Mekong Zigzag Full Day tour: Scooter, Sailboat, Food (HCM-BenTre)

This tour was so much fun, and had a really great balance between cultural education and relaxing bits. You visit several different stops throughout the morning that demonstrate how people in Ben Tre farm, process and use coconuts. There are a lot of interactive elements, like trying reed weaving, picking coconuts using a massive scythe, and using a local ferry to get around. The second half of the day was a relaxing cruise along the smaller canals of Ben Tre, while the guide explained what the many fisherman we saw were doing. The canals around Ben Tre are really quiet and clean, far fewer diesal motors than in other parts of the Delta, and lots more fisherman on canoes. Our guide Lam was great, and he was particularly awesome during the cruise, we asked him lots of questions and he was open and insightful with us. We finished the day with banh xeo at a local restaurant, which was excellent. The most fun thing about this tour though is that you spend the whole day getting around on the back of a motorbike. There is nothing more fun than cruising around coconut and banana plantations in tiny backstreets with a skilled local driver!

I asked ChatGPT to help find a Mekong Delta tour that was authentic, peaceful, and free from large tourist crowds, and this experience exceeded every expectation. We met our driver near the Saigon Opera House in District 1. The car was comfortable, and the driver was warm, professional, and hospitable. We made one convenient rest stop along the way for drinks and a bathroom break before arriving in the Mekong Delta. Our guide, Lam, grew up in the area and still lives there with his wife and family. His deep connection to the region was evident throughout the day and made the experience feel incredibly genuine. We arrived at and first visited a local home where women were weaving traditional floor mats. This was the only stop where there were a few souvenirs available, and it felt like a real part of everyday local life rather than a directed tourist trap. My mother and I were the only guests on the tour, which made the day feel very personal and relaxed. The tour accommodates up to 8 people. Lam invited me to harvest a young coconut, showed me how to open it, and we drank the fresh coconut water while he explained the history and importance of the local coconut economy. It was fascinating to learn how coconuts are used for almost everything in the region. Next, we rode on motorbikes through narrow village paths, shaded by lush tropical vegetation. Lam was especially considerate of my 66-year-old mother, driving carefully and making sure she felt comfortable throughout the ride. At each stop, Lam shared stories about local history, culture, and daily life with passion and clarity. His English was excellent, and he was engaging, knowledgeable, and genuinely fun to spend time with. Lunch was served at a beautiful riverside homestay. The meal was incredibly generous and beautifully presented. Vegan and other dietary requirements were accommodated without any difficulty, and the food was outstanding. After lunch, we boarded a small wooden boat fitted with beanbags and drifted quietly through palm-lined waterways. Aside from Lam, the boat driver, my mother, and me, there was virtually no one else around. It felt serene and magical. As we floated through the water coconut groves, Lam spoke about the tides, the seasons, and the close relationship local people have with the river. His pride in his home and community was deeply moving. At the end of the day, our original driver returned to collect us. I had forgotten to bring cash, and Lam kindly stopped at an ATM so we could pay before heading back. This tour was worth every dollar and was certainly the highlight of our trip to Vietnam. If you have extra time, I would strongly recommend staying overnight at the homestay. It is incredibly peaceful and offers a wonderful contrast to the energy of Ho Chi Minh City. Actually disappointed I didnt know about it before arriving as I would rather stay there than in the city! Highly recommended for anyone seeking a slower-paced, crowd-free experience that offers an authentic glimpse into life in the Mekong Delta. 11/10. We will absolutely return and will recommend this experience to everyone. Thank you, Lam, for such a beautiful and memorable day. We are eternally grateful for such an informative and genuine experience of your home. 😊

Relaxing raft ride, then travelling through local villages stopping at a number of places to watch demonstrations of how they produce their wares. No other tourists other than our group, were around. Lunch was very fresh and tasty, especially the pork ribs. Our guide Yung spoke very good english. No pressure from any of the locals. It is a long day out from Ho Chi Minh.

“Authentic” is really overused these days so i’m generally wary when i see “authentic” being banded around. I texted zigzag on a saturday asking for if there was a small group going on the following day. I shared what i was looking for - that is a very authentic local type experience with real people living their real everyday lives instead of an “authentic tourist experience” visiting souvenir shops, seeing performances et. the team at zigzag (I was in contact with Dzung and An) was really prompt in their responses and recommendations. The team was also really accommodating as i’d wanted to be in a group with less than 6 total visitors like myself, and i was recommended to head over on Monday instead as there were usually more bookings on weekends. As i was heading down from HCM, Zigzag Dzung/An helped to arrange for a private transport from our hotel to Ben Tre, and confirmed all details including the vehicle to be used the night before. The assigned driver arrived and waited for us before the scheduled pick up time in the morning. We met An at Mrs Het’s house where we were introduced to traditional mat weaving, harvested and consumed our own coconuts (i’ll leave you to discover the details yourselves but it involves sharp objects), before proceeding on the rest of the day on motorbikes with An and the adorable Chu Tam. A shared with us the coconut economy of Ben Tre and and was very patient with the many different questions we asked (including why she decided to come back and embark on this entirely different career path). A then brought us for a refreshing drink at a local village stall before we had lunch at a home stay. A slow peaceful boat ride followed lunch where An and Chu Tam went to great lengths to find a ripe nipa palm fruit (they call it a sea coconut) for us to try whilst on the boat ride. As we had to head back to HCM, we weren’t able to visit the markets and rest of the village which would have taken place after the boat ride. I would highly recommend anyone who goes for the tour with zigzag to stay the night at Ben Tre (Zigzag also has a home stay which is beautiful - I heard their longest “tenant” stayed for over a month!) to allow for more time for the team to show more of the town. I told myself i’d only visit the mékong once prior to the experience crafted by zigzag, but after the great time with An and the team, i can’t wait to be back to take in the other zigzag experiences! As a note - every guide operates differently and there is no “script” per se to follow so share your preferred style with the team and they will be able to recommend a guide that suits your preferred style!

My partner and I were hoping for a truly local experience, and after seeing so many reviews about how authentic this tour was, we decided to give it a try — and we’re so glad we did. From the very start, everything was smooth. The driver who picked us up from our hotel was punctual and got us to Bến Tre comfortably without unnecessary stops. Once we arrived, our guide An really made the experience special. She thoughtfully planned a route that avoided the typical tourist spots, so everywhere we went felt peaceful and genuinely local — it was just us and the community. One of the highlights was exploring the village on motorcycles with An and her colleague, Cu Tam (whom is also one of the captains of the boat that sails for the Mekong river tour). It made the whole experience feel so immersive and personal. (They also mentioned they can arrange a tuktuk for families or elderly guests, which is a really nice touch.) What stood out most was how warm and genuine An was. She shared so much about local life and patiently answered all our questions, making us feel less like tourists and more like friends visiting. We left with such great memories and truly appreciated how thoughtfully everything was put together. We’d absolutely love to come back, stay at their beautiful homestay by the founder , and try more experiences with the ZigZag team.

We had a wonderful time on the Mekong Zigzag Full Day tour from Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre. The best part was that there were only 4 tourists in total, so it felt very private and relaxed — not crowded at all. Our guide, Vu, was excellent — very friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable. The mix of scooter ride, sailboat, and local food made the tour very unique. Riding through village roads and seeing local life was a highlight, and the sailboat ride on the Mekong was peaceful and scenic. The lunch was heavy with lot of Vietnamese food. Overall, a perfect tour if you want a more personal and local Mekong Delta experience. Highly recommended! 👍

It was one of the best tours at my time in Vietnam. I had a guide Anh and she was so lovely and speaking really good English. She showed us a lot how the People are working specially with the coconuts and the weaving. The scooterride was beatifull, lunch was super and the boatride was amazing. Thanks thanks thanks Anh

Nhan was the best possible guide you can imagine! He accompanied us throughout the day in a friendly, attentive and very considerate way, sharing many interesting facts about the Mekong and its residents. The transportation was well organized and the communication left no questions unanswered. Keep up the great work🙏

We had this tour yesterday and we had an amazing time. An, our guide, was an amazing and nice lady, she was very friendly and knowledgeable. It was really a unique experience, not touristy at all what we preferred and why we choose this trip. Scooter ride was amazing, we visited coconut factories, and we had a delicious lunch at a homestay. What a hospitality. I'd rate this tour above the maximum if i could😊 it was beyond my expectations😊

Excellent tour! Separate, no touristic, just like a private tour to see the local lifestyle. Recommended to choose this tour!