Your complete guide to Ho Chi Minh City
Verified itineraries, honest advice, and no-fluff tips on District 1 and Ben Thanh Market, the floating markets and canals of the Mekong Delta, plus trips further afield to the sand dunes of Mui Ne and the islands of Con Dao.
Top-rated activities in Ho Chi Minh City
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Top destinations in and around Ho Chi Minh City
From District 1 and Ben Thanh Market to the Mekong Delta and the Con Dao islands, plus day trips to the Cu Chi Tunnels and Tay Ninh.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City travel guide: districts, the Saigon riverfront, airport access and why locals still call it Saigon.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
A visit to the War Remnants Museum, an evening on Bui Vien Street, a boat ride through the Cai Rang floating market, and more — the best activities in Ho Chi Minh City.
War History
The War Remnants Museum, the Cu Chi Tunnels' underground network, the Reunification Palace, and Con Dao's former prison — the sites that anchor southern Vietnam's twentieth-century history.
Mekong Delta Cruises
Sampan rides through Cai Rang floating market, canal cruises around My Tho and Ben Tre, and homestays along the Mekong's smaller channels.
Street Food Tours
Guided tastings of banh mi, pho, com tam and che through District 1 and Cholon's street stalls, usually on foot or by Vespa, timed for the busiest street-food hours.
Motorbike and Vespa Tours
Guided rides on vintage Vespa scooters or motorbikes through District 1, Cholon and the evening street-food spots, at a pace walking can't match.
Essential travel guides
Our most popular guides to help you prepare.
Cu Chi Tunnels: Half-Day vs Full-Day Tour, Which to Choose
Half-day or full-day at the Cu Chi Tunnels? What each format actually includes, and why Cu Chi is closer to Saigon than most visitors assume.
Mekong Delta Day Trip or Two-Day Tour: How to Choose
What a Mekong Delta day trip and a two-day tour actually let you see, and how to decide which format fits your visit to Saigon.
Ben Thanh Market and the Best Shopping Markets in Ho Chi Minh City
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.
Con Dao Archipelago: The Complete Guide
Con Dao archipelago guide: getting there by air or boat only, the memorial sites, the national park and why it feels unlike anywhere else in the south.
Cholon Street Food: A Chinatown Eating Guide
A guide to Cholon's street food: sino-Vietnamese stalls, tea houses and everyday eating in Ho Chi Minh City's historic Chinatown.
How Many Days for Southern Vietnam?
How to size a southern Vietnam trip across city, delta and coast, without a day-by-day script.
Suggested itineraries
Tested routes to make the most of your time.
One Day in Ho Chi Minh City: District 1 Highlights
A one-day walking itinerary through District 1: Ben Thanh Market, the War Remnants Museum and the Saigon River, all inside Ho Chi Minh City.
Two Days in the Mekong Delta: Can Tho and Cai Rang Floating Market
A two-day Can Tho overnight built around a dawn visit to Cai Rang floating market, without rushing back to Ho Chi Minh City the same day.
Seven-Day South Vietnam Grand Loop: Saigon to Mui Ne
A seven-day overland loop through Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi, the Mekong Delta, Chau Doc and Mui Ne, entirely by road.
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