Saigon is Vietnam’s largest and most energetic city, a place of movement, commerce, history and reinvention. Officially known as Ho Chi Minh City, it’s still widely called Saigon, especially when referring to the central districts and the city’s old southern character.
This is the natural counterpoint to Hanoi. Where Hanoi feels older, more traditional and more reflective, Saigon is warmer, faster and more outward-looking. French colonial buildings, modern towers, busy markets, rooftop bars, old apartment blocks, hidden temples and endless streams of scooters all sit side by side.
Most first-time visits focus on District 1, where many of the main sights are close together. Dong Khoi Street, the Saigon Opera House, Saigon Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Independence Palace and the War Remnants Museum all help tell the story of the city, from French Indochina to the Vietnam War and the rapid growth of modern Vietnam.
Saigon is also a superb food city. Travellers can enjoy classic southern dishes, strong Vietnamese coffee, market snacks, street-side grills and some of the country’s most creative contemporary dining. An evening street food tour, ideally by scooter with experienced local drivers, is one of the best ways to feel the rhythm of the city.
There are rewarding quieter moments too. The Jade Emperor Pagoda is atmospheric and incense-filled, while neighbourhoods such as Thao Dien offer riverside cafes, boutiques and a more relaxed expatriate-local mix. The city is also the main base for visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta, both of which work well as day trips or deeper add-ons.
Saigon is busy, humid and sometimes overwhelming, but it’s also full of life and confidence. With the right pacing, a central hotel and a good local guide, it becomes one of Vietnam’s most fascinating and enjoyable city stays.
Mekong River Delta is one of the most distinctive regions in Vietnam, a vast, fertile landscape of rivers, canals, islands, rice fields, fruit orchards and river towns in the far south of the country. Formed by the many branches of the Mekong River as it spreads towards the sea, the Delta has long been one of Vietnam’s most important agricultural regions and is often described as the country’s “rice bowl”.
Life here is shaped by water. Boats carry fruit, vegetables, building materials and daily supplies, while houses, markets, workshops and farms are often linked as much by river as by road. Even where modern transport has changed daily routines, the river remains central to the identity and rhythm of the region.
For travellers, the Mekong River Delta offers a very different experience from Vietnam’s cities. Instead of high-rise skylines and busy boulevards, the appeal lies in small waterways shaded by palms, floating markets, cottage industries, village lanes, local temples and quiet moments on the river.
Highlights may include Ben Tre, known for coconut groves and traditional workshops, Can Tho and Cai Rang Floating Market, the fruit orchards around My Tho, and the quieter upper Delta areas near the Cambodian border.
The Delta is best explored slowly, either on a day trip from Saigon, an overnight stay, or as part of a river cruise between Vietnam and Cambodia. It’s a rewarding region for travellers who enjoy local life, gentle scenery and a closer understanding of how deeply the Mekong has shaped southern Vietnam.
Hoi An is one of Vietnam’s most charming towns, set on the Thu Bon River in central Vietnam, with a beautifully preserved old quarter, lantern-lit streets, riverside cafes, traditional houses and easy access to the coast. It’s often a favourite stop on a Vietnam itinerary because it combines history, atmosphere, food, shopping and beach time in a very easy, enjoyable way.
The heart of the town is Hoi An Ancient Town, a former trading port shaped by Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and European influences. Its old merchant houses, assembly halls, temples and narrow lanes are best explored on foot, particularly in the morning before the town becomes busier or in the evening when lanterns glow across the river.
Key sights include the Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, Quan Cong Temple, Old House of Tan Ky and the lively Hoi An Market. A good guided walk helps bring the town’s trading history to life, but Hoi An is also made for unhurried wandering, with small shops, tailors, galleries and cafes tucked into its historic streets.
Food is one of Hoi An’s great pleasures. Local specialities include cao lau, white rose dumplings, banh mi and fresh seafood from the nearby coast. Cooking classes are especially popular here, often combining a market visit, basket boat ride and hands-on lesson in a village setting.
Hoi An also offers easy access to An Bang Beach, the countryside of Cam Thanh and Tra Que Vegetable Village, plus the Cham temple ruins of My Son Sanctuary. This makes it a very flexible base, with enough to fill several days without feeling rushed.
Hoi An is popular, so it’s not undiscovered, but its appeal is genuine. With a well-located hotel, time to explore beyond the busiest streets and a little space for beach or countryside, it remains one of the most rewarding and enjoyable places to stay in Vietnam.
