Delta packages, every inclusion listed
Understand · Seasons
When to go, month by month
The delta can be visited all year, but each month changes something: the rain, the heat, the water in the forest, the fruit, the sea on the way to Phu Quoc. Here is what each month means for each of our routes.
The year at a glance
Our judgement from published climate data and seasonal sources listed below. Filled circle: ideal; half: good; open: workable but with a drawback.
No month is closed. The open circles mark a real drawback, such as the wettest weeks, the hottest weeks or a rougher sea, not a reason to stay away.
Sources: Wikipedia — Can Tho (climate normals); Vietnam National Authority of Tourism — Mekong Delta; Vietnam National Authority of Tourism — Chau Doc; Wikipedia — Phu Quoc (climate, distances) · checked .
The two seasons
The delta has a dry season from December to April and a rainy season from May to November. In Can Tho, January to March each see less than about 20 mm of rain; September, the wettest month, sees around 450 mm. The temperature changes less than the rain: mean daily highs run from about 30 °C in December and January to about 34 °C in April, the hottest month. Humidity is high all year and highest in the wet season.
The national tourism authority calls December to April the time for boat trips and floating markets, and May to August the peak for orchards. Both are true. The dry months make the early boats pleasant; the wet months fill the gardens.
Sources: Wikipedia — Can Tho (climate normals); Vietnam National Authority of Tourism — Mekong Delta · checked .
Month by month
| Months | What it is like | Which package |
|---|---|---|
| December – January | Dry, the coolest weeks of the year, clear mornings; floodwater may still be draining around Chau Doc in December | All four; the six-day package's dry season begins |
| Late January – February | Dry; Lunar New Year falls in this window, flower villages at their busiest, rooms dearer | All four, booked early; Sa Dec on the four-day package is at its most colourful |
| March – April | Dry and hot; April the hottest month; salt water pushes furthest up the river mouths | Two and four-day packages; pick a hotel level with a pool |
| May – August | Rain begins; orchards full of rambutan, durian, mangosteen; Phu Quoc's sea rougher | Two, three and four-day packages; the six-day package with a flexible flight |
| September – November | Wettest months; high water in the upper delta; Tra Su at its fullest; king tides in Oct–Nov | Three-day and four-day packages for Tra Su; the two-day for Can Tho |
Sources: Wikipedia — Can Tho (climate normals); VnExpress — Sa Dec flower village guide, 17 Jan 2026; National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting — salinity bulletin, 10 Mar 2026; Mia.vn — Cho Lach orchards, 13 Oct 2025; Ministry of Agriculture and Environment — 2025 Mekong flood outlook, 3 Oct 2025; Doanh nghiep Hoi nhap — Tra Su forest, 23 Oct 2024 · checked .
Flood season in the upper delta
From late summer the Mekong rises, and the upper delta around Chau Doc fills with water. The national tourism authority recommends September to November for Chau Doc, when floodwater fills Tra Su forest. In 2025 the flood peak at Tan Chau and Chau Doc was forecast for 8 to 13 October, and peak tides downstream in Can Tho were expected in mid-October and early November, when riverside streets can flood.
For our packages this is mostly good news: the three, four and six-day routes reach Tra Su at its fullest. Expect wet streets on the Can Tho riverfront at the highest tides, and the occasional change of boat route decided by your guide on the day.
Sources: Vietnam National Authority of Tourism — Chau Doc; Ministry of Agriculture and Environment — 2025 Mekong flood outlook, 3 Oct 2025 · checked .
The Phu Quoc crossing
The six-day package depends on the sea. Phu Quoc has a dry season from roughly December to March and a rainy season from April to November, with August the wettest month. Fast-boat times depend on the weather and the sea, and rough seas can disrupt the schedule. December to March is the comfortable window. Outside it, the package still runs, but keep your flight from the island flexible.
Sources: Wikipedia — Phu Quoc (climate, distances); VisitPhuQuoc.com.vn — Rach Gia to Phu Quoc ferry, 27 Jul 2026 · checked .
Health and heat
Dengue fever in Vietnam peaks from June to October, mostly in the central and southern regions, which overlaps the delta's wet season. Use mosquito repellent, especially at dawn and dusk on the river. In April and May, the hottest months, our early starts are a help rather than a hardship: the boats are out before the heat.
Sources: WHO Viet Nam — dengue; Wikipedia — Can Tho (climate normals) · checked .
Festivals and busy weeks
- Lunar New Year (Tet). Late January or February. The flower villages of Sa Dec and Cai Mon are busiest in the weeks before; hotel rates rise and some small businesses close around the holiday.
- Ba Chua Xu festival, Chau Doc. The 23rd to 27th day of the fourth lunar month, on UNESCO's list since 2024. Very crowded; book early or avoid.
- Phu Quoc's dry season. December to March is the island's busy season and its rates follow.
Once you have a month, compare the packages and see the pricing page for how the month moves the price. The destination pages go into each place in more detail.
Sources: VnExpress — Sa Dec flower village guide, 17 Jan 2026; Mia.vn — Cho Lach orchards, 13 Oct 2025; Viet Nam News — Ba Chua Xu festival on UNESCO list, 5 Dec 2024 · checked .
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Is the rainy season a bad time to go?
Not for the delta itself. The boats run, the orchards are full and Tra Su is at its fullest from September. The main drawback is the sea crossing to Phu Quoc.
Which month is the driest?
In Can Tho, February, with only a few millimetres of rain on average. January to March are all very dry.
When is Tra Su forest at its fullest?
September to November, during the high-water season.
Should we avoid Lunar New Year?
Not necessarily. The flower villages are at their most colourful, but rooms cost more and fill early, and some small businesses close around the holiday.
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Ask for a line-by-line package quote
A package, a month and how many are travelling are enough to start. We reply by email with every line of the standard table priced for your dates, at the hotel level you choose or at all three.