Private & personalized tours - just for you!
Have a magical day just outside of Ho Chi Minh City! Enjoy a private day trip to the unique Cu Chi Tunnels, the scenic Mekong Delta or the beautiful Vam Sat Mangrove Forest. Discover more of the Vietnamese culture with the local of your choice.
Day Trips in Ho Chi Minh CityHave a magical day just outside of Ho Chi Minh City! Enjoy a private day trip to the unique Cu Chi Tunnels, the scenic Mekong Delta or the beautiful Vam Sat Mangrove Forest. Discover more of the Vietnamese culture with the local of your choice.
Day Trips in Ho Chi Minh CityMake your stay in Ho Chi Minh City complete with these things to do
Learn about their personal stories and find out how you can explore Ho Chi Minh City with locals
Reviews from guests about our tours and locals
"Thien was an amazing tour guide. We learned so much not just about the region but the history of Vietnam. She took us to some off-the-beaten-path spots where we met some of the best people and had some of the most memorable moments on our trip to Vietnam. Thien is an encyclopedia of knowledge on Vietnam so the whole day felt like a crash course in Vietnam studies. Cannot recommend her tour enough!"
"We were truly blessed to have Huyen as our guide in Ho Chi Minh City! From the very start, she greeted us with the cutest local doll, such a thoughtful and personal touch that set the tone for an incredible day. Her vast knowledge of history and expertise at the Cu Chi Tunnels made the experience unforgettable. She explained everything with passion and clarity, helping us truly appreciate the significance of what we were seeing. Exploring the tunnels was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and Huyen made us feel like family throughout. The tour was seamless and comfortable, with a private shuttle and a very professional driver who made traveling stress-free. After the tunnels, we had some fun at the shooting range, adding excitement to the day. Huyen went above and beyond by suggesting excellent local restaurants and even helping us with a laundry service, which was a lifesaver after a week of traveling. Her friendliness, warmth, and fascinating stories made her not just a guide, but a highlight of our trip. Thank you, Huyen, for making our family’s time in Ho Chi Minh City so memorable. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide!"
"We were lucky enough to book the Mekong Delta day trip with Thien and had the most amazing experience imaginable. Every aspect of the day exceeded our expectations. The itinerary is so thoughtfully designed, offering intimate and authentic encounters with local people. Our driver was excellent, and my wife, our 7-year-old son, and I felt completely safe and cared for throughout. Highlights included visiting a traditional river clay brick workshop — a sadly fading craft but fascinating insight into working life on the Mekong — coconut candy and rice wine tasting, live music, boat rides big and small, and watching the most wonderful women making rice paper rolls and weaving mats. Each stop provided a beautiful glimpse into village life. What truly set the day apart, though, was Thien herself. Her rapport with the local people is extraordinary, and it’s clear how highly they regard her. That warmth extends to her guests, and nothing feels gimmicky, touristy, or mass-produced, even when visiting more popular spots. Instead, every moment feels genuine because of the connections she’s built. Thien is bright, insightful, witty, and simply a joy to spend time with. We’ve booked “With Locals” tours in several countries across Europe and Asia, and this day with Thien was by far the best experience we’ve ever had. Highly recommended — you will not be disappointed."
Our locals will give you the best experiences that Ho Chi Minh City has to offer
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Explore more unique experiences that our locals offer in Ho Chi Minh City.
Extend your adventure beyond Ho Chi Minh City with a private day trips that takes you to nearby gems. Your local guide will design a day trip tailored to your interests, whether it’s exploring charming villages, natural wonders, or historic sites.
Enjoy the flexibility of a personalized itinerary that lets you travel at your own pace and focus on what excites you most. Skip the crowds and experience authentic local life, cuisine, and landscapes just a short trip from Ho Chi Minh City.
Make the most of your time with a private day trip that reveals the best of the region around Ho Chi Minh City.
Always private. It’s just you and your local host. No strangers, no groups.
Let your local host tailor the experience completely to your wishes.
Our tours are designed with people, places, and the planet in mind.
"Many thanks to Huyen for this well organized trip. Our transport van was high class and along the way we gathered some deep insights about vietnamese culture and the Mekong delta. As we arrived a private boat brought us deeper into the swamp where we really got that jungle cruise feeling. By walking, Huyen provided more information about the sourrounding nature and we got to ride a tuktuk with the local farmers and even a canu. At the final stage we could enjoy some of the fish and specialities of the local cuisne aside the river. Finally, on our way back we visited the Pagode and were provided with interesting information about buddhism and its development in vietnam. It was really breathtaking and we could even vitness a monks ceremony. We highly recommend this! Many thanks to Huyen for this very informative and funny trip. She has a great personality and makes sure that all needs are met. And a good pohotgrapher too."
"This was great. We were picked up as agreed, and drove to the village where the cooking class took place (our host was not Tan, but another super nice guide, with great English). We were a family of 6, and each of us had our own tools, own wok and and cooking area. We started off with a super interesting tour of the various ingredients, tasting it all and learning about how it was used. Then we proceeded to cooking and with some nice helpers (also cleaning up) it ended up great. We did four dishes in total. Probably this was the family highlight of our trip in Vietnam, and definitely in everyone's top 3. After eating we went to see the tunnels - a very interesting insight into the war and how the Americans were out-smarted with low-tech means. Our kids ended up shooting some overpriced bullets (not part of the tour), and loved that part. Overall this was super nice, and a day excursion I would recommend to anyone (our youngest kids were 15, probably min age is 10-12)."
"We enjoyed such a great trip to the Mekong with Thien. She was such a wonderful host - bright, vibrant and so entertaining. We felt really looked after the whole trip and the places we visited were authentic and definitely off the regular tourist track. The highlight was visiting the home of two lovely ladies, who showed us how to make sweet rice paper rolls. If you are looking to see a small slice of real Mekong Delta life - this is the trip for you. Thank you Thien"
"Wind was an amazing guide, willing to answer any question and so easy to talk to. We were traveling with our 12 and 14 year olds, and she helped make sure they had a great time too."
"Thien’s English is really good and we learned so much about Vietnam while experiencing all kinds of adventures in the Mekong Delta. She is a bundle of energy and enthusiasm and is clearly well loved by the people we interacted with. We also appreciated her driver who was top notch. Highly recommend Thien and the Mekong Delta tour!"
"What an unforgettable day! Thien curated an incredibly engaging and authentic tour of the Mekong river, away from tourist traps and crowds and deep into local villages, experiences and culture. We saw bricks being baked, cooked rice paper pancakes, helped weave a mat, tried snake wine and at every step felt like we were making a genuine connection with the river and its people. In many of these instances we were the only "group" there helping make the experience feel deeply personal. Throughout, Thien - and her perfect English - provided us with real and unvarnished commentary on the history of and life in VietNam. She is funny, warm and a very dedicated host who takes immense pride in her work and helping the local community through her tours. We could not recommend this day trip more. We made memories we won't soon forget."
"Thien was easy to connect with as soon as we hired her on with locals. She began messaging us and answering any questions we had regarding our travels in Vietnam. She met us at the airport, took us to our hotel and even made a stop at a local laundry to drop off our clothes. We had a city tour the first day of a Taoist temple, post office, book street and to a non tourist part of the city for the best pho. Before getting back to the hotel we made a stop for ban mi at a street food stand. The next day we went to the area called the US apartments , walked through the bustling markets where she helped us make some purchases and took us to a street side coffee shop recently reviewed in the New York Times where she knows the owner who gave us a private demonstration of her coffee making process. She arranged an excursion to the Mekong delta where we rode on a private boat through the delta to a coconut workshop for tea, fruit snack and a private musical performance and coconut candy tasting. Then on to a lovely open air restaurant right on the river for a lovely lunch. Thien arranged the day to locations where we were the only tourists. Then we continued on a rowboat to learn how to make rice paper wrappers. Next on to the tuk tuk to the home of an old woman who weaves fiber rugs where we were able to try weaving. The little children in the village came running to Thien for hugs and wanted to meet us . Our third day was to the cu chi tunnels. Thien has access to a non-tourist area. We saw the simulated village and how the people lived before the French and American soldiers came. I did not see any other tourists in the area. Then on to the tunnels . Again, Thien has access to tunnels where there are no other people. Just Thien and I and sometimes a park ranger guide through the tunnels. After a long drive back to the hotel Thien suggested a delicious restaurant near the hotel for our last night in Vietnam. Be sure to hire Thien. She is a smart woman with very strong opinions on life in current day Ho Chi Minh City. "
Your tour is just for you. No strangers, no groups.
You’ll experience the city one-on-one (or with your own travel group) in a relaxed, personal way. No rushing, no scripted group tours.
From highlights to hidden gems, your host adjusts everything to fit you.
Want to skip a museum, add a food stop, or focus on street art? Just ask. Every experience is shaped around your pace, preferences and interests.
Message your host directly to customize your experience.
Ask questions, get local tips, or make special requests. Our hosts are real people, ready to make your day unforgettable.
Every booking supports independent locals and their communities.
We believe tourism should benefit the people who live there. Your host earns directly and often invests it right back into their neighborhood.
You’re choosing meaningful travel, not mass tourism.
Withlocals is built on fair pay, human connections and travel that leaves a positive mark for both you and the places you visit.
Loved by over 1,000,000 travelers all around the world.
Withlocals hosts consistently earn 5-star reviews for their kindness, knowledge and the personal stories they share.
Book with peace of mind: safe payments and easy changes.
Your plans can shift and that’s okay. We offer flexible cancellation and real support when you need it.
Your tour is just for you. No strangers, no groups.
You’ll experience the city one-on-one (or with your own travel group) in a relaxed, personal way. No rushing, no scripted group tours.
From highlights to hidden gems, your host adjusts everything to fit you.
Want to skip a museum, add a food stop, or focus on street art? Just ask. Every experience is shaped around your pace, preferences and interests.
Message your host directly to customize your experience.
Ask questions, get local tips, or make special requests. Our hosts are real people, ready to make your day unforgettable.
Every booking supports independent locals and their communities.
We believe tourism should benefit the people who live there. Your host earns directly and often invests it right back into their neighborhood.
You’re choosing meaningful travel, not mass tourism.
Withlocals is built on fair pay, human connections and travel that leaves a positive mark for both you and the places you visit.
Loved by over 1,000,000 travelers all around the world.
Withlocals hosts consistently earn 5-star reviews for their kindness, knowledge and the personal stories they share.
Book with peace of mind: safe payments and easy changes.
Your plans can shift and that’s okay. We offer flexible cancellation and real support when you need it.