Day trips from ho chi minh city
Formerly known as Saigon – & still colloquially known as such by most locals – Ho chi Minh thành phố is the largest in Vietnam, once serving as its capital and now remaining the modern day cultural, religious và political hub for most visitors.
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Here, you can learn about everything from the war and the diverse religious backgrounds of Vietnam lớn the lifestyles of the average contemporary Vietnamese citizen. The đô thị is truly alive and bustling with history & culture.
This can get overwhelming, so a great option is to take day trips to other areas in South Vietnam. The region is packed with natural beauty thanks to lớn the Mekong Delta, Southern Highlands, and lush forests.
You can also discover more rural cultures or take a peek into Vietnam’s French colonial past.
These are the 15 best day trips you can take from Ho chi Minh City.
1. Cu đưa ra Tunnels
The Cu bỏ ra tunnels are a great place to lớn learn more about the Vietnamese side of the war that took place in the ‘60s. Cu chi was a highly bombed area, & what was once a vibrant town is now mostly rice paddies & fields.
To survive, the people of Cu bỏ ra built a network of underground tunnels which you can still visit to lớn this day. You will need lớn take a historic tour to lớn understand the area better, but these are definitely worth it & well-priced.
Ben Duoc is the most famous tunnel; however, Ben Dinh is great if you are looking for somewhere a little less touristy.
2. Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta region is both culturally vibrant and naturally beautiful. The world famous river begins in this region before stretching throughout South East Asia.
There are rice và coconut farms throughout the region to lớn learn more about rural Vietnamese life, and excellent boat tours that cruise along the river và its canals.
There are also floating markets in towns located along the river delta, with Cai Be being the most famous. The town also has some great places khổng lồ listen to local folk music & the market itself is full of wonderful local produce.
3. Cao dai Temple
In the nearby town of Tay Ninh, you will find Cao dai Temple. Caodaism is the religion of the temple and is very chất lượng to the region.
It is a sect of Buddhism, however, draws heavily from Christian & Confucian beliefs, making it an interesting religion to learn more about. You can visit a real ceremony if you make sure to be there at around noon, and learn more about the symbolism of the Left Eye of God.
The beautiful temple has quality Caodaist architecture và is a delight for any photographer or anyone looking lớn explore a culture that is not as well-known across the world.
4. Black Virgin Mountain
Known locally as tía Den Mountain, this mountain is in a very historically and culturally important region & is great for hiking.
Hiking maps with details of the trails available can be picked up from tourist offices in Ho chi Minh và in nearby Tay Ninh. Once at the đứng top of the mountain, you can enjoy breathtaking views over the neighboring rice paddies và historic villages.
If you are looking for a more relaxing trip, take a cable car up the mountain. This is quite slow và shaky, but generally safe; it is an enjoyable experience if you can stomach the jolty movements.
5. Vam Sat Mangrove Forest
Vam Sat Mangrove Forest contains the UNESCO World Heritage site of Can Gio Biosphere.
This area of outstanding natural beauty is located just on the outskirts of Ho chi Minh. Previously destroyed by the Vietnam War, the beautiful mangroves have since regrown và are a haven for nature lovers and photographers looking for a unique spot in the world.
The area also has many traditional fishing villages, and you can guide your own boat through the waterways or go with a guided tour. There is a cool Bat Lagoon, which you can row into lớn explore the different bat habitats.
6. Vung Tau Beach
Vung Tau is a very popular day trip option from Ho đưa ra Minh City & it is easy to lớn see why.
The picturesque cape is lined with a beautiful beach, with Big Mountain overlooking the area and adding to lớn the breathtaking scenery. On the opposite side of the beach is Small Mountain, a popular hiking option for travelers who are not accustomed khổng lồ larger hills.
There are some interesting traditional Vietnamese sailing options for you to enjoy from the beach, or you can simply choose khổng lồ relax in this little spot away from the hustle and bustle of Ho chi Minh.
7. Nha Trang
Nha Trang is another gorgeous seaside destination only a short traveling distance from Ho đưa ra Minh City.
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It is flanked with beautiful mountain ranges and the gorgeous coastline will delight hikers, photographers và regular tourists alike. Arguably the most famous seaside town in the country, Nha Trang is a popular area for scuba diving & there are facilities to lớn cater to all levels across the town.
The beach is nice, though not as spectacular as others in the region. However, it is a good place khổng lồ soak up local culture và sample some of Vietnam’s finest street food.
8. Long Tan
Long tan is a popular site khổng lồ learn all about the war – especially for tourists from nước australia and New Zealand.
One of the largest ANZAC led battles in the Vietnam War took here; you can learn all about the efforts made by both nations during the major conflict. The Long tung Memorial Cross is a popular site commemorating all the fallen soldiers from the conflict.
Take a tour of the old Australian army barracks and wander along the former battlefield, which has been somewhat preserved – unlike many others in Vietnam.
9. Ho Coc Beach
Though Vietnam is not usually thought of as a beach destination – especially when compared to vương quốc của những nụ cười and the Philippines – there are some very secluded surprises dotted along the coast that can be more rewarding than the busier tourist beaches nearby.
Ho Coc is a five-kilometer long beach that sees a lot less tourist traffic than many others – even in Vietnam – & still benefits from golden sand & crystal xanh seas.
If you are looking to minimize crowd sizes, we suggest coming during the week where there’s every chance you will have the beach to yourself.
10. Tay Ninh
Located in the south of Vietnam, many people ignore Tay Ninh whilst on their way to lớn the black Virgin Mountain or Cao dai Temple, but the town itself has many cultural delights to merit a day trip of its own.
You can visit the Long Hoa market to kiểm tra out local clothing, food, và other trinkets. Be sure khổng lồ bring your best bargaining skills with you, as the locals love it.
The local delicacy, banh canh trang bang, is a variety of noodles which is turned into other dishes such as griddle cakes & soups. Simply sitting at one of the many restaurants will give you a good feel for local culture.
11. Suoi Truc
Suoi Truc is not very well known to lớn tourists but is definitely a hotspot for local Vietnamese residents.
The area is located in a lush, secluded forest with many man-made hiking trails that have formed naturally from decades of human foot traffic. Once you are deep in the forest, you will find beautiful waterfalls and rock pools.
You can bathe under the waterfalls và swim in the somewhat warm waters of the pools. It is much quieter during the week, however, if this is your first visit, we suggest going when it is busier so you don’t get lost.
12. Can Tho
Can Tho is the largest town located in the Mekong Delta region và is perfect for soaking up some unique Vietnamese culture without the tourist traps of Ho bỏ ra Minh lớn distract you.
The quang quẻ Duc Pagoda is one of the largest Buddhist temples in the world. It is well worth a visit lớn learn more about the religion & come face khổng lồ face with monks.
The Xuan Khanh quarter of the đô thị is famous as a great market area & a place where the youth of Can Tho unwind – particularly students from the local university.
13. Dalat
Dalat is located in the Southern Highlands of Vietnam and is a popular place lớn get away from the stifling heat of Ho bỏ ra Minh City. Once a popular resort for French officials, it is still an interesting place to check out some colonial architecture. It is known colloquially as Vietnam’s Paris for this reason.
There are three colonial-era palaces that have been well maintained where you can learn all about how the powerful French colonists lived whilst in Vietnam. Enjoy the surrounding natural treats with hiking, canyoning & cable car options allowing people of all abilities khổng lồ take in the views.
14. Ben Tre
For the more adventurous traveler, Ben Tre is a Mekong Delta town that is not frequently visited by tourists.
As a result, the few that do venture in this direction are treated khổng lồ an incredibly warm welcome. Enjoy peaceful boat rides down the Mekong with locals who will be more than happy to show you around.
The town is known in Vietnam for its coconut production; watch this happening all across the streets of the town. Everything from coconut oil and coconut milk to lớn furniture made from coconut shells can be found in Ben Tre.
15. Rach Gia
Located on the southern coast in the Mekong Delta region, Rach Gia is another town that does not see many tourists. Locals here can also be very friendly with the few who bởi vì come.
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If you decide to spend your day in the town itself, you will be treated to lớn some of the most authentic restaurants in this part of the country – và great Vietnamese hospitality. If you arrive early, you can also take the hydrofoil boat to Phu Quoc, which is a bit more popular with tourists and has some great natural attractions.
