When Vung Tau feels too crowded, Saigon drivers push another 30-50 km east to Long Hai and Ho Coc — two coastal stretches that still feel like weekends used to.

A barge loaded with timber navigates the lush waters of An Hoi, Vinh Long, Vietnam.

02 · Destinations

Vinh Long Mekong Homestay: Orchards, Brick Kilns, and the Slow Boat Life

Vinh Long sits an hour from Can Tho but feels a world apart — island homestays, working orchards, and crumbling brick kilns that most Mekong tourists never reach.

03 · Destinations

Ben Tre: Coconut Country, Canal Boats, and the Mekong's Quietest Corner

Ben Tre moves slower than the rest of the Mekong Delta — fewer tour buses, more waterways, and coconut palms as far as you can see. Here's how to spend two days properly.

Colorful outdoor view of Ba Den Mountain with lotus pond and statues under a bright sky.

04 · Destinations

Ba Den Mountain, Tay Ninh: Cable Car, Pagodas, and a Saigon Day Trip Worth Making

At 986 metres, Ba Den is the highest point in southern Vietnam — a pilgrim mountain with a Sun World cable car, active pagodas, and easy access from Saigon.

Detailed close-up of a Sarus crane head in Takéo Province, Cambodia.

05 · Destinations

Tram Chim National Park: Where to Watch Sarus Cranes in Dong Thap

Tram Chim is the Mekong Delta's best wetland for birdwatching, home to Vietnam's largest population of sarus cranes during the dry season from December to April.

Peaceful seascape with fishing boats and islands in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Vietnam.

06 · Destinations

Nam Du Islands: Kien Giang's Quieter Alternative to Phu Quoc

Nam Du is a cluster of 21 islands off the Kien Giang coast where fishing boats still outnumber tourists and the reefs haven't been loved to death yet.

Tropical bay with limestone rocks and greenery, perfect for nature lovers.

07 · Destinations

Ha Tien: Mui Nai Beach, Thach Dong Cave, and the Ferry to Phu Quoc

Ha Tien sits at Vietnam's southwestern edge — part border town, part quiet beach base, and the most convenient jumping-off point for Phu Quoc.

Experience a tranquil boat ride through a serene swamp landscape in South Carolina.

08 · Destinations

U Minh Ha National Park: Peat Swamps, Monkeys, and the Tip of Vietnam

U Minh Ha is one of the last intact peat swamp forests in Southeast Asia — a slow-boat ecosystem of cajuput trees, crab-eating macaques, and brackish canals at Vietnam's southern edge.

A farmer in Vietnam harvesting salt in bright sunlight wearing a conical hat.

09 · Destinations

Bac Lieu: Salt Fields, Southern Music, and the Legend of the Prodigal Prince

Bac Lieu sits at the edge of the Mekong Delta where salt fields meet open sea — and where one of Vietnam's most distinctive musical traditions was born.

03.

Before you go — practical notes.

Quick reference

Best time

Nov – Apr

Dry season, cooler nights

Climate

Hot · Hotter

Highland zones cooler

Currency

VND

~25,400 / USD

Language

Vietnamese

Southern accent

Southern Vietnam.

Destinations in Southern — pick a place to start.

From this region — latest articles.

Before you go — practical notes.

Going to Vietnam?Eat and travel smarter.

Southern Vietnam.

Destinations in Southern — pick a place to start.

From this region — latest articles.

Before you go — practical notes.

Going to Vietnam?Eat and travel smarter.

Going to Vietnam?
Eat and travel smarter.

Going to Vietnam?
Eat and travel smarter.