At the heart of Saigon’s urban dynamism, lie natural, cultural and historical treasures waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re a nature lover, a history buff, or simply looking for adventure, the surrounding areas of this Vietnamese metropolis are full of captivating excursions.
From lush jungles to historic ruins and picturesque villages, there’s something for everyone.
In this article, we present to you the 10 Best Excursions Near Saigon, inviting you to immerse yourself in the very essence of Southern Vietnam. Get ready to marvel at spectacular landscapes, immerse yourself in rich culture, and create unforgettable memories in these spellbinding destinations.
1. Cu Chi Tunnels
When talking about Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon), people often think of it as Vietnam’s most contemporary and vibrant city, but it also bears its own historical marks.
Not too far from downtown Ho Chi Minh lies a fascinating underground network called the Cu Chi Tunnels which are located just 57 km from Saigon. These tunnels spanned more than 140 miles and played an important role in Vietnam’s long struggle for freedom during the Vietnam War.
During your visit, you will have the opportunity to explore an underground village, including a school, hospital and offices. You can also see combat bunkers and perilous traps, experience shooting with an AK47, M16 or machine gun.
Keep in mind that if you have even a mild case of claustrophobia, you should consider not going down the tunnels as space is very tight in some areas.
The Cu Chi Tunnels are one of the most popular places to visit near Ho Chi Minh City that you shouldn’t miss.
You can read my article to go from Saigon at the Cu Chi Tunnels.
2. Can Tho
Can Tho is located 197 km from Ho Chi Minh City, is considered the capital of the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam, one of its largest cities and the location of famous Cai Rang floating market.
Here you will see hundreds of boats loaded with more kinds of fruit than you could ever imagine. Despite being a huge and relatively industrialized city, Can Tho also functions as a cultural center for neighboring rural areas.
The good thing about this city is that you can have the best of both worlds: excellent accommodations in the city center, as well as convenient day trips to explore the charming agricultural settlements. It takes about four hours to get to Can Tho from Ho Chi Minh by bus.
Cai Rang market is one of the best floating markets in the Mekong Delta.
3. Phu Quoc Island
Phu Quoc Island is one of the most attractive places to visit near Ho Chi Minh City, especially for beach lovers. The island has picturesque beaches, romantic sunsets, evergreen woods and a tranquil ambiance, making it an ideal vacation spot for anyone who wants to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.
The northern part of the island is relatively unspoiled due to its position as a UNESCO-listed national park, but there are many opulent resorts, quirky bars and quaint cafes along the coast south. It is located 45 kilometers west of Ha Tien in the extreme south of Vietnam.
Besides lounging at the beach, lying in the sun and sipping delicious cocktails and eating fresh fish, you can also stay a little more active with activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving or kayak
4. Vung Tau
Vung Tau is a great choice for a weekend getaway as the geographically close town, just a two-hour bus or shuttle ride away, offers a variety of activities and is full of great seafood.
Vung Tau is primarily known as a beach destination but it also has a town center. Because the town is located on a peninsula, it has several beaches, the most accessible and popular of which are Font Beach and Back Beach.
With a long stretch of shoreline, Back Beach is considered the best of the beaches here. Font Beach, on the other hand, is directly in downtown, making it easier to access, but it will be busier as a result.
Do not hesitate to read my article to getting to Vung Tau from Saigon.
5. Dalat
Dalat is also a famous weekend getaway option for Saigonese people and a trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat is very easy to do. The city has many fascinating monuments. Its lakes and waterfalls have always been major tourist attractions, as have Emperor Bao Dai’s Summer Palace and Buddhist pagodas.
The French Quarter, located not far from the city center, has a considerable number of well-preserved French houses and chalets.
Not only a beautiful city, but Dalat also offers travelers exciting activities that you can only find here, such as Dalat canyoning, Dalat white water rafting…
6. Con Dao Island
Con Dao Island is a peaceful paradise on the southern coast of Vietnam, with white sandy beaches, rich flora, unusual fauna and some of the best scuba diving in the region.
Con Dao is a group of 16 archipelagos located on the mainland, 80 kilometers from the Mekong Delta region and 230 km from Ho Chi Minh City. Due to its isolation and history as a penal colony, the island has remained exceptionally pure; as a result, 80% of the island is still forested.
Island hopping and diving are popular activities on the Con Dao Islands, where you can explore many of the uninhabited islets and see rays, barracudas and moray eels.
Hon Bay Canh Island is well known for its turtle breeding grounds, so if you visit between June and September, you may even see turtles laying eggs.
7. Mui Ne (Phan Thiet)
Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are located about 200 km north of Ho Chi Minh City. These traditional fishing communities, when combined, are quickly becoming popular recreational destinations.
Although resort-style resorts have been built along the coastline, fishing town life has not been affected and the long beach at Mui Ne is calm and serene, ideal for strolling, running and watching the beautiful sunsets of sun. Not to mention, the beach is also the premier destination in Southeast Asia for kitesurfing and a variety of water sports.
Coming to Mui Ne, you absolutely cannot miss the Sahara-like sand dunes (only smaller) which are Red Sand Dune and White San Dune. Whether you jump, slide, or simply run through the dunes, it’s exceptionally difficult not to be overwhelmed by their beauty.
8. Ben Tre
Ben Tre, the coconut capital of the Mekong Delta, is a 20-minute boat ride from My Tho (then a 10-minute xe om ride). Many Mekong Delta day trips from Ho Chi Minh City stop at Ben Tre, which offers a number of intriguing waterways and river islands to visit, as well as various coconut candy factories.
The town is famous for its coconut candy, and you can tour the companies that create it as well as the farms where the coconuts are collected. Plus, it’s easy to schedule a sampan ride with the lush canopies of the Mekong, as seen in every Mekong vacation brochure.
9. Tay Ninh
Tay Ninh is located northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, 95 kilometers from the city center and is home to one of Vietnam’s most intriguing indigenous religions, Caodaism,
Caodaism, which was founded in 1926, is a monotheistic religion in which Cao Dai is revered as the creator of the cosmos. My Tho Temple is a smaller branch of the larger Tay Ninh Cao Dai Temple (also known as the Holy See Temple) which was established in the early 1970s.
The brightly colored tower, which is adorned with all the colors of the rainbow and more, features stunning wooden carvings of deities as well as colorful tiles. Such a riot of color and design has to be seen to be believed.
10. Dong Nai
Dong Nai is a place to visit near Ho Chi Minh City with beautiful waterfalls and streams that captivate visitors with a unique poetic and romantic panorama of the southeast of Vietnam. As a rich land with more than 300 lands formed and developed by the Dong Nai River, it brings fertile alluvial soil, making it a perfect home for a diverse ecosystem, now preserved in Nam Cat Tien National Park.
Many ups and downs of history have developed a distinct national identity for this cultural sub-region. Dong Nai has a rich folk heritage as it is home to several ethnic groups, the majority of which are Vietnamese. There are also Chinese, Xieng, Cho Ro, Cham…
