With 1-3 million VND per person, visitors can choose from a variety of destinations near Ho Chi Minh City with a two-day itinerary.
100 – 200 km from Ho Chi Minh City, there are many tourist attractions suitable for the 2/9 holiday this year. Trekking and camping activities give visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature after days in the smoky city, the cost is not too expensive. However, these destinations are not suitable for tourists who prefer convenience.
Mr. Nguyen Hien, a tour guide of a travel agency in Ho Chi Minh City, suggested 5 natural attractions near the city. Visitors can refer to a one-day and two-night trip with an economical budget.
Cat Tien National Park
148 km from Ho Chi Minh City
Cost: 1-3 million VND
Cat Tien National Park is located in Tan Phu district, Dong Nai province. Travel time by motorbike or car from Ho Chi Minh City to here is about 3 hours. Bau Sau is a swamp located in the south of the national park, home to Siamese crocodile, a species of freshwater crocodile in Southeast Asia.
Two days is just enough to visit Cat Tien at a cost of less than 3 million VND. Depending on demand, visitors can stay at a homestay, resort or camp one night before trekking through the forest. In addition, many tourists also choose to cycle to explore the forest instead of trekking. Interesting activities in Cat Tien can include boating to “hunt” crocodiles in the Bau Sau swamp, check-in ancient trees, and watch night animals. Cat Tien is the only place in Vietnam where you can see wildlife right in the natural environment.
La Ngau Stream, Dong Nai
192 km from Ho Chi Minh City
Cost: 1-2 million VND
La Ngau stream is located at the upstream of La Nga river, surrounded by Tanh Linh forest. This place possesses pristine, quiet landscape, is the ideal place for those who want to disconnect from the virtual world. Visitors here mainly participate in camping activities around the stream. Bathing in streams and kayaking are favorite activities. Should go to the stream in the morning, it is cool, the sun is not too hot. From 5 p.m. daily, water in the upstream often pours in, so avoid staying near the stream bank.
There are two forms of tenting at spontaneous sites or comfortable camping with available services (glamping). Mr. Do Hieu, owner of Boo Camp, in La Ngau shared that there are only two licensed camping sites in this area, the rest are spontaneous yards. Full-service camping costs from 650,000 VND per guest per night, including meals. Reservations are required if you are planning on service camping. The closer to the holiday, the fewer empty tents with beautiful views.
Bu Gia Map National Park, Binh Phuoc
190 km from Ho Chi Minh City
Cost: 1-3 million VND
Bu Gia Map National Park is located in Phu Nghia commune, Bu Gia Map district, northeast of Binh Phuoc province, with an area of more than 25,000 hectares.
Coming to the National Park, visitors can experience trekking, admire the forests of giant umbrellas, oleanders and many other typical tree species of the transitional forest from the Central Highlands to the Southeast region; visit the rescue center, conservation and organism development, learn about ecological behavior and interesting features of primates and some animal species of the National Park.
On the journey, guests will discover and camp by Dak Ca stream, Dak Manh lake, where the water is clear and cool, can go down to the lake to catch fish, take a cool bath, cook bamboo rice, set up a tent, enjoy the typical dishes such as wild vegetables, entrench soup, roasted duck with macadamia leaves.
Package tours of the National Park cost about 2.5 million VND, visitors only need to prepare necessary personal belongings before setting off. Meanwhile, self-sufficient trekking is more economical, but you have to carry your belongings during the move, which requires experience in the jungle, good physical strength and endurance.
Mui Yen, Binh Thuan
237 km from Ho Chi Minh City
Cost: 1-2 million VND
Mui Yen is located in Hoa Thang commune, Bac Binh district, Binh Thuan province, about 4 km from Bau Trang tourist area. This place is still wild and has no tourist services.
Mui Yen has a gentle hilly terrain, the headlands protrude into Hoa Thang sea. Because tourism has not been developed yet, and it is 15-20 km away from residential areas, camping activities here are self-sufficient.
Visitors who do not often go on a picnic can rent tents and attached camping equipment. The cost of renting tents, air mattresses, seats, electric fans, lights, cooking utensils for 2 people for 2 days is about 600,000-700,000 VND. Take-away food can be prepared or you can buy fresh food at seafood stalls in Hoa Thang.
The road to Mui Yen is quite difficult to go, many slopes of sand, crushed stone, boulders, so you should travel by car with two bridges if the steering wheel is not stable enough.
Dau Tieng Lake, Tay Ninh
80 km from Ho Chi Minh City
Cost: 1-2 million VND
Dau Tieng Lake in Tay Ninh is a popular camping spot due to its wild beauty, green lawn and fresh air. Instead of camping in the grass by the shore, many tourists choose to go to Hedgehog Island located in the middle of the lake. The island is known by many people, but due to the long boat ride, the service is not available, so it only attracts those who like to explore, return to the wild nature and feel privacy and tranquility.
After arriving at Dau Tieng lake, visitors can cross the boat dock at Bo Ho junction, near Suoi Da church, Duong Minh Chau town. This is the only wharf carrying passengers to Nhim Island. You can park your car or motorbike at a house near the pier. After that, when coming to the island, people continue trekking, walking or riding buffalo-drawn carts. You save the train driver’s number to contact when returning.
If you don’t bring food, you can order the people on the island to eat chicken, lentils, wild vegetables, sweet potatoes, baked cassava… The cost per person is about 500,000 VND per night, including fees Round trip boat rental costs about 1.5 million VND, carrying 10-15 guests.
($1=24,000 VND)
Photo: Internet (Vinlove.net)