The Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta was built by the river's silt. Its alluvial soil feeds rice fields, fruit orchards and thousands of canals – where markets float, homes face the jetty and each flood season brings its own dishes.
- 5
- provinces and cities since 2025
- 9
- Mekong mouths reaching the sea
- 2
- seasons: dry and flood
- 4
- communities: Vietnamese, Khmer, Chinese, Cham
- NG farm
- Orchard
- Floating market
- City
- Culture
- Spiritual
- Nature
- Coast
- Craft village
Illustrative map, approximate positions
Provinces
Since 2025 the delta has five provinces and cities – each with its own character.
- Former Can Tho City, Soc Trang and Hau GiangCan ThoRiver capital of the West, floating markets and home of NG AI Farm Park6 stops
- Former Vinh Long, Ben Tre and Tra VinhVinh LongCoconut land, fruit orchards and red-brick kilns6 stops
- Former Dong Thap and Tien GiangDong ThapLand of pink lotus, Sa Dec flower village and fruit islands on the Tien River9 stops
- Former An Giang and Kien Giang, including Phu QuocAn GiangTra Su cajeput forest, Lady Xu festival and Phu Quoc island3 stops
- Former Ca Mau and Bac LieuCa MauSouthern cape, U Minh forest and wind farms4 stops
Coming next: Central Highlands, the Southeast and the whole country
History
17th – 18th centuries: Vietnamese and Chinese settlers joined the native Khmer in digging canals and founding villages.
19th – 20th centuries: the delta became the country's rice, fruit and seafood basket.
2025: reorganised into 5 provinces and cities – Can Tho, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, An Giang and Ca Mau.
Today: smart farming and green tourism open new ways to live with climate change.
Culture
Don ca tai tu
Southern folk music inscribed by UNESCO in 2013, played at family gatherings, weddings and by the river.
Ao ba ba and khan ran
Light, practical clothing for gardening and rowing.
Khmer festivals
Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year in April) and Ooc Om Boc (ngo boat races, moon worship).
Eating with the water
Field fish in the dry season, linh fish, sesbania and water-lily stems in flood season.
Seasonal calendar
- Month 1Tet, Sa Dec flower village
- Month 2Dry season, best for floating markets
- Month 3
- Month 4Khmer New Year Chol Chnam Thmay
- Month 5Durian and rambutan season; Lady Xu festival
- Month 6Thap Muoi lotus fields in bloom
- Month 7Mangosteen, pomelo and longan season
- Month 8
- Month 9Flood season, Tra Su forest lush green
- Month 10
- Month 11Ooc Om Boc festival, ngo boat races
- Month 12
FestivalSeasonFruit