Toward Local field guide · Southern Vietnam
Beyond Saigon
Eight places worth leaving the city for: the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc, Mui Ne, Black Virgin Mountain, Can Gio, the Con Dao Islands, the Cu Chi Tunnels and Vung Tau. For each one, the facts, the food, the reasons to go and what to do when you get there.
Saigon is the door. The South is the house.
Facts checked
At a glance
The eight, side by side
Approximate travel times from central Saigon. The numbers match the map and the chapters below.
When to go
Season by season
The South has two seasons: dry from about December to April, rainy from May to November. Each place bends that rule a little.
Since 1 July 2025
New names on the map
Vietnam merged its provinces from 63 to 34 and scrapped districts. Signs, menus and older maps still use the old names, while bookings, invoices and Google Maps increasingly show the new ones. On addresses you will see phuong (ward), xa (commune), dac khu (special zone), tinh (province) and TP. (city).
Heading beyond Saigon? Ask a local host.
Toward Local runs private tours in Saigon, including Cu Chi and a Mekong day trip to My Tho and Ben Tre. For the rest of the South, message us with your dates and we will share what we know about routes, seasons and where to stay.