5D4N History Tour in Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh is a land of wonder, literally as we explore caves, rivers, sand dunes and more. It’s filled with bountiful good food in every nook and corner and the city seems to be buzzing non-stop. Regardless of which district you go to, you will never be starved for things to do and places to see.
We took a short 5-day trip during the holidays and the trip turned out to be so much more than we bargained for. In total we spent approximately $1700 all inclusive.
Since we are history buffs, we sought out locations and tours which were not just ‘touch-and-go’ bus trips but smaller group options, longer tour guide explanations and as authentic as it gets to see the war sites in Ho Chi Minh.
Pre-trip Planning
One new goal this trip that we tried was to learn to pack lighter, and we succeeded! Both of us packed a one-bag under 10kg and chose not to bring more than we should! Tip: Packing cubes do work miracles.
We got most of our sites from online sources but chose to do the history sites first. Since it was a short trip we maximised it by touring almost everyday with the exception of the first and last days. Tip: morning flights in and night flights out helps to maximise your days there, because night flights in would mean you wasted half a day on your hotel booking + you don’t sleep well then you might crash the next day. Night flights allow you to eat all you want on the last day and then check out and head straight to the airport, you get to sleep in your own bed that night and can work the next day if you need to, without a ‘recovery period’ needed.
Accommodation
We picked a location in Quận 1 (District 1) which made it very convenient for both tour bus pick-ups and for finding food and things to see.
Key Highlights
Mekong Delta Tour
The Mekong tour was a collection of boat rides and wonderful stopovers. We went through the brick factory, took a long boat ride and ate coconut candy, chocolates, cycled through the villages, had a wonderful home cooked lunch and paddled through the Mekong.
Paddling through the Mekong
Tri from Joy Journeys took us through the village and spent time explaining the nuances of the life and culture of the people in the Mekong region. It was great to chill as the tour went on. I was very happy that there was no rush and that we did not combine the Mekong and Cu Chi tours because we would have not enjoyed this entire tour. It felt authentic and engaging. I think because the group was small, we could spend time together and slowly go through the village without the rush and panic of heading to the next place. We did not go to My Tho but Ben Tre instead which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Two very memorable parts of the trip also was the fresh fruits we ate on the boat ride and the really good chocolate rum! Would definitely go again.
Tip for this trip
Bring mosquito repellent.
You will need to get in and out of boats so accessibility may be an issue.
Cu Chi Tunnels (pronounced koo - chee tunnels)
A re-creation of the tunnel structure and the various bunkers.
The tour bus picks you up from your accommodation and you drive almost 2 hours up to the Cu Chi Tunnel zone. The tour guide (Helen, for us) brings you through a route where you get to climb / crawl into the bunkers in the Cu Chi zone. These bunkers include the meeting bunker, the sleeping bunker, the recovery / medical bunker and more.
An old well
Our guide was amazing, she brought us through each bunker and despite the chaotic crowd as that day was the national day holidays in Vietnam, she expertly weaved us through the crowd and managed to explain every bunker to us. All the extra tidbits of information she gave us added layers to our knowledge of the Vietnam war.
We did a total of 5 bunkers and walked through some old bomb craters. After some really sore thighs, we ate cassava at the end.
Though the tour was only 5 hours long, it felt incredibly rich and I highly recommend Joy Journeys as your tour vendor!
Tip for this trip:
Bring a bag that can be slung in front or behind you so you can crawl through the tunnels without worrying about your baggage. Furthermore there is not a lot of space so you do not want to be hindered by your bags.
Wear good walking shoes, preferably one with good grip as the ground is slippery.
Mui Ne Sand Dunes
This was quite a journey, literally and figuratively. We did not take into account or rather, probably forgot that travelling on a highway on the National Day of Vietnam would involve competing with the residents of Ho Chi Minh who were coming back into the city. The journey out was eventful but we spent 5 hours coming back. We’ll definitely be checking the next time.
Our tour guide wisely swapped the order of the locations so that we would not be stranded in the rain on top of the sand dunes. He was right as it did rain shortly after we left!
We headed to the sand dunes and hopped on an ATV. At the sand dunes, you would have to pay for an ATV / Bike / small car(?) to take you around as apparently, tourists are not allowed to take those vehicles on their own as there had been accidents before.
ATVs to get you up and down the sand dunes
After the sand dunes we headed to the beach and drove out to lunch. Lunch was a huge home cooked spread through a beachside restaurant. Post lunch activity was a short stop at a fishing harbour which by then was incredibly crowded so we did not stay there long. The last stop was the Fairy Stream where you could walk barefoot on a long stretch of sand and see the rock and sand structures around you.
Fairy Stream
Tip for this trip:
Bring an extra pair of shoes or just wear slippers for the trip as you would be dry and wet repeatedly due to the beach/water zones.
If you intend to take a dip in the water anywhere, bring a set of clothes.
Apply a huge dollop of sunscreen, the sun is unforgiving especially on the sand dunes. What will hurt you more though, is the sand when it flies, and the sandflies as well (calamine lotion should help).
Bring cash for drinks along the way.
Places we recommend
Food
L’usine - try the eggs benedict with salmon and braised beef pasta. The coffee is pretty great too.
Quan Ut Ut - I would go again and again. The 799k VND ribs platter was unbelievably great, and best shared among 3-4 people for maximum enjoyment.
Pizza 4Ps - I don’t think I need to give much introduction to this great place. If you need recommendations, try the half and half pizza, where you can get two things you like - burrata pizza is great to try! The avocado salad is quite fantastic too. Another tip, go to branch at Le Thanh Ton, not Ben Thanh Market, as the former is less crowded.
Pho Hung - this was recommended by our guide and we ordered it in due to the downpour. It was a really comforting meal.
Lam Tong Quan Seafood Restaurant (Mui Ne) - we stopped here to eat on the way to the Fairy Stream. It was home-cooked Vietnamese food and so simply delicious.
Other mentions:
Godmother Bake and Brunch - a bit more pricey than other similar establishments. We sampled the Shakshouka and Duck and Waffle.
Meat and Meet - another recommendation from our guide, for next time!
BÚN BÒ HUẾ ĐÔNG BA - 2-3 different people told us to try this. Another on the bucket list for next time!
Massages
Noir Spa - massage in the dark, the staff hired are PWD, and it is very good initiative! Also they’re really good and the service was excellent. The location is close to our location in district 1 near the opera house.
Ngo Spa and Massage - this is located nearer the airport so it is a good stopover when you enter and / or exit HCMC. The service is great. Remember to make reservations as they can be a bit packed.
Cost
Public holiday in vietnam - tourism activities all subject to a 200k VND surcharge
Estimated total was $1800
Food - $220
Tourism passes - Mui Ne tour, Cu Chi and Mekong tours, Klook 4 activity pass - $505
Flight tickets $470
Accommodation $470 (5D4N)
Final Thoughts
We would definitely go again, and this time be wiser about finding out which days are holidays and NOT TO DO a tour on a holiday. It was a wonderful trip and as usual, our only regret is not having enough time there.
Lastly, bring an umbrella. It is rainy season and the flash rains, they’re not to be trifled with.
