Private journeys and custom trips across Vietnam
Southern Vietnam
A city that runs on iced coffee and motorbikes.
10.78° N, 106.70° EVietnam
Introducing Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by nearly everyone who lives there, is Vietnam at full speed. Motorbikes pour down the boulevards, glass towers rise over French-era landmarks, and every alley seems to hold a cafe, a noodle stall or a small shrine.
History sits close to the surface. The War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace tell the story of the 20th century, the Cu Chi Tunnels lie outside the city, and in Cholon, the old Chinese district, incense coils hang from temple ceilings. Then night falls and the city eats: broken rice with grilled pork, banh xeo, snails and cold beer on low stools.
Then night falls and the city eats: broken rice with grilled pork, banh xeo, snails and cold beer on low stools.
Why go
Com tam, banh mi, hu tieu and dozens of snail and seafood dishes, served everywhere from street carts to crowded family restaurants.
Independence Palace, the War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels give essential context for the Vietnam of today.
Rooftop bars, night markets and pedestrian Nguyen Hue Boulevard keep the center busy long after sunset.
Things to do
01
Ride pillion with a local driver into District 4 and beyond for dishes you would struggle to find on your own.
02
Crawl through a section of the wartime tunnel network, around 90 minutes' drive from the city center.
03
Explore Thien Hau Temple and the wholesale lanes around Binh Tay Market in the old Chinese quarter.
04
Order ca phe sua da, strong iced coffee with condensed milk, in an old apartment block turned into a warren of small cafes.
Before you go
Saigon is warm all year. The dry season from December to April is the most comfortable, while May to November brings short, heavy afternoon rain.
Good to know
Both. The city was officially renamed in 1976, but Saigon is still used every day, especially for the central districts.
Two to three days covers the main sights, the Cu Chi Tunnels and a good street food evening. Add a day or two for the Mekong Delta.
Violent crime against visitors is uncommon. Petty theft, especially phone snatching, is the main thing to watch for, so keep valuables out of sight near the road.
If you want a route
5 of our journeys include Ho Chi Minh City. Every route can be reshaped around how you want to travel.
6 daysHo Chi Minh CityMekong DeltaDa Nang +2
South to centre in six days: the Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta, then a flight to Da Nang for Hoi An, Ba Na Hills, the Imperial City of Hue and the villages around Hoi An.
2 daysHo Chi Minh CityMy ThoBen Tre +1
Down the delta to Can Tho for the night, so you can be on the water at Cai Rang floating market while it is still busy.
2 daysHo Chi Minh CityMui Ne
Two days on the Phan Thiet coast: the Fairy Stream and the red dunes at sunset, a night at a beach resort, and the white dunes by jeep at sunrise.
If you only have a day
Tell us how you like to travel and we'll build it into a journey that fits.
