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The three classic day trips are the Cu Chi tunnels, the Mekong Delta and the beach town of Vung Tau. All three involve a lot of time on the road or water, so one per day is plenty. Here's how long each takes, tour versus doing it yourself, and what to watch for.
At a glance
| Cu Chi tunnels | Mekong Delta (My Tho, Ben Tre) | Vung Tau | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Each way | 1.5–2 hours by road | About 2 hours by road | 2 hours by boat, about 2 by road |
| Tour length | Half day (5–7 hours) | About 9 hours | Usually DIY |
| On your own | Possible, 2.5–3 hours each way by bus | Awkward | Easy |
| Best for | War history | River boats, countryside | Sea air, seafood |
Cu Chi tunnels (Địa đạo Củ Chi)
There are two sites open to visitors.
- Bến Đình (Nhuận Đức): where most tours go; the closer of the two.
- Bến Dược (An Nhơn Tây): further out, and often described as better preserved.
The foreign-visitor ticket is quoted anywhere from 85,000 to 125,000 VND depending on the source. Tours usually include it.
- The tunnels are tight and hot. If you're claustrophobic, look in from the entrance and skip the crawl.
- The shooting range is extra and charged per bullet.
- Wear clothes you don't mind getting dusty, proper shoes and insect repellent.
- By bus: route 13 from Bến Thành bus station to Củ Chi, then route 79. Allow 2.5–3 hours each way; the last bus back is around 5:30pm.
Group tours start at roughly US$16–25; private or small-group tours run up to about US$55.
Mekong Delta (My Tho and Ben Tre)
Same-day Mekong tours from Saigon almost all go to My Tho and Ben Tre: a pagoda, a small rowing boat through the canals, fruit tasting and lunch.
- My Tho: formerly Tiền Giang province, now Đồng Tháp province
- Ben Tre: now part of Vĩnh Long province
- About 9 hours in total, close to 4 of them in the van.
- Every tour stops at a coconut-candy workshop and a honey farm. They're there to sell; you don't have to buy. Reviews in several languages complain about the time spent at these stops.
- The hand-rowed boat ride is usually 20–30 minutes.
- Cái Răng floating market in Cần Thơ trades before dawn, so it doesn't work as a day trip. Stay overnight if it's what you want to see, and note that boat numbers have fallen sharply since 2020.
Combined Cu Chi plus Mekong tours exist but run close to 11 hours. Do them separately if you can.
Vung Tau
A seaside city that is now administratively part of Ho Chi Minh City.
- Fast boat (Greenlines DP): from Bạch Đằng pier, 10B Tôn Đức Thắng, about 2 hours. Around 320,000 VND on weekdays and 350,000 VND at weekends
- Sailings vary by season and are cancelled in rough weather. Check the last boat back before you go.
- By road: the Biên Hòa–Vũng Tàu expressway opened in full in May 2026. Limousine vans cost about 170,000–200,000 VND.
- In October 2026 the Saigon River is closed to boats on some days for footbridge works. Check before booking.
In Vung Tau:
- Christ of Vũng Tàu: a hilltop statue over 30 m tall. Free, 7am–5pm. A long, steep climb. It's a religious site, so skip tank tops and very short shorts.
- Seafood: plenty of beachfront restaurants. Confirm the price per kilo and the weight before they cook anything.
Before you book a tour
- Are entry tickets, lunch and water included?
- Hotel pickup or a meeting point?
- How many shopping stops?
- Guide language?
Sources: VnExpress (2026, Cu Chi guide), Đại Biểu Nhân Dân (expressway opening), Tuổi Trẻ/PLO (fast boat licence), Vietnam Coracle (Vung Tau by boat), Jungle Boss (Cu Chi), Travelers and Dreamers (Cu Chi by bus), Local Vietnam (Mekong day tour), Wikipedia (Christ of Vũng Tàu)
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