Best hotels in Mekong Delta

At first glance, the triple-decker ship has the look of a hotel adrift on the Mekong Delta, water rippling like silk at the bow. Dressed in a coat of wood and metal, the Aqua departs from Ho Chi Minh City to meander past tiny villages and floating markets. Along the way, trace the country roads on a bicycle or birdwatch from the comfort of a rooftop lounger - photographers at the ready! Serene interiors create a relaxing place to rest after a busy day packed with activities. Evenings are spent watching a classic at the cinema or enjoy the sunset over a cocktail.

Vietnam's Mekong Delta is a mesmerising maze of waterways, floating markets and emerald-green palm groves – but most visitors only scratch the surface. These private sampans, sized to navigate the narrowest tributaries, take you somewhere entirely different: canals too slim for commercial boats, villages untouched by tourism, and encounters with rice paper makers, coconut farmers and brick artisans who've honed their crafts for generations. Recognised as a Lonely Planet 'Top Choice', the experience is refreshingly intimate – a dedicated crew of four or five looks after everything from five-course dinners to cycling excursions through the countryside. It's slow travel at its finest, drifting through Ben Tre's legendary 'Coconut Kingdom'.