Thoi Son Islet in Dong Thap Province has recently drawn large crowds, with boats at times forming long queues along narrow canals and visitors waiting one to two hours for a ride.
Cai Rang Floating Market
Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City offers a different river experience, with large boats laden with agricultural produce and smaller vessels selling food, drinks and other goods.
The market is busiest from around 5 am to 8 am. Visitors can hire a boat from central Can Tho before sunrise and have breakfast on the river, ordering noodles, banh mi or coffee from vendors.
There is no entrance fee. Small boat trips from Ninh Kieu Wharf typically cost VND 300,000-600,000 (USD 11-23), depending on the boat, group size and itinerary.
Son Islet
Also in Can Tho, the 70-hectare Son Islet on the Hau River offers a quieter experience centred on fruit gardens and local life.
Visitors cross the river by boat before exploring small paths between orchards and homes. Activities include visiting fruit gardens and fish farms, making traditional cakes and enjoying local dishes.
A popular attraction is the "flying snakehead fish" performance, in which fish leap from the water to catch food. April to July is also a good period for seasonal fruits such as rambutan, mangosteen and durian.
Day tours are available from around VND 400,000 (USD 15) per person, including several activities.
Xeo Quyt historical site
Xeo Quyt in Dong Thap Province combines a traditional sampan ride through a melaleuca forest with a glimpse into wartime history.
Small boats take visitors through narrow canals beneath dense forest canopies before they continue on foot to explore remnants of a former revolutionary base.
Admission costs VND 20,000, while a sampan ride costs an additional VND 30,000 for up to four passengers.
Tan Lap Floating Village
Around 100 kilometres from HCM City, Tan Lap Floating Village in Tay Ninh Province is suitable for a day trip, with its melaleuca forest, wetlands and waterways.
Visitors can take a boat through forest canals before exploring a roughly five-kilometre walking trail beneath tall melaleuca trees.
Admission is around VND 85,000 per person, with boat services costing an additional VND 70,000-80,000.
Endless Field
About 13 kilometres from Tan Lap, Endless Field can easily be combined with the floating village on a one-day trip.
The wetland area, which served as a filming location for the Vietnamese movie The Floating Lives, features melaleuca forests, grasslands and canals.
Visitors can travel by boat through the forest and explore the area's wetland ecosystem and medicinal plants.
A half-day visit typically costs around VND 200,000-400,000 (USD 8-15) per person, depending on activities.