Day Trips from Ho Chi Minh City 2026: Mekong Delta, Cu Chi and More

HCMC is well-positioned for day trips into the Mekong Delta and to historical war sites. The most important excursions require transport organisation.

Mekong Delta day trip

The most popular day trip from HCMC. The delta is 60–90 minutes southwest and a day trip covers the floating markets, river boat rides, coconut candy workshops, and fruit orchards accessible from My Tho or Ben Tre.

Organised day tour: ₫350,000–700,000 ($14–28) per person. Includes transport, guide, boat hire, and lunch. Departs 07:00, returns 18:00–19:00.

Honest note: A Mekong Delta day trip from HCMC covers the surface of a very large area. For a genuine Mekong experience — staying in Can Tho, visiting the floating market at dawn, cycling through the delta islands — an overnight stay is significantly better.

Cu Chi Tunnels

40km northwest. The 250km wartime tunnel network, partially accessible to visitors. Half-day from HCMC: ₫250,000–450,000 ($10–18) per person for a group tour. See the Cu Chi Tunnels dedicated page for the full guide.

Vung Tau (beach escape)

125km southeast by road, or 75 minutes by hydrofoil from Bach Dang pier. Vung Tau is a beach town on a peninsula with several beaches, a French colonial lighthouse, and good fresh seafood. The hydrofoil route (₫250,000–350,000 / $10–14 each way) is the efficient option.

Not Vietnam’s best beach but accessible as a one-day escape from the city.

Hydrofoil: Greenlines DP operate from Bach Dang pier in D1. Multiple departures daily. Book online or at the pier.

Can Tho (Mekong capital)

160km southwest. Can Tho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta and the base for visiting the Cai Rang floating market (the largest in the delta). As a day trip from HCMC it is rushed — the floating market operates at dawn (05:00–08:00) which means an overnight stay in Can Tho is required to visit it properly.

HCMC → Can Tho by express bus: 3 hours, ₫100,000–150,000 ($4–6).

Tay Ninh and Cao Dai Temple (90km northwest)

The Cao Dai religion is a Vietnamese synthesis of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Christianity, founded in 1926. The Holy See temple in Tay Ninh is the most spectacular religious building in southern Vietnam. The noon prayer ceremony (11:00) is the main viewing event — a colourful mass in a cathedral-scale space.

Organised day tours from HCMC include Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning and Cao Dai Temple at noon: ₫300,000–500,000 ($12–20) per person.

Practical logistics

Destination	Distance	Transport	Journey Time
Cu Chi Tunnels	40km	Tour or bus	1.5 hours
Vung Tau	75km (water)	Hydrofoil	75 min
Can Tho	160km	Express bus	3 hours
Mekong (My Tho)	70km	Bus	1.5 hours
Tay Ninh	90km	Bus	2 hours