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.
Da Nang is a modern coastal city in central Vietnam, set between the Han River, the East Sea, the Marble Mountains and the green ridge of the Son Tra Peninsula. It’s often used as the airport gateway for Hoi An and Hue, but it has become a worthwhile destination in its own right, especially for travellers who enjoy beaches, good hotels, easy logistics and a more contemporary Vietnamese city feel.
The city’s long beachfront is one of its main strengths. My Khe Beach stretches for kilometres, with soft sand, seafood restaurants, beach clubs and a relaxed early-morning rhythm of walkers, swimmers and local families. It’s a good place to slow the pace of an itinerary, particularly after time in Hanoi, Hue or Hoi An.
Da Nang also has several rewarding sights close by. The Marble Mountains are a short drive south of the city, with caves, pagodas, viewpoints and stone-carving workshops. To the north, the Son Tra Peninsula offers forested roads, sea views and the striking Linh Ung Pagoda, home to a large white Lady Buddha statue overlooking the coast.
The city centre is easy to explore, with riverside promenades, bridges, cafes and local restaurants. The Dragon Bridge is especially popular in the evening, and the Museum of Cham Sculpture is well worth visiting for anyone interested in the ancient Cham civilisation that once flourished across central Vietnam.
Da Nang works particularly well for travellers who want a beach stay without being too remote. It’s more practical and city-like than a small resort area, but it offers excellent access to Hoi An, the Hai Van Pass, Ba Na Hills, golf courses and central Vietnam’s best-known cultural sights.
For many itineraries, Da Nang is best used as a comfortable coastal base, combining beach time, good dining and easy day trips, rather than as a purely historic destination.
