How to travel from Hanoi to Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is one of Vietnam’s most mysterious and fascinating destinations. The region comprises 12 provinces: Long An, Dong Thap, Tien Giang, An Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau along with the province-level municipality of Can Tho.

Famous tourist attractions in this region are Ninh Kieu Wharf, Cai Rang floating market, Vinh Trang pagoda, Cai Be floating market, Cai Be fruit orchard, Tra Su Mangrove Forest, Sam Mountain, Tan Lap Village, Co Tu Ha, Tram Chim National Park.

The distance from Hanoi to the nearest location of Mekong Delta (Long An city of Tien Giang province) is nearly 1,800km. The fastest bus from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh takes one and a half-day, you then need around 2 hours to get to Tien Giang, so the total time is about 38 hours. Travelling from Ho Chi Minh to other places in the Mekong Delta takes from 2 to 4 hours

If the bus is too long, you can fly to either Ho Chi Minh or Can Tho airport. The flight distance from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is 1161km, and you need 2 hours 10 minutes on the plane. The flight distance from Hanoi to Can Tho is 1877kilometers, it takes 2 hours 15 minutes to travel between these two places.

Flights from Hanoi to Mekong Delta

The fastest way to travel from Hanoi to Mekong Delta is to take the flight to Ho Chi Minh or Can Tho airport. These are the two closest airports to the Mekong river.

Flight to Tan Son Nhat airport

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city are the biggest cities in Vietnam, therefore there are many flight options for you to choose from. Currently, all airlines in Vietnam are exploiting this route with a very thick frequency.

Vietjet Air has 21 flights/day from 06:00 to 22:50, Vietnam Airlines has 29 flights/day from 06:20 to 21:00, and Bamboo Airways has 5 flights/day from 07:50 to 20:45

Fares including taxes and fees for this flight can range from 26 USD to 150 USD depending on the airline and the time you book your ticket. Booking the ticket 1 -2 months in advance is highly recommended so you can get the promotion ticket.

From Tan Son Nhat airport to the Mekong Delta, there are several ways to travel. The fastest and the most convenient way is taking a private car, BestPrice Travel provided private car service to any place in Mekong Delta.

Another cheaper way is to take a limousine 9 seat car which is waiting for you at the airport to transfer to provinces such as Long An, Can Tho, Vinh Long…

But the cheapest way is to take the shuttle bus number 119 to Ben Xe Mien Tay, then another bus to your destination. You can choose a taxi if you travel a short distance, or a motorbike if you do not have much luggage.

Flight to Can Tho airport

You can choose to fly to Can Tho airport if your destination is close to this airport. There are fewer flights to this airport than to Ho Chi Minh city.

Airlines operating routes from Hanoi to Can Tho include Vietjet Air, Vietnam Airlines, and Bamboo Airways. Each airline has a frequency of 1 - 4 flights/day. Fares for this route range from 39 USD to 100 USD.

After landing at Can Tho airport, depending on your budget, you can choose either taxi, or a motorbike to go to the city centre as there is no shuttle bus from Can Tho airport to the city centre. Taxi fare ranges from 120,000 to 150,000 VND/car. Motorbike costs from 60,000 - 80,000 / person.

Shuttle bus from Hanoi to Mekong Delta

There are many shuttle buses that travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city. Then you need to take another bus from Ho Chi Minh to your destination. The shuttle bus is the cheapest way to travel to the Mekong Delta.

Bus from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

There are many bus companies that run the bus from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh. The traveling time is around 40 hours, and it costs from 20 to 40 USD.

Sinh Cafe Open Bus, Phuong Trang Bus Company, Hanh Cafe Open Bus Company, Hung Thanh Bus Travel Company, Hey Travel Tour Bus Company are reputable bus companies on this route. The bus departs from bus stations in Hanoi and arrives in Ben Xe Mien Dong in Ho Chi Minh city

Bus from Ben Xe Mien Dong to Ben Xe Mien Tay

Take bus number 14 which runs every 5 minutes from 5:00 to 19:00 daily. 

Bus from Ben Xe Mien Tay to the Mekong Dlelta

From Ben Xe Mien Tay, there are many buses to 12 different provinces in the Mekong Delta. The most popular destinations in the Mekong Delta are Ben Tre, Can Tho, and Ca Mau. Here, you can easily find buses to these provinces

Hanoi to Mekong Delta Train

The North-South train in Vietnam starts in Hanoi train station and ends in Saigon train station. It lasts from 32 to 37 hours, the price ticker varies from 26 USD to 60.53 USD.

Currently, there are 5 trains running from Hanoi to Saigon, including SE1, SE3, SE5, SE7, and TN1 trains. SE trains are fast trains while TN1 are slow trains. From Saigon train station, you will need to use other means of transportation to get to your destination in the Mekong Delta.

The cheapest way to travel from Saigon train station to the Mekong Delta is to catch bus number 10 to Ben Xe Mien Tay, then from Ben Xe Mien Tay, you can take another bus to your destination in the Mekong Delta.

However, the most convenient way is to take a private car or taxi. It can be a little bit expensive, but you do not have to carry big luggage, and can relax on the private transfer after a long train trip.

Package tour from Hanoi to Mekong Delta 

There is another exciting way to get from Hanoi to the Mekong Delta, which is to join a Vietnam package tour. Everything will be taken care of for you from the hotel accommodation, transfer from one tourist’s attraction to another…

You will not miss any single place from the north to the south. Best price Travel has many tours running from Hanoi to the Saigon and Mekong Delta daily. The below is best seller tours, you can see more detail for each tour below

Across Vietnam by Train 15 days - Small-Group Tour: It is a budget tour where you use the train and bus to travel among tourist attractions in Vietnam including the Mekong River. You will spend a night in Can Tho, and visit Cai Rang floating market early in the morning. Surely, it will be a great chance for you to see more local life in this region.

Real Taste of Vietnam 13 days: It is a private tour, specially designed for those who love to connect with local people. You will be visiting the Mekong Delta on a day tour to discover the rural areas, farming life. There is a chance for you to take a boat ride along the narrow canals and enjoy the specialities of the region.

Vietnam on Wheels 16 days: This is 16 days’ tour from the north to the south where you use the bike a lot to explore the beauty of the cities you will be visiting like Hanoi, Hue, Hoian… One of the highlights of the tour is staying in a private bungalow in Tan Phong Island which is opposite Cai Be Floating Market and surrounded by a lot of fresh orchards.

• Choose the perfect time to travel

You can visit Mekong Delta all year round thanks to its four-season fruits and colorful sights, however, you can choose the most suitable time for yourself to enjoy fully the trip. June to September is the rainy season when it is hot and humid, but you can taste most of the tropical fruits. October to November is flood season, you can not see much traveling this time, but the price for the tour is competitive. The best time to visit Mekong Delta is from December to May when the delta is in its most vibrant status with flowers everywhere.

• Things to pack

As it is often hot and humid in the delta, so wear breathable and comfortable clothes. Pack lightly and do not forget to bring a raincoat with you. Moreover, it is important to bring insect spray which helps to protect you from being bitten by insects, bugs, mosquitos. Bottles of water are also useful in keeping you hydrated

• Chose the best way of travel

Each kind of transfer has its own advantages and disadvantages, knowing them you will be able to choose the best for you.

• The Flight can be expensive; however, you can still get the deal if booking early in advance.
• The bus can save you money if it picks up and drops off you at your destinations.
• The Train can be time-consuming, but it brings unforgettable experiences which you should try

All in all, traveling from Hanoi to the Mekong Delta is not only the transfer from a place to another, it is a great adventure. Enjoy every moment on the trip, and bring all your memories home to share with your friends.

Jenny

Sources: Internet