Benefit from your time in southern Vietnam with this listing of the very best day journeys from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis!
With a inhabitants of over 8 million, Ho Chi Minh Metropolis is a busy and busy metropolis.
There are heaps of issues to do throughout the over-touristed District 1 alone.
Nevertheless it’s if you take the time to get out of the town that you simply actually begin to expertise Vietnam.
READ MORE: Plan your journey with our complete information to spending 3 days in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis.
The Finest Day Journeys from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis
From untouched pure magnificence to cultural experiences and solemn, historic websites, we’ll run you thru our listing of the highest day journeys from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis.
You received’t wish to miss these, so preserve studying!
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1) Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is among the many hottest day journeys from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis.
Once you go to Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, a day (or two) within the Mekong Delta ought to undoubtedly be in your itinerary.
Inside a brief, 4-hour bus trip you’ll be able to escape the town, reaching native villages, properties, and floating markets.
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The Mekong River itself runs by 7 international locations, together with China, Myanmar, Tibet, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
The Mekong Delta is the mouth of the river, the place it splits into tons of of smaller channels that join with the ocean.
This space is colloquially known as the ‘rice bowl’ of the nation, thanks primarily to its extremely fertile soils.
You’ll get the chance to watch and take part within the native lifestyle right here as you float alongside the interconnecting rivers and stroll by the forest.
You may take a ship trip by the rivers the place you’ll get to buy locally-made merchandise, contemporary fruit, and souvenirs.
Stopping to make coconut sweet on the manufacturing unit in Ben Tre is a enjoyable option to immerse your self within the native tradition.
Methods to Get to the Mekong Delta
The simplest manner by far is to ebook a tour. A superb tour is nice as it is going to embrace the bus trip to the Mekong Delta, in addition to take you to the websites alongside the best way.
In the event you’re assured on a bike, then renting a scooter is one other handy choice – simply be aware that you could be wish to take a ship trip alongside the rivers.
Clearly, this could imply leaving your bike behind.
The most cost effective manner is to take a public bus for about 120,000 VND. In the event you’re a courageous, budget-conscious backpacker, then this could be the appropriate selection for you.
Keep in mind, I’ve heard from different travellers that these buses may be terrifying so it’s not for the faint of coronary heart.
2) Cai Be Floating Market
Cai Rang in Can Tho is the most well-liked floating market.
Nevertheless, if time doesn’t enable you the chance to go to Cai Rang, Cai Be in Tien Giang province is one other equally spectacular floating market in Southern Vietnam.
Though smaller, you’ll be able to nonetheless take a ship alongside the canals to discover the floating markets of Cai Be.
Go to stalls promoting native wares, souvenirs, and meals, similar to contemporary fruit and typical South Vietnamese delicacies.
It can be pleasant to folks watch as our boat floats on by, watching the locals function their floating outlets and promote their merchandise.
Except for the floating markets, think about exploring the village, both by kayak, boat, or bicycle.
That is additionally a fantastic place to take a cooking class and style the native dishes.
Methods to Get to Cai Be Floating Market
For budget-travellers, you’ll be able to take a 2.5-hour bus trip to Cai Be from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis. As soon as there, it’s straightforward sufficient to seek out your personal manner round.
Alternatively, a tour is one other nice choice (use the code “NOMAD10” to get $10 off) and a great way to see all of the sights in simply in the future.
As with the Mekong Delta (and another excursions in Vietnam), do your analysis and select the appropriate tour.
3) Cu Chi Tunnels
One other of the favored day journeys from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis is to go to the Cu Chi Tunnels.
These are an elaborate community of tunnels interconnects factors throughout North and South Vietnam.
These tunnels had been utilized by the Communist, Viet Cong troopers throughout the Vietnam Battle.
The tunnels are tiny, designed to barely match the small-statured Vietnamese troopers – and never the bigger, American ones.
These tunnels had been instrumental within the North’s pushback in opposition to the US and the South, making them a vital a part of Vietnam’s historical past.
The Cu Chi Tunnels, specifically, are a small part of the tunnels discovered all through the Ho Chi Minh Metropolis area.
You may simply take a half-day or full-day outing to the Cu Chi Tunnels.
Right here, you’re going to get the chance to crawl by a number of the tunnels – these tunnels have been deliberately widened for vacationers to really match.
You’ll get to examine, to a small extent, what it was like for the Viet Cong troopers who needed to reside and battle from inside these tunnels.
They’ve additionally arrange displays displaying a number of the deadly traps constructed by the Vietnamese to maim and kill the American troopers.
These traps had been notably brutal as they had been largely designed to mortally injure – slightly than rapidly kill – those that had been caught. This was a part of a worry tactic that additionally contributed to their victory.
Curiously, these traps contributed 11% of all American deaths throughout the conflict.
Lastly, additionally, you will have the choice to shoot some weapons, together with AK-47s and weapons used throughout the conflict. We didn’t really feel the necessity to do that once we had been there, however we heard the price to take action was exorbitant.
Methods to Get to the Cu Chi Tunnels
The most cost effective manner is by public bus to Ben Duoc. This may take about 3 hours in complete however will price only a few {dollars}.
Taxi or GRAB are choices for these brief on time and with funds to spend however will price you about $50-60 USD.
Once more, you probably have a scooter and are assured using in Vietnam then you should have no drawback driving your self to the Cu Chi Tunnels!
4) Can Gio Biosphere Reserve
A UNESCO-recognised web site, Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve is a big ecological conservation reserve for mangrove forests.
Right here you’re going to get to see all kinds of mangroves and animal species.
Positive, it sounds a bit bizarre, however we are able to’t advocate spending a day right here sufficient.
Clearly, it’s your probability to take a look at Vietnam’s nature up shut from simply outdoors Ho Chi Minh Metropolis – however on prime of this, there’s additionally a bunch of cool issues to do right here.
The close by Tang Bong Tower is a 25-meter excessive tower that you may climb to seek out panoramic views over your complete forest.
Go to Large Bat Lagoon on a rowboat and feed crocodiles at a crocodile reserve.
Monkey Island (40,000 VND) in Can Gio can also be a fantastic place to go to, however keep watch over your belongings because the monkeys right here run rampant and so they’ll actually take what they will.
Rung Sac Guerilla Base (35,000 VND + canoe trip) can also be situated right here and is a superb spot to go to to be taught extra about Vietnam’s historical past and their intelligent conflict methods.
Methods to Get to Can Gio Biosphere Reserve
You received’t have to take a tour right here. Both ebook a taxi or take a public bus from Ben Thanh Market to Binh Kanh Ferry Station.
Then take the 90 bus to Can Thanh and get off at Lam Vien Can Gio.
READ MORE: Take pleasure in 33 of the very best issues to do in Vietnam!
5) Vung Tau
Vung Tau is a enjoyable seashore vacation spot only a 2-hour ferry trip, and thus one of many shorter day journeys from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis.
It’s identified amongst locals as one of many fashionable weekend journeys from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis. However we’d advocate vacationers take the journey on a weekday to keep away from a number of the native crowds.
In the event you’re wanting to flee the busy metropolis and take in a number of the tropical solar, then Vung Tau is the place for you.
Bãi Sau is the nicest seashore right here, so think about making your manner right here to keep away from a number of the crowds and to get away from the buildings.
Except for stress-free on the seashores, there’s a 105-ft statue of Jesus and a lighthouse on prime of Núi Nhỏ mountain that’s properly price visiting if you happen to’re into pictures.
Different spectacular landmarks additionally embrace the White Palace, Whale Temple, and Buddhist Pagodas.
Methods to Get to Vung Tau
Take a 2-hour ferry or a 2.5-hour bus trip. The bus is simply 80,000 VND making it a really reasonably priced time out.
6) Cao Dai Temple
Caodaism is a faith that fuses collectively beliefs from Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, and Islam.
It’s a monotheistic faith based in South Vietnam in 1926, making it comparatively younger.
The Cao Dai Temple was inbuilt 1955 and incorporates each French and Chinese language influenced structure.
The format is predicated on a Christian cathedral with aisles and altars.
Nevertheless, statues of Mohammad, Julius Caesar, Jesus Christ, and Buddha can all be discovered right here.
This attract of this temple is, notably, in its uniqueness.
Though spectacular in its personal manner, you received’t discover a temple like this wherever else on this planet, which is why you must undoubtedly make a visit right here!
Methods to Get to Cao Dai Temple
Take the 702 bus from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis to Tây Ninh. This may take simply 1.5-hours.
Alternatively, there are excursions to the Cu Chi Tunnels which embrace this temple or think about taking a GRAB.
7) Ben Tre
Ben Tre, situated within the Mekong Delta, is known for its coconuts.
In consequence, the locals right here largely work within the coconut business, creating coconut merchandise together with coconut sweet.
The truth is, most of the native ladies work in small factories the place they boil and stir cauldrons of sticky coconut sweet, earlier than pouring it out and slicing it into scrumptious treats.
You’ll undoubtedly wish to make a go to to one among these factories when in Ben Tre.
You may have two choices when visiting Ben Tre.
Firstly, you probably have time and you’re visiting the Mekong Delta on one among many day journeys from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, think about including a cease in Ben Tre to expertise the native tradition, picturesque village, and take a look at the coconut sweet.
In any other case, Ben Tre makes a fantastic vacation spot for a day journey from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis.
It’s a good spot to ebook boat rides by the Mekong Delta and to walk round.
This village hasn’t fairly been hit with tourism like the opposite My Tho and Tra Vinh.
Methods to Get to Ben Tre
Buses run continuously from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis to Ben Tre. The bus takes roughly 2 hours every manner, making it fairly a handy day journey.
In the event you don’t want to bus, you would take a taxi (which might be fairly costly), rent a bike, or ebook a tour.
8) Ba Den Mountain
Ba Den, or the Black Virgin, Mountain is a volcano situated in Tay Ninh province, a 3-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis.
Ba Den Mountain, well-known for its stunning surroundings and mythological tales, is the tallest peak in Southern Vietnam.
Regardless of its title, it isn’t really that tall – simply shy of 1,000m.
That is excellent news for day-hikers, as you’ll be able to summit the highest and return inside a day – or about 5-hours to specific.
In the event you’re an skilled hiker, you’ll have the ability to full your complete trek in a day.
Keep in mind, it entails climbing by lush forests, with usually steep and rocky sections.
Much less skilled hikers can decide to take the gondola as much as Ba Den Temple a couple of third of the best way up.
The views at each the temple and the highest are properly well worth the effort. Due to its problem, you’re unlikely to come across many vacationers right here, so if you happen to’re uninterested in bumping into vacationers then this could possibly be your respite.
Methods to Get to Ba Den Mountain
Driving or using a scooter is one of the best ways to get to Ba Den Mountain. You’ll get to trip by farmer’s fields and cross pleasant locals in small cities.
Getting there through public transport shall be a bit harder. You’ll have to get a bus from Ben Thanh to An Suong bus station, then catch a minibus to Tay Ninh station.
From right here, you’ll have to discover a taxi to take you to Ba Den Mountain. With few vacationers venturing right here, discovering one could also be troublesome.
Some tour firms in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis supply excursions to Ba Den, this could be your most dependable choice apart from using a scooter.
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