When you are in ho Chi Minh city, and you are done with all the sightseeing, or you just want to see what else the south of Vietnam has to offer, there are a few popular day trips you can take.
There are plenty of tour operators offering competitive prices for the same trips, so it is extremely easy to book a trip. Either book them online by doing a simple google search, or go to one of the local travel agents even the day before you plan on going and book a trip.
1. Cu Chi Tunnels
A large network of connecting tunnels that were used during the Vietnam war, and was the Viet Cong’s base of operations. There are daily day tours from Ho Chi Minh city to Cu Chi to experience the narrow tunnels. There is a museum visit as well included in most packages. The tunnels extend to approximately 200 km! This is a quick trip and will take you only half a day to cover. All tours begin with a pickup at your hotel if it is centrally located (District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City).
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2. Cao Dai Temple (Tay Ninh Holy See)
The temple was built in 1955, and caters to a very interesting religion that honours Jesus Christ, Gautam Buddha, Prophet Muhammad, Confucious, Joan of arc, and Julius Caesar. There are daily services in this colourful temple, which visitors are allowed to watch. Tours to the temple start in the morning, to get here in time for the service. There are 1000 Cho Dai temples in Vietnam.
3. Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta is a vast maze of swamps, rivers, and islands, located south of Ho Chi Minh city. The day tour to the Mekong Delta starts with a hotel pickup, after which the 90 minute drive to Can Tho harbour begins. From here, you will be taken on a boat to 2 different islands to understand a little about local life. But like all other day trips, this too is crowded and touristy. If you want to explore Mekong Delta, you should keep 2-3 days aside to go there and explore it on your own. Once you get there, you can stay at a homestay, and then travel in between the islands. But if a quick trip is all you want, do a google search and find a tour that works best for you.
4. Vu Tien Beach
It is the nearest beach town to Ho Chi Minh city, and definitely worth a visit if you don’t have time to explore the beaches of Vietnam. There are daily tours which you can book, or better will be to go on your own! Ferries that ply daily, but book them ahead of time. There are taxi services from the airport which you can book ahead of time to drop you to Vu Tien as well. There are daily buses from Ho Chi Minh city too. The journey will take about 2 hours, so if you want a relaxing trip I would suggest staying a night, else, you can head back the same evening.