If you are looking for an internationally popular destination near Ho Chi Minh City, here are 3 excellent choices. Only a 1-2 hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City, the diverse and colorful destinations below attract not only international tourists but are also a must-visit for those who wish to explore the cultural and historical beauty of the Southern region. From the sacred Ba Den Mountain to the peaceful Tan Lap floating village and the historical Cu Chi tunnels, each destination has its own special attractions waiting for visitors.

Ba Den Mountain – A prominent spiritual destination in Tay Ninh

Only a 2-hour drive from HCMC, Tay Ninh is most famous for Ba Den Mountain - known as one of the sacred acupoints of Vietnam, and also associated with a system of ancient pagodas and magnificent spiritual structures on the mountaintop.

With a height of 986m, the highest in the South, Ba Den Mountain, an internationally popular destination near Ho Chi Minh City, boasts magnificent scenery and is known as the “first mountain in the sky”. This is a very popular healing destination because of its cool climate, likened to Da Lat in the Southeast region, along with a paradise of flowers blooming throughout the four seasons on the mountaintop. Coming to this mountain, visitors will receive a sense of peace and protection when visiting the pagodas associated with the legend of Linh Son Thanh Mau – a sacred monument in the religious life of the Southern people.

The work “Highest Peak in Southern Vietnam” by photographer Tran Tuan Viet won a national award from Sony World Photography 

What makes Ba Den Mountain an internationally popular destination near Ho Chi Minh City is the rare large-scale spiritual structures in the region and the world. At the highest peak of Ba Den Mountain is the statue of the Western Bodhisattva of Ba Den Mountain, 72m high, cast from over 170 tons of red copper, recognized by Guinness World Records as the “Tallest bronze Bodhisattva statue on a mountaintop in Asia”.

Besides that, this internationally popular destination near Ho Chi Minh City also houses the world's leading Maitreya Buddha statue, 36 meters high and weighing 5,112 tons. Notably, the statue is assembled from 6,688 sandstone blocks with centimeter-level precision, reminiscent of how the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids.

Besides the masterpieces of Buddhist architecture, Ba Den Mountain is also a destination rich in spiritual and cultural experiences. Visitors can participate in the lantern offering ceremony on Saturday evenings, receive free lanterns, and write their wishes on the lanterns, joining the crowds in performing the traditional lantern offering rituals and releasing lanterns by the water in the large square.

Tan Lap Floating Village Long An – A unique experience in the river region

Tan Lap floating village, located approximately 100km from Ho Chi Minh City, is a popular international destination near Ho Chi Minh City, perfect for those who appreciate the peaceful beauty of the Mekong Delta. The vast landscape and fresh, airy atmosphere attract not only international tourists but also young people seeking relaxation on weekends.

On this 135-hectare area, which is flooded year-round, the residents built houses and sheds on high ground to avoid flooding; as the water rises, so do the houses. Currently, Tan Lap floating village has been planned as an ecotourism area and no longer has residents living there.

This is a famous ecotourism area with a vast space covered by the lush green of melaleuca forests and lotus and water lily fields. Tourists can participate in exciting activities such as riding motorboats through melaleuca forests, paddling three-leaf boats to admire flooded rice paddies, cycling through melaleuca forests to admire the rich flora and fauna…

Explore Vietnamese History through the Cu Chi Tunnels

Located about 70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi Tunnels are a popular international destination near Ho Chi Minh City, attracting significant interest due to the glorious historical story of the Vietnamese army and people. The tunnels represent the ingenuity and creativity of the Cu Chi army and people during the 30-year war, creating a unique wonder. 250 km of winding tunnels underground, the Cu Chi Tunnels served as a shelter and battleground for the Vietnamese army and people during the anti-American war.

From the "backbone" of the tunnel, countless branches of varying lengths extend, along with many interconnected structures such as trenches, bunkers, fighting positions, eating and sleeping areas, meeting places, living quarters, medical facilities, food storage areas, wells, and Hoang Cam kitchens…

Along with many historical sites around Ho Chi Minh City such as the Independence Palace (Ho Chi Minh City), the Southern Central Office (Tay Ninh), Phu Quoc Prison…, the Cu Chi Tunnels are considered a must-see destination to understand the history and resilience of the Vietnamese people during the war.

International tourist destinations near Ho Chi Minh City such as Núi Bà Đen, Tan Lap Floating Village, and Cu Chi Tunnels are not only ideal choices for those who love nature and culture, but also an opportunity to explore the unique historical and spiritual values of the South.