Last updated January 2021 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle
This post was last updated 3 years ago. Please check the comments section for possible updates, or read more on my Updates & Accuracy page.
INTRODUCTION | GUIDE | MAP | RELATED POSTS
The southern dry season is a period of glorious, warm, sunny weather in the lower regions of Vietnam. Lasting roughly from November to May, the southern dry season covers all regions south of Nha Trang. However, the very best weather is from December to March, when the sun shines almost all day, the skies are blue, the colours are brilliant, the air is clear, the heat is dry, humidity is low, and temperatures in the mornings and evenings drop to pleasantly mild (even chilly) levels. These months are the ideal time to travel in the south of the country. There are dozens of excellent road trips, destinations, and accommodations to choose from that fall within the region of the southern dry season. These include islands, river deltas, resorts, mountains, homestays, forests, beaches, camping, plateaus, and cities. On this page, I’ve pulled together all of my guides which are best explored during the southern dry season.
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SOUTHERN DRY SEASON: TRAVEL GUIDES
Below, I’ve organized all my guides which fall within the southern dry season into four categories: Destinations, Motorbike Routes, Accommodation and Transportation. I’ve illustrated each guide with an image and written a brief description, including a direct link to the full guide. I’ve also plotted all the guides on my Southern Dry Season Map. The purpose of this post is to give travellers a better understanding of where to go during the southern dry season months, which I consider one of the best and most rewarding times to travel in Vietnam. (Please note: things change quickly in Vietnam & some of the information in my guides may be out of date by the time you read them.)
Click a guide from a category below to read more:
- Ha Tien: Jewel of the Mekong
- Exploring Saigon’s Railway Tracks
- La Nga River & Thac Ba Waterfall
- Cam Ranh Bay: Cam Lap Promontory
- Ho Tram & Ho Coc Beaches
- Saigon’s Street Food ‘Ghettos’
- Phu Quoc Island’s Beaches
- Nui Dinh Mountain & Springs
- Public Swimming Pools in Saigon
- The Con Dao Islands
- Phu Quy Island
- Saigon’s Parks & Open Spaces
- Tan Lap Floating Forest
- Pirate Islands
- Phu Quoc: North & East Coasts
- Phuong Boi Hill & Forest
- Hon Son Island
- Dalat’s Waterfalls
- Nam Du Islands
- Walking Saigon’s Alleyways
- Saigon to Dalat: The ‘Back Ways’
- The Ocean Road: Saigon to Mui Ne
- Mountains in the Mekong
- Midnight Motorbike Loop: Saigon
- Binh Thuan Back-Roads
- River Road: The Cai Valley
- The Pine Tree Road, Dalat
- Tet Classic: Lunar New Year Loop
- Saigon to Phu Quoc Loop
- The Sand Dune Highway
- Nui Chua Coast Road
- Dragon’s Graveyard Coast Road
- Deep South: Riding the Dragon’s Tail
- The Burnt Road: Vietnam’s Desert
- The Southeast Loop
- The Dak Nong Geo-park Loop
- Ho Chi Minh Road (South)
- Cat Tien National Park: Where to Stay
- Beach Camping: Saigon to Nha Trang
- Ana Mandara Villas, Dalat
- Camping in Dalat
- Ho Tram Beach Boutique
- Mango Bay, Phu Quoc
- Thanh Kieu Resort, Phu Quoc
- Victoria Beach Resort, Mui Ne
- Binh Chau Hot Springs
- Leman Cap Resort, Vung Tau
- Vinh Hy Bay Resort
- The Ocean Dunes, Phan Thiet
- Ivory Falls Villa, Di Linh
- Lotus Lake Homestays, Mekong Delta
- Lak Tented Camp, Dak Lak
- Mia Resort Nha Trang
- The Myst Dong Khoi
- Bamboo Cottages, Phu Quoc
- Camping on the La Nga River
- Du Parc Hotel, Dalat
- Victoria Can Tho Resort
- Fusion Suites Vung Tau
- Escalade Cam Ranh Resort
- The Grand Ho Tram
- Victoria Nui Sam Mountain Lodge
- The Shells Resort, Phu Quoc
- Liberty Central Nha Trang
- Phu Quoc Island by Fast Boat & Car Ferry
- Saigon to Phan Thiet by Train
- The Saigon Waterbus
- Soc Trang↔Con Dao Islands Fast Ferry
- Saigon↔Rach Gia Limousine Beach Bus
- Can Gio↔Vung Tau Car Ferry
- Saigon↔Vung Tau Fast Boat
DRY SEASON TRAVEL GUIDES
[Click a map icon, then click the link to go to the guide]
- Destinations
- Motorbike Routes
- Accommodation
- Transportation
View in a LARGER MAP
• Region & Province: southwestern corner; Kien Giang Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-March
• Full Guide: Ha Tien: Jewel of the Mekong
• Description: In the southwestern corner of the country, Ha Tien is the most attractive place to be in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region. Its irresistible combination of bustling markets and languid backstreets, crumbling shophouses and forested hills, delicious street food and local temples, promenading pedestrians and river traffic, twittering swiftlets and chiming pagoda gongs, makes Ha Tien the ‘Jewel of the Delta’……read more
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Exploring Saigon’s Railway Tracks:
• Region & Province: Saigon; Ho Chi Minh City Municipality [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: January-March
• Full Guide: Exploring Saigon’s Railway Tracks: A Guide
• Description: Lined with cramped housing, intriguing architecture, temples, shrines, pagodas, fruit trees, flowers, cafes, casual dining, trash, beer joints and other such urban miscellanea, Saigon’s railway tracks are a fascinating area to explore, whether on foot or on two wheels……read more
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La Nga River & Thac Ba Waterfall:
• Region & Province: southern Central Highlands; Dong Nai & Binh Thuan provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-February
• Full Guide: La Nga River & Thac Ba Waterfall
• Description: Offering freshwater bathing, lush jungle, mountain scenery, and opportunities for camping, all within a few hours’ drive of Saigon, La Nga River & Thac Ba Waterfall is a great escape for city-dwellers: best visited with your own wheels……read more
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Cam Ranh Bay: Cam Lap Promontory
• Region & Province: south-central coast; Ninh Thuan & Khanh Hoa Provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-May
• Full Guide: Cam Ranh Bay: Cam Lap Promontory
• Description: Filled by the calm, glistening waters of the East Sea, Cam Ranh Bay is a splendid natural harbour surrounded by hills. From its southern shores, a finger of land points northwards into the bay: this is Cam Lap Promontory……read more
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Ho Tram & Ho Coc Beaches:
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-May
• Full Guide: Ho Tram & Ho Coc Beaches
• Description: Two long & wide stretches of sand, Ho Tram & Ho Coc are by far the best beaches within easy reach of Saigon. If you’re a Saigon expat with a mini-break of a couple of days, or a traveller looking for a short trip out of the city, this is where you should be heading……read more
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Saigon’s Street Food ‘Ghettos’:
• Region & Province: Saigon; Ho Chi Minh City Municipality [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-February
• Full Guide: Saigon’s Street Food ‘Ghettos’
• Description: Throughout Saigon, there are clusters of crumbling old apartment complexes, all of which are on the verge of either collapse or demolition. As is so often the case in Saigon, street life enlivens these relatively poor areas, making them some of the most exciting street food destinations in the city……read more
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Phu Quoc’s Beaches: A Guide
• Region & Province: southwestern corner; Kien Giang Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-April
• Full Guide: Phu Quoc’s Beaches: A Guide
• Description: Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island, and fast becoming the country’s premier beach destination. There are dozens of excellent beaches on Phu Quoc Island, and this guide covers them all, including my tips for accommodation on each one……read more
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Nui Dinh Mountain & Springs:
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-March
• Full Guide: Nui Dinh Mountain & Springs
• Description: An unexpected swell of high ground, rising above the flat expanse of several river deltas just 90 minutes from Saigon, Núi Dinh Mountain is a peaceful retreat into the trees & streams on its rocky slopes, upon which perch dozens of Buddhist temples and pagodas……read more
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Public Swimming Pools in Saigon:
• Region & Province: Saigon; Ho Chi Minh City Municipality [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-May
• Full Guide: Public Swimming Pools in Saigon
• Description: If you’re not lucky enough to be staying at one of the smarter hotels with a pool, or if you’re an expat looking to escape the heat and clamour of the city, Saigon has plenty of decent & inexpensive public swimming pools to choose from……read more
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The Con Dao Islands:
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: February-May
• Full Guide: Con Dao Islands: A Guide
• Description: With its wild & beautiful beaches, rugged, jungle-covered interior & fascinating but tragic history, the Con Dao Islands is a remarkable place. Once a brutal penal colony, established by the French colonial administration, today the Con Dao Islands is one of Vietnam’s most beguiling destinations……read more
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Phu Quy Island:
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Binh Thuan Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-March
• Full Guide: Phu Quy Island: Travel Guide
• Description: A fascinating drop of land in the East Sea, Phu Quy is yet another of Vietnam’s previously ‘unknown’ islands that’s recently opened its doors to domestic and foreign travellers. A flat, green island rising gently to two volcanic peaks, Phu Quy is very isolated……read more
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Saigon’s Parks & Open Spaces:
• Region & Province: Saigon; Ho Chi Minh City Municipality [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-February
• Full Guide: Saigon’s Parks & Open Spaces
• Description: During the dry season months, find respite from the heat in one of Saigon’s parks & open spaces. Some date from French colonial times; some are a product of the recent economic boom……read more
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Tan Lap Floating Forest:
• Region & Province: inland southwest; Long An Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-February
• Full Guide: The Floating Forest of Long An
• Description: Only 100km west of Ho Chi Minh City, Làng Nổi Tân Lập is an enchanted patch of wetland where cajeput trees rise from the black, swampy waters creating beguiling corridors through which canoes glide & raised walkways wind……read more
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Pirate Islands:
• Region & Province: southwest coast; Kien Giang Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-March
• Full Guide: Pirate Islands: Travel Guide
• Description: A small, rugged archipelago with calm seas & green hills, the Pirate Islands have only recently opened to foreign travellers. For centuries, the islands provided shelter for pirates, who lay in wait in the rocky coves, poised to attack commercial ships plying the lucrative Southeast Asia trade route, laden with goods……read more
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Phu Quoc: North & East Coasts
• Region & Province: southwest coast; Kien Giang Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-April
• Full Guide: Phu Quoc Island: North & East Coasts
• Description: Right now, if you visit Phu Quoc, it’s all about the east & north coasts. Newly completed roads have opened access to beaches, bays, forests & hamlets that were previously difficult to get to. These parts of Phu Quoc have yet to see the huge developments & construction that currently blight much of the rest of the island……read more
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Phuong Boi Hill & Forest:
• Region & Province: Central Highlands; Lam Dong Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-March
• Full Guide: Phuong Boi: Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh’s Retreat
• Description: In the misty forests that once covered the slopes of the B’lao mountains, the young Buddhist monk, Thích Nhất Hạnh, came to build a retreat in the late 1950s. Together with several good friends, Nhat Hanh bought some land in Vietnam’s Central Highlands from a local hill tribe & began to work on a simple Buddhist retreat……read more
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Hon Son Island:
• Region & Province: southwest coast; Kien Giang Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-April
• Full Guide: Hon Son Island: Travel Guide
• Description: Lying in the Gulf of Thailand, just over an hour’s boat ride from Rach Gia in the Mekong Delta, Hon Son means ‘Mountain Island’. Rising from the calm, blue sea, giant boulders dot the palm-studded lower slopes as they ascend steeply to several jungle-covered peaks……read more
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Dalat’s Waterfalls:
• Region & Province: Central Highlands; Lam Dong Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-February
• Full Guide: Dalat’s Waterfalls: A Guide
• Description: The region surrounding Dalat boasts many waterfalls: some big, some small; some empty, some crowded; some spectacular, some disappointing. Here’s a guide to several of Dalat’s cascades……read more
[Click image for full guide]
Nam Du Islands:
• Region & Province: southwest coast; Kien Giang Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-April
• Full Guide: Nam Du Islands: Travel Guide
• Description: A glistening archipelago of small tropical islands lying in the calm waters off the southwestern coast of Vietnam, travel to Nam Du is still in its infancy……read more
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Walking Saigon’s Allways:
• Region & Province: Saigon; Ho Chi Minh City Municipality [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-February
• Full Guide: Alley Walks, Saigon
• Description: Saigon is a fascinating, vibrant & youthful city. To experience the best of Saigon, focus on its minutiae: the little details of this big city. There’s no better place to do this than in the city’s tangled network of narrow alleyways……read more
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Saigon to Dalat: the Back Ways
• Region & Province: southern Central Highlands; Dong Nai & Lam Dong provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-March
• Full Guide: Saigon to Dalat: the Back Ways
• Description: There are many ways to ride from Saigon to Dalat, but if you want a relatively direct route that avoids highways, there are several great options. These ‘back ways’ to Dalat utilize new, quiet & scenic roads to make the journey as fun as possible……read more
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The Ocean Road: Saigon to Mui Ne
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Ba Ria-Vung Tau & Binh Thuan provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-May
• Full Guide: The Ocean Road: Saigon to Mui Ne
• Description: Skirting the deserted coastline for much of its length, occasionally ducking inland through cashew trees & dragon fruit plantations, over white salt flats & green rice fields, past hot springs & hilltop pagodas, the Ocean Road is the scenic route between Saigon & Mui Ne……read more
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Mountains in the Mekong:
• Region & Province: southwestern Delta; An Giang Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-March
• Full Guide: Mountains in the Mekong: Motorbike Loop
• Description: Most of the Mekong Delta is as flat as a sheet of rice paper. But my favourite corner of the region, the western edge along the Cambodian border, is blessed with some high ground, in the form of a mini mountain range, which rises from the plains of An Giang Province. These mountains are connected by beautiful back-roads, perfect for a road trip……read more
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Midnight Motorbike Loop: Saigon
• Region & Province: Saigon; Ho Chi Minh City Municipality [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-February
• Full Guide: The Saigon Midnight Motorbike Loop
• Description: At night, Saigon is at its best: temperatures are cool, humidity is low, and traffic is light – it’s the perfect time to see the city. The Midnight Loop is an urban motorbike route designed specifically for riding after dark: a night out on two wheels……read more
[Click image for full guide]
Binh Thuan Back–Roads:
• Region & Province: southern Central Highlands; Binh Thuan Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-March
• Full Guide: Binh Thuan Back-Roads: Inland Loop
• Description: Binh Thuan Province is known for its beaches, but inland there’s a rich and varied landscape waiting to be explored. A network of rarely used, rural back-roads takes you on an inland loop – over arid plains, through forests, and across rivers……read more
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River Road: The Cai Valley
• Region & Province: lower Central Highlands; Khanh Hoa & Ninh Thuan provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-May
• Full Guide: River Road: The Cai Valley
• Description: A silver seam of glistening water, the Cai River meanders through a beautiful valley between Dalat & Phan Rang. A new road follows the course of the river, from its source in the high, forested hills to its mouth on the eastern seaboard……read more
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The Pine Tree Road, Dalat:
• Region & Province: Central Highlands; Lam Dong Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-March
• Full Guide: The Pine Tree Road
• Description: An enticing road leads north from Dalat and into the remote forests and mountains of deepest Lam Dong Province. Coniferous forests stretch to the horizon, making this route great for camping or picnicking……read more
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Tet Classic: Lunar New Year Loop
• Region & Province: southeast coast & Central Highlands; Dong Nai, Lam Dong, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan & Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: January-February
• Full Guide: Tet Classic: Lunar New Year Motorbike Loop
• Description: Tết (Lunar New Year) is the biggest festival of them all in Vietnam, but travel can be very difficult at this time of year. That’s why, every year, I take a meandering road trip that bypasses popular tourist spots & makes the most of the dry season weather……read more
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Saigon to Phu Quoc: Motorbike Loop
• Region & Province: Mekong Delta & southwest coast; Tien Giang, An Giang, Kien Giang, Can Tho provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: January-February
• Full Guide: Saigon to Phu Quoc Island by Motorbike
• Description: Flying to Phu Quoc is easy, but if you want a real adventure, riding there by motorbike is much more fun. This road trip takes you from Vietnam’s biggest city to some its best beaches, via the waterways & back-roads of the Mekong Delta……read more
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The Sand Dune Highway:
• Region & Province: south-central coast; Binh Thuan Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-May
• Full Guide: The Sand Dune Highway: Mui Ne to Ca Na
• Description: Get off the beaten track from Mui Ne with this short, scenic, easily navigable and rewarding road trip. Excellent coast roads lead between Mui Ne, Phan Ri Cua, Lien Huong and Ca Na, passing some great coastal scenery……read more
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Nui Chua Coast Road:
• Region & Province: south-central coast; Ninh Thuan & Khanh Hoa provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-April
• Full Guide: The Nui Chua Coast Road
• Description: Nui Chua is a beautiful promontory jutting into the ocean between Phan Rang City & Cam Ranh Bay, on Vietnam’s south-central coast. A spectacular coast road has opened up access to its superb beaches, forests, rivers & fishing villages……read more
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Dragon’s Graveyard Coast Road:
• Region & Province: south-central coast; Ninh Thuan Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-April
• Full Guide: Dragons’ Graveyard Coast Road
• Description: A new coast road has opened access to an arid, wild, windswept, boulder-strewn & cactus-studded section of coastline. People say this is where dragons’ came to die, and the earth scorched itself in grief……read more
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Deep South: Riding the Dragon’s Tail
• Region & Province: the far south; Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu & Ca Mau provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-March
• Full Guide: Deep South: Riding the Dragon’s Tail
• Description: Vietnam’s ‘deep south’ consists of vast, flat, agricultural provinces, criss-crossed by rivers and canals. I like to call it the Dragon’s Tail. Travellers rarely make it this far south, but this motorbike loop is a lot of fun, taking in bustling Mekong towns & rustic backwaters……read more
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The Burnt Road: Vietnam’s Desert
• Region & Province: inland south-central; Ninh Thuan Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-May
• Full Guide: The Burnt Road: Vietnam’s Desert
• Description: A short, easy ride through a big, hot landscape of barren hills and abandoned farmhouses, Highway 27B is the Burnt Road. This road trip takes you inland, through the vast open spaces of Vietnam’s driest province……read more
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The Southeast Loop:
• Region & Province: southeast coast & highlands; Binh Thuan & Lam Dong provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-March
• Full Guide: The Southeast Loop: Motorbike Guide
• Description: This road trip is a classic ‘Saigon escape loop’, taking in Mui Ne and Dalat via good coastal and mountain roads, but avoiding most of the big, busy highways. This guide hasn’t been updated for a long time, but the route is still just as rewarding as when I first wrote it……read more
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Dak Nong Geo–Park Loop:
• Region & Province: Western Highlands; Dak Nong, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Dong Nai provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-March
• Full Guide: Dak Nong Geo-Park Motorbike Loop
• Description: A meandering road trip in the cool, clear air, and vivid ‘HD’ colours of the Western Highlands, the Dak Nong Geopark↔Dong Nai River Motorbike Loop is packed with natural attractions & great riding roads……read more
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Ho Chi Minh Road (South):
• Region & Province: Central Highlands; Binh Phuoc, Dak Nong, Dak Lak, Gia Lai & Kon Tum provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-May
• Full Guide: Ho Chi Minh Road (South)
• Description: Crossing vast, barren plateaus, huge swathes of dense agricultural land, infamous sites of 2oth century battles, and booming highland cities, the southern section of the Ho Chi Minh Road is long, wide, windy and busy with highland commerce……read more
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Cat Tien National Park: Where to Stay
• Region & Province: southern Central Highlands; Dong Nai Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-April
• Full Review: Cat Tien National Park: Where to Stay
• Description: Traditional longhouses, luxury safari tents, bamboo huts, camping under tall trees: accommodation in & around Cat Tien National Park is atmospheric, good value and, more often than not, environmentally & socially responsible……read more
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Beach Camping: Saigon to Nha Trang
• Region & Province: southeast & south-central coast; Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan & Khanh Hoa provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-May
• Full Review: Camping the Ocean Road: Saigon to Nha Trang
• Description: Pitch your tent under a coconut palm just metres from the surf & enjoy Vietnam’s south coast sleeping in the open air. This is my guide to camping on the beaches along the Ocean Road from Saigon to Nha Trang……read more
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Ana Mandara Villas, Dalat:
• Region & Province: Central Highlands; Lam Dong Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-February
• Full Review: Ana Mandara Villas Dalat: Review
• Description: With 17 beautifully restored French colonial villas on a pine-studded hillside, Ana Mandara Resort & Spa keeps the romance of Dalat alive. Luxury accommodation in the Central Highlands doesn’t get more atmospheric than this……read more
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Camping in Dalat:
• Region & Province: Central Highlands; Lam Dong Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-February
• Full Review: Camping in Dalat: A Guide
• Description: Watch the sun set over purple mountains cloaked in pine forests stretching into the misty distance, with the smell of wood smoke & coffee blossom scenting the cool highland air, as you camp in the hills north of Dalat……read more
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Ho Tram Beach Boutique:
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-April
• Full Review: Ho Tram Beach Boutique Resort: Review
• Description: Just a couple of hours southeast of Saigon, Ho Tram Beach Resort is one of Vietnam’s most tasteful & charming coastal retreats. It’s romantic, elegant, refined yet understated, and blends in with the natural surrounds……read more
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Mango Bay, Phu Quoc:
• Region & Province: southwest coast; Kien Giang Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-April
• Full Review: Mango Bay Resort, Phu Quoc: Review
• Description: Mango Bay Resort has been around for over a decade & withstood the massive changes the island has gone through. And, despite increasing competition, Mango Bay is still the best place to go if you want to live the tropical island fantasy for a few days……read more
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Thanh Kieu Resort, Phu Quoc:
• Region & Province: southwest coast; Kien Giang Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-April
• Full Review: Thanh Kieu Resort, Phu Quoc: Review
• Description: The unsung hero of seafront, mid-range accommodation on Long Beach, Thanh Kieu Resort is an exceptionally lush, peaceful, and unassuming place to stay on Phu Quoc Island. It’s been my go-to resort for years……read more
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Victoria Beach Resort, Mui Ne:
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Binh Thuan Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-May
• Full Review: Victoria Beach Resort, Mui Ne: Review
• Description: One of the first luxury resorts to grace the sands of Mui Ne, Victoria is still one of the best places to stay on this popular beach on Vietnam’s southeast coast. With lush tropical gardens & a long stretch of beach, Victoria is far more spacious than its competitors……read more
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Binh Chau Hot Springs:
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-April
• Full Review: Binh Chau Hot Springs Resort: Review
• Description: Just a couple hours’ drive from Saigon, Binh Chau Hot Springs Resort & Spa has improved its facilities and aesthetics in recent years: it’s now a lush, relaxing and satisfying retreat from the city……read more
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Leman Cap Resort, Vung Tau:
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-April
• Full Review: Leman Cap Resort, Vung Tau: Review
• Description: Sitting on the rocks above Vung Tau’s attractive seafront promenade, Leman Cap Resort is an excellent option for expats or mid-range travellers looking to escape Saigon for a couple of nights by the sea……read more
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Vinh Hy Bay Resort:
• Region & Province: south-central coast; Ninh Thuan Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-April
• Full Review: Vinh Hy Bay Resort: Review
• Description: Vinh Hy is a gorgeous natural harbour between Phan Rang & Nha Trang. At the centre of the pretty bay & fishing village, there’s an excellent-value place to stay: Vinh Hy Resort is perfect if you’re on a road trip along the coast……read more
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Ocean Dunes, Phan Thiet:
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Binh Thuan Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-April
• Full Review: Ocean Dunes Resort Phan Thiet: Review
• Description: On the beach in Phan Thiet City, the Ocean Dunes Resort is excellent value for money. Offering high-end amenities at mid-range prices, the Ocean Dunes is a great option for budget travellers looking for a slice of luxury and, because of its wide greens spaces, for families……read more
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Ivory Falls Villa, Di Linh:
• Region & Province: southern Central Highlands; Lam Dong Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-March
• Full Review: Ivory Falls Villa Resort, Di Linh: Review
• Description: Surrounded by coffee farms, tea plantations, rice paddies & fruit trees, Juliet’s Villa Resort is a family-run, quiet, secluded & peaceful place to stay near Di Linh, a part of the Central Highlands most travellers overlook……read more
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Lotus Lake Homestays, Mekong Delta:
• Region & Province: southern Central Highlands; Lam Dong Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-March
• Full Review: Lotus Lake Homestays: Review
• Description: In the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, a collection of bamboo & palm-thatch huts on wooden stilts above a sea of lotus flowers, offer a night in a hammock or on a futon under a mosquito net, just a few feet above the frogs, the fish & the flowers……read more
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Lak Tented Camp, Dak Lak:
• Region & Province: Central Highlands; Dak Lak Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-March
• Full Review: Lak Tented Camp: Independent Review
• Description: Spread over a lush hillside on a spur of land jutting into the water on the north shore of Lake Lak in the Dak Lak highlands, Lak Tented Camp is a wonderfully atmospheric accommodation with a deep attachment to the local community and natural environment……read more
[Click image for full guide]
Mia Resort Nha Trang:
• Region & Province: south-central coast; Khanh Hoa Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-April
• Full Review: Mia Resort Nha Trang: Independent Review
• Description: A crisp, clean & contemporary resort straddling the cliffs on the spectacular coast road between Nha Trang & Cam Ranh Airport, Mia is the embodiment of minimalist-chic. A luxurious beach resort with excellent facilities, great service, good dining options & a fabulous location……read more
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The Myst Dong Khoi:
• Region & Province: Saigon; Ho Chi Minh City [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-March
• Full Review: The Myst Dong Khoi: Review
• Description: The Myst is a brand new, quirky, yet elegant & comfortable, high-end hotel in the centre of Saigon. From its perplexing, asymmetrical exterior to its eccentric & stylish interiors, the Myst is a unique, bold, concept-driven boutique accommodation……read more
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Bamboo Cottages Phu Quoc:
• Region & Province: southwest coast; Kien Giang Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-April
• Full Review: Bamboo Cottages Phu Quoc: Review
• Description: Situated on one of Phu Quoc’s most attractive & least developed bays, Bamboo Cottages is a small, mid-range beach resort powered by solar energy. By generating electricity through solar panels, Bamboo Cottages is almost 100% power-independent & off the national grid……read more
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Camping on the La Nga River:
• Region & Province: south-central highlands; Binh Thuan Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-March
• Full Review: Camping on the La Nga River: A Guide
• Description: Camping by fresh water is special. There’s something about being close to a natural body of water for a day or more: you get to know its character, its ebbs & flows, its smells & personality: its ‘ways’. The La Nga River runs clean, clear & cool, making it good for bathing & swimming……read more
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Du Parc Hotel Dalat:
• Region & Province: Central Highlands; Lam Dong Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-March
• Full Review: Du Parc Hotel, Dalat: Review
• Description: Offering excellent-value, mid-range accommodation in the highlands city of Dalat, the Du Parc is housed in a French colonial building dating from the 1930s. The Hotel Du Parc provides colonial ambience & modern amenities at very reasonable prices……read more
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Victoria Can Tho Resort:
• Region & Province: central Mekong Delta; Can Tho [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-March
• Full Review: Victoria Can Tho Resort: Review
• Description: A handsome, colonial-style hotel on the banks of the Mekong River, walking distance along a waterfront promenade to the centre of the delta’s largest city, Victoria Can Tho Resort is an excellent place to stay with lots of amenities to boot……read more
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Fusion Suites Vung Tau:
• Region & Province: south coast; Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-April
• Full Review: Fusion Suites Vung Tau: Review
• Description: Thanks to an immaculate rooftop infinity pool & sky bar with 360-degree city- and sea-views, Fusion Suites is set to become one of the most photographed places in Vung Tau. This is a sleek, modern, stylish, high-end, high-rise accommodation…….read more
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Escalade Cam Ranh Resort:
• Region & Province: south-central coast; Khanh Hoa Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-April
• Full Review: Escalade Cam Ranh Resort: Review
• Description: Thatched-roof bungalows raised on stilts above large boulders looking over treetops to a white sand beach & a bright blue bay, Escalade Resort is the newest place to stay in one of my favourite coastal regions of Vietnam……read more
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The Grand Ho Tram:
• Region & Province: south coast; Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-March
• Full Review: The Grand Ho Tram: Review
• Description: Big, brash, bold & extravagant, The Grand Resort & Casino marks the beginning of the transformation of the quiet & unassuming coastline of Ho Tram, into what is hoped will become Vietnam’s answer to Macau & Las Vegas……read more
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Victoria Nui Sam Mountain Lodge:
• Region & Province: southern Mekong Delta; An Giang Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-March
• Full Review: Victoria Nui Sam Mountain Lodge: Review
• Description: Built on a rocky escarpment near the summit of a sacred mountain, Victoria Nui Sam Lodge offers tasteful, well-appointed rooms with views over acres of rice paddies, canals & hills, a stone’s throw from the Cambodian border……read more
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The Shells Resort Phu Quoc:
• Region & Province: southwest coast; Kien Giang Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-April
• Full Review: The Shells Resort, Phu Quoc: Review
• Description: A contemporary resort with a uniquely quirky – but classy – character on the west coast of Phu Quoc, The Shells offers generously proportioned & well-appointed rooms (all with sea-views), a quiet location with a beautiful private beach & tropical gardens, and two large swimming pools……read more
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Liberty Central Nha Trang:
• Region & Province: south-central coast; Khanh Hoa Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-April
• Full Review: Liberty Central Hotel Nha Trang: Review
• Description: A contemporary, stylish, high-rise hotel just a block from Nha Trang’s famous seafront, Liberty Central is a modern, well-equipped, 21st century accommodation with fantastic sea views……read more
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Phu Quoc Island by Fast Boat & Car Ferry:
• Region & Province: southwest coast; Kien Giang Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-April
• Full Guide: Phu Quoc Island by Fast Boat & Car Ferry
• Description: Taking the boat to Phu Quoc Island is fun, reasonably priced, relatively easy, and a really convenient way to combine a trip to the island with travels in the Mekong Delta or the Cambodian coast……read more
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Saigon to Phan Thiet by Train:
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Binh Thuan Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-April
• Full Guide: Saigon to Phan Thiet by Train: A Guide
• Description: The daily, non-stop express train between Saigon & Phan Thiet (Mui Ne) is a cheap, easy, fun, fast & efficient way to get from the city to the beach. Put your motorbike on the train with you & let the rails carry your wheels……read more
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The Saigon Waterbus:
• Region & Province: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-April
• Full Guide: Saigon Waterbus: Guide & Itinerary
• Description: As a way of seeing the city’s increasingly impressive skyline, of experiencing its many different neighbourhoods, and for sheer value for money, the Saigon Waterbus is pretty much unbeatable……read more
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Soc Trang↔Con Dao Fast Ferry
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Ba Ria-Vung Tau & Soc Trang provinces [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: February-May
• Full Guide: Soc Trang to Con Dao by Fast Boat: A Guide
• Description: Daily fast boats (which can also accommodate a limited number of motorbikes) now run between the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang to Con Son Island. The ferries are fast & comfortable, meaning that travellers can now add the Con Dao Islands to their Mekong Delta itineraries……read more
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Saigon↔Rach Gia Limousine Beach Bus
• Region & Province: southwest coast; Kien Giang Province & Ho Chi Minh City [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-May
• Full Guide: Saigon to Rach Gia Limousine Bus
• Description: Part of a growing trend in luxury bus lines on popular routes, Thien Thanh Limousine service runs between Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and the Mekong Delta hub of Rach Gia, gateway to Vietnam’s islands in the Gulf of Thailand……read more
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Can Gio↔Vung Tau Car Ferry
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Ho Chi Minh City & Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: December-April
• Full Guide: Can Gio to Vung Tau Car Ferry: A Guide
• Description: A great boon to travellers, particularly those on motorbikes, the new Can Gio↔Vung Tau car ferry connects two of the most popular destinations near Ho Chi Minh City: Can Gio mangrove forest and Vung Tau beach……read more
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Saigon↔Vung Tau Fast Boat
• Region & Province: southeast coast; Ho Chi Minh City & Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province [MAP]
• Best Time to Go: November-April
• Full Guide: Saigon to Vung Tau by Fast Boat: A Guide
• Description: Taking the fast boat between Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) & Vung Tau is one of Vietnam’s most underrated journeys. It’s a fascinating voyage from the skyscrapers of downtown Saigon, along several busy rivers, through mangrove forest & across open sea to Vung Tau……read more
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