Five Must – See Places In The South Of Vietnam

So, I’ve already listed my top places in the North and central Vietnam but no list would be complete without a list of must see places in the South! So, here are the top five places I recommend once you have your Vietnam Visa On Arrival.

1. The Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is simply beautiful. As with most tourist destinations in Vietnam, the further away from the big cities you go, the less touristy and more idyllic the scenery. I recommend a three day boat tour that goes all the way to Chau Doc and includes the Tra Su Bird Sanctuary. This sanctuary is deep in the forest and best explored in your own wooden boat, floating through the sound of the trees and the birds, paddled by one of the locals.

I also highly recommend climbing the observation tower and watching the various local birds as they fly in to roost for the night.

Also, don’t miss the hustle and bustle of the early morning floating markets where the locals sell their fruit and vegetables.

Another must see is the various factories in the area which make silk, rice, honey and coconut sweets. I recommend a guide for your Mekong Delta experience as they can show you the best that this amazing area has to offer.

2. Phu Quoc Island

This is one of my favourite spots in Vietnam although it is developing fast and definitely not as peaceful as it once was. It has beautiful sandy beaches, shallow warm water and amazing sunsets which can be viewed from the sea, with a cocktail in hand! There’s also amazing fresh seafood here which is definitely worth a try. I would recommend the deep fried calamari, fresh BBQ tiger prawns or grilled seabass. Simply delicious!

3. Vung Tau – Ho Tram

This is where a lot of locals come to escape the craziness of HCM. Follow the road from Vung Tau for about an hour and you’ll find yourself at the beginning of the Ho Tram strip. You can come by bus or take the speed boat over from Ho Chi Minh, which is an experience in itself.

The best way to experience the beaches here is to book into one of the more expensive resorts. They offer excellent views, pristine beaches and many of them also include private swimming pools as well as the sea front. The food here can be expensive but it is fresh and delicious. For those not wanting to spend lots of money you can always pay for a day pass to the resorts and enjoy everything they have to offer, while staying at cheaper accommodation which isn’t on the beach front. Unfortunately, there is a lot of litter lying around on the stretches of beach that aren’t owned by the resorts so these areas are best avoided.

4. Ho Chi Minh

There’s no place like Ho Chi Minh! It’s a huge city with a mega nightlife, especially in down-town on Bui Vien street. Here you can drink and party until your hearts content for all hours of the night and meet the friendly locals who are always happy to have a chat.

Don’t miss the various parks scattered across the city such as Tao Dan park, which is right in the city centre. This park has lush green space, people exercising and playing badminton, turtles swimming in the water and squirrels happily feeding in the trees.

Also, I highly recommend one of the very relaxing and cheap massages in district one, but make sure you read the reviews online and go to one that is highly recommended. You can get a great hour long massage for $15 in a beautiful spa environment.

And of course, if you’re looking for a day trip from HCM then I recommend a trip to Cat Tien National Park, famous for its monkeys and wildlife. Alternatively, head for the Cu Chi Tunnels. This is a system of underground tunnels that were lived in during the Vietnam War. They supplied the Viet Cong soldiers with safety, food and medical supplies, as well as being a hub for communication. It was also a place where they stored all of their weapons used for fighting. Well worth a visit although not a good idea if you are claustrophobic!

5. Mui Ne

Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are coastal towns next to pristine white beach and blue waters. They offer everything from budget accommodation and hostels to hotels and resorts. If you are travelling in a group then you should also definitely check out the Air BnB options here, as it may work out a lot cheaper.

The Fairy Stream is well worth a visit. This stream runs along a number of naturally forming sand dunes and you can take your shoes off and paddle all the way along the stream. There are various stops along the way to buy an ice cold beer or fruit juice. At the end of Fairy Stream is a waterfall, the perfect spot for a group photo!

There are also various water sports on offer in Mui Ne such as canoeing/ kayaking, kitesurfing and paddle boarding.

No trip to Mui Ne is complete without visiting the fascinating sand dunes. There are the red sand dunes and the white sand dunes, both with different characters but both charming and beautiful. You can easily take a taxi or rent a motorbike to get to either of the dunes. There are also various tours that include visits to a number of local attractions all in one day.

Are you ready to jump right in? Order your Vietnam Visa On Arrival and get yourself over here!