Southern Vietnam

Southern Vietnam covers the region south of Ho Chi Minh City. Much of it is dominated by the Mekong Delta which spreads out like a fan. After a journey of 4,500 km (2,800 miles), the Mekong River divides into distributaries before entering the South China Sea. The silt that it carries from China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia make the Mekong Delta one of the most fertile areas in Vietnam, enabling human habitation that goes back for thousands of years.

Riverside houses at My Tho


As you travel Southern Vietnam, you pass through a landscape of paddy fields laced with a latticework of canals, dotted with orchard groves and the occasional town and village. Although predominantly rural, it has a few towns such as Can Tho and Rach Gia which are now bustling commercial centres.

The people living in Southern Vietnam are a mix of Vietnamese, Cambodians and Chinese. You can see Chinese-style temples as well as Muslim mosques, a reflection of the racial and religious composition of the society.

Much of the landscape of Southern Vietnam is still unspoilt. There are lovely white beaches at Ha Tien, along with limestone karst outcrops. At Bac Lieu you can explore the marshlands, an important breeding ground for migratory birds. On the Gulf of Thailand side are pristine islands such as Phu Quoc and Can Dao, both designated as national parks and becoming popular destinations for ecotourism.

Fisherwoman cleaning net at Ham Ninh Village on Phu Quoc Island