Best Things to Do in Southern Vietnam (2026 Guide)

The best things to do in Southern Vietnam begin in Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by most of its residents). The Reunification Palace — where North Vietnamese tanks crashed through the gates on April 30, 1975, ending the war — stands preserved as it was on that day, with the original war room communications equipment and command vehicles intact. The War Remnants Museum documents the conflict with extraordinary photographs and artefacts. The Cu Chi Tunnels (65km from the city) allow visitors to crawl through sections of the 250km underground network used by the Viet Cong during the war. The Mekong Delta’s Cai Rang floating market, best at dawn, shows hundreds of boats trading wholesale fruit and vegetables in a tradition unchanged for a century.

Best time to visit

November to April is the dry season in Southern Vietnam: hot (30-35°C), sunny, and with minimal rain. This is the best time for Phu Quoc Island beaches and Mekong Delta boat trips. December-January is peak tourist season. May-October is monsoon season — heavy afternoon rainfall but the landscape is lush and prices are lower. Phu Quoc’s monsoon (May-October) brings rough seas and the island’s east coast becomes the calmer option. The Tet Lunar New Year (January-February) is magical in terms of decorations but many businesses close for several days.

Getting around

Ho Chi Minh City’s metro opened in 2024 (Line 1, from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien, 19.7km) but coverage remains limited — Grab is the primary urban transport mode. Cu Chi Tunnels are best reached by day tour ($10-15 USD including transport) from District 1. Mekong Delta tours operate from District 1 and range from one-day ($15-25 USD) to multi-day homestay programs. Phu Quoc is reached by flight (45 minutes from HCMC) or by bus and ferry from Rach Gia (4 hours). Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, and Bamboo Airways serve domestic routes. Open Bus tickets (Sinh Tourist network) connect HCMC to Mui Ne, Da Lat, and ultimately north to Hanoi.

What to eat and drink

Southern Vietnamese cuisine is sweeter and more coconut-influenced than the north. Pho bo (beef noodle soup — the defining dish, eaten for breakfast in Vietnam) is richer in the south than Hanoi’s version. Banh mi — the Vietnamese baguette filled with pork, pate, pickled vegetables, and coriander — was born from French colonial influence and is eaten at every street corner. Banh xeo (sizzling savoury crepe with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts, wrapped in lettuce) and bun thit nuong (grilled pork vermicelli bowl) are southern specialities. Ben Thanh Market’s food stalls and the street food circuit around Bui Vien Street are HCMC’s most accessible food experiences. Bia Hoi (Vietnamese draught beer, 5,000 VND/glass at corner plastic-chair establishments) is a must.

Neighborhoods to explore

District 1 (Quan 1), HCMC — The tourist centre: Bui Vien backpacker street, Ben Thanh Market, the Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the central post office. Most hotels and tour operators are here.

District 3 (Quan 3), HCMC — The leafy residential neighbourhood with French colonial villas, independent coffee shops, and the best mid-range Vietnamese restaurants in the city.

Pham Ngu Lao, HCMC — The backpacker area within District 1: guesthouses from $8/night, travel agencies, street food on every corner, and Bui Vien Street’s 24-hour bar strip.

An Hoi Islet, Hoi An — The Ancient Town across the river from the main historic district: tailors, lantern shops, and the best riverside restaurants. Technically in Central Vietnam but included on most southern itineraries.

Phu Quoc (Duong Dong Town) — The island’s main town: night market for fresh seafood, Long Beach for sunsets, and proximity to Sao Beach (consistently ranked Vietnam’s best beach).

Can Tho (Mekong Delta) — The Delta’s biggest city: base for Cai Rang floating market dawn boat trips, river cycle tours, and the best Vietnamese home cooking in the south.