This quiet capital city of Tien Giang province is the closest city in the Mekong Delta to the south of Ho Chi Minh City. Its proximity to Ho Chi Minh City and its location alongside one of the Mekong's major tributaries makes My Tho a major trading hub of agriculture and seafood products. A typical day trip to My Tho begins with the drive from Ho Chi Minh City through rice paddies and small villages. Upon arrival in My Tho, it is best to transfer to a sampan to ply the small canals and waterways. The sampan ride includes stops at fruit orchards and at islands mid-river.
A recommended stop is Thai Son Island, where the local villagers have a thriving business cultivating bonsai trees. The island is filled with varieties of fruit trees and plants.