Getting around the Mekong DeltaSupport
Frequently asked questions
All the questions from across the site, grouped by topic, each linked to its source.
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All 40 questions from across the site, grouped by topic. Each group links to the page it came from, where the answer sits in full context.
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Home
Is the Mekong Delta easy to travel independently?
Yes, for most of the main towns. Coaches and vans leave Ho Chi Minh City through the day for Can Tho, Chau Doc, Rach Gia, Ca Mau and many smaller towns, and the main hubs are linked to each other by road.
The harder parts are the last few kilometres — bus stations outside town centres — and the boat legs, which depend on weather and water levels.
Which town makes the most convenient base?
For transport, Can Tho is the most connected: buses to most of the delta, an airport with domestic flights, and an expressway south to Ca Mau. Chau Doc is the base for the Cambodian border by river, and Rach Gia or Ha Tien for the islands.
Do I still need ferries to cross the Mekong?
On the main corridors, no. Bridges such as My Thuan, My Thuan 2, Can Tho, Vam Cong and Rach Mieu 2 carry the road traffic, and the temporary Rach Mieu ferry stopped in August 2025. Small local ferries still serve islets and side roads.
Does this site sell tickets?
No. Mekong Travel Links is an information site. We point to the official operator pages so you can book directly with the company that runs the service.
Read in full: Home.
Route planner
How long does it take from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho by bus?
Listings we checked on 12 October 2026 show between about 2 hours 55 minutes and 4 hours 45 minutes, depending on the operator and type of vehicle. Allow extra time to reach the departure station in Ho Chi Minh City.
Can I get from Can Tho to Chau Doc in a morning?
Usually. The road distance is about 119 km and coaches are listed at about four hours. An early departure gets you to Chau Doc by midday.
Why are some times marked as estimates?
Several short legs between towns have no published timetable we could check. For those we divide the road distance by 50–60 km/h. Real buses stop on the way and take longer.
Is it faster to go from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc through the delta?
No. Overland to Rach Gia or Ha Tien takes most of a day before the boat. Travellers go that way to see the delta on the way, not to save time.
Read in full: Route planner.
Buses and vans
Which bus station in Ho Chi Minh City serves the Mekong Delta?
Mien Tay bus station, at 395 Kinh Duong Vuong in An Lac ward, is the main one. Some operators also board at An Suong, the new Mien Dong station or pick-up points in city districts.
What is a limousine van?
It is the name operators give to smaller vans with fewer, wider seats than a coach. They are usually quicker and dearer than a sleeper coach on the same route, with less space for luggage.
Should I book delta buses in advance?
On ordinary weekdays you can often buy on the day for frequent routes such as Can Tho. Book ahead for weekends, public holidays and anything around the Lunar New Year.
Do buses go to the ferry pier in Rach Gia?
Some do. On 12 October 2026 one operator on the Ho Chi Minh City – Rach Gia route listed the Rach Gia fast-boat pier as a drop-off point and another a stop at the Rach Gia pier. Check the listing for your departure.
Read in full: Buses and vans.
Expressways and bridges
Is there an expressway from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho?
Yes. Since December 2023 the Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong, Trung Luong – My Thuan and My Thuan – Can Tho sections, with the My Thuan 2 bridge, form a continuous expressway to Can Tho.
Is the Can Tho – Ca Mau expressway open?
Yes. The full 110.85 km main line opened at 11:00 on 19 January 2026, with a speed limit of 80 km/h.
Is the Chau Doc – Can Tho expressway open?
Only partly, as far as we can confirm. The An Giang section had a technical opening in December 2025, but reports differ on when the rest will open, with one giving late 2027 for the Can Tho part.
Is there still a ferry at Rach Mieu?
No. The temporary ferry stopped on 20 August 2025, the day after the Rach Mieu 2 bridge opened.
Read in full: Expressways and bridges.
Boats and ferries
What time does the Chau Doc to Phnom Penh boat leave?
According to the operator's website on 12 October 2026, daily at 07:00 from Chau Doc, arriving about 13:30. The return leaves Phnom Penh at 12:30 and arrives about 18:30.
Can I get a Cambodian visa on the boat route?
Cambodian embassy pages say visas on arrival are available at the Kaam Samnor river crossing. Boat staff collect passports and fees on board. The same pages do not list Kaam Samnor for Cambodia's e-visa.
Is Ha Tien or Rach Gia better for the boat to Phu Quoc?
Ha Tien has the shorter crossing, about 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 30 by fast boat. Rach Gia takes about 2 hours 10 to 2 hours 30 but is closer to Can Tho and has more road connections.
Do Phu Quoc boats run all year?
They run year-round but are suspended when seas are rough, as on 27 July 2023 in the rainy season. Keep a spare day if you have a flight to catch.
Read in full: Boats and ferries.
Airports and flights
Does Can Tho airport have international flights?
Not at the time of checking. International routes have been suspended since the second quarter of 2024, and in 2025 all of the airport's passengers were domestic.
Can I fly from Can Tho to Phu Quoc?
Vietnam Airlines resumed the route in October 2024, but reports in 2026 differ on whether it is still flying. Check the airline's booking page for your dates.
Is Ca Mau airport open?
It closed for an upgrade at the end of October 2025, with reopening reported for 1 November 2026. Until then, Ca Mau is reached by road.
Can I use Phu Quoc's visa exemption to travel the delta?
No. The 30-day exemption covers Phu Quoc only. To continue to the mainland you need a visa or e-visa.
Read in full: Airports and flights.
Can Tho
How far is Can Tho bus station from the centre?
Coaches from Ho Chi Minh City use a terminal about 4 km outside the centre. Several operators drop at other stations or at the airport, so check your ticket.
Can I do Cai Rang floating market and travel on the same day?
Yes. Boats leave the Ninh Kieu wharf before dawn and the market is busiest early, so you can be back by mid-morning and take a bus to Chau Doc, Vinh Long or Ca Mau afterwards.
How long from Can Tho to Ca Mau now?
About 1.5 hours by car on the expressway that opened in full on 19 January 2026, according to Tuoi Tre. Buses take longer.
Read in full: Can Tho.
Chau Doc
Do I need to stay overnight in Chau Doc for the Phnom Penh boat?
In practice, yes. The boat leaves at 07:00 and the first buses from Can Tho or Ho Chi Minh City would not arrive in time.
How far is Chau Doc from Ha Tien?
About 93 km by road. It is a common way to continue from Chau Doc towards the coast and the boats to Phu Quoc.
When is the Tra Su forest best?
When the floodwater is high, especially from September to November. It is open every day from 06:30 to 18:30.
Read in full: Chau Doc.
Rach Gia and Ha Tien
Which is quicker to Phu Quoc, Rach Gia or Ha Tien?
Ha Tien: about 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 30 by fast boat, against about 2 hours 10 to 2 hours 30 from Rach Gia.
Can I go from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc by bus and boat in one day?
It is possible with an overnight or very early coach to Rach Gia, where at least one operator stops at the fast-boat pier. It is a long day and leaves no buffer for weather.
Where do boats to Nam Du leave from?
From Rach Gia. Fast boats run on the Rach Gia – Hon Son – Nam Du route; check the operators for current departures.
Read in full: Rach Gia and Ha Tien.
Independent routes
How many days do I need for the Mekong Delta?
Three days covers Can Tho and Chau Doc. Five lets you cross to Phu Quoc. Eight allows short hops through the smaller towns without long bus days.
Can I end a delta trip on Phu Quoc?
Yes. Boats from Ha Tien or Rach Gia reach the island the same day, and Phu Quoc has an international airport for the flight out.
Is it better to go clockwise or anticlockwise?
Starting from Ho Chi Minh City and ending on Phu Quoc avoids doubling back. If you start on Phu Quoc, check the visa rules first: the island's exemption does not cover the mainland.
Do I need to book these legs in advance?
Outside holidays most bus legs can be bought a day ahead. Book the Phnom Penh speedboat a day or two ahead, and everything around the Lunar New Year.
Read in full: Independent routes.
About
Who runs Mekong Travel Links?
The site is written by the Mekong Travel Links editors as an independent travel-information site. It does not sell travel.
How often are timetables checked?
Each section shows the date its sources were last read. Time-sensitive lines are rechecked when readers report a change or when a new road, bridge or airport change is announced.
Can a company ask to be listed?
Operators appear when they run a scheduled service on a leg we cover. Tell us about a service through the contact form and include the official timetable.
Read in full: About.
Start planning
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