Discover the Delights of Central and South Vietnam

Fly direct from Perth Airport to arrive in Ho Chi Minh City by nightfall. Image Source: Adobe Stock

Take a trip to Central and South Vietnam where you’ll find intriguing history and culinary delights aplenty. Begin your journey in Ho Chi Minh City—try mouth-watering food from the bustling Ben Thanh Market and find out for yourself why Vietnamese cuisine is popular around the world. See another side to the city with the War Remnants Museum and famous Cu Chi Tunnels for a glimpse into the country’s history of civil war.

Continue further north to delightful Hoi An, a former Central Vietnam trading post bursting with old world charm and culture. At nighttime, the Hoi An Night Market sparkles under colourful paper lantern light and the well-preserved Ancient Town takes on a whole new persona.

From the captivating Mekong Delta floating markets to the primitive allure of My Son Sanctuary, Central and South Vietnam's tapestry of experiences will enchant you.

Ho Chi Minh City

Formerly known as Saigon, the bustling city has charming French colonial architecture and modern soaring skyscrapers. Working out what to do in Ho Chi Minh City is easy—its markets are a hive of activity, while ancient temples and colourful pagodas provide peaceful respite.

Traditional Vietnamese food with fresh herbs and condiments. Image source: Adobe Stock

Top historic attractions

Wondering what to do in the south of Vietnam? Explore these Ho Chi Minh attractions for a great introduction to its multifaceted culture and history.

Jade Emperor Pagoda

Jade Emperor Pagoda is a well-known Ho Chi Minh City landmark, built in 1909 to honour the Jade Emperor, or King of Heaven. The architecture of this multi-faith temple blends influences from China and Vietnam, Taoism and Buddhism in its vibrant colours, elaborately tiled roofs and intricate wooden carvings.

Vietnam’s War History

Visit the War Remnants Museum where thousands of photographs, documents, films and other exhibits depict the Vietnam war and its consequences for the country.

Further afield are the Cu Chi Tunnels, 250 kilometres of narrow underground tunnels that Northern Vietnamese forces used as a strategic tactic during the war. Crawl through a section of the tunnels to bunkers, living quarters and even an underground hospital.

Best places to eat in Ho Chi Minh City

Take a taste tour of the city—a foodie heaven—taking in the fragrant aromas from street food stalls and back-alley eateries, whilst sampling a variety of local delicacies.

Ben Thanh Market

With over 1,500 stalls, Ben Thanh Market has anything and everything you need, including interesting street food. Try bánh xèo—savoury pancake filled with meat and vegetables served with spicy sauce; bún thịt nướng—rice noodles with grilled pork, herbs and vegetables; bánh cuốn—steamed rice rolls with meat, vegetables and savoury sauce or kem bơ—creamy avocado ice cream!

Ho Chi Minh City food specialities

For bánh mì—a Vietnamese bread roll with a variety of fillings, try Banh Mi Bay Ho. Visit Pho Le for a classic Pho—broth with noodles, rice, meat and herbs, one of Vietnam's most popular meals. Try com tam suon nuong—grilled lemongrass pork chop with broken rice at Ca Phe Do Phu, one of the city’s coolest cafes.

More things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

Don’t end your trip without trying some of these unique experiences.

Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre

See traditional Vietnamese water puppets performing local folktales on a pool of water accompanied by musicians playing traditional instruments at the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre. The puppets are manipulated by skilful puppeteers using long bamboo rods and strings under the surface.

Head up to Saigon Skydeck

For a 360° view of the city from its highest building, take the elevator up 49 floors to the Saigon Skydeck atop Bitexco Financial Tower. When you’re done, shop for high-end merchandise, visit the cinema, or have a meal in Icon 68, the mall inside the building.

Wander through Ben Thanh Market and shop for trinkets, souvenirs and street food in the maze of stalls. Image source: Adobe Stock

Central Vietnam and Hoi An

Take a 90-minute flight to Hoi An in Central Vietnam for a diverse collection of attractions. Known for its wonderful old town architecture and superb culinary scene, the city is on the Thu Bon River, and close to the beach resorts of An Bang and Cua Dai. It’s the perfect base from which to explore the region.

Historic Attractions of Hoi An

Discover the Ancient Town, formerly an important 16th century trading post of historic significance and interesting architecture. Its narrow streets have something new to see, eat or buy around every corner.

Bright lanterns hanging over the streets of Hoi An. Image source: Vietnam Airlines

Hoi An Ancient Town

During the day, explore the cobblestoned streets of the Ancient Town on foot, or aboard a cyclo—a Vietnamese rickshaw. There are plenty of tailors and shops selling wares such as leather goods, artworks, souvenirs and paper lanterns.

At night, the streets are ablaze with hundreds of colourful paper lanterns reflected in the river, creating a mystical atmosphere.

The Old House of Tan Ky

The Ancient Town’s old merchant houses are an important reminder of the city’s past. The well-preserved 200-year-old Tan Ky house is a perfect example of Chinese-Vietnamese period architecture with its ornate wooden design.

Best places to eat in Hoi An

The city’s incredible food scene boasts a wide variety of eateries, from upmarket restaurants and trendy cafes to street food stalls.

Hoi An Night Market

Sample an array of tempting street food while shopping at the action-packed Hoi An Night Market in the centre of town. One of the country’s most popular markets with over 50 local vendors, lit up at night by coloured lanterns.

Hoi An food specialities

Try the best bánh mì in Hoi An at Madam Khanh, the Bánh Mì Queen in the heart of the Old Town. Head to Long Com Ga for Hoi An’s signature com ga, a chicken and rice dish.

Unique experiences in Hoi An

There are plenty of fun and unique things to do in Hoi An, from Vietnamese cooking classes and exciting coconut basket boat cruises, to enjoying tea in complete silence.

Reaching Out Teahouse

Reaching Out Teahouse is in a tranquil setting in the middle of Hoi An, managed by locals with speech and hearing impairments. Relax over a cup of tea or coffee and some tasty homemade treats while you enjoy the silence. Body language and ‘speech cubes’ are used instead of verbal communication.

Hoi An Cooking School

Up your culinary game with a cooking class that starts by browsing the Hoi An fresh food market and on-site vegetable and herb gardens to gather your ingredients. Then prepare some traditional Vietnamese dishes under the guidance of an expert chef.

Take a coconut basket boat tour near Hoi An. Image source: Adobe Stock

Day Trips from Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An

Got some extra time before you leave? Take a trip into the countryside and explore these attractions.

Mekong Delta 

From Ho Chi Minh City, spend a full day exploring the Mekong Delta region’s rice paddies, fruit orchards, floating marketplaces, Buddhist temples and family homes lining the Mekong River. Ride through the mangroves in a traditional Vietnamese fishing boat and visit the Cai Be Floating Market to haggle for the best fresh produce.

My Son Sanctuary 

Only 45 kilometres west of Hoi An and with significant cultural and historical value, My Son Sanctuary is an intriguing collection of Hindu temples from the ancient Kingdom of Champa. Built between the 4th and 13th centuries, they are set against a picturesque mountain backdrop.

Da Nang Golden Bridge

Don’t miss the engineering masterpiece of the gently undulating 150-metre-long Danang Golden Bridge, held aloft by two giant hands. Built in 2018, the bridge is 40 kilometres from Hoi An in the Ba Na Hills near Da Nang, popular for its natural beauty, museums and food.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park 

Further afield and if time, money and convenience is no object, take a few extra days and a long trek to Vietnam’s top adventure destination, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. In the North Central Coast region, the mostly undeveloped park boasts one of the world’s largest karst cave systems, along with hiking trails, rivers and wilderness.

Golden Bridge’s architectural genius, Da Nang, Vietnam. Image source: Vietnam Airlines

Explore Vietnam with direct flights from Perth Airport

It’s now even easier than ever to get from Perth Airport to South Vietnam—two new direct options will have you in Ho Chi Minh City within seven hours. Direct services with VietJet commence from 21 November 2023, and Vietnam Airlines’ non-stop flights start on 7 December 2023. With easy airport car parking and handy foreign currency exchange facilities, why wait for your South and Central Vietnam adventure? Book your flights with Vietnam Airlines or Vietjet today.

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