Southern Vietnam Guide: Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong
Golden Tropics Travel · Updated
Southern Vietnam is warm all year. Ho Chi Minh City, still often called Saigon, is the country's busiest city, and the green, watery Mekong Delta begins just a couple of hours away.
Ho Chi Minh City
- Ben Thanh Market for souvenirs, coffee and local snacks
- The French colonial Central Post Office and the Saigon Opera House
- The War Remnants Museum and the Independence Palace
- Nguyen Hue Walking Street, lively in the evening
- Rooftop bars and cafés with views over the city
Cu Chi Tunnels
About two hours from the city, the Cu Chi Tunnels are a network of narrow underground passages used during the Vietnam War. Visitors can crawl through a widened section. It is a hot, dusty half-day, so bring water and comfortable clothes.
The Mekong Delta
Boats wind through palm-lined canals to fruit orchards, coconut-candy workshops and riverside villages. Floating markets such as Cai Rang near Can Tho are busiest early in the morning, so tours that stay overnight in the delta see them at their best.
Weather, food and tips
- The dry season, usually from December to April, is the most comfortable; the rest of the year brings short, heavy afternoon showers.
- Try banh mi, broken rice (com tam) and fresh tropical fruit.
- The area around the Saigon Central Mosque in District 1 has several halal restaurants.
- Traffic is heavy: cross the road at a steady, slow pace and let scooters go around you.
- Malaysians can usually visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 30 days. Check the latest rules before you travel.