A Crash Course into South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Nha Trang)

Mekong River, Mekong Delta, Vietnam (ISO 100, 46 mm, f/5, 1/640s)

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Vietnam is a gem. It has a rich history, amazing food, and a plethora of unique towns/cities along its coastline. For most, including myself, it is arguably the best country in Southeast Asia. With cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Nha Trang, Hoi An, and Hanoi, there is no shortage of things to see and do. You can find a Google map of the places I will discuss at the end of this post.

I recommend you start in Ho Chi Minh City (if coming from Phnom Penh, Cambodia) and work your way north, or fly into Hanoi and work your way south. There are plenty of options for getting around. Driving in Vietnam, especially in some of their bigger cities, can be incredibly stressful, so taking public transport is a wiser option, though may take a little bit more time. 

Intercity bus companies like Mai Linh Express and The Sinh Tourist are reliable companies with generally good quality buses. Open tour buses are often hit or miss, and is a hop-on-hop-off bus style concept along the major cities of Vietnam. You can add as many stops as you would like to your journey, but don’t expect to meet very many locals this way, this way of traveling is extremely attractive to backpackers since it is quite cheap.

Mekong Delta, Vietnam (ISO 100, 29 mm, f/4.6, 1/790 s)

Taking the trains is also an option, here is an excellent resource on that.

Also, If you have more time in Vietnam, why not check out the rest of the country? Check out my blog posts on North Vietnam (Hanoi and Ha Long Bay) and Central Vietnam (Hoi An and Hue).

War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (ISO 800, 18 mm, f/3.5, 1/60s)

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Ming City (HCMC), previously known as ‘Saigon’, is aptly named after the Vietnamese revolutionary and politician. The city is a perfect blend of modern and ancient attractions. To sample the food and pick up some souvenirs, look no further than ben thanh market (chobenthanh.org.vn). It is one of the oldest surviving structures of the entire city and is loved by tourists and locals alike. 

As far as food goes, you can’t go wrong with vietnamese cuisine. Make sure you don’t leave the city without eating pho (a vietnamese soup in many varieties: pork, chicken, beef, veggie, etc), vietnamese coffee, banh xeo (crepe with pork/shrimp and herbs), goi cuon (spring rolls), and banh khot (vietnamese pancake), just to name a few. 

Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam (ISO 800, 21 mm, f/3.5, 1/500s)

There are small temples scattered throughout the city but one that stands out is the Thien Hau Pagoda, located in the ‘Chinatown’ of HCMC.

Two very important stops that should be seen is the War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels. The former describes the vietnamese side of the vietnam war conflict and has an especially moving exhibit on the effects of Agent Orange on the local populations. It is a somber place to go but necessary.

War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (ISO 800, 44 mm, f/5.0, 1/64 s)

The Cu Chi tunnels are a network of tunnels used during the vietnam war conflict. Here you can get an understanding as to the conditions that were posed to both sides during the war. To get to the tunnels, take bus 13 from Saigon Bus TDH (or ‘TĐH xe buýt Sài Gòn’ on the map) towards ‘Cu Chi’ (the journey takes a little less than 2 hours).

For amazing views of the entire city and a good night out, wear your sunday’s best and go to Chill Skybar. Drinks are pricey here and you pay for the view but it should not be missed.

Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam (ISO 3200, 18 mm, f/3.5, 1/40 s)

Mekong Delta

Not too far away is the Mekong Delta (October/November and April/May best times to go), which is an excellent way to get away from the busyness of HCMC and immerse yourself in some nature.

Mekong River, Mekong Delta, Vietnam (ISO 100, 37 mm, f/4.5, 1/800s)

Getting here can be tricky (some good tips here). You can catch a bus to the city of Cần Thơ which takes 3-5 hours and costs less than $10. This area is known for their famous floating markets (Cái Răng, Phong Dien, and Tra on) and Cần Thơ has a few that you can check out. You should also take a rest at Ong Pagoda after your long journey to relax a bit.

Nha Trang

Nha Trang is very well known for its beaches. Indeed you will find numerous bars and restaurants here lining the coastline. Though Nha Trang does have it’s own history like other cities in Vietnam, it’s mainly seen as a holiday destination.

The Sailing Club is a popular jaunt for those looking for great food and drinks by the water at all times of the day/night. You can also choose to go snorkeling at Monkey Island, Hon Mun Island, and Yen Sao Island through an operator in the area. You can find many of these operators on the street Biệt Thự.

If you want to get off the beaten path and don’t mind a little bit of hiking, make your way to Ba Ho Waterfall. You can get here by motorbike by taking the coastal route along Phạm Văn Đồng. Thirty minutes in, you will see signage reading “BA HO TOURIST” and you will then take a left. THe hike to the first waterfall takes about 30-45 minutes and requires a bit of bouldering, but should be ok with any able-bodied person. Make sure to bring proper shoes for the trek and plenty of water. The entrance fee to the falls is cheap (about $2). ~A good way to relax from the trip is to take in a mudbath when returning to the city center.

If you’re also keen for exploring other Southeast Asian destinations, check out my posts on seeing Cambodia (Blog Post: The Perfect Guide for Tomb Raiding in Cambodia) and Thailand (Blog Posts: An Explorer’s Guide to Bangkok and Just a few reasons why should visit Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai).

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