Weekend Guide to Vinh Long: An Undiscovered Mekong Destination

Planning Your Trip Last Minute?

Where to Stay: Booking.com is our go-to platform to search for amazing hotels. Here are our favorite places to stay in Vinh Long.

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Budget

Mekong Pottery Homestay

Budget

Mekong Nature Lodge

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Best Time to Visit: November to April

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Getting to Vinh Long: The easiest way to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Vinh Long is by limousine bus, which takes around three hours. Book your bus ticket here!

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Ready to visit Vinh Long? Get your travel insurance at Heymondo today ang get 5% off for being our reader!

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Mekong Delta’s Quiet Riverside Corner

Vinh Long may feel quiet and unassuming at first glance, but it offers one of the most rewarding weekend getaways from Ho Chi Minh City. Days here consist of rowing small sampan boats through shaded canals, cycling past fruit orchards, or following narrow riverside roads lined with traditional brick kilns.

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With its slow pace and minimal crowds, Vinh Long is ideal if you’re seeking something more relaxed and authentic than the typical boat tours and busy attractions of southern Vietnam.

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Read: Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Vietnam

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Map of Vinh Long

Make the most of your 2 days in Vinh Long with our detailed map, highlighting the best places to visit as well as recommended places to eat and stay.

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How to Spend 2 Days in Vinh Long

This 2-day Vinh Long itinerary balances cultural sights, local life, and time to unwind. Day one focuses on the city center and nearby An Binh Island, while day two takes you deeper into the region’s brick and pottery traditions.

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Planning a trip to Vietnam? Don’t miss our guide with 17 essential things to know, from visas to SIM cards and everything in between!

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Day 1: Charming Center & Island Getaway

Morning

Begin your day at  the Temple of Literature, also known as Van Thanh Mieu, set along the banks of the Long Ho River. Built between 1864 and 1866, the temple is used to worship Confucius.

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Note: The temple is open from 7-11am and 1-5pm. Entrance is free. Dress modestly and remove your hat before entering the inner buildings.

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Passing through the three-door gate, you'll enter a serene garden shaded by tall trees. It's a great spot to enjoy the peaceful morning atmosphere, as the grounds are often quiet.

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Read: Guide to Visiting Vinh Trang Pagoda

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Afterward, take a short walk to MTK Coffee, a distinctive cafe designed to resemble a traditional temple, complete with wooden pillars and hanging lanterns. You’ll even have to remove your shoes before entering!

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Continue toward the Co Chien River to visit the Vinh Long Provincial Museum. Established in 1976, the museum consists of three buildings and is open from 7:30-11am and 1:30-5pm (Tuesday to Saturday). Entry is free, though English signage is limited.

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The main building’s ground floor highlights Ho Chi Minh’s role in the liberation movement through documents and images, while the upper level focuses on the wars against French colonial and American forces. Nearby buildings feature artifacts related to Vinh Long’s ethnic culture and include a small Hung King Temple.

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For lunch, head to Tran Vu - Cuu Long, a nearby favorite serving nem nuong (grilled pork sausage) with fresh herbs, rice paper, and dipping sauce.

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Heading to Ben Tre after? Discover the top things to do in our full guide!

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Afternoon

Before crossing to An Binh Island, stop near the ferry dock at Coffee Bon for a ca phe da. From here, ferries depart frequently, and the short ride to the island takes around 5 minutes.

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Your first stop on An Binh Island is Tien Chau Pagoda, built in 1750 and considered the oldest pagoda in Vinh Long Province. Take a stroll through its spacious garden and admire the intricately carved details.

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Looking for islands beyond the usual tourist spots? Nam Du and Hon Son in the southern Mekong Delta offer calm beaches and a relaxed atmosphere without the crowds. 

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Nicknamed "Fruit Island", An Binh is known for its many fruit orchards, so keep an eye out for rambutans, longans, and pomelos. You can also explore the island by crossing its decades-old arched bridges that span narrow canals.

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Tip: You can also discover the island on a boat with a day tour from Mekong Pottery Homestay.

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The island is dotted with simple, welcoming homestays, making it an excellent base for a relaxing weekend getaway.

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Here are our recommended homestays on An Binh Island:

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Budget

Ngoc San Homestay

Budget

Mekong Nature Lodge

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An Binh Island was once a common starting point for trips to the Cai Be floating market. Since COVID-19, the market has largely disappeared. During our visit, only a handful of boats remained, with many abandoned vessels lining the river.

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Two new bridges and a nearby covered market have further reduced river-based trading, so be cautious of operators still advertising full floating market tours.

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Read: Located about 65km northwest of Cai Be, the Cai Rang floating market is one of the largest wholesale markets in the Mekong Delta. Although it's now more crowded with tourists, it still provides a glimpse into the region's trading culture.

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Day 2: The Red Brick Kingdom

Morning

Start at the Vinh Long Central Market, where stalls overflow with tropical fruits and vegetables. Here you’ll also find easy breakfast options such as banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches) and che (sweet bean dessert).

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Just a few kilometers from Can Tho, Vi Thanh Market offers a fascinating local experience, where vendors sit on the ground displaying fresh produce, earning it the nickname “the squatting market.”

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After visiting the market, head to a pottery factory along Provincial Road 902 to learn more about Vinh Long’s terracotta industry. 

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While possible, visiting the factories on your own can be a bit challenging. Workers we met were welcoming and allowed us to look around, but booking a tour is the best way to enjoy a well-rounded and informative visit.

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Book your tour with Mekong Pottery Homestay!

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Afternoon

In the afternoon, continue toward the brick kiln village along the Cai Thay Canal. Here, you can observe bricks being molded, dried, and fired inside towering beehive-shaped kilns.

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Read More: Brick and Pottery Village of Vinh Long

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As sunset approaches, head to the rooftop at Nha Gach Gom Duong Dai for sweeping views of the kilns.

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Note: You can visit on your own, but we highly recommend going with a guide if you want to understand how Vinh Long’s brick industry truly works. For the best experience, book a tour with Mekong Pottery Homestay.

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For dinner, return to the city center and eat at Oc Nguyen Sai Gon 2, serving delicious and affordable seafood. Try the steamed clams with lemongrass and the fried squid with vegetables.

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After dinner, unwind at 64-Daklao Cafe & Roastery for freshly roasted coffee, or head to Zen Spa for a soothing full body massage and sauna treatment.

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Read: 6 Best Day Trips from Can Tho

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Plan Your Trip to Vinh Long

How to Reach Vinh Long

Bus: Buses from Ho Chi Minh City take around three hours, with tickets starting at 260,000vnd (about $9).

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Book your bus ticket to Vinh Long here!

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Car: Private transfers from Ho Chi Minh City start from around $70 and offer the most flexibility.

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Reserve your car from Ho Chi Minh City here!

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Where to Stay

Vinh Long offers a wide range of accommodations, from rustic homestays to modern hotels and guesthouses. For a peaceful retreat, consider staying on An Binh Island. For easy access to restaurants and transport, stay in the city center.

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Here are our recommended places to stay in Vinh Long:

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Budget

Mekong Pottery Homestay

Budget

Mekong Nature Lodge

Eating in Vinh Long

Hu Tieu Muc Thit Mien Tay: Family-owned restaurant specializing in Hu Tieu Muc (squid noodle soup) served with fresh vegetables. 

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Oc Nguyen Sai Gon 2: A great place to eat fresh seafood with open air seating. Popular dishes include grilled fish, oyster, and squid.

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Pho Trung Vuong: Popular restaurant located in the city center serving pho bo (beef noodle soup) in stone bowls.

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Drinking in Vinh Long

MTK Coffee: Serves a great selection of coffee and pastries in a temple-like setting, complete with wooden pillars and brick walls. 

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Up Coffee: Small coffee shop serving delicious and reasonably priced coffee and fresh teas.

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64 Daklao Cafe: Enjoy freshly roasted coffee in this cozy cafe with garden seating. Pastries are also available.

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Best Time to Visit

You can visit Vinh Long year-round, but for the best weather, plan your trip between November and April. During these months, the temperatures are pleasant, and there's a low chance of rain. December to February sees the highest number of foreign visitors.

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Read More: Best Time to Visit Vietnam

And that’s our complete guide to visiting Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta.

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If you have more time, consider continuing north to Cao Lanh, the capital of Dong Thap Province, about 50km away. It’s a great starting point for exploring Xeo Quyt Forest and Tram Chim National Park, with a lively local food scene and far fewer visitors than other cities in the region.

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If you have any questions, let us know in the comments below.