What should you pack for Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta?

The southern climate in one paragraph

Ho Chi Minh City sits barely above sea level at about 10°N, and temperatures hardly change through the year: highs around 32 to 35°C, nights rarely below the mid-20s. The difference between seasons is rain and humidity. From about May to November, mornings are often clear and storms arrive in the afternoon or evening, heavy enough to flood streets in District 1 and Binh Thanh for an hour. December to April is drier, and March and April are the hottest months. The Mekong Delta around Can Tho follows the same pattern, with river levels highest late in the wet season. Month-by-month detail is in the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City.

Heat and sun kit

• High-factor sunscreen and a refill bought locally. You will reapply more than you expect on boats, where the water reflects the sun.

• A wide-brimmed hat that stays on in the wind, or a conical nón lá bought on arrival.

• Sunglasses with a strap or a case; they are the thing most often dropped over the side of a boat.

• A refillable water bottle. Do not drink tap water; most hotels have filtered water to refill from, and large bottles are cheap at convenience stores.

• Electrolyte sachets. Rehydration salts are sold at every pharmacy (nhà thuốc) and are worth carrying on walking days.

• A small towel or cooling cloth, and a spare T-shirt for long days out.

Wet season kit (May to November)

• A light rain jacket or packable poncho. Ponchos are sold everywhere in the wet season, and riders on Grab bikes often get one from the driver.

• Sandals with grip rather than flip-flops. Flooded streets hide kerbs and potholes.

• A dry bag or zip-lock bags for phone, passport and cash.

• Quick-dry clothes, because nothing dries overnight in a humid room without air-conditioning.

• Insect repellent. Dengue is a year-round risk in the south and peaks in the rainy season; apply it at dusk and on any trip into the delta's orchards and canals.

Plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning in the wet season, keep afternoons for museums, cafés and markets, and you will rarely need all of this at once.

Mekong Delta boat trips: what to bring

The usual base for the delta is Can Tho, about 3.5 to 4 hours from Ho Chi Minh City by road; our Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho guide covers the buses. The main event is the Cai Rang floating market, where wholesale trading is busiest around sunrise, so boat trips leave before 6am.

• A light long-sleeved layer for the dawn start, when it is briefly cool on the river, and for sun later.

• A dry bag for the camera and phone. Boats are small, low and open; spray and sudden rain are normal.

• Shoes you can step into water with. Getting on and off boats at muddy landings means wet feet sometimes.

• Small notes in dong for fruit, coffee and snacks bought from other boats, and for tips to the boat driver.

• Motion-sickness tablets only if you are very sensitive; the river is usually calm.

Longer delta trips also include orchard visits and cycling on village lanes, so a hat and repellent matter as much as on the boat.

Cu Chi Tunnels and day trips

The Cu Chi Tunnels, the most popular day trip from Ho Chi Minh City, involve walking through forest and, if you choose, crawling through a short section of widened tunnel. Wear clothes you do not mind getting dusty, closed shoes, and bring repellent and water. People who are claustrophobic can skip the crawl and still see the site. Other options, including Can Gio and Tay Ninh, are in day trips from Ho Chi Minh City.

City practicalities: bags, phone and money

Bag snatching from passing motorbikes is the most common crime against visitors in Ho Chi Minh City, so the packing choice that matters is your bag: a cross-body bag worn on the side away from the road, and a phone you do not hold out at the kerb. Our Vietnam safety guide covers it.

• A cross-body bag with a zip, not a backpack on one shoulder.

• Data on arrival: you will want Grab for rides and maps from the airport onwards. Travel eSIM apps such as Airalo sell Vietnam data plans you can install before you fly; local SIMs from Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone are the alternative once you land. See eSIM or local SIM for how to choose.

• A plug adapter for types A and C sockets, and a power bank for long days.

• A mix of cards and cash: malls, hotels and Grab take cards, while street food, markets and the delta are cash. How long to spend in the city is in how many days in Ho Chi Minh City, and our Ho Chi Minh City guide has the sights.

Frequently asked questions