The perfect complement to the more serene Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) has a pulsating energy that is impossible to resist.
Saigon (also known as Ho Chi Minh City) is the economic engine of Vietnam, a thriving, sprawling metropolis of 13 million people with about 7 million scooters on the streets.
Attractions include the bustling Ben Thanh Market, where vendors sell everything from food, sweets and spices to tobacco, souvenirs and clothing - including custom-made suits, and Nha Hang Ngon, where you can taste traditional street food served up from food stalls in a leafy garden.
Reminders of the war-time period are there in Saigon's Reunification Palace, the War Crimes Museum and the nearby Cu Chi Tunnels, whilst Saigon itself is dotted with French colonial buildings.
Other notable sites and experiences include the Notre-Dame Basilica, the Jade Emperor Pagoda for its statues and woodcarvings and the Khanh Van Nam Vien Pagoda, said to be the only pure Taoist temple in Vietnam.
There are plenty of sights in Saigon and a city stay in Saigon is essential to really experience Vietnam properly.
Hotel accommodation in Saigon is very good value and there is just a handful of colonial style, boutique hotels in Saigon.
The Mekong Delta in Southern Vietnam is comprised of a 60,000km long web of interconnected waterways which spans across three Vietnamese provinces. This lush, tropical delta is dominated by Southeast Asia’s mightiest river, the Mekong.
The Mekong splits in Cambodia into two main rivers, the Bassac and the First River, then in Vietnam into a more complex system, creating a maze of small canals, rivers and arroyos.
Exploring these rivers and their numerous tributaries by boat is an ideal way explore the Mekong Delta at a leisurely pace and provides an opportunity to experience the truly unique Mekong River lifestyle.
The area is brimming with small craft villages, Khmer Pagodas, magnificent mangroves, picturesque orchards and some remarkable floating markets.
Hoi An is one of Vietnam’s most charming towns – a place where lantern-lit streets, riverfront cafés and centuries of trading history combine to create an atmosphere that feels both romantic and wonderfully easy to enjoy. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town is a beautifully preserved patchwork of wooden shop-houses, Chinese assembly halls and faded French touches, all threaded together by narrow lanes that are best explored slowly, on foot or by bicycle.
By day, Hoi An is all about gentle discoveries. Browse small galleries and craft boutiques, wander through local markets, and pause for a coffee or a cold drink in a courtyard café shaded by bougainvillea. The town’s heritage is surprisingly layered, shaped by Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and European influences, and that blend gives Hoi An a distinctive look and feel. As afternoon fades, the riverside becomes the perfect place for an early evening stroll, especially as the lights begin to appear.
Food is another major draw. Hoi An has its own local specialities and a strong cooking culture, making it a brilliant place for a market visit and cooking class, or simply a night of grazing from one great little restaurant to the next. Beyond the old streets, the surrounding countryside is made for easy, scenic cycling through rice fields and waterways, with quiet villages and family-run farms offering a more local perspective.
It’s also an ideal place to slow the pace of a Vietnam itinerary. Spend time at nearby beaches, enjoy a spa treatment, or use Hoi An as a base for day trips to historic Hue or the Marble Mountains and Da Nang coast. With characterful boutique stays, a warm, welcoming feel, and evenings that glow with lantern light, Hoi An is the sort of place travellers often wish they’d booked for longer.
