5 day-trip destinations from HCMC for National Day

If you're in HCMC during the upcoming holiday and looking for a getaway, here are five day-trip destinations within 100 kilometers. These spots are easily accessible by both personal vehicles and public transportation.

Tram Chim National Park, Dong Thap Province

This destination is about 140 kilometers from the center of HCMC, with a travel time of approximately three hours.

From HCMC it's best to start early, between 5-6 a.m., and travel by road to Cao Lanh City. You can choose to use bus operators such as Phuong Trang, Kim Cuong or Quoc Hoang. From Cao Lanh, you can then take a Phuong Trang bus to Tram Chim National Park.

If you're driving your own vehicle, take the Trung Luong - Tan An - Tan Thanh Expressway. At the My An - Moc Hoa intersection, turn towards Truong Xuan Commune, and after a short drive, you'll reach Tram Chim Town. From there, cross the Tram Chim Bridge, and about 200 meters further, you'll find the entrance to Tram Chim National Park on the left.

A sea of birds fills the sky at Tram Chim National Park. Photo by Ngo Tran Hai An

To enter Tram Chim National Park, visitors need to purchase tickets and rent either a motorboat or a manually-pulled boat to explore the park. Each boat can accommodate up to 20 people.

September marks the flood season in Tram Chim, offering tours that include catching fish with traps and setting up nets. Here, visitors can also observe rare birds such as snakebird, gray heron, purple swamphen, along with many aquatic flowers.

The park is open until 8 p.m., but it's advisable to end your visit by 5 p.m. to return to HCMC to avoid driving late on the road. Total cost per person, including entrance and boat rental, ranges from VND700,000 to VND1 million (US$28 to $40).

Vam Sat Ecotourism Area, HCMC

Just 60 kilometers from downtown HCMC, Vam Sat Ecotourism Area in Can Gio Mangrove Forest can be reached in about two hours by road or river.

Entry is VND60,000 ($2.40) per person, including a shuttle service, with activities priced between VND20,000 and VND65,000 (80 cents to $2.60). Canoe and boat rentals range from VND150,000 to VND900,000 ($6 to $36) per trip, depending on the type and number of passengers.

Visitors experience crocodile fishing at Vam Sat Ecotourism Area in HCMC's Can Gio District. Photo by VnExpress/Huynh Nhi

For those interested in wildlife, Nghe Bat Lagoon is a must-visit, home to the Nghe bats, which are found only on a small mangrove island within the lagoon.

Another highlight is the Vam Sat Bird Sanctuary, located about 800 meters from the main entrance, where you can observe the population of wild birds. Bird nesting season runs from April to October, attracting millions of birds from across the region.

After exploring the bird sanctuary and bat lagoon, visitors can enjoy fishing, with boats docking at spots teeming fish, which you can cook on-site. For a more thrilling experience, try the crocodile fishing tour, where you can catch crocodiles from a boat equipped with a protective cage.

Cu Chi Tunnels, HCMC

About 70 kilometers from the city center, the Cu Chi Tunnels offer a historical experience. For the National Day holiday, the site will feature new activities, including a collaboration with the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Binh Phuoc Province to showcase artifacts and traditional performances by the S'Tieng ethnic group from Binh Phuoc. The event runs from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.

Visitors can explore exhibitions of jewelry, clothing, and daily life items of the S'Tieng people, as well as enjoy performances of lithophone and gong music. The program also includes a reenactment of the Crac Bar Mey Festival, a harvest celebration performed by the S'Tieng people from Hon Quan District, Binh Phuoc Province.

Other activities at the Cu Chi Tunnels include visiting the Ben Duoc Memorial Temple, which was built to honor the contributions of soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in the Saigon-Gia Dinh region during the resistance against American and French forces. Visitors can also crawl through the tunnels and participate in defense sports such as shooting.

Fairy Stream - Dinh Mountain, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province

Suoi Tien (Fairy Stream) is located on Nui Dinh Mountain, in Tan Thanh District, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, about 80 kilometers from HCMC. To get there, head towards Vung Tau City on Highway 51, then turn left at the Long Son intersection onto Truong Son Road. Continue for about two kilometers, and you'll find a road on your left that leads directly to Fairy Stream.

The green surroundings of Fairy Stream at Dinh Mountain. Photo courtesy of Twinspiration

This spot is most beautiful during the rainy season from May to October, when the water flows strongly. It's a perfect spot for outdoor fun and fresh air.

Visitors are encouraged to bring camping gear for a day of relaxation. There are also smaller streams nearby for further exploration. For those up for a challenge, a trek from the base of the mountain up the steps to the summit is highly recommended.

Currently, the stream is free to visit, with no entrance fees. You can bring your own food or buy it at the foot of the mountain. There are also thatched huts available for rent from VND150,000 to VND200,000 ($6 to $8) each.

Camping area in Thu Duc City

This camping area, located in Long Phuoc Ward, Thu Duc City, about 25 kilometers from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, offers a range of activities including camping, stand up paddle boarding, a petting zoo, a coffee shop and even a horse racing track.

Sheep at a farm of a camping area in Thu Duc City. Photo by Dai Anh Phuc

Horse riding costs VND249,000 ($10) for children and VND590,000 ($23.70) for adults, including safety gear. Stand-up paddle boarding is priced at around VND300,000 ($12) per person, which includes the boat, life jacket, and a guide to assist you.

If outdoor sports aren’t your thing, you can relax at the coffee shop, where an all-inclusive package with a drink costs VND99,000 ($4). The area also has a play area for children and a petting zoo with animals like sheep, guinea pigs, and donkeys.