Hau Giang Travel Guide: The Mekong Delta Without the Crowds

Hau Giang sits just south of Can Tho, and it's what the Delta looked like before floating markets became a fixture on every Ho Chi Minh City tour itinerary. It doesn't have a single headline sight — the appeal is the pace: narrow canals, small orchard villages, and far fewer boats full of cameras.

Nga Bay (Phung Hiep) floating market

Hau Giang's own floating market is smaller and more local than Cai Rang in Can Tho — mostly households trading directly rather than a set-up for visitors. Early morning is still the right time to go.

Canal-side villages

Renting a smaller boat (or arranging one through a local guide) to move through the narrower canals around Nga Bay is the main reason to add Hau Giang rather than just doing Can Tho and moving on. It's slower travel, but that's the point.

How to fit it in

Hau Giang works best as a day trip or single overnight tacked onto a Can Tho base, or as a stop on the way to Soc Trang if you're continuing further into the Delta. See the Mekong Delta itinerary overview for how the timing works across the region.