Ho Chi Minh South
5
Day Itinerary •
Vietnam
Five days in Ho Chi Minh City and the south gives you the complete extraordinary range of Vietnam's most dynamic region, from the War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels to a full Mekong Delta immersion with overnight in Can Tho, the extraordinary Mui Ne sand dunes and the remarkable Vung Tau coast. This route covers the full southern Vietnam experience from Saigon. The colonial district, Cu Chi, the Mekong Delta floating markets and canal life, the extraordinary red and white sand dunes of Mui Ne with the fairy stream, the remarkable Phan Thiet fishing town and a final day at Vung Tau with its extraordinary Christ statue overlooking the South China Sea.
Best Time To Visit
December to April
Getting There
Fly into HCMC (SGN), 45 min to city
Getting Around
Grab, bus and rental car
Budget Per Day
Approx 50 to 100 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy
DAY 1
HO CHI MINH CITY
MORNING
WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM, THE MOST POWERFUL MUSEUM IN VIETNAM
The War Remnants Museum in District 3 is the most powerful historical museum in Vietnam, its extraordinary collection of photographs, equipment and accounts from the American War documenting the conflict from the Vietnamese perspective. The photographs by Eddie Adams, Nick Ut and Sean Flynn are among the most remarkable war photographs ever taken. The captured American military equipment in the courtyard and the agent orange exhibits are extraordinary. Entry approx 40,000 VND. Transfer: 20 min Grab
MIDDAY
FRENCH COLONIAL DISTRICT AND NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL
The HCMC French colonial district around Dong Khoi Street is the finest remaining colonial urban district in Vietnam, its extraordinary combination of the 19th-century Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the People's Committee Hall and the remarkable Continental and Rex Hotels giving the finest French Indochina architectural experience in the country. The Dong Khoi Street itself is the finest street for walking in HCMC. Transfer: 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
BEN THANH MARKET AND DISTRICT 1
The Ben Thanh Market at the heart of HCMC is the finest covered market in southern Vietnam, its extraordinary range of street food, fresh produce, clothing and souvenirs in the remarkable covered hall making it the finest single experience in District 1. The Pham Ngu Lao street food area behind the market is the finest concentration of cheap street food in HCMC. The Bui Vien Walking Street is the most energetic night street in Vietnam.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Jade Emperor Pagoda in District 3 is the finest Taoist temple in southern Vietnam, its remarkable carved wooden panels, incense-filled interior and the extraordinary turtle pond where Vietnamese people release turtles for good fortune giving the finest religious experience in HCMC. Entry free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in District 1 Banh mi op la fried egg sandwich and Vietnamese drip coffee. Under 30,000 VND. | Lunch: Nha Hang Ngon, HCMC The finest collection of southern Vietnamese street food stalls in one courtyard. | Dinner: Cuc Gach Quan, HCMC The most charming traditional Vietnamese restaurant in Saigon. Book ahead.
DAY 2
CU CHI AND CAN THO
MORNING
CU CHI TUNNELS AND THE VIET CONG UNDERGROUND CITY
The Cu Chi Tunnels are the most extraordinary military monument in Vietnam, 250km of underground tunnels where up to 16,000 Viet Cong fighters lived, worked and fought beneath American feet. The extraordinary ingenuity of the tunnel system, with its hidden trapdoors, booby traps, ventilation through termite mounds and complete underground infrastructure, is one of the most remarkable military engineering achievements in history. Entry approx 130,000 VND. Transfer: 2 hour drive south
MIDDAY
DRIVE TO CAN THO VIA THE MEKONG DELTA
The drive from HCMC south to Can Tho crosses the extraordinary Mekong Delta landscape, the flat agricultural plain crisscrossed with rivers and canals that feeds all of Vietnam. The remarkable floating petrol stations, the wooden ferry crossings and the extraordinary riverside markets give the finest introduction to the Mekong Delta from the road. Can Tho is the finest city in the delta with an extraordinary riverside night market. Transfer: On arrival
AFTERNOON
CAN THO RIVERSIDE AND NIGHT MARKET
The Can Tho Ninh Kieu riverside in the afternoon is the finest version of the Mekong Delta city, its remarkable promenade lined with dragon fruit trees and the extraordinary Mekong river flowing past with the constant traffic of wooden cargo boats. The Can Tho night market at the Ninh Kieu wharf has the finest fresh seafood and delta specialities in the city at extraordinary prices.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Cai Rang floating market wholesale operation extends through several adjacent river channels, each selling different Mekong Delta agricultural products. The durian boats, the dragon fruit traders and the remarkable vegetable boats all operate simultaneously and the extraordinary morning scene on the river is unlike anywhere else in Vietnam.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in HCMC Early breakfast before the Cu Chi drive northwest. | Lunch: Cu Chi area restaurant Com tam broken rice with grilled pork is the finest southern Vietnamese lunch. | Dinner: Can Tho night market Fresh Mekong Delta fish, hu tieu noodles and tropical fruit. Very cheap.
DAY 3
MEKONG DELTA
MORNING
CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET AT 6AM
The Cai Rang Floating Market at dawn is the finest experience in the Mekong Delta, an extraordinary wholesale river market where hundreds of boats trade fresh produce. The product hung on the pole above each boat identifies what is being sold. The boat trip through the delta canals to the market passes extraordinary canal-side village life with families bathing, cooking and working at the waterline. Boat tour from approx 200,000 VND. Transfer: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
BEN TRE COCONUT ISLAND AND CANAL LIFE
Ben Tre province is the finest day experience in the Mekong Delta, a remarkable island of coconut palms, fruit orchards and extraordinary canal village life accessible by wooden sampan through the delta waterways. The hand-made coconut candy factories, the remarkable beekeeping operations and the extraordinary rural Vietnamese life of the Ben Tre villages give the most complete Mekong Delta experience in Vietnam. Day tour from approx 300,000 VND. Transfer: 2.5 hour drive east
AFTERNOON
DRIVE TO MUI NE SAND DUNES
The drive from the Mekong Delta to Mui Ne passes through the extraordinary southern Vietnamese landscape before climbing into the coastal hills above the South China Sea. The Mui Ne sand dune landscape at sunset, when the extraordinary red and white dunes turn extraordinary shades of amber and rose, is the finest natural spectacle in southern Vietnam. Mui Ne is the finest kite surfing destination in Southeast Asia.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Tra Su Cajuput Forest near Chau Doc in the Mekong Delta is the finest natural experience in the region, an extraordinary flooded forest of cajuput trees where remarkable bird colonies including herons, cormorants and egrets nest in extraordinary numbers. The boat trip through the flooded forest is one of the finest in Vietnam.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Can Tho Early breakfast before the 6am floating market boat departure. | Lunch: Restaurant in Ben Tre Fresh Mekong Delta coconut fish curry. The finest dish unique to the island. | Dinner: Restaurant in Mui Ne Fresh seafood at the extraordinary Mui Ne fishing village restaurants.
DAY 4
MUI NE
MORNING
RED SAND DUNES AT DAWN
The Mui Ne red sand dunes at dawn are the finest natural landscape in southern Vietnam, an extraordinary sweep of deep red sand above the fishing village with the extraordinary turquoise South China Sea visible below. The dune landscape is at its finest in the early morning before the heat and before the plastic sledge rental operators arrive. The walk up the ridge gives the finest panorama over the Mui Ne coastline. Transfer: 15 min motorbike
MIDDAY
WHITE SAND DUNES AND THE FAIRY STREAM
The white sand dunes north of Mui Ne are the largest sand dune system in southern Vietnam, an extraordinary landscape of white sand hills rising above the coastal plain with extraordinary views over the South China Sea. The Fairy Stream walk through the shallow stream between red and white sandstone cliffs is the finest short walk in the region, the extraordinary coloured rock formations and the stream running through them creating a remarkable canyon. Entry approx 10,000 VND. Transfer: 10 min
AFTERNOON
MUI NE FISHING VILLAGE AND HAM TIEN BEACH
The Mui Ne fishing village is the finest traditional fishing community in southern Vietnam, its extraordinary fleet of round coracle boats, the remarkable net repairs and the extraordinary fresh seafood market at the harbour giving the finest glimpse of Vietnamese fishing culture. The Ham Tien beach north of the village is the finest beach in Mui Ne, a long stretch of sand with the extraordinary kite surfing activity visible in the wind.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Phan Thiet old town 20km from Mui Ne has the finest Po Shanu Cham tower ruins in southern Vietnam, an 8th-century Cham temple complex on a hill above the sea with extraordinary views over Phan Thiet Bay. Entry approx 15,000 VND. Almost always quieter than the Mui Ne beach strip.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Mui Ne Breakfast with the extraordinary South China Sea view. | Lunch: Fishing village restaurant The freshest seafood in Mui Ne at the harbour market restaurants. | Dinner: Mui Ne restaurant Banh xeo crispy pancake and grilled seafood on the extraordinary Mui Ne strip.
DAY 5
VUNG TAU AND RETURN
MORNING
VUNG TAU CHRIST STATUE AND THE SEA VIEW
The Vung Tau Christ statue on Mount Nho is the most remarkable religious monument in southern Vietnam, a 32-metre figure with a 18-metre wingspan on the hilltop above the South China Sea, visible from ships at sea. The climb of 900 steps gives the finest views over the extraordinary Vung Tau peninsula, the two bays on either side and the South China Sea. Vung Tau was the main rest and recreation centre for American forces during the Vietnam War. Entry free. Transfer: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
BACK BEACH AND THE VUNG TAU SEAFOOD
The Back Beach at Vung Tau is the finest beach in the vicinity of HCMC, a long sandy stretch with the extraordinary combination of good swimming, fresh seafood restaurants and the remarkable mix of Vietnamese holidaymakers and foreign visitors that gives Vung Tau its extraordinary beach town character. The banh khot savoury mini pancakes unique to Vung Tau are the finest street food in the city. Transfer: 2 hour drive back
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO HCMC AND DEPARTURE
The return to HCMC from Vung Tau takes 2 hours by road or 1.5 hours by the extraordinary Vung Tau ferry from the Bach Dang terminal, giving the finest view of the HCMC skyline from the river. The ferry arrival at the HCMC riverfront is one of the finest urban arrivals in Vietnam. The airport is 45 minutes from the city centre.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve just 50km from HCMC is the finest mangrove forest ecosystem in Vietnam, a UNESCO biosphere reserve where remarkable monkey colonies, saltwater crocodiles and extraordinary bird life are accessible by boat tour. Day tour from HCMC from approx 30 USD.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Mui Ne Final Mui Ne breakfast with the extraordinary South China Sea view. | Lunch: Vung Tau seafood Banh khot mini pancakes and fresh seafood at the extraordinary Back Beach. | Dinner: Airport or HCMC Final pho or banh mi before departure from Vietnam.
Where To Stay
HCMC, Night 1 Park Hyatt Saigon or District 1 hotels. Approx 40 to 150 USD. Can Tho, Night 2 Victoria Can Tho Resort or local hotels. Approx 30 to 80 USD. Mui Ne, Nights 3-4 Anantara Mui Ne or Cham Villas. Approx 40 to 120 USD.
Top Tips
1. The Mekong Delta overnight in Can Tho rather than a day trip is the finest upgrade possible. The Cai Rang floating market at 6am requires an early start that only makes sense with an overnight.
2. Mui Ne sand dunes are finest at sunrise and sunset. The extraordinary red dunes at dawn with nobody else there is one of the finest natural moments in southern Vietnam.
3. The Vung Tau ferry from HCMC is a remarkable experience. The 1.5-hour journey on the Vung Tau Express gives the finest view of the HCMC river delta approaching the city.
4. Southern Vietnamese food is sweeter than northern Vietnamese. The extraordinary range of tropical fruit, fresh seafood and the remarkable com tam broken rice are all outstanding.
5. Cu Chi Tunnels Ben Dinh site is smaller and less touristy than Ben Duoc. The tunnel experience is more authentic and the guides are more knowledgeable about the extraordinary history.
6. HCMC rooftop bars at sunset give the finest view of the extraordinary Saigon skyline. The Chill Sky Bar at the ABC Hotel and the Saigon Saigon Bar at the Caravelle are the finest.
Total Budget
50 to 100 USD/day