speak English so you can ask them any questions you may have.

You and your group will head straight to the Cu Chi tunnels, where you’ll watch a documentary about the tunnels, how they were made, and how they were used throughout the years. After that, it’s time to check them out for yourself!

There are all kinds of hidden features in the tunnels, such as bamboo traps to explore. After you have plenty of time crawling around underground, you’ll head into the vehicle again and drive to My Tho.

This province is absolutely beautiful and is where the Mekong Delta area sits. Consisting of all kinds of rivers, swamps, islands, and even floating markets, it’s unique yet alluring.

Hop on a boat and cruise around upper Mekong with 4 of the most famous islands. Here, you’ll be able to observe some fine examples of daily life in this region, and see how important the river is to these communities.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. The History of Cu Chi Tunnels by Luxury Speedboat From Ho Chi Minh City

Perhaps you love the idea of one of these tours, but don’t have all day to be out on one. If you’re looking for something shorter yet still covers Cu Chi tunnels, then this is just the ticket. The History of Cu Chi Tunnels by Luxury Speedboat Tour lasts 6 hours, but they make sure to pack a lot in!

As this tour is more compact, there are various start times available, so you don’t necessarily have to start off early in the morning. If you do have a packed schedule, it helps quite a bit that this one is so flexible. Once you and your group is picked up, you’ll be transferred over to a minivan to head to Tan Cang Pier.

Once you head to the pier, you’ll be given a safety briefing before hopping on board a luxury speedboat. This boat makes it easier to see more, as you’ll be heading all the way up to the Cu Chi Tunnels, which are about 43 miles from the city.

As you ride over, you’ll be served a light breakfast consisting of seasonal fruits, pastries, and bottled water.

As you zoom around, your guide will tell you all about the history of the area and why it’s so significant. Once you arrive to Cu Chi, you’ll watch a documentary about the tunnels, what they were used for, and how they were made. Then, you’ll get the chance to walk into the jungle and see them for yourself!

Crawl into the tunnels, where there are secret entrances, bunkers, and many more interesting features. After this, you’ll have the opportunity to shoot an M16 rifle at their shooting range location on-site.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Ho Chi Minh City Tour Guide

Getting There

There are some international flights going from the US to Vietnam, though just about the only direct flights are from Seattle or Los Angeles. American, United Airlines, Korean Air, Asiana, Delta, Cathay Pacific, and others all offer flights to Ho Chi Minh City.

Getting Around

Getting around Ho Chi Minh City is more or less easy, though you should definitely prepare for near-constant traffic. However, this should ease up with the new metro recently opening up many lines!

Taxis – Taxis are pretty inexpensive, overall. However, the taxi drivers are essentially a part of a mafia and taxi scams aren’t uncommon. If you want to avoid anything like this from happening, we recommend you ride only with the most reliable companies. These are VinaSun and Mai Linh, which have consistently had the reputation of honest drivers. Not only that, but you can download the app and that way you have record of where you are and know how much your ride will cost.

Moto Taxis – These are very iconic in local culture, though not very comfortable. We recommend these more if you’re really in a hurry and/or going short distances. Just make sure you settle on a fare before you hop on, and always wear your helmet. Find them with signs that say “xe ôm”.

Rideshare – There are rideshare services available, like the Singapore-based ‘Grab’. This is yet another app-based service and you can use your card or cash to pay. With a bit more accountability, many tourists feel more comfortable using Grab.

Bus – Public buses are incredibly affordable, though it can be a bit challenging understanding the route signs at first. However, at less than 50 cents for most fares, it’s definitely worth trying out – particularly if you’re going to be around Ben Thanh Market.

Airport Shuttle – The airport shuttle buses are so comfortable and affordable! Getting from the airport to the city center or District 1 probably won’t even cost you 2 bucks! Not only that, but it’s way easier and more reliable to take your luggage on here than using a taxi.

Scooters – If you feel comfortable enough, you could rent a scooter to get around. However, we don’t really recommend it in high-traffic areas as traffic really is quite lawless and they aren’t watching out for people on scooters.

Where to Stay

District 1 – This is the very heart of the city, and great if it’s your first time in the city. Here, you’ll find the famous Ben Tanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, Bui Vien Walking Street full of parties, Café Apartments, Bitexco Tower, and more. If you’re into nightlife or simply want to stay as close as possible to the action, this is it.

Luxury: InterContinental Saigon Hotel or Reverie Saigon

Mid-Range: Pullman Saigon Centre or Rex Hotel

Budget: Hotel Equatorial Ho Chi Minh City

District 2: Perhaps you’re more into the art scene or looking for luxury. If so, you’ll find both in District 2. Just 20 minutes from downtown, it’s a nicer choice if you plan on staying long-term. Here, you’ll find Landmark 81, many boutique shops, high-end cafes and restaurants, many bars, and expats.

Luxury: Villa Song Saigon

Mid-Range: Sen Boutique House or Greenwood Villa Saigon

Budget: A in Hotel Glamour

District 3: If you’re bringing the whole family along for the ride, District 3 is where you want to be. If you’re someone looking to avoid the main tourist areas while still staying close by, it’s also perfect. You have many museums, important structures, etc. here that make it very interesting. It’s also a bit more “authentically” Vietnamese, with many street food carts and delicious restaurants.

Luxury: Park Hyatt Saigon

Mid-Range: Hut Boutique Hotel

Budget: Caesar Homestay

District 5 – Chinatown: This budget-friendly district is another authentic experience where you’ll live more like a “local”. It’s relatively close to the center of the city, has interesting Chinese influences and culture, and excellent street food.

Restaurants and Eating Out

Banh Mi – This is one of the most well-known Vietnamese dishes, and is essentially a small baguette filled with cold cuts, grilled meats, cucumber slices, pickled vegetables, and more.

Here are the best banh mi spots:

1. Banh Mi Bay Ho – If you’ve seen Street Food on Netflix, you may have seen this place pop up. It doesn’t disappoint!
2. Man Mi Huynh Hoa – Again, featured on many travel food shows and is known as one of the best in the city. Just arrive early if you want to beat the long lines!
3. Banh nam – Simple, delicious, and consistent quality.

Pho – Pho is another well-known Vietnamese dish, made with clear stock, rice noodles, meat, and veggies.

1. Pho Le – This place is known as one of the best in the entire country, which is seriously saying a lot! It’s a bit sweeter than northern versions and is served with bean sprouts.
2. Pho Mien Ga Ky Dong – Also featured on Street Food on Netflix, it’s earned its fame! The large space for eating packs in a ton of people, and it’s always full.

Bun Thit Nuong – This dry noodle dish made of cold rice vermicelli noodles with a fish (nuoc cham) sauce topped with pork and veggies is always a win.

1. Bun Thit Nuong Nguyen Trung Truc – This street food stall is located in District 1, and smells absolutely delicious! It’s cheap, tasty, and perfectly balances flavor and texture.
2. Bun Thit Nuong Kieu Bao – This popular local restaurant is quick and easy, with many branches around the city.

Com Tam Suon Nuong – Meaning “broken rice”, it comes with rice topped with a grilled pork chop. It’s referred to as “broken” as it’s made of pieces of rice grains broken at some point during transport, drying, milling, etc.

1. Com Tam Tran Qui Cap – Having operated for decades now, they’ve sure been able to perfect this dish. Tender, savory, flavorful pork chops on top of a perfectly nutty bed of rice? How can you go wrong?
2. Ca Phe Do Phu – This café is one of the best in the city, in our opinion. If you’re out at night, you have to stop by. Their coffee is as tasty as their broken rice, and gives you more options than most other broken rice spots.

Nightlife and Entertainment

Ho Chi Minh City’s nightlife is quite good, with a nice selection of clubs, great music, and a huge variety of food.

Blanchy’s Lounge – This one has been around for over a decade, but has been recently renovated. Now, it’s very high-end and offers an array of both day cocktails and night cocktails. Located right in the center of the city, it’s easy to access and goes until 3 am.

Republic Club – If you want to party like there’s no tomorrow, head over to District 1 for Republic Club. Excellent local and international DJs will be setting the tone for endless dancing and fun.

Lush – This is another great option for wild nights and dancing to international DJs. It’s really popular with young locals and tourists and is one of the clubs open the latest, closing at 4 am.

Envy Club – This club is actually known as one of the best in Asia for electronic music as well as their light shows. You’ll find some of the top DJs in the world just about any night, and it’s open from 9 to 3:30 am so you’ll have plenty of time for dancing.

Observatory Nightclub – This one is located near the Saigon River, and with an open rooftop, has some of the best views in the whole city. The bar/club has one of the best sound systems and is equally as great for dancing as it is conversation while sipping on cocktails. Open until 6 am, make sure to stop for some food afterward!

Pub Crawl Saigon – Offering unlimited shots and some of the top local DJs, if you’re looking for a fun and rowdy night, it’s a lot of fun. Even if you just stay for an hour or two, it’s a place to check on your list.

Apocalypse Now – This legendary nightclub sits in District 1, offering cheap drinks, dancing, and a sophisticated environment.

Weather

Ho Chi Minh City has an overcast wet season, partly-cloudy dry season, and is typically very hot and oppressive throughout the entire year. The good thing is that the temperature doesn’t vary a whole lot, which makes it easy to plan for what to wear.

Attractions

War Remnants Museum – One of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, this museum shows the horrors related to the Vietnam War along with the Indochina War with the French.

Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre – If you’re bringing along young children (or simply enjoy this kind of entertainment), you have to stop and experience this! Lasting 50 minutes, the shows offer insight into Vietnamese culture, with musicians playing traditional instruments like bamboo flutes and 2-stringed violins.

Thiên Hau Temple – Located in Chinatown, this is one of the oldest Chinese temples in the city. It’s visited by locals and tourists, alike, and will transport you back in time. Clouds of incense roll through the temple, with wrought-iron gates, statues of the Lady of the Sea (Thiên Hau), porcelain dioramas, and much more.

Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon – This beautiful piece of Neo-Roman architecture rise over 60 meters high, with iron spires to top each tower off. Built in the late 1800s, it was made for a place for the colonial French to worship and display their power. Make sure to check out the French colonial-style post office across the street designed by Gustave Eiffel who you may know as the architect of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Saigon Opera House – This beautiful theater is a fine example of French colonial-style architecture. Built in 1897 by French architect Eugene Ferret, it looks very similar to the Petit Palais in Paris. If you’d like to see it better, we recommend grabbing tickets for the opera!

Reunification Palace – Once known as Independence Palace, this 1960s-era building looks straight from the 70s, when a North Vietnamese army tank crashed through the wrought iron gates and ended the Vietnam War. Located on the site of the former Norodom Palace which was bombed by fighter jets in 1962, it was an unsuccessful assassination attempt on the South Vietnamese president, Ngo Dinh Diem.

Museum of Vietnamese History –  Starting from the Bronze Age to the early 20^th century, the exhibits housed inside this beautiful 1920s building will give you a much better understanding of the country’s background. Crowd favorites are usually the stone and bronze sculptures, mummy, and Angkor Wat relics.

Jade Emperor Pagoda – Speaking of beautiful architecture, this early 20^th-century pagoda is very close to the Botanical Gardens. Build in honor of the Jade Emperor, Ngoc Hoang, inside you’ll find many Buddhist and Taoist deity pieces of art. At the entrance, you’ll also see turtles swimming around a pond.

Thailand – While you are over in Vietnam you should take a trip an explore Thailand as well. There are some spectacular places to visit. Be sure to take a tour of the Phi Phi Islands and the famous James Bond Island from the movie, “The Man With The Golden Gun”.

Tips

1. Only take metered taxis. If you aren’t doing this, use a rideshare app or a taxi app.
2. Ask hotel/hostel staff how much your journey should cost. They’ll be able to give you a good estimation so you aren’t ripped off.
3. Eat street food. It’s just so delicious and affordable, you’d be doing yourself an injustice not to. At least try a banh mi sandwich!
4. Partake in happy hours. These are also such great prices, from half-price drinks to dollar cocktails!
5. Watch out both ways twice before crossing! Motorbikes, cars, and other pedestrians are everywhere here and most aren’t watching out for you. Wait for a break in traffic before crossing and make sure they know what you’re doing.