The 13 Mekong Delta Provinces

Mekong Delta, also known as Southern Delta, Southwest Region, is the southernmost region of Vietnam. The Mekong Delta has a total area of 40.547,2 km2, including 1 city under the central government named Can Tho and 12 provinces: Long An, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Dong Thap, Soc Trang, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang and Ca Mau. These provinces account for 13% of the country’s area, but have up to 18% of the country’s population.

The Mekong Delta has an equatorial climate, with a lot of rain and hot sun, so it is favorable for agricultural development. This land, with many large rice fields, is considered the “rice bowl of Vietnam”, accounting for more than 50% of the country’s rice production.

Below we help you grasp an overview of the 13 Mekong Delta provinces that make up the Mekong Delta. Let’s see!

1. Ben Tre

Ben Tre is the rich land of coconut trees, known as the “coconut land of Vietnam”. This province has the advantage of an interlaced canal system and characteristics of the river and garden of the South, made up of three islets: Bao islet, Minh islet and An Hoa islet.

Thanks to its convenient location, only 90 minutes by car from Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Tre is an attractive destination with various types of tourism, including eco-tourism, cultural-historical tourism, craft village tourism.

Traveling Vietnam to Ben Tre, visitors are recommended to take part in ecotourism activities, stay with the local family, and enjoy fresh air. 

Cultural and historical destinations in Ben Tre are Con Phung Tourist Resort, Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary, Orchard of Cai Mon Fruit, Con Quy, Dong Khoi Village, Tuyen Linh pagoda, and Dua religion site.

2. Can Tho

Can Tho, the most famous among Mekong Delta provinces, is known as “Tay Do” among Vietnameses, meaning the Western Capital. The city is 169km away from Ho Chi Minh City and the largest city along the Mekong Delta region in Vietnam. While being renowned for its pastoral beauty of complex waterway network along with lush fruit orchards

Can Tho is a sunny and warm land all year round, with an average temperature of about 28 Celsius degree, divided into two seasons: dry season and rainy season. Each season in Can Tho has its own interesting things, so almost every visitor comes to visit at any time. 

This place attracts visitors by lively floating markets, picturesque rural canals, rice-paper making villages, gentle people and specialties of the river region. Some of the most famous tourist attractions are Cai Rang Floating Market, Binh Thuy temple, Bang Lang Stork sanctuary, Pitu Khosa Rangsay Khmer Pagoda, etc.

3. Soc Trang

Soc Trang is a coastal province about 231km from Ho Chi Minh City. Covered in a tropical monsoon climate, including rainy and dry seasons, with an average temperature of about 26.8 Celsius degrees, Soc Trang has suitable soil conditions for agricultural development. In addition, this province is adjacent to the sea and possesses a rich system of canals, so it has favorable conditions for the marine economy development.

Soc Trang is the mark of cultural harmony, a place of harmonious coexistence between the Vietnamese and the descendants of the Cham empire. With that being said, the whole landscape is imbued with Cham’s unique vibe, be it in the festivals and cuisines or the architectural building of religious constructions. There are many festivals of both Kinh, Chinese, Khmer, and Cham, namely Ok Om Bok Festival, Choi Chnam Thmay Festival, Nghinh Ong festival, ..

In Soc Trang, one can visit some renowned tourist destinations such as Nuoc Ngot Lake, Tan Long Stork garden, My Phuoc islet, Nga nam floating market, Ho Be lake, etc. 

4. Tien Giang

Tien Giang is one of Mekong Delta provinces, about 70km north of Ho Chi Minh City. This place is famous for its luxuriant fruit gardens and known as the largest fruit producing area of the country.

The land is abundant in docks where goods come and go and the trading activities occur directly on the water. The most well-known district of Tien Giang is Cai Be, which is considered the image of Mekong Delta lifestyle since it reflects the connection and interaction of people with the water and boats as the essential transportation.

Some interesting activities that tourists should experience when visiting Tien Giang are going to Cai Be floating market, visiting orchards of islets, discovering snake kingdom, sightseeing Vinh Trang, enjoying Hu Tieu, etc. 

5. An Giang

An Giang is located in southwestern part of the country, featured with equatorial-like climate. It has rainy and sunny seasons and quite stable temperature, ranging from 26-28 Celsius degrees. In An Giang, each season has its own beauty. 

It can be said that An Giang is the most special land in the Mekong Delta. It has the characteristics of the western river giving lots of shrimps, fish and luxuriant fruits and the high mountains and deep forests giving lots of highland products. 

An Giang has many rich historical-cultural relics which are cultural products imbued with religious colors such as Sam Mountain (Chau Doc town), Cam mountain (Tinh Bien district), Tuc Dup hill (Tri Ton district), Oc Eo relic site (Thoai Son district), etc. Coming to An Giang, one should also not miss Tra Su Cajuput Forest, Long Xuyen Floating Market, Chau Doc floating village, Chau Giang brocade weaving village, and so on.

6. Ca Mau

As the southernmost province of mainland Vietnam, Ca Mau has a total area of 5331.7 km2, bordered by Kien Giang to the north, Bac Lieu to the northeast, the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest, and the East Sea to the east and northeast. 

The province is featured with its system of transport canals and most goods are transported here by boats and barges.

With a tropical monsoon climate, Ca Mau has a brief dry season and a lengthy wet one. 

Ca Mau is the suitable place to escape from the coldness of the North and the hotness of the Central. It has cool climate all year round, but one should visit Ca Mau in the dry season, from December to April in the next year. 

There are some attractions that draw both domestic and international tourists, namely wild bird parks, Ca Mau southernmost point, and U Minh Mangrove forest, and a number of pagodas.

7. Hau Giang

Hau Giang is a province near the equator with a tropical monsoon climate, divided into two distinct seasons including the rainy season and the dry season. The average temperature is 27 Celsius degrees. Hau Giang has a temperate climate, fertile soil, and diverse customs since there are many ethnic communities: Kinh, Khmer, Hoa,… living together.

This place attracts visitors because it still retains the rustic and idyllic appearance with immense rice fields, a network of rivers and canals, hospitable people, and peaceful life.

Some tourist attractions one should not miss when happening in Hau Giang include: Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve, Phu Huu Tourist Area, Chuong Thien – Vi Thanh Victory Monument, Vi Hung Church, Nga Bay Phung Hiep Floating Market, Vi Thuy melaleuca forest, Truc Lam Hau Giang monastery, and Aranhut pagoda.

8. Bac Lieu

Bac Lieu is a rich land in the Mekong Delta, famous for its natural mangrove ecosystem and folk music. This is the land of cultural convergence of three ethnic groups Kinh – Hoa – Khmer, which are imbued through cultural works around the province. 

Visitors can visit Bac Lieu in any season of the year; however, to have the most complete experience and be able to join in local festivals, you should travel to Bac Lieu around February and March of the lunar calendar..

Some famous attractions in Bac Lieu include Bac Lieu Bird Park, Bac Lieu Cong Tu’s House, Nam Hai Phat Ba, Tho Tac Say House, etc. Chances are, if you are lucky enough to visit Bac Lieu during the festival season, you can participate in Nghinh Ong festival, Quan Am Phat Dai festival, Da Co Hoai Lang festival.

9. Kien Giang

Kien Giang is a famous cultural and tourism land in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam,, known for its two famous destinations, Phu Tu islet and Phu Quoc island. About 350km from Ho Chi Minh City, Kien Giang is likened to a miniature Vietnam, from the plains, forests, mountains, rivers to the border, sea and islands, etc. All converge here.

Kien Giang is most beautiful from November to April next year, when it is suitable for sightseeing or swimming activities.

The province is favored by nature with many landscapes like Ha Tien and Phu Quoc island. Ha Tien is a well-known seaside tourist area offering several beautiful sites like Mui Nai tourist area, Da Dung mountain, Thach Dong Cave, Hon Chong, Bai Duong, Phu Dung pagoda, etc. Phu Quoc island comprises 22 large and small islands, dotted with famed beaches like Bai Khem, Bai Truong, Cua Can, Ganh Dau, earning it “the pearl and evergreen island” moniker. 

10. Long An

Located on the Mekong Delta, Long An is split into smaller areas by a complex network of rivers and canals. Long An is in a tropical monsoon climate, with two distinct seasons, the rainy season from May to October and the dry season from November to April next year.  Average temperature is about 27 Celsius degrees so you can visit Long An in any season of the year.

Coming to Long An, tourists are drawn by the value of Oc-Eo culture developed on the Mekong Delta from 1st BC to 6th century BC. Besides these, Long An is also home to other valuable sites such as House with Hundred Columns, Ton Thanh pagoda, Rach Coc fort, etc. 

11. Dong Thap

Dong Thap is a province in the southwest region known through the poem “Thap Muoi is the most beautiful lotus flower”, about 165km away from Ho Chi Minh City. The province is characterized by gentle rivers, lotus fields, and a lot of attractive ecotourism areas. From December to April next year is the best time to visit Dong Thap thanks to sunny and outdoor activities-favorable weather. 

Some highly recommended activities one can take part in are eating Hu Tieu, visiting ancient Kien An Cung pagoda, Huynh Thuy Le old house, Tram Chim national park, Gao Giong ecotourism area, etc. 

12. Tra Vinh

About 150km away from Ho Chi Minh city to the south, Tra Vinh impresses visitors with its peaceful beauty, many beautiful scenes, Khmer-style architecture, diversifying and unique cuisine and famous landmarks and events. 

Belonging to the Mekong River Delta, Tra Vinh shares common advantages with the whole region: abundant light conditions and stable but high temperature, ranging from the minimum of 18.5 °C to the maximum of 35.8 °C. Climate in Tra Vinh is divided into 2 major seasons: dry and rainy seasons. 

Coming to Tra Vinh, it is impossible not to mention the unique Khmer temples, of which the most prominent is Vam Ray pagoda, which was rebuilt from the old temple destroyed during the war. 

13. Vinh Long

As the land located between the two large rivers Tien Giang and Hau Giang, Vinh Long is considered the center and the epitome of Mekong Delta thanks to its diversity and abundance. Agricultural cultivation is the strength of the province, every year local people harvest hundreds of thousands of tons of fruits such as oranges, tangerines, longans, coconuts, pomelos… and raise livestock and poultry.

Vinh Long is the place where the cultures of three main ethnic groups are mixed: Vietnamese, Khmer and Chinese.

Visiting Vinh Long, you can pay a visit to many temples and pagodas such as Long Thanh pagoda, Ngoc Vien Vihara, Phuoc Hau Pagoda, Ong Pagoda, Tien Chau Pagoda, Saghamangala Pagoda,… and other famous sites namely Binh Hoa Phuoc, Vinh Sang eco-tourism area, and Cai Cuong ancient house.