Restless cities & emerald islands
The South
The south is the sleepless urban pulse of Saigon and the emerald beaches of Phú Quốc island.
Hồ Chí Minh City is best learned from a plastic stool on the pavement, iced coffee in hand, while a river of motorbikes pours past. When the evening heat breaks, the Sài Gòn River turns to copper beneath the towers.
Offshore, Phú Quốc keeps emerald bays and fishing piers that have outlasted every season of change.
Don't miss
Places that make the region
01Hồ Chí Minh City
TP. Hồ Chí MinhThe restless heartbeat of the south.
02Phú Quốc
An GiangVietnam's largest island — white sand and copper sunsets.
03The dunes of Mũi Né
Lâm ĐồngRed and white dunes rolling down to the sea.
04Côn Đảo
TP. Hồ Chí MinhA far archipelago of quiet beaches and sea turtles.
At the table
What you'll eat
Saigon eats around the clock: cơm tấm sizzling at dawn, a bánh mì passed through a cart window, and hủ tiếu at midnight when the streets finally slow down.
The South food guide →When to go
Month by month
| TP. Hồ Chí Minh | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 32° | 33° | 34° | 35° | 35° | 33° | 33° | 33° | 32° | 32° | 32° | 32° |
| Avg low (°C) | 22° | 23° | 24° | 26° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 23° | 22° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 15 | 5 | 10 | 50 | 220 | 310 | 295 | 270 | 325 | 265 | 115 | 50 |
Highlighted months are the most comfortable window. · 30-year climate normals (WMO 1991–2020) — long-term averages, not a forecast.
Daily budget
What a day here costs
Backpacker
~$25–40/day
Hostels or guesthouses, street food and local buses.
Mid-range
~$60–120/day
3-star hotels or boutique stays, restaurant meals, ride-hailing and a guided day trip now and then.
Comfort
~$150+/day
4–5-star stays, private drivers and guides, cruise cabins and fine dining.
Reference ranges per person per day, excluding international flights. Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng and Sài Gòn run toward the top of each band; small towns toward the bottom.
Full Money & Costs guide →Book this region
Stays, experiences & tours
Everything you need to actually go — places to sleep, things to do, and the trips that run here.
Where to stay494
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Trips that go here12
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