Want to explore the Mekong Delta in a fun and exciting way with like-minded travel buddies? Forget the boring package tours, the Mekong Madness Tour is the most adventurous way for backpackers to explore this unique and wonderful part of Vietnam…
Mekong Madness Itinerary
Day 1
06:15 – 6.30 – Nice and early, you’ll meet the rest of the group at around 6:15am on the day of departure at Flipside Walking Street Hostel in time for a morning briefing. We’ll have breakfast together and cover everything you need to know before departing for the bus station (you will pick up our bikes in the Mekong Delta).
07:00 – Depart for the bus station.
08:00 – Bus to Mekong (Ben Tre).
10:30-11:00 – Head out on the motorbikes and begin our exploration of the seemingly endless maze of pathways and Mekong back alleys that you would not otherwise find on your own.
13:00 – Delicious local lunch before setting off once again, delving deep into the Mekong countryside where we’ll drive directly through the largest amount of coconut plantations in Vietnam!
Motorbike ferry crossings and countless bridge crossings. A truly awesome day!
16:00-16:30 – We’ll arrive at our comfy homestay in time for an amazing sunset! Option to swim in the pool, relax, take a walk, drink ice cold beers and play pool. They also have a Spa!
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.
Day 2
07:00 – Another early start for breakfast before taking a traditional longboat up the Mighty Mekong and seeing some local markets, outstanding sights, and also a short paddle boat through some smaller river ways and local farmers backyards!
09:30 – Head out once again on the scooters, taking an alternative route back to Ben Tre city.
13:00 – Another yummy local lunch before taking the bikes through the lush plantations of locally grown palms and fruit orchids.
16:00-16:30 – We’ll arrive back at our base in Ben Tre. Drop off our trusty steeds, have a couple of local beers and jump back on the bus.
19:00-19:30 – Arrive back at Flipside Hostel just in time for happy hour! Ask your guide for special food and drink deals we can do for you as our new-found Mekong Madness mates!
Breakfast and Lunch Included.
What you need to bring:
Your passport.
Sunscreen.
Mosquito repellent.
Poncho.
Some extra cash for drinks etc.
We highly recommend travel insurance that covers motorbike injuries.
Your camera and an adventurous attitude!
What’s included and what’s not?
Included: All activities as mentioned above, bikes, fuel, English speaking tour leader, food as mentioned, all transfers, ferry fees and accommodation.
Not Included: Drinks and personal expenses, extra snacks, bike repair due to riding failure, travel insurance.
Refund Policy
To book, pay a deposit online through South East Asia Backpacker. This deposit is fully refundable if you cancel at least 72 hours before the activity starts.
The rest of the payment is made directly to the operator according to their instructions.
Important: This refund policy applies only to the deposit made on this website. Any later payments made to the operator are subject to their own refund policy.
Hi, I’m Nikki. I started this website in 2008 after my first solo backpacking trip to Asia. A trip that changed my life. My vision was to create a travel diary for everyone – a place for all travellers to share their experiences. After living in Southeast Asia for over 10 years, I saw the opportunity to provide backpackers with the kind of experiences that I’d treasured myself in the region.
Today, there is so much choice, but there are a lot of poor-quality tours and companies that offer mediocre experiences with little care for the environment. I wanted to create a selection of the best tried and tested activities to help backpackers avoid scams and unwanted experiences.
Today, I run this website with my partner, Dave, from Spain, where we live with our two young daughters, Eve and baby Rose. All of the bookable activities that you find on this website have been vetted by a member of our team and we have a friendly relationship with the operator. There are real humans behind South East Asia Backpacker and we are passionate about sustainable travel and tourism in Southeast Asia.
We’re committed to helping travellers at every stage of the journey and are happy to answer your questions pre, during and post travels. We understand that plans can change which is why we offer a full refund on the deposit up to 72 hours before the start of your trip, no questions asked. We offer advice on flights, visas, itineraries, hostels, backpacks, packing and more!
If you have any questions about our business or any of the tours that we provide, feel free to contact me on Whatsapp.
FAQs
What time and where does the group meet on the day of departure?
We will meet at 6:30am at Flipside Walking Street hostel (75 Bùi Viện) to grab some tasty breakfast before taxi departure to the bus station. From here, the bus journey takes only 1h 45min to Ben Tre where we start our motorbike adventure
What time will we return to HCM on the last day?
We will return around 8pm.
What should I bring on the trip?
You just want 1 small back pack worth of gear (school sized back pack). We all generally wear the same “Riding” clothes on each of the 2 days (We will all be in the same boat!).
Riding Wear (Day Time): Enclosed footwear (hiking boots / trainers), long pants (KEEPS THE SUN OFF YOUR LEGS), a long sleeved shirt (preferable to a T Shirt), sunglasses & rain jacket / Poncho. Note: If you don’t have one, we have Ponchos that can be purchased at Flipside.
Post Riding Wear (Evenings): Shorts, singlets, swimwear, flip-flops / sandals. Whatever you are comfortable in.
Other Bits: Passport, sun cream, insect repellant, some pocket money for water and any other liquid refreshment (all buses / accommodation / fuel / motorbike/ food is provided by Flipside).
There are towels provided at the homestay.
What will you eat?
We eat Vietnamese food and emphasis on fresh and local products wherever possible to support the villagers in the area. If you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies, please make our staff aware before departing on the trip. We advise you to take snacks with you, as choice can be limited once in the Mekong Province.
Is insurance included?
Travel insurance is NOT included in the trip; we strongly recommend that you have your own travel insurance against illness, injury, loss/damage to personal belongings and are not able to travel on the confirmed departure date. We are not responsible for any personal injury or loss / damage to personal belongings or bags.
What happens if there is a problem with the bike?
If the bike should get a puncture, damage or have a mechanical failure through no fault of the customer, this cost will be covered by Flipside Hostel. Any damage caused by the customer whether whilst in control of the bike or, as the passenger will be liable to be paid for by the customer. But do not worry, as repairs can be cheap in Vietnam. Your tour guide will lead the expedition with due care to health & safety.
Q & A
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Hi, I’m Nikki. I started this website in 2008 after my first solo backpacking trip to Asia. A trip that changed my life. My vision was to create a travel diary for everyone – a place for all travellers to share their experiences. After living in Southeast Asia for over 10 years, I saw the opportunity to provide backpackers with the kind of experiences that I’d treasured myself in the region.
Had a great time, and ate some really amazing food. A different way of experiencing Vietnam, and one that I highly recommend.
One of the best things I have done in SEA. Couldn’t recommend it highly enough.