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.
My Tho is one of the main gateways to the Mekong Delta, sitting around 70 kilometres southwest of Saigon on the northern bank of the Tien River, one of the Mekong’s major branches. For many travellers, it provides the first real sense of the Delta after leaving the energy and traffic of the city behind.
The town has long been shaped by river trade, agriculture and movement between the waterways of southern Vietnam. It’s a busy provincial centre rather than a sleepy village, but the appeal lies in how quickly the landscape changes once you move from the town into the surrounding river islands, orchards and narrow canals.
From My Tho, boats head out across the broad river towards small islands with names such as Dragon Island, Unicorn Island, Turtle Island and Phoenix Island. These river islands are known for fruit gardens, coconut palms, honey farms, small workshops and local homes tucked into the greenery.
A typical visit may include a short cruise along the river, a smaller rowing boat journey through shaded canals, a taste of tropical fruit, or a stop at a family-run workshop producing coconut sweets or local handicrafts. It’s an easy introduction to the Delta, especially for travellers short on time or those beginning a Mekong cruise.
Nearby Vinh Trang Pagoda is one of the area’s most notable sights, with a colourful mix of Vietnamese, Chinese and Khmer-influenced architecture. Its large Buddha statues and peaceful gardens make it a worthwhile stop before or after time on the water.
My Tho is not the deepest or most remote part of the Mekong Delta, but it’s accessible, atmospheric and historically important as a river gateway. For cruise passengers, it makes a natural embarkation point, marking the moment when the holiday shifts from city streets to the slower rhythm of the Mekong.
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.
Sa Dec is a tranquil former capital, a located in Vietnam’s Dong Thap Province.
Once the home of renowned French novelist Marguerite Duras, as well as functioning as the inspiration for her book The Lover, the town attracts literary fans who can delve into the book’s real-life atmosphere by visiting the glorious, ornate Huynh Thuy Le Old House, where the author’s love affair inspired her writing. Sa Dec is also filled with magnificent sacred buildings.
Must-sees include the gorgeous Huong Pagoda, filled with intricate animal figure designs; and the colourful riverside Cao Dai Temple, which also provides stunning views from its towers.
The Flower Village, which also sells herbs and ornamental plants, is an excellent place to become a little acquainted with some of the locals and is particularly magical around the time of Tet (the lunar new year).
Chau Doc is a lively riverside town in the far west of the Mekong Delta, close to the Cambodian border. It has a very different feel from the coconut groves of Ben Tre or the floating market bustle of Can Tho, with a stronger borderland atmosphere and a rich mix of Vietnamese, Khmer, Cham and Chinese influences.
The town sits near the meeting point of the Bassac River and a network of canals, making river life central to the experience. Boats, fish farms, floating houses and market traders give Chau Doc a busy, practical energy, while the surrounding countryside opens into rice fields, lotus ponds and low hills.
One of the main reasons to visit is Sam Mountain, which rises just outside town and is dotted with pagodas, shrines and pilgrimage sites. The views from the upper slopes are especially memorable in good weather, stretching across the flat Delta landscape towards Cambodia. The area is particularly atmospheric around sunset, when local families, pilgrims and vendors gather around the temples.
Chau Doc is also known for its Cham communities, and a visit to one of the riverside Cham villages offers insight into a different cultural thread within southern Vietnam. You may see stilt houses, small mosques, weaving workshops and a quieter pace of life along the waterways.
The town’s markets are colourful and very local, with piles of tropical fruit, dried fish, fermented sauces and Delta produce. This is one of the best places to understand how closely food, trade and river life are connected in the region.
Chau Doc works well as part of a deeper Mekong journey, especially for travellers continuing by speedboat to Phnom Penh or travelling overland through southern Vietnam. It isn’t polished or resort-like, but it’s full of character and gives a fascinating glimpse of Vietnam’s far south-west, where river culture, religion and borderland history come together.
Since Cambodia reopened its borders to tourists in the early 1990s, visitors from around the world have flocked to this intriguing Southeast Asian country to experience its fascinating cultural heritage, to engage with the wonderfully welcoming locals, and to marvel at the numerous spectacular natural wonders Cambodia has to offer.
Phnom Penh, the nation’s bustling capital, is home to a slew of excellent restaurants, lively outdoor markets and a boisterous nightlife. However, most of Cambodia’s most popular attractions are located beyond the capital.
Tourist favourites include: the sleepy French-influenced town of Kampot with its lovely promenade dotted with gorgeous French villas and charming riverside cafes; the breathtaking waterfalls of the lush jungle-clad Cardamon Mountains; and, of course, the awe-inspiring ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat - the world’s largest and arguably most impressive religious structure.
Cambodia serves travellers of all sensitivities, whether they're seeking adventurous jungle excursions, exquisite golden-sand beaches, luxury resorts or sumptuous exotic cuisine, Cambodia truly does have it all.
Phnom Penh is Cambodia’s capital and its most important city, set at the meeting point of the Mekong, Tonlé Sap and Bassac rivers. It’s a city of contrasts, where royal palaces, saffron-robed monks, busy markets, French colonial buildings, modern cafés and riverside life all sit alongside the country’s more difficult recent history.
The city is best explored with time and context. The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda give a glimpse of Cambodia’s royal traditions, with elegant Khmer architecture, gilded roofs and peaceful courtyards in the heart of the city. Nearby, the National Museum of Cambodia is one of the best places to understand the artistic and spiritual heritage of the Khmer world, especially before or after visiting Angkor.
Phnom Penh also asks visitors to engage with Cambodia’s 20th-century history. The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Killing Fields are deeply sobering, but important for understanding the resilience of the country and its people. These visits are best done with a thoughtful guide and enough time afterwards to pause and reflect.
For a lighter side of the city, wander the riverside promenade, explore Central Market or Russian Market, or stop at one of the city’s growing number of independent cafés, galleries and social enterprise shops. Phnom Penh is also one of the best places in Cambodia for food, from classic Khmer dishes to contemporary restaurants and lively street stalls.
Phnom Penh works well at the start or end of a Cambodia itinerary. It’s busy and sometimes confronting, but it’s also warm, engaging and essential to understanding Cambodia properly.
Kampong Chhnang is a relaxed provincial town set beside the Tonlé Sap River, roughly halfway between Phnom Penh and Battambang. It’s best known for its pottery traditions, floating villages and easy-going riverside atmosphere, making it a worthwhile stop for travellers who enjoy seeing everyday Cambodian life away from the main tourist centres.
The name Kampong Chhnang means “Port of Pottery”, and ceramics remain an important part of the town’s identity. In nearby villages, you can see local families shaping clay by hand, firing pots in traditional kilns and producing simple, practical wares that are still used in homes and markets across the region. It’s a quiet craft experience, but an authentic one.
The river is the other great feature of Kampong Chhnang. A boat trip through the floating communities gives a fascinating glimpse of life shaped by water, with houses, shops, fish farms, schools and places of worship all adapted to the seasonal rise and fall of the river. It’s less visited than the floating villages near Siem Reap, which can make the experience feel calmer and more natural.
The surrounding countryside is gentle and attractive, with rice fields, palm trees, ox carts, small farms and village roads that are well suited to slow exploration by bicycle or tuk-tuk. Nearby Phnom Neang Kang Rey offers a local hilltop viewpoint and a touch of Cambodian folklore.
Kampong Chhnang isn’t polished or dramatic, but that’s part of its charm. It’s a rewarding place for travellers who value craft, river life and a quieter look at rural Cambodia.
Siem Reap is the gateway to the temples of Angkor, but it’s much more than a base for sightseeing. This lively, welcoming town combines ancient history, good food, boutique hotels, craft shops, galleries and a growing creative scene, making it one of Cambodia’s most rewarding places to spend several days.
The great highlight is, of course, Angkor Archaeological Park, home to some of the most extraordinary temple sites in Asia. Angkor Wat is the icon, especially beautiful at sunrise, while Bayon is unforgettable for its serene carved faces and Ta Prohm for the way trees and ancient stone seem to have grown together. Beyond these famous sites, quieter temples such as Preah Khan, Banteay Srei and Beng Mealea add depth and variety, especially with a knowledgeable guide.
Back in town, Siem Reap has a relaxed, easy-going feel. The riverside is pleasant for a wander, while the Old Market, Made in Cambodia Market and small independent boutiques are good for local crafts, textiles and gifts. In the evening, the town comes alive with restaurants, cocktail bars and street food stalls, but it’s still easy to find quieter corners away from the bustle.
Siem Reap is also a good place for authentic local experiences, from Khmer cooking classes and countryside cycling to visits with artisans, village workshops and floating communities on Tonlé Sap.
Most travellers should allow at least three nights, with four giving a better pace. The temples are magnificent, but Siem Reap’s real appeal is the way it combines Cambodia’s ancient past with warm, creative and very human present-day life.
