Top 8 Beautiful Places to Explore in Southern Vietnam
Top highlighted places worth your visit in Southern Vietnam.
Would you love to bathe yourselves in warm & comfortable climate? Beach breaks on stunningly sandy beaches to leisure & enjoy suntans? Or you love to be surrounded with authentic rural landscapes of green gardens, floating markets & friendly locals?If those questions are dominating your mind when planning your short vacation to Vietnam, we will definitely recommend you a visit to the South of Vietnam.
1. Ho Chi Minh city – the biggest & the most dynamic city of Vietnam.
Previously known as Sai Gon, Ho Chi Minh is the largest metropolitan city of Vietnam and the main hub of the southern region.It has shaken off the image of a war-torn city to become a thriving metropolis, challenging Singapore, Bangkok and the other traditional powerhouses of Southeast Asia.
A visit to Ho Chi Minh city, you can easily encounter a lot of skyscrapers (the famous Landmark 81), tall buildings, luxurious and modern hotels, convenient restaurants as well as people dressing Western-style clothes.Moreover, prepare yourselves chances to explore typical highlights of the city such as Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office… & Cu Chi tunnels, which give you great insights of the city’s history, architecture & people.
As a nice gateway of Southern Vietnam, from Ho Chi Minh city, you can extend your further exploration to some amazing off-shore islands of Phu Quoc,Con Dao; or to Mekong Delta, coastal beach cities like Vung Tau, Phan Thiet, Nha Trang; or to Central & Northern Vietnam.
You may love to know >>>>>>>>Top essential things to do in Ho Chi Minh city
2. Mekong Delta – the area of unique floating markets & fruitful gardens in Vietnam
Being known as the “rice basket” of Vietnam, Mekong Delta is a top choice among tourists doing trips to Southern Vietnam.Mekong is the largest delta featuring its endless green landscapes of rice paddy fields & fruit gardens, and authentic people life along the rivers.You can easily catch typical scenes of the countryside such as children riding on the backs of water buffalo, farmers doing their farm work at the fields, rustic villages with small lanes along the rivers, flocks of storks flying around a sanctuary at dusk, Khmer monks walking mindfully, and locals scampering over monkey bridges or rowing boats on the delta’s maze of channels….
The most interesting activity that many tourists love to experience in Mekong Delta is to take part in real-life floating markets only have in this region to be named as Cai Rang ,Cai Be, Phong Dien floating markets, where vendors float around on boats with fresh produce and other goods to exchange daily.How breathtaking & authentic you will feel about when attending a typical floating market in this delta !
For Mekong Delta exploration, you can take a day trip from Ho Chi Minh city, but it will be better in a 2-3 day travel itinerary on a Mekong River Cruise, you can get the most out of the colorful life in the Mekong Delta.On board, you can get the firsthand experience of the delta without sacrificing comfort and privacy. Between the route, the cruise will stop for your exploration of local villages on foot or by bike, and of course a visit to local floating markets.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Read more about Top 10 things to do & see in Mekong delta Vietnam
3. Vung Tau, a place for the convergence of beautiful beaches
Just 100 km far from Ho Chi Minh city, you can easily approach the coastal city of Vung Tau in 1.5 hour drive.You may get bored with the hustle & bustle in Sai Gon & would love to be surrounded with beautiful beaches & sea, Vung Tau could be an ideal choice for your family break
Along the 20km coastline, Vung Tau has many beautiful beaches such as Truoc (Front), Sau (Back), Vong Nguyet, Dua (Pineapple), etc. All are ideal for sunbathing, swimming and leisure. Situated in Vung Tau Peninsula, Vung Tau City is one of a few places on the mainland where you can admire sunrise and sunset on the sea beautifully.In addition, Vung Tau city also has many unique relics such as Vung Tau Lighthouse, Jesus Statue, Niet Ban Tinh Xa Pagoda, Thich Ca Phat Dai Pagoda, Long Son Large House, etc.
4. Nha Trang – the coastal city of beautiful white sand beaches
Nha Trang has been famous as the city of most beautiful beaches with crystal blue water in Vietnam for a long time.This coastal city offers you not only the amazing landscape of wonderful long beaches and bay; but also various water sport activities, from scuba diving, hiking, snorkeling to kite surfing.The weather is warm around the year – really ideal for any beach break makers.
Trip to Nha Trang, you can make one – hour flights from Ho Chi Minh city, stay in a high-end resort with front beach view, it is great to leisure & escape this way.For some outdoor funs, you can join in tours to cruise Nha Trang bay with fishing villages & off-shore islands, or to sightsee some Nha Trang’s highlights : Po Nagar Cham Tower or Long Son pagoda with some hikes, which will share you about the history of the region & nice capitavation of the city.
>>>>>>>>>>>>You may love this package : 6 day Scenic Southern Vietnam Tour
5. Mui Ne, the desert of golden sand in Vietnam
6. Con Dao island, a hidden paradise for your great escape in Vietnam
Con Dao Island is a group of 16 islands off the Southern Coast of Vietnam. During French & American wars, those islands were ever used as the prisons to jail Vietnamese political prisoners and was nicknamed as “the hell on earth”.Their remains are still available with informative museums for your detailed insights of this land & the prisoners’s life in the past.
Together with its history, Con Dao possesses its pristine beauty with mostly unspoiled beaches, forests and turquoise waters, and a strictly-protected national park.
If you’re looking for more quietness in a paradise and get to know about the black history of this island, consider going to Con Dao Islands. Tourism hasn’t developed yet so many of the beaches and snorkeling opportunities are unspoiled.It will be a trip of great memory if you can do boat ride to Bay Canh island swimming on beaches & watch the sea turtles laying their eggs between June & September.
From Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can take a bus to Ba Ria-Vung Tau province or Soc Trang province. It will take about two to four hours, and then a high-speed boat to Con Dao Island will take about four hours. Or, visitors can save time by taking a flight from HCM City to Vung Tau city, which will take an hour
>>>>>>>More about : Con Dao Island – the hidden gem for your great escape in Vietnam
7. Da Lat, the city of the eternal spring in Vietnam
Da Lat is a highland city developed by the French in Central Highland Vietnam.The all-year-around climate is cool & pleasant so the scenery is green & abundant with flowers & vegetables.For years, Da Lat has popularly been chosen as a destination for honey moon vacation among wedding couples in Vietnam.In Da Lat, a variety of hills, springs, waterfalls combine harmoniously to form the charming natural scenery. Therefore, anyone setting foot on here will fall in love at first sight with this land. The nature of Da Lat brings people not only happiness but health and the life love.
Best time to visit Da Lat is in dry season between November & April when you can experience the highest temperature in the year & the lowest one.The sky is always bright and the weather is pleasant – nice for your photo hunting, outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, trekking, cruising and horseback riding. Trip to Da Lat, you can easily catch daily flights from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city or car transfer from coastal city of Nha Trang or Ho Chi Minh city.
8. Phu Quoc island, known as Pearl Island & the biggest one in Vietnam
Ready for some more island life? Let’s travel to Phu Quoc island, the biggest island in Vietnam & a coming tourist hub in Southern Vietnam.In the past few years, Phu Quoc island has become a popular destination for weekend holiday makers thanks to its excellent natural landscapes and huge tourism potentials.
Beach breakers love spending their leisure time on high-end resorts with stunning beaches, enjoy swimming, sunbathing & sunsetting daily – what a nice escape, right?
if you love outdoor activities : trekking in national park, canoeing to visit other surrounding islands or motorcyclying to hang around some attractions in Phu Quoc : Phu Quoc pagoda, temples & prisons, you join in tours operated by some local travel agencies in Phu Quoc city.
Best time to visit Phu Quoc island is in dry season between November & April.During this time, there are lots of sunshine and the weather remains cool to warm, with the temperature ranging from 24°C to 28°C. Furthermore, the daily chance of rainfall is low and the wind is calm.
This ideal condition has made it perfect for any outside activities, such as swimming, sunbathing, motorbiking, diving, etc. More notably, it is the best condition you can expect when it comes to trekking. The road is dry and not slippery at all, thus you can ride the motorbike safely. Camping amidst the jungle, photographing, and bird-watching are also available to go for.
When is the ideal time to visit Southern Vietnam?
With temperatures remaining constant at between 25 – 35°C year round, the climate of the south is split into two distinct seasons: wet and dry ones.The dry season begins in November and ends in late April ( best time to visit different places in Southern Vietnam), the sky is clear & blue with nice sunshines, a good condition to travel around and enjoy the best of the region.
The wet season lasts from May until early November with the months from June, July & August receiving the highest rainfall of the year. The rainfall is generally heavy but short lasting, often occurring in a mid-afternoon heavy downpour.So if you could not arrange your trip in dry season, it is also fine to explore Southern Vietnam in wet season.
Explore Top Places in Southern Vietnam with Golden Holiday Travel
We have shared about TOP 8 PLACES TO VISIT IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM that may give you some ideas for your trip plan to explore Southern Vietnam.As the first timers in Vietnam, you may need a local expert to support you with customized Vietnam travel experiences for your best exploration, don’t hesitate to email us to [email protected] or whatsapp us +84.988451530 ( whatsapp), let us know your wished activities to do, experiences you would love to get, our travel experts will make the right journey for your family & bring you memorable travel experiences in Vietnam !
See you in Vietnam, our beautiful country !
Golden Holiday Travel team.
Frequently Asked Questions
For those new to the region, the “Big Three” are essential: Ho Chi Minh City for its vibrant energy and history (like the Cu Chi Tunnels), the Mekong Delta for a look at river life and floating markets, and Phu Quoc Island for world-class beaches. Other highly recommended spots include the sand dunes of Mui Ne, the colonial charm of Da Lat, and the serene, historic Con Dao Islands.
The Mekong Delta is easily accessible from Ho Chi Minh City by road. Most travelers reach gateways like My Tho or Ben Tre in about 1.5 to 2 hours. For a more comprehensive experience, Golden Holiday Travel recommends booking a private car with a driver or a guided day tour. This allows you to explore deeper into the delta to see the Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho, which is about 3.5 to 4 hours away.
The choice depends on your travel style. Phu Quoc is the “Pearl Island,” famous for its luxury resorts, vibrant nightlife, and family-friendly activities like snorkeling and cable car rides. Con Dao is a hidden paradise that is much quieter and more preserved; it is ideal for nature lovers, history buffs interested in the Con Dao prison system, and those seeking a peaceful, “off-the-beaten-path” beach escape.
The best time to visit is during the dry season, from December to April, when the weather is consistently sunny and pleasant. This is ideal for beach activities in Vung Tau or Nha Trang. While the rainy season (May to November) brings afternoon tropical showers, the landscape in the Mekong Delta becomes incredibly lush and the fruit orchards are at their peak, making it a beautiful time for photography and river tours.
History enthusiasts should not miss the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace for insights into the Vietnam War. Architecture lovers will enjoy the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, which showcase French colonial influence. For a truly unique experience, a half-day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels is highly recommended to see the incredible underground network used during the war.
As a licensed tour operator in Vietnam, Golden Holiday Travel provides expert local knowledge and personalized service. We specialize in seamless logistics, from private car rentals between Ho Chi Minh and coastal cities to tailor-made itineraries that include hidden gems like the Tra Su Cajuput Forest in Chau Doc. Our goal is to ensure your holiday is stress-free, safe, and deeply connected to the local culture.
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