10 Best Places For Day Trips From Ho Chi Minh City

Introduction

“Where should I go after Ho Chi Minh?” must pop up in your mind when you have spent some time in Saigon. Thus, we would like to introduce the best places nearby for wonderful day trips from Ho Chi Minh City.

Thankfully, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam, also known as Saigon, is an abundant land with favorable sunny weather and attractive landscapes surrounding it. From Saigon, vacationers have a great variety of spots to flock to. Beaches, rivers, mangrove forests, islands, hills, relics, and so many more are waiting to treat you.

Our article 10 Best Places For Day Trips From Ho Chi Minh City will give you a glimpse of the best places to visit near Ho Chi Minh City, things to do there, and some useful travel tips. Let’s find out with Vietnam Limousine about these destinations right now.

Before going any further, we first want to suggest Sai Gon Limousine, a high-quality transport service from Ho Chi Minh City to the attractions nearby, such as:

• Saigon To Nha Trang Limousine – 370 USD/limousine
• Saigon To Dalat Limousine – 255 USD/limousine
• Saigon To Vung Tau Limousine – 213 USD/limousine
• Saigon To Mui Ne Limousine – 190 USD/limousine
• Saigon To Cu Chi Tunnels Limousine – 195 USD/limousine
• Saigon To Can Tho Limousine – 277 USD/limousine

Vung Tau

When it comes to day trips from Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau appears first as it’s the closest beach town to Ho Chi Minh City (96 kilometers). Located on a stretching peninsula, this city is perfect for holidaymakers who love the seaside and moderate hills.

Like-a-movie scenes will appear when you stand in front of the sea or at the peaks overviewing vast landscapes. Additionally, Vung Tau holds interesting local religious customs and culture, reflected through remarkable buildings and relics.

Things To See In Vung Tau

• Beaches: Bai Truoc (Front Beach), Bai Sau (Back Beach), Bai Dua (Pineapple Beach), Bai Dau (Strawberry Beach), Ho Tram Beach, Doi Nhai Beach, Loc An Beach, etc.
• Hills: Nui Nho (Small Mountain), Nui Lon (Big Mountain), Mui Nghinh Phong (Wind Peak), Doi Con Heo (Pig Hill)
• Islets: Hon Ba Islet, Go Gang, Dao Ngoc (Pearl Island)
• Relics: giant Jesus Statue, Vung Tau Church, Thich Ca Phat Dai (Buddha Statue), Thang Tam Temple, Robert Taylor Museums of Worldwide Arms, Vung Tau Lighthouse, etc.

Vung Tau Travel Tips

• The best time to visit is spring (from January to April). In general, however, Vung Tau’s average temperature is around 27 degrees Celsius, so it’s easy to visit around the year.
• You can experience traveling by ferry to Vung Tau from Ho Chi Minh City. You take the ferry at Can Gio Pier and get a 30-minute transfer to Vung Tau. A ticket for one passenger costs 70,000 VND (3 USD).
• Vung Tau’s specialties are fresh seafood, banh khot (mini pancake), and banh mi.
• Before deciding to buy anything or use any service, you should ask about the prices first.
• You should check the weather to avoid turbulent seas or bad weather.

Mui Ne – Phan Thiet

With exquisite dunes and gorgeous seascapes, Mui Ne has become a popular island getaway from Ho Chi Minh City within a 200-kilometer distance. It gets fancy titles such as “beach paradise,” “resort heaven,” or “national tourism area.”.

Visitors are usually fascinated by the unimaginable beauty of palm-lined white-sand blue coasts in Mui Ne. Besides, numerous layers of dunes or the locals working will melt travelers’ hearts. If you’re a nature enthusiast, Mui Ne will treat you to wonderful day trips from Ho Chi Minh City.

Things To See In Mui Ne

• Mui Ne Beach: A bunch of nice beaches run along this dozens-of-kilometer coastal area. Bai Rang and Hon Rom are the most popular ones.
• Red Sand Dunes: It’s a vast dune area like many deserts in the world, with up to 18 different color shades. You can take pictures, go sandboarding, or ride a sandrail.
• Mui Ne Fishing Village: Fresh fish is caught directly from the sea and sold here.
• Fairy Stream (Suoi Tien): A 1.8-kilometer winding stream located among a huge rock-sand cliff and forest will impress nature lovers.
• Other attractions: Ke Ga Lighthouse, Poshanu Cham Tower, Fish Sauce Museum, Ta Cu Mountain, Duc Thanh School, etc.

Mui Ne Travel Tips

• The best time to visit Mui Ne is from April to August, when the sea seems pure and cool.
• You should avoid beach activities in Mui Ne from October to December because heavy rain and storms usually happen during this time.
• Due to tourism activities, Mui Ne gets more and more polluted. So, please do not litter and keep the beaches clean.
• Asking about the prices before you buy or use any service is highly advisable.
• When buying seafood from the fishing village, you should bargain the price down 50%.

Nha Trang

Nha Trang appears tirelessly on a list of the best places near Ho Chi Minh City (400 kilometers). Stretched over an extensive part of the southern coastal area, Nha Trang captures many hearts for a reason. It always appears as a large body of sparkling turquoise water decorated with a long white sand strip and neat buildings.

Besides immersing in nature and the sea, travelers can enjoy exquisite construction when visiting this city. As a cultural and technological center in Vietnam, Nha Trang will offer visitors wonderful feats and relics.

Things To Do In Nha Trang

• Go diving from islets (such as Hon Mun, Hon Tre, Hon Tam, Hon Rom, etc. )
• Do paragliding at Hon Tam Islet, Bai Tranh Beach, and Dao Hoa Lan (Orchid Island)
• Play flyboard at Hon Tam Islet or Ana Marina
• Go kayaking to mangroves in Dao Hoa Lan (Orchid Island)
• Canoe to “heaven islet trio” on Nha Trang Bay (Hon Mun – Hon Mieu – Hon Tam)
• Visit Dao Khi (Monkey Island) and Dao Hoa Lan (Orchid Island)
• Explore the theme park VinWonders Nha Trang
• See valuable feats such as Ponagar Temple, Long Son Pagoda, Stone Church Nha Trang, Museum of Oceanography, and Truong Son Craft Guilds.

Nha Trang Travel Tips

• The best time to visit Nha Trang is from April to August, as it’s not too hot or cold. You should avoid the period from December to March due to possible turbulent seas and chilly weather.
• Some places in Nha Trang will be closed at 4 PM. Therefore, you should start your visit early.
• You should book a package tour to Nha Trang as it may be cheaper than traveling on your own.
• Take serious considerations about your health before deciding to join diving, paragliding, or flyboarding.
• The best cuisines in Nha Trang are products from edible-nest swiftlets, seafood, jellyfish noodles, and white sardine salad.

Dalat

People give Dalat elegant names such as “City of Thousand Flowers,” “City of Love,” or “City of Eternal Spring” thanks to its heavenly weather. Indeed, Dalat eases its visitors with a gentle climate, refreshing landscapes, and abundant heritage.

Dalat is not a modern busy city with high-tech buildings and amenities. It is inclined toward a dreamy and romantic land with poetic surroundings. If you love nature, Dalat will give you perfect day trips from Saigon.

Things To See In Da Lat

• Nature attractions: Valley of Love, Xuan Huong Lake, Tuyen Lam Lake, Datanla Waterfall, Pongour Waterfall, Langbiang Mountain
• Hills for cloud watching: Da Phu Hill, Doi May (Cloud Hill), Hon Bo Peak, Du Sinh Hill, Thien Phuc Duc Hill, Oolong Hill Cau Dat, etc.
• Relics: Truc Lam Buddhist Monastery, Bao Dai Summer Palace 3, Linh Phuoc Pagoda, Linh Son Pagoda, Domaine De Marie, Da Lat Diocese Cathedral
• Other attractions: Da Lat Market, Dalat Railway Station, Lam Vien Square, Crazy House, Clay Tunnel, ZooDoo Zoo

Dalat Travel Tips

• Thanks to the fantastic climate, Dalat offers beautiful scenery to visitors all year round. Yet, many think that the best time to visit Dalat is from November to June, which is the dry season.
• It’s best you reserve accommodation at least 1 week before your visit.
• You’d better choose stores with publicly listed prices to shop at. Also, it is a good idea to ask about the prices first.

Can Tho – Mekong Delta

Can Tho, a significant city in the west-south region of Vietnam, the heart of Mekong Delta, has a great deal of attractions to offer travelers. This city has developed to a large extent so far, but what makes it special is the richness of natural resources and deep-rooted river culture.

Visitors to Can Tho will be treated to the poetic Mekong River, fresh plentiful fruit gardens, traditional craft guilds, and relics. Taking a sampan along the Mekong Delta through lush palm forests is definitely among the top things to do near Ho Chi Minh City.

Things To Do In Can Tho

• Cai Rang Floating Market: Visiting the floating market in Can Tho is a must. You can take a place on a sampan boat, watch the busy trading atmosphere, and enjoy local fruits and dishes.
• Ninh Kieu Wharf: Established in the 19th century, it has now been upgraded into a gorgeous park. People can walk under the tree shade and enjoy the city atmosphere, especially at night.
• Binh Thuy Ancient House: Set up in the late 19th century, this house once belonged to the upper class in southern Vietnam.
• Orchards: Can Tho is home to fruit-laden gardens, such as My Khanh, 9 Hong, Vam Xang, and Rach Ke. You can pick fruits right from the trees and eat them at hand.
• Con Son Islet: You take a ferry to this islet village, enjoy the local specialties, and try making local dishes on your own.
• Pagodas with impressive architecture: Khmer Pagoda Munir Ansay, Ong Pagoda, Truc Lam Southern Buddha Monastery, and Can Tho Buddhist Temple.

Can Tho Travel Tips

• The best time to visit Can Tho is from May to August when it’s sunny and the fruits are fully ripe.
• The boat is one of the main transport options in Can Tho. If you go in a group, your group can hire a boat for 350,000-400,000 VND (15-17 USD). On the other hand, an individual ticket costs 30,000 VND/person (1.3 USD).
• Make sure to wear lifejackets during a boat trip for safety.

Tay Ninh

Close to Ho Chi Minh City within only 100 kilometers, Tay Ninh has increasingly become a popular destination among tourists recently. Tay Ninh is a border place for Cambodia with its original culture and landscapes.

It offers trippers a wild scenery of mountains, hills, forests, paddy fields, gum gardens, and prominent religious culture. These promise to make the best day trips from Ho Chi Minh City for many trippers.

Things To See In Tay Ninh

• Ba Den Mountain (Black Virgin Mountain): Cable car sightseeing, trekking, and pagodas are the most popular activities on this highest mountain in South Vietnam.
• Tay Ninh Holy See (Cao Dai Temple): It’s the most impressive construction of Caodaism in Vietnam with a distinguished and large-scale structure.
• Lakes and streams: Dau Tieng Lake, Nui Da Lake, Suoi Truc (Bamboo Stream)
• Gardens: Go Chua Orchard, Ut Phuong Orchard, Tay Ninh Vine Yard, Nam Trang Farm
• Eco-tourism areas: Long Dien Son RV Park, Lo Go Xa Mat National Park, Long Trung Eco-tourism
• Relics: Chot Mat Ancient Temple, Binh Thanh Tower, Thai Son Pagoda, Go Ken Pagoda, Tua Hai historical relic

Tay Ninh Travel Tips

• The best time to visit Tay Ninh is in the dry season (December to April). Yet, don’t worry if you go there during the wet season as its precipitation is not too high.
• Specialties in Tay Ninh are quite unusual, banh canh Trang Bang (noodle soup), Tay Ninh veal dishes, lizards on Ba Den Mountain, nutritious pila, and dishes with rice papers.
• Traveling with tours to Tay Ninh is a better choice for visitors with little travel experience.
• When visiting pagodas in Tay Ninh (and in other areas in Vietnam), you should dress politely, stay calm, and show respect.

Cu Chi Tunnel

Cu Chi Tunnel is a part of Ho Chi Minh City but it’s quite far from the city center, over 70 kilometers to the west-south. This is a destination that visitors love to come to from Ho Chi Minh City. It is a colossal underground tunnel network that the Vietnamese once used for refuge and storage during the war.

Things To Do In Cu Chi Tunnel

• Visit every corner in this 120-meter 2-story “underground maze”
• Watch historical videos, miniatures, and relics, and learn about the history
• Try shooting with Vietnamese firearms
• Tour around the nearby wild animal rescue station
• Pick and eat fruits at Trung An Orchard

Cu Chi Travel Tips

• Cu Chi Tunnel entrance fee is 20,000-30,000 VND/person. Besides, it costs you 20,000 VND to enter the tunnel and 50,000 VND for each game.
• You should wear simple clothes and comfortable footwear to move around more easily and avoid getting your clothes dirty.
• If you have claustrophobia, you should avoid entering small ways inside the tunnel.

Can Gio Coastal District

Can Gio is among the best neighborhoods in Ho Chi Minh City, 50 kilometers away from downtown. If you want to enjoy beaches near Ho Chi Minh City, Can Gio is another option besides Vung Tau. With its close location and wild beaches, Can Gio will give you good day trips from Ho Chi Minh City.

Things To Do In Can Gio

• Visit Vam Sat Mangrove Forest: It’s a sustainable large eco-tourism area of the world, home to hundreds of species. Visitors will be impressed by the green space and its fresh air.
• Explore Monkey Island: As its name implies, you will meet adorable monkeys on this island. You can hold their hands, feed them, and take pictures with them.
• Immerse in Can Gio Beach: It has black sand and cloudy water, not because of dirt but geographical features. As a wild touristless beach, it’s clean to bathe in and relax on.
• Go to Hang Duong Market: If you want to visit a local market, Hang Duong Market will give you fresh seafood at affordable prices.
• Tour around islands: Thieng Lieng Island and Thanh An Island are tranquil places to visit in Can Gio. You can take a boat there, enjoy local dishes, breathe in some fresh air, relax in peaceful surroundings, and learn about the local life.

Can Gio Travel Tips

• Can Gio is located in southern Vietnam, so its weather is moderate all year round. Yet, you should avoid the time from August to November as heavy rains and floods usually happen.
• Vam Sat Mangrove Forest entrance fee costs 60,000 VND. You can enjoy boat trips and animal watching here (such as birds, crocodiles, bats, etc. )
• The best foods in Can Gio are mantis shrimp, fish salads, pangasius kunyit fish, and nipa palm fruit.

Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc Island, also known as the “Paradise Pearl Island” of Vietnam, is celebrated by both home and foreign visitors thanks to its pristine beauty. Nearly 400 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc Island is a part of Kien Giang Province Vietnam, located in the Gulf of Thailand.

It possesses endless natural wonders, offering serene sights, thrilling nature exploration, and a perfect place for relaxation. Phu Quoc surprises everyone with numerous heavenly beaches, mountains, hills, and primitive forests with great biodiversity.

Things To See In Phu Quoc Island

• Beaches: Bai Dai, Bai Sao, Bai Khem, Bai Ong Lang, Ganh Dau
• Islets: Hon Mong Tay – Hon May Rut – Hon Dam Ngang, Hon Thom, Hon Doi Moi, Hon Mot 
• Amusement parks: VinWonders Phu Quoc, Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc, Grand World Phu Quoc
• Other attractions: Phu Quoc National Park, Phu Quoc Night Market, Phu Quoc Prison History Museum, Ham Ninh Fishing Village, Suoi Tranh Waterfall, Dinh Cau Temple, Ho Quoc Pagoda, etc.

Phu Quoc Travel Tips

• The best time to visit Phu Quoc is from November to April when it’s sunny, less rainy, and free from extreme weather.
• You should visit Phu Quoc by tour or tour package as those will help you discover Phu Quoc more easily and thoroughly.
• Popular activities in Phu Quoc are sightseeing, swimming, scuba diving, fishing, and kayaking.
• The specialty on Phu Quoc Island must be seafood. Some popular dishes are sardinella salad, grilled sea urchins, crabs, and seafood noodles.

Con Dao Islands

230 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, Con Dao is an archipelago in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province Vietnam. It offers holidaymakers a great space for sightseeing, vacation, and exploration. It comprises 16 islands and islets, home to majestic mountains, hills, forests, beaches, and minerals.

To Vietnamese people, this archipelago is also famous for its tumultuous history. It was once the biggest prison system in Indochina before 1975.

Things To See In Con Dao Islands

• Islands: Con Son Island, Hon Bay Canh, Hon Cau, Hon Tai, Hon Ba, Hon Bong Lan
• Beaches: Dam Trau Beach, Bai Suoi Nong, Bai Nhat, Con Son Bay, Dam Tre Bay
• Con Dao Prison: Discover the horrifying situations that prisoners during the wars had to suffer from.
• Con Dao National Park: See the valuable sea creatures, especially coral reefs, swifts, and turtles. (60,000 VND/entrance ticket)
• Spiritual attractions and relics: Van Son Pagoda, Hang Duong Cemetary, Con Dao Museum, Nui Mot Pagoda, etc.

Con Dao Islands Travel Tips

• March to September is the best time to visit Con Dao Islands. Despite the occasional rain, it’s sunny and fresh for sightseeing and sea activities.
• Airways are available so that you can get to Con Dao from Ho Chi Minh by plane.
• Special activities on the Con Dao Islands are scuba diving to see coral reefs, mangrove visiting, turtle hatching watching, freeing baby turtles back to the sea, and so on.
• Many interesting tours are recommended, as they give visitors, especially first-timers, an accomplished visit to attractions in Con Dao.

Conclusion

We have just wrapped up 10 top places near Saigon and given some insights on things to do and travel tips. As you can see, various fantastic destinations are awaiting you to discover outside Ho Chi Minh City.

As a Vietnamese travel agency, Vietnam Limousine hopes that we bring good advice to travelers around the world. We wish you the best day trips from Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam. Thanks for reading.