Con Thoi Son Island: The Must-Visit Destination on Your Mekong Delta Journey with The Rice Travel Group
Nestled in the gentle waters of the Tien River, Con Thoi Son Island has long been one of the most iconic destinations in My Tho, Tien Giang Province. Unlike many tourist hotspots, this island remains wonderfully untouched — no concrete resorts, no crowded attractions. What you'll find instead is the authentic soul of southern Vietnam: lush rows of coconut palms swaying in the breeze, the rhythmic sound of oars skimming the water's surface, the sweet scent of pure honey drifting from local apiaries, and the warm, genuine smiles of the people who call this island home.
But to truly live Con Thoi Son — rather than simply pass through it — you need a travel companion who knows this land intimately, from every riverside herb garden to every bend in the river. That's exactly why The Rice Travel Group was created.
Thoi Son Island - a hot check-in spot for domestic and international tourists this summer.
The Rice Travel Group – Your Expert Guide to an Authentic Mekong Delta Experience
While most Mekong Delta tours on the market follow the same tired formula — large buses, quick photo stops, and generic buffet lunches — The Rice Travel Group takes a completely different approach: a maximum of 5 guests per departure.
This is the company's core philosophy. With a small group, every traveler receives genuine, personalized attention. Itineraries flex to match each person's pace. Most importantly, you actually immerse yourself in the Mekong Delta instead of observing it through a tour bus window.
3 Key Differences That Make The Rice Travel Group's Mekong Delta Tour Stand Out
1. Maximum 5 Guests Per Departure
No crowds. No rushing through a fixed itinerary. Every traveler enjoys the journey at their own pace — with ample time at each destination and meaningful conversations with your guide about the culture, people, and way of life in the Mekong Delta. This level of personalization creates a deeper, more authentic, and far more memorable travel experience.
2. Expert Local Guides
The Rice Travel Group's guides go far beyond reciting landmark names. They know why the people of Con Thoi Son make puffed rice at dawn rather than dusk. They share stories of the Mekong Delta with the depth and warmth of someone who truly belongs here — not from a pre-written script, but from lived experience and genuine love for this land.
3. Professional Photographer Included
This is the feature that sets The Rice Travel Group apart from virtually every other operator: each tour includes a dedicated professional photographer. You won't need to fumble with your phone, flag down strangers, or interrupt a special moment to worry about getting the right shot. Your photographer will capture your best moments naturally — gliding through a canopy of water palms in a sampan, tasting fresh honey straight from the comb, laughing on a colorful tuk-tuk winding through a village lane. Every photo is candid, vivid, and authentically you.
Every tour offered by The Rice Travel Group includes a photographer who captures authentic moments of our guests.
Full 1-Day My Tho – Ben Tre Mekong Delta Tour Itinerary
A full day with The Rice Travel Group is a day you'll remember for years. Below is a detailed look at an itinerary designed for genuine cultural depth — not surface-level sightseeing.
Departure from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho – Setting Sail on the River
The journey begins at My Tho Pier, where traditional wooden river boats await. The morning river atmosphere — glistening water, soft delta breezes, the smell of the floodplains — awakens every one of your senses from the very first moment.
My Tho - The starting point for an adventure exploring Thoi Son Island in the Mekong Delta.
Cruise Past the Four Islands: Long – Lan – Qui – Phung
From My Tho Pier, the group drifts downstream along the Tien River, passing four famous river islands: Con Long, Con Lan, Con Quy, and Con Phung. Together, these names form "Long Lan Qui Phung" — the four sacred creatures of Vietnamese mythology — a poetic blessing to start your voyage.
Each island carries its own story and character. Your guide will share the history of how each island formed, the lives of communities who have lived surrounded by water for generations, and what has changed — and what has beautifully remained — across the decades.
Experience a relaxing boat ride, enjoying the scenery as you pass through the four islets of Long, Lan, Qui, and Phung.
Taste Pure, Raw Honey Straight From the Hive
At a working apiary on Con Thoi Son Island, you'll dip a spoon directly into golden honeycomb and taste raw, unprocessed honey just as nature made it.
Con Thoi Son honey is renowned for its distinctively fruity flavor profile, a result of bees foraging in the island's abundant orchards. The beekeeper will open a live hive so you can observe a colony in full activity — a rare and completely safe experience under expert supervision.
Watch Traditional Puffed Rice Being Made by Hand
At a small puffed rice workshop on the island, you'll witness the craft of making golden, crispy puffed rice from scratch. A seasoned artisan works the roasting pan over an open fire with practiced, almost meditative ease — a rhythm refined over a lifetime.
Puffed rice in the Mekong Delta is more than a snack; it's a taste of childhood nostalgia for generations of southern Vietnamese. Sampling freshly made puffed rice, still warm from the fire, will help you understand why this craft is still cherished and preserved today.
See Traditional Rice Paper Made by Hand
Just beside the puffed rice workshop, a traditional rice paper workshop operates in full swing. Each thin sheet is hand-poured into round molds, then laid out to dry on bamboo racks beneath the brilliant Mekong Delta sun. The air carries the pleasant fragrance of glutinous rice, and the steady rhythm of the workers creates an atmosphere of rare, unhurried peace.
Your guide will explain the differences between rice paper varieties — plain rice paper, glutinous rice paper, sesame rice paper — and the culinary culture woven into each one. It's the most enjoyable history lesson you'll ever have.
Ride a Tuk-Tuk Through the Village Lanes
After the island workshops, the group boards brightly painted tuk-tuks for a leisurely ride along narrow village paths flanked by swaying coconut palms and traditional thatched-roof homes.
The tuk-tuk moves just slowly enough for you to notice: an elderly woman mending fishing nets on her porch, a flock of chickens scratching behind a banana grove, children waving at passing strangers with uninhibited smiles. These are the "slow moments" that city life almost never allows — and your photographer won't miss a single one.
Experience a tuk-tuk ride exploring the roads of the Mekong Delta.
Glide Through the Heart of Con Thoi Son by Sampan
This is the highlight of the entire journey. Stepping off the larger river boat, the group transfers to small traditional wooden sampans to weave through narrow canals deep into Con Thoi Son Island.
Seated low in the sampan, ducking under drooping water coconut fronds, you'll experience the singular silence of the Mekong Delta: only the dip of oars, birdsong echoing from the banks, the sound of water, the whisper of wind. Your photographer will frame the most breathtaking images of this moment — every guest is guaranteed to leave with beautiful, keepsake photos.
Enjoy a Live Đờn Ca Tài Tử Performance – The Soul of Southern Vietnam
After a satisfying lunch, as the afternoon breeze begins to drift through the palm canopy, the group gathers for a very special performance: đờn ca tài tử — traditional folk music recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Local master musicians — playing the moon lute, the zither, and singing in the deeply expressive southern vocal style — perform pieces that carry the heart and spirit of the Mekong Delta. No grand stage, no amplified speakers; just the raw, intimate sound of traditional instruments filling the island's green, open air. That simplicity is precisely what makes it unforgettable.
Your guide will explain each song, each melody, each vọng cổ refrain so you can truly feel the emotion and meaning that Mekong Delta people pour into every note. Listening to "đờn ca tài tử" isn't just enjoying music — it's placing your hand on the cultural pulse of an entire region.
Tourists can listen to traditional folk music while learning about the cultural aspects of this art form.
Try Real Crocodile Fishing – 100% Authentic
This is the activity that leaves guests equal parts thrilled and nervous. At a working crocodile farm, you'll take a fishing rod and try your hand at fishing for Siamese crocodiles — a species native to the Mekong Delta.
Rest assured — the entire experience is conducted under strict safety conditions with experienced handlers at your side at all times. But the feeling of a crocodile lunging for the bait and yanking your rod? That's a sensation you simply won't find on any ordinary Mekong Delta tour.
Tourists are experiencing crocodile fishing.
Observe a Catfish Pond – A Moment of Pure Mekong Tranquility
After the crocodile excitement, the group visits traditional catfish ponds — one of the most iconic features of southern Vietnamese aquaculture. White catfish and yellow catfish glide through the crystal-clear water, creating a scene so peaceful you'll want to sit and simply watch for a while. Your guide will share fascinating stories about catfish behavior, traditional farming practices, and the role of this fish in Mekong Delta cuisine — the kind of stories you never expected to find interesting, until you hear them.
The plump catfish are jumping up to "snatch" food from tourists.
Savor an Authentic Mekong Delta Lunch
The perfect reward after a rich and active morning is a genuine Mekong Delta lunch served right on the island. Not a buffet. Not a tourist-adapted menu. This is real southern Vietnamese home cooking, with ingredients sourced directly from the island's gardens, ponds, and rivers.
A typical spread might include: crispy elephant ear fish (cá tai tượng chiên xù), fresh-water prawns steamed with lemongrass, sour soup with snakeskin fish and bông so đũa blossoms, stir-fried water spinach with garlic, and a platter of seasonal local fruits. Eating beneath gently swaying palms with the soft sound of leaves in the breeze — this is the best meal many of The Rice Travel Group's guests say they've ever had on a trip.
Crispy elephant ear fish
Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda – A Masterpiece of Sacred Architecture
The day closes with a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda — one of the oldest and most magnificent temples in southern Vietnam, built in the 19th century in a remarkable architectural style blending Asian and European influences.
Towering Buddha statues, sweeping curved rooftops, and the tranquil interior of the pagoda create a deeply spiritual experience — the perfect, serene closing chapter to a full day of discovery on Con Thoi Son Island and the My Tho–Ben Tre region.
Vinh Trang Pagoda
Essential Travel Tips for Visiting Con Thoi Son Island
Whether you're visiting with The Rice Travel Group or exploring independently, keep these tips in mind for the best experience:
Clothing: Wear lightweight, breathable clothing suitable for a warm, humid environment. If you book with The Rice Travel Group, your guide will offer specific packing suggestions before departure.
Physical readiness: The itinerary involves a fair amount of walking, sampan riding, and tuk-tuk boarding. Ensure you're in good health and stay well-hydrated throughout the day.
Personal camera: Even with a professional photographer on hand, you're welcome to bring your own camera or smartphone to capture moments from your own perspective.
Book early: With a strict limit of 5 guests per departure, The Rice Travel Group's schedule fills up quickly — especially on weekends and public holidays. Early booking is strongly recommended.
See More: Discover the Breathtaking Mekong Delta Landscapes That Stole the Screen — With The Rice Travel Group
Why Con Thoi Son with The Rice Travel Group Is Worth It
Mekong Delta tourism is at a crossroads: on one side, mass-market tours racing through a checklist of photo stops; on the other, small, slow, intentional journeys that leave you with something lasting.
Con Thoi Son doesn't need hundreds more visitors every day. It needs travelers who arrive with the spirit of learners, not just consumers. The Rice Travel Group is building exactly that kind of journey — smaller, slower, deeper, and far more meaningful.
If you're searching for a Mekong Delta tour that's truly different — one where you finish the day feeling like you've genuinely been somewhere, not merely passed through — then Con Thoi Son Island with The Rice Travel Group is your answer.
If you want a private and relaxing experience of the Mekong Delta, contact The Rice Travel Group to book your tour.
Book Your Tour – Contact The Rice Travel Group
The Rice Travel Group
Specialty: 1-Day My Tho – Ben Tre Mekong Delta Tour
Group size: Maximum 5 guests per departure (private 7-seat vehicle)
Included: Professional English-speaking guide + Professional photographer
Daily departure: 8:00 AM
Address: Bui Vien Walking Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Hotline (Zalo / WhatsApp): +84 962 333 621 | +84 962 333 641
Email: daiviettherice@gmail.com
