Travel guide to South Central Vietnam

If Ho Chi Minh City’s full-on intensity becomes overwhelming, a few hours away a very different world beckons, with fresh highland air, outstanding natural beauty, two of Vietnam’s premier beach destinations and the best natural habitat for wildlife-spotting. Culture-seekers can enjoy some of the nation’s loveliest Indochina-era architecture, ancient Cham Towers and the world’s second-largest reclining Buddha, while activities range from kite-boarding, diving and canyoning, to sipping cocktails on a sun-lounger. 3 days between Saigon and Phnom Penh
Places to visit in South Central Vietnam

Phan Thiet

Around 200km (124 miles) from Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet is largely overshadowed by its neighbour, Mui Ne, a beach resort area 22km (14 miles) eastwards. A thriving city that grew out from an adjacent, ancient Cham settlement, Phan Thiet is still essentially a picturesque fishing port. Attractions include world-class seaside golfing and the eighth-century Po Shanu Cham Temple, built during the Champa kingdom. Some 30km (19 miles) south, Ta Kou Nature Reserve houses the world’s second-longest recumbent Buddha (49m/161ft long) and nearby Ke Ga Cape boasts Vietnam’s tallest lighthouse (35m/115ft), built by the French in 1897.

Travel guide to South Central Vietnam

Mui Ne

In just a decade, Mui Ne went from a small fishing community to Vietnam’s fastest-growing beach destination and premier beach resort capital. Mui Ne Beach boasts a microclimate with Vietnam’s lowest rainfall and a lovely 16km (10-mile) beach, lined with diverse accommodation choices. With strong, consistent cross-shore winds, Mui Ne is fast emerging as a kite-boarding and windsurfing hub for Southeast Asia. There are around a dozen kite-boarding schools, plus several annual windsurfing and kite-boarding competitions hosted here. Surrounding attractions include the Red Sand Dunes and the spectacular, Sahara-like White Sand Dunes (30km/19 miles from Mui Ne), the latter yielding small lakes with bird-watching opportunities.

Nha Trang

Nha Trang is Vietnam’s favourite party town, but has many hidden charms for those who delve deeper and explore its museums, aquariums and rich ethnic culture. Read more…

Dalat

With a temperate climate and standing 1,500m (4,921ft) above sea level, this former French hill station remains a welcome break from HCMC’s sweltering heat, while scenic waterfalls, lakes and pine-forested hills reminded the colonials of home. Read more… Dalat & Nha Trang Relaxation 6 days
Cat Tien National Park

Cat Tien is one of Vietnam’s greatest national parks: not only protecting one of the largest areas of lowland tropical rainforests remaining in Vietnam, but also the best place to view wildlife. A nationally important site for the conservation of large mammals, water birds and primates, Cat Tien is home to numerous endangered fauna, though sadly its last Javan rhino is believed to have been killed by poachers in 2010. Cat Tien offers night safaris, bird-watching (over 350 species) and hiking. Halong with Starlight Cruise

Cu Chi Tunnels

About 35km (22 miles) west of Ho Chi Minh City, the district of Cu Chi is famous for its extensive underground tunnel network. During the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong dug a complex network of ­under­ground passages, two sections of which have been renovated and opened to visitors. The enterprising Vietnamese, proud of their ­military success at Cu Chi and keen to attract tourists, have enlarged several sections of tunnel to accommodate larger Westerners. The tunnels are still claustrophobic, humid and bat-filled, however, so few visitors will want to stay long underground.