A Rainy Adventure to Remember - We’re a family of four – two parents and two daughters (ages 8 and 11) – and we recently joined a tour to Family Tiny Garden in the Mekong Delta. Our guide, Chow, made this trip unforgettable in all the right ways. Canoeing in the Rain – Surprisingly Magical Our day began under grey skies, and within the hour, the rain started to fall – not hard enough to cancel, but enough to make us hesitate. But Chow gave us a smile and said, “Rain makes the Mekong more honest.” And he was right. We hopped into a traditional wooden canoe and glided through the gentle rain, past a lime orchard that shimmered in the wet light. The rain made everything smell alive – fresh leaves, muddy riverbanks, and the sweet tang of limes hanging overhead. My daughters giggled the entire way, trying to catch raindrops with their hands. It wasn’t a picture-perfect Instagram moment – it was better. It was real. Kayaking Through Mekong Canals – Jungle Zen Later, we took individual kayaks into smaller side canals. The girls got their own and paddled like champs (with a little zig-zagging). Narrow waterways, overhanging coconut trees, and the quiet lapping of water – it was the kind of peace you can’t buy. Chow stayed close, making sure we were safe but also encouraging us to explore a little. At one point, we floated under a tree filled with singing birds while a local farmer waved at us from the bank. Pure serenity. Cooking Bonh Xew – Crispy Joy! Back on dry land, we changed into dry clothes (thankfully we packed extra!) and joined a cozy, open-air kitchen with local hosts. Chow translated with ease and warmth, helping my girls learn to swirl the rice batter into hot pans, toss in shrimp and bean sprouts, and fold the bánh xèo just right. The sizzle, the golden crispness, the dipping sauce – we ate like kings. There’s something powerful about cooking together as a family. We’ll be trying it at home again (though I doubt ours will be as crispy). Catching Catfish – Hilarious and Messy The final event of the day was the catfish pond – muddy, murky, and the most fun my daughters have had in a long time. You step into this shallow pond, roll up your pants, and get ready to slip, laugh, and maybe scream a little. The girls caught two fish each and proudly held them up (after a lot of squealing). Chow got right in there with them – cheering, laughing, and helping with a gentle hand. What Made It Special? Chow. Tour leader Chow wasn’t just a guide – he was a calm leader in the rain, a skilled communicator during the cooking, a safety net during kayaking, and a cheerleader during catfish mayhem. He balanced safety, learning, and fun so naturally that the whole day felt seamless. ‍‍‍ Final Thoughts If you want something polished and plastic, this trip might not be for you. But if you’re looking for real connection – with your family, with nature, and with local life – this is it. We left muddy, full, tired, and absolutely in love with the Mekong. Our daughters haven’t stopped talking about it. Chow – if you ever read this – thank you. You helped us make memories that feel like treasures.

Amazing action-packed trip to the Mekong Delta with the brilliant guide Chow!!! - What a fantastic day!!! We had the amazing Chow as our guide who was a bundle of non-stop energy from start to finish and was so passionate about the area he grew up in! We did cycling, boating, kayaking, cooking and even rice-planting and catching fish! It was non stop and so much fun! We did the tour with our 8 and 11 year olds and they both loved it so don’t be afraid to go with kids! Chow was amazing there too and let the girls paddle him in their kayak! Our eldest is also a coeliac and Chow and the team made sure she was catered for with gluten free lunch too so would definitely recommend for coeliacs. All in all, we would 100% recommend this trip to anyone, especially families. Thank you Chow and team!!!

- Authentic and welcoming experience. Mr Hieu was so welcoming and insightful. We did the farm experience with kayaks, rice planting, and hand fishing, and I felt like we got genuine insight into rural Vietnam in a way that’s difficult for a commercial tour to pull off. Got our hands dirty in the best way possible. Highest recommendation!

Adventurous and super organized - If you want to experience the region without much tourist hustle and bustle, this is the place for you. Small group, hotel pickup and exemplary organization. The team at Family Tiny Garden took care of us touchingly. We had a lot of fun from start to finish. A very special thank you: On the return transfer I had left my reading glasses in the car. Via WhatsApp we were able to reach the driver and by tomb courier I had my glasses back after 1 hour. A great service, even after the end of the trip.

Excellent day trip - We had a full day in the farm with our three boys: 9, 16 an 19. We enjoyed every bit of it. Our 9-year-old got some extra treats as he was really into fishing. The bikes are not too comfortable for people with long legs but the rides were not too long. We especially enjoyed the fresh coconuts directly from the tree. The stuff was very helpful and kind.

Get out of the city for a day - The private tour kayak, fishing, rice planting and cooking class were great, but Milo was the real star... very informative and high energy! Best tour we have done in SEA.

Highly recommend! - Dennis, Heel and his family are extremely welcoming, hospitable and friendly. The tour guide was very informative and the activities were amazing! We would definitely recommend.

Fun and interesting - Chow was good fun and very interesting. He taught us a lot and made us laugh a lot. A great trip. Highly recommend. So much was squeezed into the day.

Great trip to the Mekong! - Have a great time exploring the Mekong with Chow who was a wonderful host and guide. Highly recommend and our thanks to Chow!

Milo’s magic - We had such an amazing and fun day thanks to Milo (our tour guide) and Mr Pinh (our driver). Milo was a very interactive tour guide who made tour an amazing experience. He was very open to us asking questions and very extremely helpful and kind. He personalised the tour and it was super amazing. We thank him for the wonderful experience and even assisting us when we had issues. 10/10!! We thank the driver for his safe and efficient driving. 👍🏽👍🏽