Explore Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta by area
Six ways to build a Ho Chi Minh City trip: the city itself, the Cu Chi Tunnels and Tay Ninh just outside it, the canals and floating markets of the Mekong Delta, the coast and islands to the south, the dunes of Mui Ne, and the rainforest of Cat Tien.
Must-visit areas
The essentials most visitors build a trip around — District 1's Ben Thanh Market and Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Cholon's pagodas and markets, and the Saigon River.
Can Tho
Can Tho is the Mekong Delta's biggest city and the true home of the Cai Rang floating market, reached from Ho Chi Minh City by expressway.
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Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnels explained: what the network was, how long to spend there, and how to get there from Ho Chi Minh City.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City travel guide: districts, the Saigon riverfront, airport access and why locals still call it Saigon.
Mekong Delta
A traveller's guide to the Mekong Delta's provinces, from My Tho and Ben Tre to Can Tho and Chau Doc, and how to plan a visit from Ho Chi Minh City.
14 guides →More to explore
Areas worth a dedicated day — the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Cao Dai Great Temple in Tay Ninh, the Mekong Delta's floating markets and canal towns, and the coast around Vung Tau and Con Dao.
Ben Thanh Market
A guide to the historic covered halls of Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, and how it differs from the temporary night market stalls outside.
Ben Tre
Ben Tre is coconut country in the Mekong Delta, a separate province from neighboring My Tho with narrower canals and its own coconut craft.
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Cai Rang Floating Market
How Cai Rang floating market actually works on the water, and why it isn't the same as Cai Be or Phong Dien.
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Can Gio
Can Gio is the mangrove biosphere reserve closest to Ho Chi Minh City — not to be confused with the far more distant Ca Mau mangrove forest.
Cao Dai Holy See: Inside Vietnam's Own Syncretic Religion
The Cao Dai Holy See at Tay Ninh: architecture, symbolism and the home-grown religion behind one of Vietnam's most distinctive temples.
Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City's Historic Chinatown
Cholon is Ho Chi Minh City's historic Chinatown, a distinct district of temples, markets and old pharmacies shaped by Chinese immigration.
Con Dao
Con Dao is an island archipelago off southern Vietnam, reached only by air or ferry, prized for its national park, quiet beaches and prison history.
District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
District 1 is Ho Chi Minh City's downtown core: Nguyen Hue, Notre-Dame, the Central Post Office and the Bitexco tower, distinct from Cholon.
Mui Ne: The Kitesurfing Coast of Binh Thuan
Mui Ne is Vietnam's kitesurf coast in Binh Thuan province, next to Phan Thiet and the sand dunes — not part of the Mekong Delta.
My Tho: Saigon's Nearest Gateway to the Mekong Delta
My Tho is the closest Mekong Delta town to Ho Chi Minh City, known for river islands and orchards, not the Cai Rang floating market.
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The Saigon River
The Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City: dinner cruises, riverside quays and skyline views, distinct from Mekong Delta boat trips.
Tay Ninh: Gateway to the Cao Dai Holy See and Black Virgin Mountain
Tay Ninh province, north-west of Saigon: home to the Cao Dai Holy See and Black Virgin Mountain, and a separate place from the Cu Chi Tunnels.
Vung Tau: Ba Ria-Vung Tau's Seaside City Near Saigon
Vung Tau is a seaside city in its own province, east of Saigon and separate from the Mekong Delta. Here's how it fits into the region.
Off the beaten path
Black Virgin Mountain (Nui Ba Den)
Ba Den, the Black Virgin Mountain, is a pagoda-covered peak with a cable car to the summit — a destination on its own, not a Cu Chi extra.
Ca Mau
Ca Mau is Vietnam's southern tip and a true mangrove wilderness, distinct from Can Gio and further into the Mekong Delta than most visitors go.
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Cai Be
Cai Be's floating market is smaller and calmer than Cai Rang's — here's what actually happens on the water, and how the two get confused.
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Cat Tien National Park
Cat Tien National Park is inland lowland rainforest, not delta or coast. A clear guide to the region and how it differs from the mangroves.
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Chau Doc
Chau Doc sits on the Bassac River by the Cambodian border, a gateway town unlike any other stop in the Mekong Delta.
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Ho Tram
Ho Tram is a quiet, resort-driven stretch of coast east of Vung Tau — a different kind of beach trip from Saigon, not a smaller Vung Tau.
Phan Thiet
Phan Thiet is a working fishing port and provincial capital, distinct from the resort strip of neighboring Mui Ne.
Phu My Cruise Port
Phu My is the deep-water cruise port for Ho Chi Minh City — separate from Vung Tau. What it is, where it sits, and how to reach Saigon from the dock.
Rach Gia: Gateway to the Gulf of Thailand and Phu Quoc
Rach Gia is a Gulf of Thailand port city and Phu Quoc ferry gateway, distinct from the inland Mekong Delta towns clustered around Can Tho.
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Sa Dec: River Villas and Flower Gardens in the Mekong Delta
Sa Dec's ancestral villas and flower gardens on the Mekong, and how this quiet river town differs from livelier, neighboring Vinh Long.
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Mui Ne Sand Dunes: Red Dunes vs White Dunes Explained
The Mui Ne sand dunes are two separate sites, red and white, often confused as one. Here is how they differ and how to tell them apart.
Soc Trang
Soc Trang's Khmer pagodas form a distinct architectural tradition in the Mekong Delta, separate from the Vietnamese Buddhist pagodas found elsewhere.
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Vinh Long, Where the Mekong Delta's Rivers Meet
Vinh Long is the Mekong Delta's river crossroads, distinct from Can Tho — orchards, brick kilns and island homestays on the Co Chien River.
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War Remnants Museum
What the War Remnants Museum actually holds, why it differs from Cu Chi, and how to read its collections on a visit to Ho Chi Minh City.
Good to know about destinations around Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh City and the south of Vietnam break down into six areas that suit different trip lengths and interests. The city itself centres on District 1's downtown streets, Ben Thanh Market, the Cholon district with its Chinese-founded temples and shophouses, the War Remnants Museum, and the Saigon River, which runs along the edge of downtown and is often seen from a dinner cruise. Northwest of the city, the Cu Chi tunnels sit within Ho Chi Minh City's own district boundaries, while Tay Ninh, further out, holds the Cao Dai Holy See and, nearby, Black Virgin Mountain.
South and west, the Mekong Delta groups a string of separate provinces rather than a single destination: My Tho, Ben Tre, Cai Be and Vinh Long sit closer to the city, Can Tho anchors the delta's centre with the Cai Rang floating market, and Chau Doc, Soc Trang, Rach Gia and Ca Mau extend further toward the Cambodian border and the delta's southern tip. Southeast of the city, the coast and islands area covers Can Gio's mangrove forest, the beach town of Vung Tau, the quieter stretch around Ho Tram, and Con Dao, an island archipelago reached by air or by boat rather than by road.
East along the coast, Mui Ne and Binh Thuan province bring a different landscape built around sand dunes, with Phan Thiet as the nearest city. Inland, Cat Tien National Park offers a forest setting distinct from the delta and the coast. Deciding how many of these areas to combine, and how much time to set aside for the delta versus the coast, is the main planning decision for a trip through the south, and it depends more on interests and the season than on any fixed route.
Frequently asked questions about destinations around Ho Chi Minh
How many days should I plan for Ho Chi Minh City itself before heading out to the regions around it?
Two to three days let District 1, Cholon, the war history sites and the riverside settle in properly before adding a day trip or a multi-day excursion further out.
Is the Mekong Delta a single destination or several places?
Several places: My Tho, Ben Tre, Cai Be, Vinh Long, Can Tho, Chau Doc, Soc Trang, Rach Gia and Ca Mau are separate provinces and towns, not districts of one delta destination, so choosing among them matters.
Do I need to choose between the Mekong Delta and Con Dao, or can a trip combine both?
They're usually treated separately, since the delta is reached by road from Ho Chi Minh City while Con Dao is an island reached by air, so combining both works better on a longer trip than a short one.
Which region should I prioritise if I only have a few extra days beyond Ho Chi Minh City?
The Mekong Delta or the Cu Chi tunnels and Tay Ninh suit travellers short on time since both are reachable by road in a single day, while Con Dao and Mui Ne need more time given the distance involved.
Is Ho Chi Minh City the capital of Vietnam?
No, Hanoi is the capital. Ho Chi Minh City, still widely called Saigon, is the country's largest city and the main gateway to the south.
War History: Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Remnants Museum
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