Independent travel guide to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Southern Vietnam. New guides, itineraries and field reports on District 1 and Ben Thanh Market, Cholon, the War Remnants Museum, the Cu Chi tunnels, the Cao Dai Great Temple in Tay Ninh, the Mekong Delta and the Cai Rang floating market, the Can Gio mangrove, Vung Tau, Con Dao, the Mui Ne sand dunes, and Cat Tien National Park.https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/en-ushttps://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/basic-vietnamese-phrases/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/basic-vietnamese-phrases/Simple Vietnamese greetings, thanks and numbers for Ho Chi Minh City, plus why southern pronunciation differs from what most phrasebooks teach.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTVietnamese languageSouthern VietnamSaigon dialectPractical tips2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/best-time-to-visit-ho-chi-minh-city/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/best-time-to-visit-ho-chi-minh-city/Saigon has two seasons, not four: dry from December to April, wet from May to November. Here's how I plan around that.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHo Chi Minh Citybest time to visitweatherdry seasonrainy season2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/common-scams-ho-chi-minh-city/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/common-scams-ho-chi-minh-city/The taxi, change, and street-vendor tricks I've actually run into in Saigon, and the simple habits that keep them from working on me.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHo Chi Minh CitySaigonscamstravel tipssafety2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/crossing-the-street-ho-chi-minh-city/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/crossing-the-street-ho-chi-minh-city/How to cross the street in Ho Chi Minh City: walk at a steady pace, never stop, never run, and let the motorbikes flow around you.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTPractical2026Ho Chi Minh CityGetting AroundWalkinghttps://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/dry-season-in-southern-vietnam/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/dry-season-in-southern-vietnam/A first-person look at how the dry season unfolds in southern Vietnam, from clear December skies to the sharp heat of April.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTdry seasonsouthern VietnamHo Chi Minh Cityweather2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/festivals-and-public-holidays-vietnam/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/festivals-and-public-holidays-vietnam/The festivals and public holidays that shape life in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, beyond Tet, and what they actually change for visitors.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCultureFestivalsVietnam2026Public Holidayshttps://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-april/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-april/What April really feels like in Ho Chi Minh City, why it is the hottest month, and why the dry season is already starting to turn.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHo Chi Minh CityAprildry seasonSaigon2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-august/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-august/A first-person look at August in Ho Chi Minh City: deep rainy season, heavy humidity, and why it never feels like April's heat.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHo Chi Minh CityAugustrainy seasonhumiditysouthern Vietnam2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-december/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-december/What December is really like in Ho Chi Minh City: the dry season back in force, clear skies, and a heat that never actually leaves.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTDecemberDry SeasonBest Time To VisitHo Chi Minh City2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-february/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-february/What February in Ho Chi Minh City feels like when Tet falls this month: quieter streets, closed shops, and how to plan around it.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTFebruaryTetHo Chi Minh Citydry season2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-january/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-january/What January is really like in Ho Chi Minh City: clear skies, dry season, cooler air, and the crowds that come with the holidays.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHo Chi Minh CityJanuarydry season2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-july/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-july/A personal look at Ho Chi Minh City in July, when the wet season overlaps with Vietnamese school holidays and local travel picks up.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHo Chi Minh CityJulyRainy SeasonSchool Holidays2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-june/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-june/My honest read on Ho Chi Minh City in June, when the wet season is fully settled in and Vietnamese school holidays begin.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHo Chi Minh CityJunewet seasonschool holidays2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-march/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-march/What March in Ho Chi Minh City actually feels like: clear skies, rising heat, and how I adjust my plans before April's peak.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHo Chi Minh CityMarchdry seasonSaigon2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-may/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-may/What May actually feels like in Ho Chi Minh City, as the dry months give way to the first short, sharp afternoon storms.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHo Chi Minh CityMayrainy seasonVietnam weather2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-november/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-november/What November actually feels like in Ho Chi Minh City, as the wet season eases and the Mekong Delta's flood begins to recede.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHo Chi Minh CityNovemberweatherMekong Delta2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-october/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-october/What October really feels like in Ho Chi Minh City, and why the Mekong Delta floods while the city itself does not.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHo Chi Minh CityOctoberrainy seasonMekong DeltaVietnam2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-september/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/ho-chi-minh-city-in-september/What visiting Ho Chi Minh City in September is actually like: heavier rain, fewer crowds, and the start of the Mekong's flood season.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHo Chi Minh CitySeptemberrainy seasonMekong Delta2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/iconic-southern-vietnamese-dishes/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/iconic-southern-vietnamese-dishes/Why Saigon's banh mi, com tam and hu tieu taste different from the north, told through the meals I keep going back to in Ho Chi Minh City.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTfoodsaigon-cuisinebanh-micom-tamhu-tieu2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/mekong-delta-ethnic-communities/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/mekong-delta-ethnic-communities/The Mekong Delta isn't only Kinh Vietnamese. Here's what I learned about its Khmer Krom, Cham and Hoa communities, temples and traditions.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMekong DeltaKhmer KromChamHoaculture2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/photography-southern-vietnam/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/photography-southern-vietnam/How I approach light, recurring subjects and respectful street photography in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTPhotographyMekong DeltaHo Chi Minh CityTravel Tips2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/rainy-season-in-southern-vietnam/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/rainy-season-in-southern-vietnam/How the rainy season really works around Ho Chi Minh City: clear mornings, short intense downpours, and steady humidity, not endless monsoon rain.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTRainy SeasonWeatherSouthern Vietnam2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/saigon-colonial-heritage-architecture/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/saigon-colonial-heritage-architecture/Why French colonial buildings still shape Ho Chi Minh City's streets, and what the name Saigon really means today.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCultureColonial ArchitectureHo Chi Minh CityDistrict 12026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/sim-card-esim-vietnam/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/sim-card-esim-vietnam/How I stay connected in southern Vietnam: local SIM vs eSIM, airport vs city, and why a generic global eSIM isn't the same as a Vietnamese plan.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTsim cardesimvietnamho chi minh cityconnectivity2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/solo-female-travel-saigon/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/solo-female-travel-saigon/A personal look at solo female travel in Ho Chi Minh City: safety feel, night precautions, neighborhoods, and traveler networks.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTsolo travelwomen travelersho chi minh citysafety2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/south-vs-north-vietnamese-cuisine/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/south-vs-north-vietnamese-cuisine/Why southern Vietnamese food tastes sweeter and herbier than the north, and why the same dish name can mean two different bowls.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTfoodvietnamese cuisinesaigon2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/street-food-safety-ho-chi-minh-city/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/street-food-safety-ho-chi-minh-city/How I choose a safe street food stall in Ho Chi Minh City, from turnover and cooking style to why price is not the signal you think it is.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTstreet foodfood safetyHo Chi Minh CitySaigon2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/tet-lunar-new-year-ho-chi-minh-city/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/tet-lunar-new-year-ho-chi-minh-city/What Tet actually feels like in Ho Chi Minh City: flower markets, yellow apricot blossom, and a city that slows down without shutting.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTetLunar New YearHo Chi Minh CitySaigon2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/tipping-in-vietnam/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/tipping-in-vietnam/Is tipping expected in Vietnam? My honest take on when to tip in Ho Chi Minh City and the south, and when it simply isn't the custom.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTtippingmoneyetiquetteho chi minh cityvietnam2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/vegetarian-food-ho-chi-minh-city/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/vegetarian-food-ho-chi-minh-city/How Saigon's Buddhist com chay tradition shapes vegetarian eating, from monthly fasting days to everyday street food and restaurants.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTvegetariancom chaysaigon foodbuddhism2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/vietnamese-coffee-culture/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/vietnamese-coffee-culture/Why Saigon coffee is nothing like an espresso: the phin filter, condensed milk, egg coffee, yogurt coffee, and coffee as a social ritual.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTcoffeevietnamese coffeeca phe sua dasaigon culturefood and drink2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/vietnamese-etiquette-and-customs/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/vietnamese-etiquette-and-customs/How greetings, two-handed gestures, temple dress and disagreement really work in southern Vietnam, from someone who kept getting it slightly wrong.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTVietnamEtiquetteCultureHo Chi Minh City2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/water-and-health-ho-chi-minh-city/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/water-and-health-ho-chi-minh-city/What I actually do about tap water, ice and washed fruit in Saigon, and the basic health habits I keep to for a comfortable southern Vietnam trip.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMThealthtap waterpractical tipsho chi minh city2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/what-to-pack-ho-chi-minh-city/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/blog/what-to-pack-ho-chi-minh-city/My real Ho Chi Minh City packing list, built around the two seasons of the south rather than a cold winter that never happens here.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTpackingho chi minh citymekong deltadry seasonrainy season2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/a-o-show-saigon-guide/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/a-o-show-saigon-guide/What A O Show really is: a contemporary Vietnamese circus built on bamboo, rural imagery and live traditional music, not a staged tourist gimmick.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTshows-nightlifedistrict-1ho-chi-minh-cityvietnamese-culturea-o-show2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/ao-dai-photoshoot-saigon/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/ao-dai-photoshoot-saigon/How ao dai photoshoots work in Ho Chi Minh City: costume rental, makeup and styling, and choosing an urban or garden backdrop.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTao daiphotoshootho chi minh citysaigonshopping2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/banh-mi-sandwich-tour/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/banh-mi-sandwich-tour/A focused guide to Ho Chi Minh City's banh mi scene: fillings, styles and how the southern sandwich differs from the centre and north.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTbanh mistreet foodho chi minh cityfood tourvietnamese cuisine2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/ben-duoc-vs-ben-dinh-cu-chi/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/ben-duoc-vs-ben-dinh-cu-chi/Cu Chi has two separate tunnel sites, Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. Here's how their atmosphere, crowds and authenticity actually differ.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCu Chi TunnelsBen DinhBen Duocwar historyday trips from Ho Chi Minh City2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/ben-thanh-saigon-markets-shopping/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/ben-thanh-saigon-markets-shopping/A shopper's guide to Ben Thanh Market and other Ho Chi Minh City markets, what each one is actually good for, and how to shop them well.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTben thanh marketshoppingho chi minh citysouvenirscholon2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/bien-hoa-dong-nai-day-trip/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/bien-hoa-dong-nai-day-trip/Skip the crowds of Cu Chi and the delta for a day around Bien Hoa and Dong Nai province, northeast of Ho Chi Minh City.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBien HoaDong Naiday trips from Ho Chi Minh Citysouthern Vietnam2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/binh-thanh-canal-guide/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/binh-thanh-canal-guide/Binh Thanh sits beside Ho Chi Minh City's centre and its canal, mixing Landmark 81 with quiet residential lanes most visitors skip.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBinh ThanhHo Chi Minh City neighborhoodsLandmark 81Saigon canal2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/bitexco-tower-skydeck-guide/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/bitexco-tower-skydeck-guide/Practical guide to visiting the Bitexco Financial Tower Skydeck in District 1: access, ticket formulas and what the view actually shows.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHo Chi Minh CityBitexco TowerSkydeckDistrict 12026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/budget-travel-in-ho-chi-minh-city/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/budget-travel-in-ho-chi-minh-city/Practical trade-offs for stretching a budget across Saigon, the Mekong Delta and the coast, without prices that go stale.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTbudget travelho chi minh citymekong deltaplanning2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/bui-vien-nightlife-guide/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/bui-vien-nightlife-guide/Bui Vien is one loud strip, not the whole city. What it actually offers, and the very different nightlife scenes elsewhere in Ho Chi Minh City.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBui ViennightlifeHo Chi Minh CityDistrict 1bars2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/cai-be-vinh-long-tour/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/cai-be-vinh-long-tour/Cai Be and Vinh Long offer a quieter Mekong Delta day trip beyond My Tho and Ben Tre, each with its own small local floating market and narrow canals.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMekong DeltaCai BeVinh Longday trip2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/can-gio-day-trip/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/can-gio-day-trip/How to reach Can Gio from Ho Chi Minh City by road and ferry, how much of a day it takes, and why it works as a round trip.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCan Gioday tripsHo Chi Minh Citygetting there2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/can-gio-mangrove-biosphere-reserve/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/can-gio-mangrove-biosphere-reserve/Can Gio's mangrove forest, its boardwalks and waterways, and its UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, explained for visitors from Ho Chi Minh City.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCan Giomangrovebiosphere reserveHo Chi Minh Citynature2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/can-gio-monkey-island-wildlife/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/can-gio-monkey-island-wildlife/What to expect from the macaques and other wildlife on Can Gio's Monkey Island, and how their semi-wild behaviour differs from the wider reserve.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCan Giomonkey islandwildlifemacaquesmangroveHo Chi Minh City day trips2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/can-tho-cai-rang-floating-market-sunrise/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/can-tho-cai-rang-floating-market-sunrise/The only guide to Cai Rang, the dawn floating market near Can Tho, seen by small boat among sampans stacked with fruit and vegetables.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCai RangCan Thofloating marketMekong Delta2026https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/cao-dai-temple-tay-ninh-guide/https://www.hochiminhcity-trip.com/guides/cao-dai-temple-tay-ninh-guide/The Cao Dai Holy See sits in Tay Ninh province, not Cu Chi. What the temple is, what the ceremony looks like, and why the two are often paired.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTay NinhCao Daitemplesday trips2026