A Mekong Tet day trip from Saigon visits Sa Dec flower village, Lai Vung tangerine orchards and the Giant Lotus Pagoda in Dong Thap, with lunch in Sa Dec. Go before January 30, 2027, while the flowers are still in the fields and the tangerines are ripe.

Lunar New Year 2027 falls on Saturday, February 6, so the best window runs from late December 2026 to late January 2027. The trip runs by private car from Saigon and gets back in the evening.

In the last weeks of the year, growers in Sa Dec wrap each flower pot in newspaper and load it onto boats and trucks bound for Tet markets across the south. Just over 10 km away, Lai Vung’s tangerine trees hang so heavy with fruit that the branches need props. This tour puts both scenes, a pond of giant lotus leaves and a Sa Dec lunch into one day, and shows you the side of Tet most travelers miss: not the decorations, but the farms that supply them.

The Tet tour itinerary: 4 stops in one day

The tour includes a private car for your group only, a guide for the whole route and no shopping stops. Pickup time is set when you book, since roads get busier as Tet gets closer. This is the order with the least backtracking.

Stop 1: Saigon to Sa Dec flower village (about 3 hours on the road, 2 hours in the gardens)

Sa Dec is about 140 km from Saigon. Via the Trung Luong-My Thuan Expressway, the drive takes 3 to 3.5 hours outside peak times, and an hour or more longer in the days before Tet. Once there, you walk the lanes between the gardens and watch growers trim, wrap and load their pots. Some gardens charge a small entry fee.

Stop 2: lunch in Sa Dec (about 1 hour)

Lunch is in town before the midday sun gets too strong for the orchards. What to try is covered in the lunch section below.

Stop 3: Lai Vung tangerine orchard (about 1.5 hours)

Lai Vung is just over 10 km from Sa Dec. Walk under the laden branches and taste the fruit straight from the tree. Buying tangerines to take home is up to you.

Stop 4: Giant Lotus Pagoda, then back to Saigon

The Giant Lotus Pagoda, Phuoc Kien Temple, is about 20 km from Sa Dec. Spend half an hour there, then drive back, reaching Saigon in the evening.

To be honest about the day: it means 6 to 7 hours in the car in total. Travelers with children or older parents can book two days instead, with a night in Sa Dec and the gardens at dawn, the best light of the trip.

Before Tet or during Tet

For the flower village, go before Tet. Sa Dec’s flowers bloom through the twelfth lunar month and are shipped to Saigon before its 23rd day, which in 2027 is January 30. The orchards last longer: they are busiest through the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, which in 2027 is February 1, and before Tet 2026, 6 orchards and 3 eco-tourism sites planned to stay open through the holiday.

Tour stop	Before Tet (late Dec 2026 to late Jan 2027)	During Tet (Feb 6-10, 2027)
Sa Dec flower village	At its best, fields in bloom, growers shipping flowers	Thinned out, most flowers already sold
Lai Vung tangerine orchards	Peak season, trees heavy with fruit	Some orchards open
Giant Lotus Pagoda	Open	Open, busy with local worshippers
Lunch	Restaurants open as usual	Some close for the first days of the year
Roads	Busier closer to Tet	Heavy traffic back to Saigon as the holiday ends

Sa Dec flower village: a town racing toward Tet

The signature sight is pompom chrysanthemums grown on raised frames above shallow water, so whole fields of yellow seem to float. For Tet 2026, Sa Dec planted around 100 hectares of flowers and ornamental plants, and its flower growing was listed as national intangible cultural heritage in December 2025.

Why so many flowers? In southern Vietnam, a Tet home is not ready without yellow chrysanthemums or marigolds, which stand for long life and good luck. The best light for photos is early morning or late afternoon, which is why the tour leaves Saigon early.

Lunch in Sa Dec: noodles and rice cakes

Lunch is a chance to eat what the town is known for. Sa Dec’s hu tieu is chewy rice noodles, thicker than usual with a milky-white color, served dry or in broth. If your group likes to graze, the Lang Bot food area has dozens of traditional rice cakes, sweet and savory. Later, at some Lai Vung orchards, hosts serve drinks, local nem Lai Vung and southern folk music.

Vegetarian, allergies or traveling with small children? Mention it when you book so lunch can be planned around it.

Lai Vung tangerines: one harvest a year

Round, golden-orange tangerines stand for a full and prosperous year, which is why southern families put them on the altar at Tet. Lai Vung’s pink tangerines (quyt hong) have just one harvest a year, ripening right before the holiday. The orchards cover just over 220 hectares across three communes.

Some visitors reserve a whole tree in advance and come back to pick it just before Tet. On the tour, a walk through the rows and a few sweet-sour fruits eaten under the branches is enough.

The Giant Lotus Pagoda: leaves you can stand on

The last stop is a pond of giant water lilies at Phuoc Kien Temple. The plant comes from South America and locals call it king lotus. The leaves are as wide as a round bamboo tray. A leaf can hold up to 140 kg, and visitors can step onto one for a photo. Viewing the pond is free; standing on a leaf is a paid service with a wooden plank, entirely optional.

The flowers bloom all year rather than in one season. It is a working temple, so cover shoulders and knees and keep your voice down near the main hall. Cars park at nearby houses and you walk the last stretch in.

What to bring on a Mekong Tet tour

• The most important thing is the date: a Sa Dec flower village Tet trip is best before January 30, 2027, the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, after which the flower village is past its best.
• A hat, sunscreen and water; the gardens and orchards have little shade.
• Shoes with grip, as some garden paths are narrow and slippery.
• Small Vietnamese dong notes for garden fees and the lotus leaf photo.
• Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the temple.
• Book at least 24 hours ahead, earlier in the days before Tet, so the pickup time can be confirmed.
• English is limited outside hotels and homestays in Sa Dec, so ask for an English-speaking guide when you book.

Book a Mekong Tet tour with The Rice Tour

The Rice Tour runs private trips to Sa Dec and Lai Vung: only your group in the car, more time wherever you like it, and no shopping stops, so buying flowers or fruit is up to you. Message The Rice Tour with your date, group size and one or two days to get a plan.

The Rice Tour office is at 195 De Tham Street, Ben Thanh Ward, right next to Bui Vien. Here is the street around it, by day and by night:

The Bui Vien area, steps from The Rice Tour office at 195 De Tham.

Prefer a shorter drive? See this guide to choosing a 1-day or 2-day Mekong Delta tour to My Tho, Ben Tre or Can Tho.

FAQ

What does the Mekong Tet tour to Sa Dec include?

Four stops: Sa Dec flower village, lunch in Sa Dec, a Lai Vung tangerine orchard and the Giant Lotus Pagoda, in one day by private car from Saigon.

When is the best time to visit Sa Dec flower village?

Before January 30, 2027, the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, when the flowers are in full bloom. The best window runs from late December 2026 to late January 2027.

How far is Sa Dec from Ho Chi Minh City?

About 140 km, or 3 to 3.5 hours by car via the Trung Luong-My Thuan Expressway. Allow an extra hour in the days before Tet.

Are Lai Vung tangerine orchards open during Tet?

Some are. Before Tet 2026, 6 orchards and 3 eco-tourism sites planned to stay open through the holiday.

Is it free to stand on the lotus leaves?

Viewing the pond is free. Standing on a leaf for a photo is a paid service and optional.

Is a one-day trip too long?

It is a long day, with 6 to 7 hours in the car. Families with children or older travelers may prefer two days with a night in Sa Dec.