Saigon & The South

The energy of Ho Chi Minh City from rooftops to backpacker streets, then...

The energy of Ho Chi Minh City from rooftops to backpacker streets, then down to the Mekong Delta's floating world.

A Wine Memories curated trail · winememories.fi

6 experiences 🇻🇳 Vietnam moderate 4 days

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Curated by Wine Memories

  1. 1
    ⛰️

    Saigon Rooftop Wine Crawl

    Hop between the rooftop bars of Saigon's skyscrapers. Start at Bitexco Financial Tower, end at Chill Skybar - the city spreads endlessly below.

    adventure $$
  2. 2
    ⛰️

    Bui Vien Backpacker Wine Chaos

    Vietnam's answer to Khao San Road. Navigate the chaos of the backpacker district, find wine among the cheap beer, and embrace the mayhem.

    adventure $
  3. 3
    🗺️

    Cu Chi Tunnels Wine Reflection

    Crawl through the legendary Vietnam War tunnel system, then reflect on the experience with wine at a quiet garden restaurant nearby.

    tour $$
  4. 4
    🗺️

    Cai Rang Floating Market Dawn

    Wake at 5am to witness the Mekong's largest floating market. Boats laden with fruits and vegetables trade as the sun rises. Toast with wine from your sampan.

    tour $
  5. 5
    ⛰️

    Mekong Homestay Wine Night

    Stay with a local family on a Mekong island. Help cook dinner, then share wine and stories under the stars as the river sounds surround you.

    adventure $
  6. 6
    🗺️

    Cao Dai Temple Wine Journey

    The psychedelic headquarters of Vietnam's indigenous religion. A fusion of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, and more, with the most colorful temple you'll ever see. Divine wine.

    tour $

Plan the trip

Getting there and around

Car required
No
Nearest airport
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) - Vietnam's busiest hub, 8 km from District 1
Drinking and driving
Use Grab exclusively after drinking - cheap and safe. Xe om (motorbike taxi) after drinks is dangerous and illegal. District 1 is walkable if you stick to main streets. Saigon traffic after midnight calms significantly.
Other airports
  • Can Tho International Airport (VCA) - direct if skipping Saigon
  • Con Dao flights from SGN for beach extension
Without a car
Grab app for everything in Saigon. Airport bus 109 to city center (20,000 VND, 45 min). Taxi: meter 150,000-200,000 VND to District 1, use Vinasun (white/red) or Mai Linh (green) only - others may scam. Mekong Delta: Phuong Trang/FUTA buses from Mien Tay station or tour minibuses. Internal flights on VietJet, Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways.

Where to stay

Base yourself in
District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (Days 1-3), Can Tho (Day 4-5), Ben Tre homestay (Day 6)
Why there
District 1 puts you walking distance from rooftops, Bui Vien, and central sights. Can Tho is the Mekong hub - required for early Cai Rang departure. Ben Tre homestays offer authentic delta life away from tourist circuits.
Booking tip
Saigon hotels walk-in OK except Tet (Lunar New Year). Can Tho: book 2-3 days ahead, especially for Victoria Resort sampan packages. Ben Tre homestays through operators, not direct.
Nightly range
$8-150/night
Peak season
Tet (late January/early February) sees 2-3x prices and everything closes for 1-2 weeks. Christmas/New Year popular with domestic tourists. Dry season (Dec-Apr) is peak.

Recommended stays

Shoestring
The Common Room Project (D1) - $10/night dorm, rooftop vibes, co-working, great social scene. Can Tho: Xin Chao Hostel - $8/night, helpful staff for market arrangements.
Wanderer
Liberty Central Saigon Centre - $55/night, rooftop pool, walkable to everything. Can Tho: Victoria Can Tho Resort - $80/night, colonial elegance, arranges private sampans.
Flashpacker
Hotel des Arts Saigon - $130/night, MGallery property with Social Club rooftop on-site. Park Hyatt Saigon - $200/night for pure luxury opposite Opera House.

What it costs

Includes
Accommodation, transport, food, 2-3 drinks, one experience/tour
Wine prices
Wine is expensive relative to beer in Vietnam but still affordable by global standards. Rooftop wines: $10-17/glass (250,000-400,000 VND). Vietnamese Dalat wines: $5-8/bottle in shops, $8-12/glass at restaurants. Import wines at supermarkets (Vinmart+) run $12-40/bottle. Ho Chi Minh City has the best wine selection in Vietnam - stock up before Mekong Delta where options are limited.
Meals
Street food pho/banh mi: $1-2 (25,000-50,000 VND). Local restaurants: $3-6. Rooftop dining: $20-40. Fine dining: $50-80.
Per person
$40-100/day
Ways to spend less
  • Pre-game at The Workshop coffee house with wine before rooftops - cheaper and excellent
  • Vietnamese wine (Dalat) costs 1/3 of imports - embrace the local
  • Bus to Can Tho is comfortable and scenic; flights save time but miss the journey
  • Homestay rates include meals - $20-30/night all-in is exceptional value
  • Ninh Kieu Night Market in Can Tho has wine at Saigon prices - stock up
Transport
Grab across D1: $1-3. Airport taxi: $7-10 metered. Bus to Can Tho: $6-8 (150,000-180,000 VND). Floating market sampan: $15-20 private.

Booking and timing

Lead time
Same day for most Saigon experiences. Cu Chi tours: 1-2 days. Can Tho sampan: 1 day. Homestay: 2-3 days.
Visas
E-visa available online (single entry, 30 days, $25). Visa-on-arrival for 15 days visa-free for select passports. Check current policy before travel.
Walk-ins accepted
Yes
Peak season
Tet (Lunar New Year, late Jan/early Feb) = everything closes, prices triple, transport chaos. Avoid unless you want to experience Vietnamese New Year (which IS amazing, just different). Christmas/New Year holiday week sees expat crowds at rooftops.
Rainy season
May-November is wet season. Afternoon downpours are dramatic but pass in 1-2 hours. Rooftops have covered areas. Cai Rang market runs rain or shine - pack poncho. October is wettest.

Where to eat

Wine bars
  • Wine Embassy (D1) - best wine shop selection in Saigon, tastings available
  • Cellier de Saigon (D3) - French-run wine bar, serious by-the-glass program
  • Social Club at Hotel des Arts - rooftop with proper wine menu, not just by-bottle
  • La Villa French Restaurant (D2) - colonial villa, outstanding French wine cellar
Street food
  • Pho Hoa Pasteur (D3) - legendary pho since 1968, open 6AM for breakfast
  • Banh Mi Huynh Hoa (D1) - the most famous banh mi in Vietnam, queue expected
  • Lunch Lady (varies) - Anthony Bourdain's favorite, check current location
  • Bun Thit Nuong at Ben Thanh Market - grilled pork noodles, 35,000 VND
Restaurants
  • The Refinery (D1) - French-Vietnamese in colonial building, excellent wine list
  • Noir (D1) - dining in complete darkness, served by blind staff, unique experience
  • Secret Garden (D1) - rooftop Vietnamese, booking needed, worth it

If your time is short

Do not miss
  • At least 2 rooftop bars in one evening - the skyline crawl is quintessential Saigon
  • Cu Chi Tunnels - you cannot understand Vietnam without this (morning, book ahead)
  • Cai Rang floating market at dawn - the Mekong defining experience, non-negotiable
If you only have one day
EON Heli Bar sunset (17:00) -> Banh Mi Huynh Hoa -> Bui Vien chaos (21:00+)
If it rains
War Remnants Museum (sobering, essential), then wine at Cellier de Saigon. Reunification Palace is covered. Ben Thanh Market for shopping.
Skip if time is short
  • Mekong homestay (meaningful but time-intensive - prioritize if you have Day 6-7)
  • Bui Vien if you hate crowds (it's optional chaos, not essential)
  • Multiple rooftop bars - one is enough if time is tight

Mistakes to avoid

  • Don't take taxis that aren't Vinasun (white/red) or Mai Linh (green) - tourist taxi scams are rampant
  • Don't wear flip-flops/shorts to rooftop bars - dress codes are enforced, you WILL be turned away
  • Don't book Cai Rang market without staying in Can Tho - 5AM start from Saigon is impossible
  • Don't go to Cai Rang after 09:00 - it's over, you'll see empty water
  • Don't skip Ben Duoc for Ben Dinh at Cu Chi unless time-pressed - it's worth the extra distance
  • Don't drink and xe om (motorbike) - it's dangerous, illegal, and Grab is everywhere
  • Don't expect wine at floating market - BYOB or accept Vietnamese coffee reality
  • Don't travel during Tet week unless you've planned specifically for it - everything closes
  • Don't change money at airport - rates are 5-10% worse than D1 gold shops
  • Don't accept "free" gifts from street vendors - aggressive upselling follows

Worth stopping for

  • Bitexco Tower: Interior viewing platform level 49, exterior from neighboring rooftops. Blue hour (18:15-18:45) best. Wine glass against floor-to-ceiling windows.
  • Bui Vien: Low angle from plastic stool, 23:00-midnight peak neon. Wide angle captures the tunnel of chaos. The "Bui Vien" sign at the entrance is the money shot.
  • Cu Chi: Tunnel entrance with original trap door, shoot downward into darkness. 08:00-09:00 for tourist-free shots.
  • Cai Rang: 06:15-06:45 golden hour as mist lifts. Frame wine glass with loaded fruit boats behind. The cay beo (poles showing products) are iconic.
  • Mekong homestay: Dinner table with family, river visible. Golden hour 17:30-18:00. Include the wooden architecture.