The 8 Best Day Trips From Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City is a maze of chaotic madness – a concrete metropolis of vast scope and vitality. But it can be too much at times, so let’s have a look at the best day trips for you to escape Saigon.

1. Ba Den Mountain

Hiking Trail, Shrine

This dead volcano, also known as Black Virgin Mountain, has the best views in all of southern Vietnam. The mountain carries significant religious meaning to the people in the area, and there’s even a myth about a girl who killed herself here. The drive takes about two hours from Ho Chi Minh City. You can hike the mountain or take the easy route and opt for the cable car instead.

2. Can Gio Mangrove Forest

Forest

The Cần Giờ (pronounce cun yuh) Mangrove Forest is a Unesco biosphere reserve 40km (25mi) south of Ho Chi Minh City that features a unique wetlands ecosystem and a number of rare plant and animal species, including saltwater crocodiles and many kinds of migratory birds. It’s possible to get to this area on your own, but we recommends you go with a trusted tour company to get the most out of your excursion.

3. Cu Chi Tunnels

Memorial, Museum

These tunnels played a vital role during Vietnam’s long fight for independence – first against the French, then against the American-backed government in Saigon. At Củ Chi, you really get a sense of just how difficult life was for the guerrilla fighters who spent years hiding in the tunnels. Keep in mind, though, that if you have even minor claustrophobia, then you’ll probably want to avoid this day trip. There are some very tight spaces.

5. Cai Be Floating Market

Market

Though not as large as Cái Răng Floating Market, Cái Bè is much less touristy and also an hour closer to Ho Chi Minh City. The action starts early, with the first vendors arriving at 3am – but don’t worry, they’re still around at more reasonable hours. At this market you’ll see wholesalers selling fruits, flowers and seafood. It’s more of an experience to observe rather than a place for you to actually shop.

6. Cat Tien National Park

Natural Feature, Park

If you’re really looking to get into nature, then Cat Tien National Park is for you. The park has various types of old growth forests and some fascinating wildlife – gibbons, sambar deer, wild boars, black-shanked doucs and even crocodiles. However, the drive does take nearly four hours, so you might want to consider making it a two-day journey. It’s doable in one, but eight hours on the road really detracts from the experience.

7. Ben Tre

Market, Natural Feature

Most tour companies highlight tours to Mỹ Tho, but those are pre-packaged excursions where giant tour buses bring hundreds of tourists to the same spots day after day. It’s cookie-cutter travel. Bến Tre, on the other hand, is less developed and more authentic. The town is famous for its coconut candy, and you can visit the factories where they make this treat – also the farms where they collect the coconuts. Furthermore, it’s easy to arrange a sampan ride through lush river canopies just as you see on every travel brochure about the Mekong.

8. Cao Dai Temple

Buddhist Temple, Building, Cathedral, Church, Mosque

This temple is the home of the Cao Đài religion, a fusion of beliefs from Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity and Islam. Started in 1926, Caodaism has 4.4m adherents of this belief system that denounces materialism and practises the Karmic law of rebirth. The main draw at this temple are the daily masses, which feature bright colours and fascinating rituals.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.