With their own wheels, travelers can tear up the three-day tourist trail through the Mekong byways and delve deeper into the delta to be rewarded with its rhythms, fragrances and colors. For anyone battling the insane highways of the delta by motorbike, a helmet is a wise accessory (and required by law )!

Beginning in Ben Tre, take a boat trip to the islands around Vinh Long for an overnight in a bungalow set in a small longan orchard. From Ben Tre, a trek to Can Tho takes you to the home of the famous Ho Chi Minh ' Tin Man' statue and the delta's most cosmopolitan and commercial city. Take a detour to Soc Trang, home to a sizeable Cambodian community and its wonderful wats (temples). Float by boat through the local floating markets before moving on to charming Chau Doc, a border-crossing town for those pushing westward into Cambodia via river or road. Check out the views of the pancake delta from the heights of Sam Mountain.

The departure from the road more travelled starts here, heading south-west to Ba Chuc and its bone pagoda, and then through Ha Tien, another border town with a beach to boot. Even more bucolic a beach can be found at Hon Chong, where the sunset meets the sea and the rocky coastal geography contrasts sharply with the sandy beaches east of Ho Chi Minh City.
From here, travellers can take the highway along the southern edge of the delta region to Rach Gia, the jumping-off point for those bound for An Thoi on serene Phu Quoc Island. Phu Quoc affords rest and relaxation, nuoc mam (fish sauce) and forest reserves - a spectacular end to the Mekong Delta experience.