---
title: "Mekong Delta Tour with Cooking Class (Private Option)"
date: 2026-08-09
canonical: https://mekong-deltatour.com/tours/mekong-delta-cooking-class-tour/
---
# Mekong Delta Full-Day Tour with Cooking Class

- Ticket price: From 24 EUR per person (Prices checked 2026-08-09, prices may vary)
- Duration: Full day (approx. 9-10 hours)
- Best for: Combining the classic route with a hands-on cooking class
- Classic tours
- Check availability: https://www.getyourguide.com/en-us/ho-chi-minh-city-l272/mekong-delta-private-full-day-tour-with-cooking-class-t1327826/?partner_id=D7H7I6M&utm_medium=travel_agent&cmp=mekong-deltatour_com_agent_markdown (GetYourGuide · This site contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.)

- ★ Vinh Trang Pagoda, rarely included on standard Mekong tours
- ★ Hands-on cooking class on the private tour option
- ★ Motorboat cruise past four famous islets
- ★ Live UNESCO-recognized Don Ca Tai Tu folk music
- ★ Coconut candy workshop and tasting in Ben Tre

## Our take
This tour is worth booking for the Vinh Trang Pagoda stop, which many competing Mekong itineraries skip entirely, and for travelers who specifically want to cook a Vietnamese dish themselves rather than just eat one. The catch is the cooking class itself: it is only available on the private tour option, not the small-group version, so read the booking options carefully before assuming it is included. If cooking is not a priority, the plain small-group version of this route runs at the same starting price without that restriction.

The **Mekong Delta tour with a cooking class** follows the region's classic My Tho and Ben Tre route, adding a stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda and, on the private option, a hands-on cooking class where you make and eat your own Vietnamese dish, from around EUR 24 per person.

## What Makes This Mekong Delta Tour Different?

Two things set it apart from the standard day tour. First, Vinh Trang Pagoda, one of southern Vietnam's most architecturally interesting temples, is included here but skipped on many competing itineraries. Second, travelers who book the private option get a genuine hands-on cooking class at Eco Restaurant, learning to make banh xeo or banh khot from a local chef before eating what they cooked, rather than just receiving a plated lunch.

## What Does the Tour Include?

The price covers an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional licensed guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, the Vinh Trang Pagoda stop, the motorboat cruise past the four islets, the honey farm visit with tastings, the folk music performance, the coconut candy workshop in Ben Tre, a Vietnamese set-menu lunch, and bottled water throughout the day. The hands-on cooking class is included only on the private tour option, not the small-group version.

## Is the Cooking Class Option Worth the Upgrade?

If you enjoy cooking or want a more active food experience than a standard restaurant lunch, yes, the class at Eco Restaurant is a genuine hands-on addition rather than a demonstration. If you are booking the small-group option specifically for the price, be aware the cooking class will not be part of your day, only the standard lunch.

## Who Should Book This Tour?

This suits food-focused travelers and anyone who wants Vinh Trang Pagoda added to the classic My Tho and Ben Tre route. Families booking the private option also benefit from the flexibility of pickup across more districts. Travelers who do not care about pagodas or cooking and just want the cheapest classic route should compare this to the plain [Mekong Delta day tour](https://mekong-deltatour.com/tours/mekong-delta-day-tour/).

## Prices and What's Included

Starting from EUR 24 per person for the small-group option, this sits close to the classic day tours in price while adding the pagoda stop. Prices can shift with season, group size, chosen option and the exact date booked, so check current availability before finalizing plans. The cooking class and any additional district pickup areas apply only to the private tour price tier.

## Getting There and Insider Tips

Double-check whether you are booking the small-group or private option, since the cooking class, extra pickup districts and other-language guide availability differ between the two. Bring an appetite for the cooking class stop, since you eat what you cook in addition to the later set-menu lunch. Cash is useful for extra fruit, wine or candy at the workshop stops, as card payment is rarely available there.

## How Does This Compare to Other Mekong Delta Tours?

Travelers who do not need the cooking class or pagoda stop should compare this against the [Mekong Delta day tour](https://mekong-deltatour.com/tours/mekong-delta-day-tour/), which covers a very similar core route. Those who want the Cu Chi Tunnels added to the same day should look at the [Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta combo tour](https://mekong-deltatour.com/tours/cu-chi-tunnels-mekong-delta-tour/) instead. For background on Ben Tre, see its [Wikipedia entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%E1%BA%BFn_Tre). You can compare every option on our [tours overview](https://mekong-deltatour.com/).

## What's included
- ✓ Air-conditioned vehicle
- ✓ Professional licensed tour guide (other languages available for private option)
- ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off in Districts 1 (other districts for private option)
- ✓ Stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda
- ✓ Motorboat cruise on Tien River, 4 island views
- ✓ Hand-rowed sampan through coconut canals
- ✓ Honey farm visit with honey tea and banana wine tasting
- ✓ Seasonal tropical fruit tasting
- ✓ Don Ca Tai Tu live folk music performance
- ✓ Coconut candy workshop visit and tasting in Ben Tre
- ✓ Vietnamese set-menu lunch at Eco Restaurant
- ✓ Bottled water throughout the day
- ✗ Gratuities/tips
- ✗ Personal purchases and souvenirs
- ✗ Alcoholic beverages

## Route and itinerary
1. **Hotel pickup and drive to My Tho**: Pickup starts around 7:30am, either from your hotel or a designated meeting point, for the drive through rice paddies and countryside into the Mekong Delta, with the private option adding pickup flexibility across more districts.
2. **Vinh Trang Pagoda**: The first stop is Vinh Trang Pagoda in My Tho, one of southern Vietnam's most beautifully preserved temples, notable for blending Vietnamese, Khmer and Chinese architectural styles in one calm, unhurried visit before the river portion begins.
3. **Motorboat cruise past the four islets**: From My Tho pier, a traditional motorboat cruises the Mekong River past Dragon, Phoenix, Unicorn and Tortoise Islands, giving a close look at fish farms, wooden boats and riverside communities before arriving at Thoi Son Island.
4. **Honey farm and live folk music on Thoi Son Island**: The heart of the day: a working honey farm serving fresh honey tea and banana wine, seasonal tropical fruit picked from the garden, and a live performance of Don Ca Tai Tu, the UNESCO-recognized southern folk music, in an open riverside pavilion.
5. **Sampan ride and coconut candy workshop in Ben Tre**: A traditional sampan glides through narrow canals shaded by coconut palms before the boat continues to Ben Tre, where a family workshop demonstrates hand-rolling coconut candy, with time to browse and taste.
6. **Hands-on cooking class (private option only)**: Travelers on the private tour option take part in a hands-on cooking class at Eco Restaurant before lunch, guided by a local chef through making banh xeo or banh khot, then eating what they cooked. This step is not available on the small-group option.
7. **Riverside lunch and return to Ho Chi Minh City**: A full Vietnamese set-menu lunch is served at a riverside garden restaurant, with a vegan option on request, followed by a traditional cart ride through village lanes before the drive back, arriving around 5:00 to 5:30pm.

## FAQs
### Is the cooking class included on every booking of this tour?
No, the hands-on cooking class at Eco Restaurant is included only on the private tour option, not the small-group version.

### What do you cook during the Mekong Delta cooking class?
Guests learn to make banh xeo, a sizzling Vietnamese crepe, or banh khot, savory coconut pancakes, guided by a local chef, then eat what they cooked.

### Does this tour visit Vinh Trang Pagoda?
Yes, a stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda in My Tho is included on both the small-group and private options.

### Is lunch included in addition to the cooking class?
Yes, a full Vietnamese set-menu lunch at Eco Restaurant is included, with vegan options available on request.

### What is the difference between the small-group and private options?
The private option adds the cooking class, more flexible pickup districts, and other-language guides, none of which apply to the small-group version.

### How long does the Mekong Delta cooking class tour last?
Plan for around 9 to 10 hours, with pickup around 7:30am and a return to Ho Chi Minh City around 5:00 to 5:30pm.