If you want to save time, combine the Cao Dai Temple with the Cu Chi Tunnels into a single day trip from Ho Chi Minh. Or temple of literature in Hanoi.
Cu Chi Tunnels. Photo courtesy of rubber bullets via Flickr.
While Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s southern metropolis, has enough attractions to keep you busy for days, some of Vietnam’s coolest things to see are located a short trip out of town. Here are a few of the best day trips from Ho Chi Minh City.
Cu Chi Tunnels
If you’re at all familiar with the vietnam Conflict, you’ll know that the Cu Chi Tunnels, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, helped the Viet Cong infiltrate the rural areas surrounding the city. The series of hand-dug tunnels extend for 120 miles (200 kilometers) beneath and around the city. The original tunnels were actually dug during the French occupation of the 1940s, but they were expanded significantly during the 1960s and proved to be a severe disadvantage to US forces in the region.
Today, visitors can crawl through a claustrophobic 19-foot (30-meter) section of the tunnel. Some visitors choose to stop by the firing range near the tunnels to shoot high-grade military weapons.
Cao Dai Temple
The Cao Dai Temple located outside of Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most impressive temples of the Cao Dai faith in Asia. You’ll recognize these temples throughout the southern portion of Vietnam by the all-seeing eye that features prominently. The relatively young religion blends Buddhist, Christian, Islamic and Hindu influences, and this particular Cao Dai Temple reflects that in a building that is part cathedral, part mosque, part pagoda and part castle. Make sure to wear pants or a long skirt that covers your knees if you want to stop in to see a service.
If you want to save time, combine the Cao Dai Temple with the Cu Chi Tunnels into a single day trip from Ho Chi Minh.
Mekong Delta
A boat trip along the Mekong Delta is one of the most popular day trips from Ho Chi Minh City. Considered the rice bowl of the country, the Mekong Delta is famous for its network of canals and waterways, where you can shop for fresh fruits at floating markets and see what life is like along the river.
Cat Tien National Park
If the traffic and chaos of Ho Chi Minh City is getting you down, get back to nature with a day in Cat Tien National Park, a 173,000-acre (70-hectare) protected area 48 miles (78 kilometers) from the city. The park is sponsored by the World Wildlife Foundation and is one of the best spots anywhere in Vietnam or all of Southeast Asia for bird watching, so bring your binoculars.
Read more: How to spend one day in da lat vietnam
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