ON THE RIVER · VIETNAM RIVER CRUISES

The 15 Best River Cruises in Vietnam

46 river trips  ·  from $6 a head

Mekong sampans from Saigon, lantern boats at Hoi An and the dragon boats on the Perfume River at Hue. These 15 compare road time, hours afloat and price.

CuChi Tunnels&Mekong Delta-Boat,TukTuk,Coconut Village SmallGroup - Cu Chi Tunnels: history you can feel under your feet
Ho Chi Minh City River Cruises, Mekong Delta Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tuk-Tuks, Vietnam River Cruises

CuChi Tunnels&Mekong Delta-Boat,TukTuk,Coconut Village SmallGroup

1.CuChi Tunnels&Mekong Delta-Boat,TukTuk,Coconut Village SmallGroup

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,113 reviews · from $32Our pick

Spend about 11 hours visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City. Crawl through a wartime tunnel, ride a motorboat and sampan, travel by tuk tuk or electric car, sample coconut candy and tropical fruit, and enjoy Vietnamese lunch and music. Guides such as Xem, Jackie, Lockie, and Tinh are praised for lively storytelling.

“TV, the guide is really helpful and friendly. The trip is a really good experience and definitly will recommend.”

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HCM: Mekong Delta Islands Boat & Tuk-Tuk Tour with Tastings - From Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho by morning van
Ho Chi Minh City River Cruises, Mekong Delta Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tuk-Tuks, Vietnam River Cruises

HCM: Mekong Delta Islands Boat & Tuk-Tuk Tour with Tastings

2.HCM: Mekong Delta Islands Boat & Tuk-Tuk Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,285 reviews · 9 hours · from $14

This nine-hour Mekong Delta day trip takes you from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho, Vinh Trang Pagoda, and the islands of the Tien Giang and Ben Tre provinces. You will ride motorboats and a small rowboat, visit a bee farm and coconut candy workshop, try honey tea, tropical fruit, Bánh Khọt, and lunch, then hear traditional South Vietnamese music. Guides such as Steve, Lam, Phong, and Little Trung are known for lively English commentary.

“amazing guide ! it was a realy good experience, we saw lot of things and we had lot of fruits and speciality to eat ! i recommand it !”

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Hoi An : Hoai River Boat Trip by Night and Floating Lantern - The five-minute walk through Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An River Cruises, Night River Cruises, Night River Cruises in Hoi An, Night River Cruises in Vietnam, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Vietnam River Cruises

Hoi An : Hoai River Boat Trip by Night and Floating Lantern

3.Hoai River Boat Trip by Night and Floating Lantern

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,988 reviews · 20 min · from $8

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Kazimierz Kwiatkowski Bust on Tran Phu Street. You’ll receive a paper lantern, walk five minutes to the Thu Bon River, and board a private wooden boat for your group. The rower helps light and release the lantern during a 10 to 15 minute ride. Guides including Linh and Phuoc Ho are praised for clear communication and smooth arrangements.

“The river was beautiful at night, and each party got their own boat, which was very nice. There was a crazy amount if people and boats in the area, but the experience was nice”

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Hoi An: River Lantern Boat Experience with Free 5G eSIM - Meeting at 153 Tran Phu Street near the Japanese Bridge
Hoi An River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Vietnam River Cruises

Hoi An: River Lantern Boat Experience with Free 5G eSIM

4.River Lantern Boat Experience with Free 5G eSIM

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,819 reviews · 20 min · from $8

Meet at 153 Tran Phu Street near the Japanese Bridge, then walk about five minutes to the Hoai River. Your 20-minute boat ride includes a lantern to release, bottled herbal tea, and help from English-speaking staff. The free 24-hour eSIM adds 8GB of data and 10 minutes of local calls.

“Surprised by how good this was! I thought it would be crazy and really busy. But it was so slick and peaceful! We didn’t have to wait at all and whilst the experience was relatively short, it didn’t feel rushed. We recalled enjoyed it :)”

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Mekong Delta Discovery Tour from Ho Chi Minh - Leaving Saigon at 8 a.m.
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Mekong Delta Discovery Tour from Ho Chi Minh

5.Mekong Delta Discovery Tour from Ho Chi Minh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,427 reviews · from $59

Leave Ho Chi Minh City at 8 a.m. for My Tho, then cruise the Mekong by wooden boat, motorized cart, and rowing boat. You’ll visit fish and bee farms, taste fruit, coconut candy, honey, and a set Vietnamese lunch. Groups cap at 12, with guides such as Linda, Bich, Huong, and Thuong leading the day.

“Super fun and not the total tourist thing....small groups and fun little surprises! Linda the tour Gide was very helpful and involved with every guest”

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Small-Group Mekong Delta Day Trip: Boat Ride, Cottages & Pagoda - Crossing the Mekong toward Ben Tre
1-Day Tours, Ho Chi Minh City River Cruises, Mekong Delta Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Vietnam River Cruises

Small-Group Mekong Delta Day Trip: Boat Ride, Cottages & Pagoda

6.Small-Group Mekong Delta Day Trip: Boat Ride, Cottages & Pagoda

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,327 reviews · from $48

Spend 9 to 10 hours traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho and Ben Tre with a guide such as James, Nam, or Manh. Ride motorboats and hand-rowed boats, sample coconut candy and honey tea, eat a five-course Vietnamese lunch, choose a village bicycle ride, and visit Vinh Trang Pagoda. Pickup is available in District 1.

“We were very happy with this tour and would recommend it if you are considering booking it. It was exactly as described. The activities and quality of the food was fantastic. Our kids (ages 8, 8, 10) enjoyed seeing all the animals and were really engaged with the variety of all the tour offered. One of our children said he didn't want the tour to end. Overall really great and would recommend it!”

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Da Nang: Han River Local Cruise by Night - Finding the boat and getting through boarding
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Da Nang: Han River Local Cruise by Night

7.Han River Local Cruise by Night

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,152 reviews · 50 - 90 minutes · from $6Best value

Spend 50 to 90 minutes on Da Nang’s Han River after dark, passing the Sunworld Wheel, Love Lock Bridge, and Dragon Bridge. Choose a simple cruise with a short Vietnamese dance performance, or add dinner on the second floor. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday departures at 9 PM can include a close view of the Dragon Bridge fire and water show.

“great way to see the city the lights and the dragon bridge”

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Small-group Mekong Floating Market Day Trip from Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Rang and the morning waterways
1-Day Tours, Ho Chi Minh City River Cruises, Markets, Mekong Delta Tours, River Cruises, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Vietnam River Cruises

Small-group Mekong Floating Market Day Trip from Ho Chi Minh City

8.Small-group Mekong Floating Market Day Trip from Ho Chi Minh City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 886 reviews · from $92

Leave Ho Chi Minh City at 5 a.m. for a full day in the Mekong Delta. You’ll cruise by motorboat and rowboat, visit Cai Rang, sample fruit, see rice-paper making, cycle near Cai Be, and help prepare a five-course lunch. Guides such as Win, Bevis, Lin, Bao, and Nam are often praised for making the long day lively and informative.

“A great day at the Mekong Delta made all the better by tour guide Nam the Handsome man:) A visit to the wet market..boat trip to floating village..hand rowed boat ride..rice factory..listened to music..made our lunch with 5 course meal. Rain stopped the bike ride but a good day with lots of laughter and so much food and drink. Would recommended if you want a taste of Vietnamese life on the Delta.”

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From Ho Chi Minh City: Discover Mekong Delta & Coconut Village - Ben Tre’s coconut village and local stops
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From Ho Chi Minh City: Discover Mekong Delta & Coconut Village

9.Discover Mekong Delta & Coconut Village

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 863 reviews · from $14

Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho and Ben Tre on a full-day guided trip. You’ll visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, cruise the Tien River, enter a quiet coconut canal, ride a motorized rickshaw, sample fruit and honey tea, hear Southern Vietnamese folk music, and learn about coconut candy. Lunch, transport, and District 1 pickup are included.

“I had a good time with SST Travels in a trip to the Mekong River Delta. It was educational to experience the rural life of the people living in Unicorn Island and fun to ride the boat along the river. We also row along to add on to the fun. Lunch Read more”

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Ho Chi Minh City: Saigon River Boutique Cruise - Starting at Saigon Waterbus Station
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Ho Chi Minh City: Saigon River Boutique Cruise

10.Saigon River Boutique Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 778 reviews · 1 hour · from $12

Cruise from Saigon Waterbus Station through central Ho Chi Minh City for one hour, passing the Hotel Majestic, Dragon Wharf, Bitexco Tower, Mong Bridge, and Landmark 81. An English-speaking guide, such as Vivian, Howey, Blanco, or Quan, explains the city as you ride. Choose an evening departure for illuminated skyline views.

“Short and sweet. The evening cruise provides a lovely view of Saigon all lit up, revealing a new perspective of this vibrant city.”

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Hoi An: My Son Sanctuary and Thu Bon River Boat Trip - Morning and afternoon departures
Hoi An River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Vietnam River Cruises

Hoi An: My Son Sanctuary and Thu Bon River Boat Trip

11.My Son Sanctuary and Thu Bon River Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 653 reviews · 5 hours · from $16

Spend five hours visiting My Son Sanctuary with an English-speaking guide, see a Cham dance performance, enjoy local lunch or banh mi, then cruise back toward Hoi An on the Thu Bon River. Guides such as Philip, Ben, Lee, Tu, and Vu are known for clear history talks and friendly help.

“Definitely worthy! Our guide Ben was very informative and I have to say such a skilled photographer. We are very impressed with the My Son site and had super nice time thanks to Ben!”

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Saigon River Dinner Cruise: Buffet, Set Menu, Fine Dining (3hrs) - Boarding the boat and finding the best view
Buffet Experiences, Dinner Cruises, Dinner Cruises in Ho Chi Minh City, Dinner Cruises in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Vietnam River Cruises

Saigon River Dinner Cruise: Buffet, Set Menu, Fine Dining (3hrs)

12.Saigon River Dinner Cruise: Buffet, Set Menu, Fine Dining (3hrs)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 592 reviews · from $50

Spend an evening on the Saigon River with hotel pickup, a private table, Vietnamese buffet or set-menu dinner, and city lights from the deck. Guides such as Daniel, Joey, Barney, and Queenie have earned praise for friendly care. Expect 3 to 4 hours, drinks extra, and menu choice fixed at booking.

“Excellent and enjoyable cruise along Saigon river. Panoramic view with dinner cruise, enjoy the city lights along HCM city. Music was excellent but a bit disappoint about the meals. Portion was small compared with dining at local restaurant”

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Da Nang: Han River Night Boat Trip with Show on Weekends - Finding the boat at Bach Dang Street
Da Nang River Cruises, Night River Cruises, Night River Cruises in Vietnam, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Vietnam River Cruises

Da Nang: Han River Night Boat Trip with Show on Weekends

13.Han River Night Boat Trip with Show on Weekends

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 455 reviews · 1h 30m · from $6

Board a large cruise ship opposite Novotel on Bach Dang Street for a 90-minute evening ride along Da Nang’s Han River. You’ll see the lit skyline, enjoy a dance performance, and on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, watch Dragon Bridge’s fire and water show from the river. Food and drinks are available to buy onboard.

“We booked the 8:30pm cruise which included the fire show on Friday. The boat was spacious with nice sitting arrangements on the deck with a bar, which had pretty much everything except Coke Zero. Staff was friendly. Cruise lasted 1.5hrs. The unfortunately the fire show in itself was a huge disappointment, the dragon at the Dragon bridge was just smoking … no sign of Fire whatsoever. But the buildings lit up on the banks plus the other boats all lit up made the cruise worthwhile. I can recommend this activity if you have nothing else planned in the evening.”

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HCM: Authentic Mekong Delta - Boat, TukTuk, Khot Cake Making - Vinh Trang Pagoda: a thoughtful first stop
Ho Chi Minh City River Cruises, Mekong Delta Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tuk-Tuks, Vietnam River Cruises

HCM: Authentic Mekong Delta – Boat, TukTuk, Khot Cake Making

14.HCM: Authentic Mekong Delta – Boat, TukTuk, Khot Cake Making

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 380 reviews · from $23

Spend a full day south of Ho Chi Minh City with guides such as Kevin, Lily, Robert, or Lenny. Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, cruise by motorboat and sampan, ride a tuk-tuk, taste honey and tropical fruit, make bánh khọt, and enjoy lunch with Southern Vietnamese music.

“Lucy was a great guide. She is very organized. You see and do a lot. The time on the boats and on the bicycles is enjoyable. Overall, a very nice time.”

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Full Day Off The Beaten Track the Mekong Delta. - Kayaking through smaller Mekong channels
Full-Day, Ho Chi Minh City River Cruises, Mekong Delta Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Vietnam River Cruises

Full Day Off The Beaten Track the Mekong Delta.

15.Full Day Off The Beaten Track the Mekong Delta.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 373 reviews · from $93

Leave Ho Chi Minh City at 7:00 a.m. for Cai Be, where you will cruise the Mekong, kayak smaller canals, and cycle roughly 15 to 27 kilometers through villages, orchards, markets, and farms. Guides such as Bao, Lee, Henry, and Long lead small groups, with lunch, equipment, transfers, and entry fees included.

“Perfectly organized. Great, unusual and authentic experiences. If you can tolerate heat well and enjoy sporting activities, this excursion is the perfect choice.”

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Just added to Vietnam River Cruises

★ 4.3From Ho Chi Minh: 2-Day Mekong Delta to Phnom Penh by BoatFrom $22814 reviews
★ 4.6Mekong Delta Day Tour with Boat RideFrom $3211 reviews
★ 4.0Ho Chi Minh: Dinner on cruise Saigon River Best ServiceFrom $508 reviews
★ 4.5Discover My Son Sanctuary & Sunset River CruiseFrom $214 reviews
★ 4.8From Ho Chi Minh: Cai Be Boat & Bike Mekong Delta ExperienceFrom $3011 reviews
★ 3.0Da Nang/Hoi An: Coconut river boat tour & Lantern FestivalFrom $314 reviews
★ 4.3Experience Dinner On Luxury Cruise Along Saigon RiverFrom $623 reviews
★ 5.0Dragon Floating Temple & Simulate Mekong Island by SpeedBoatFrom $872 reviews
★ 5.0Dinner on Cruise Saigon River – Group tourFrom $512 reviews
★ 3.7Dinner on Cruise on Saigon RiverFrom $526 reviews
★ 3.6Danang: My Son Sanctuary and River Cruise 7.30 am/12.30 pmFrom $3320 reviews
★ 3.8Han River Night Cruise with Sunrise CocktailFrom $1014 reviews
★ 3.7Da Nang By Night & Han River Dragon Cruise with a local foodFrom $623 reviews
★ 3.2Authentic Mekong Delta: Tuk Tuk, Rowing Boat, Biking TourFrom $189 reviews
★ 5.0Amazing My Son Sunset & River Cruise Tour From Hoi An/DaNangFrom $272 reviews

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