Stretching from the sleepy Mekong Delta to the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City to the hills north of Hue, Southern Vietnam encompasses more than one simple category. But, as you wander this region, you’ll find a few throughlines: great street food, global architecture, and easy access to nature. Most visitors will arrive in modern Ho Chi Minh City, aka Saigon, and find adventure from there, traveling to truly ancient towns, beautiful beaches, former French retreats, quiet river villages, and more.
Southern Vietnam has two seasons: wet and dry. The rainy season, or monsoon season, typically lasts from May through November. Downpours are usually pounding and brief, and some flooding is normal. Though the country is hot year-round, the dry season can be sweltering, with temperatures hovering around 90ºF (33ºC). High season tends to peak in July and August.
To travel like the locals, rent a motorbike. You’ll find several rental spots in Ho Chi Minh City, like Chi’s Café. Otherwise, you have two main options: hail a xe om, aka motorbike driver (be sure to agree upon a fee in advance), or get a taxi (stick to Vinasun and Mai Linh for fair pricing). To travel between cities, there are buses and trains, though many visitors prefer the comfort of tours and private drivers.
No matter where you are, eat on the streets. Go beyond pho—dishes like grilled pork with rice noodles (bun thit nuong), spicy pork and beef noodle soup (bun bo hue), and more are all Vietnamese classics. Café culture is huge, too; grab a plastic stool, order a “coffee milk ice” (ca phe sua da) and take in the people-watching. Stop at sugarcane juice (nuoc mia) stands and banh mi stands. The cheaper the fare, the fresher it likely will be.
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Yes. Southern Vietnam is unlike anywhere else, a world of colliding eras, beautiful nature, and fantastic food. In one day, explore beaches, the jungle, and temples. Visit traditional floating markets on the Mekong River, witness a metropolitan boom in Ho Chi Minh City, and walk the ancient streets of Hue.
...MoreIt depends on your interests. In Southern Vietnam you’ll find Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest and most metropolitan city. From there it’s easy to access Can Tho, Hue, and Hoi An. In Northern Vietnam, you can visit the capital Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
...MoreThere is no “best” part of Vietnam—it’s all beautiful, complex, and full of character. Northern Vietnam is further from the equator, with a rugged coast; Central Vietnam has fewer cities and rolling hills with coffee farms; Southern Vietnam is home to Ho Chi Minh City and the vast Mekong Delta.
...MoreVietnam is one independent, united country. The term ”South Vietnam” mainly references a geographic region, though its boundaries borrow from borders defined in the Vietnam War. In 1975, communist forces seized control of South Vietnam by taking over the Presidential Palace in Saigon, ending the war and the north-south distinction.
...MoreSouth Vietnam was an independent country that existed from 1955 to 1975, though it was dependent on the United States. Democratic in name only, the country consisted of the land just north of Hue to the coastal south and the vast Mekong Delta.
...MoreYes, the United States supported South Vietnam during the Vietnam War by supplying military and financial aid. North Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, was communist, and South Vietnam was nominally democratic. In total, US involvement in the Vietnam War lasted nine years.
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