Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Saigon — First taste of the south
Morning Arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport
Land at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Transfer to the city centre (District 1) via Grab or bus 109. Check into your hotel near Pham Ngu Lao or Bui Vien street.
Afternoon Exploring District 1 — Cathedral & Central Post Office
Walk through the historic heart of Saigon: Notre-Dame Cathedral (closed for renovation but stunning façade), the Central Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel, and Dong Khoi street lined with colonial boutiques.
Evening Ben Thanh Market & street food
Explore Ben Thanh night market for your first taste of Vietnamese street food: banh mi, pho, banh xeo, fresh sugarcane juice. Lively atmosphere with souvenir bargaining.
Day 2 Saigon's history & memory
Morning War Remnants Museum
Visit Vietnam's most moving museum: photographs, documents and military equipment chronicling the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese perspective. Allow at least 2 hours for a full visit.
Afternoon Reunification Palace
Visit the Reunification Palace, iconic site of the fall of Saigon in 1975. 1960s modernist architecture, underground bunker and war room preserved intact.
Evening Bui Vien Walking Street & fresh beer
Evening on the famous Bui Vien pedestrian street, Saigon's party district. Bia hoi (local draught beer at ~€0.25 per glass), live music and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Try grilled skewers from street vendors.
Day 3 Cu Chi Tunnels — Diving into history
Morning Cu Chi Tunnels — Ben Duoc site
Day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels (70 km northwest of HCMC). Choose the Ben Duoc site, less touristy than Ben Dinh. Explore the underground network used by the Viet Cong: kitchens, hospitals and traps.
Afternoon Return & Vietnamese coffee break
Return to Saigon and stop at a traditional café for a cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee with condensed milk). District 3 is full of hidden cafés down alleyways, like The Workshop or Cong Caphe.
Evening Rooftop bar with Saigon skyline views
Cocktails at Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar (Caravelle Hotel) or Chill Skybar for panoramic views of the illuminated skyline. Chic and relaxed atmosphere with lounge music.
Day 4 Cholon — Saigon's Chinatown
Morning Binh Tay Market & Thien Hau Pagoda
Immerse yourself in Cholon, Southeast Asia's largest Chinatown. Visit the wholesale Binh Tay Market (1930s art deco architecture) then Thien Hau Pagoda dedicated to the sea goddess, with its hanging incense coils.
Afternoon Vietnamese cooking class
Cooking class at Saigon Cooking Class or Hoa Tuc. Learn to prepare the classics: fresh spring rolls, pho and caramelised fish. Includes a visit to the local market to buy ingredients.
Evening Street food tour by motorbike
Guided motorbike tour through Saigon's back alleys to discover the best local street food spots. On the menu: bun bo Hue, banh trang tron, che (dessert) and com tam (broken rice).
Day 5 Heading to the Mekong — Can Tho
Morning Transfer HCMC → Can Tho
Depart by limousine bus (Futa Bus or Thanh Buoi) from Mien Tay bus station to Can Tho, capital of the Mekong Delta. 3.5-hour journey through rice paddies and orchards.
Afternoon Walk along Ninh Kieu Wharf
Check into your hotel then stroll along Ninh Kieu Wharf, Can Tho's heart along the Mekong. Cross the illuminated pedestrian bridge and visit Binh Thuy ancient house, the setting of the film The Lover.
Evening Riverside dinner & night market
Dinner by the Mekong at one of Ninh Kieu's floating restaurants. Delta specialities: grilled elephant ear fish, Vietnamese hotpot and river snails. Digestive stroll through the night market.
Day 6 Floating markets & Mekong villages
Morning Cai Rang Floating Market
Dawn departure by boat to Cai Rang Floating Market, the delta's largest. Hundreds of boats loaded with fruits and vegetables trade their goods on the water. Breakfast pho served from a kitchen boat.
Afternoon Ben Tre coconut village
Day trip to Ben Tre, the 'coconut capital'. Navigate by sampan through coconut-lined canals. Visit a coconut candy workshop and taste local bee honey.
Evening Homestay dinner by the Mekong
Homestay dinner — family meal with delta specialities: fish grilled in banana leaf, sweet-and-sour soup and fresh tropical fruits from the garden.
Day 7 Flying to Phu Quoc — The tropical island
Morning Flight to Phu Quoc
Transfer to Can Tho airport or return to HCMC for a flight to Phu Quoc (1-hour flight). Arrival at Phu Quoc International Airport and transfer to the west coast.
Afternoon Check-in & Long Beach
Check into your resort on Long Beach (Bai Truong), the island's longest beach with 20 km of golden sand. First swim in turquoise waters and lazy time under coconut palms.
Evening Duong Dong Night Market
Evening at Duong Dong Night Market. Stalls of seafood grilled to order: prawns, scallops, squid and sea urchins. Convivial atmosphere with outdoor tables facing the harbour.
Day 8 Phu Quoc nature & jungle
Morning Phu Quoc National Park
Morning hike in Phu Quoc National Park, covering over 50% of the island. Ganh Dau trail (3 km) through dense tropical forest. Spot hornbills, macaques and giant butterflies.
Afternoon Sao Beach
Afternoon on Sao Beach, Phu Quoc's most beautiful beach: immaculate white sand and crystal-clear waters. Kayaking or paddle boarding available. Coconut palms and wooden swings for memorable photos.
Evening Sunset & cocktails at Ong Lang Beach
Sunset at Ong Lang Beach, the most romantic beach on the west coast. Cocktails with feet in the sand at Mango Bay or Bamboo Cottages. Grilled fish dinner by the water.
Day 9 Snorkelling at An Thoi Islands
Morning Snorkelling trip — An Thoi Archipelago
Boat day in the An Thoi Archipelago (15 islets south of Phu Quoc). Snorkelling on coral reefs of Hon Thom, Hon Mong Tay and Hon Gam Ghi. Crystal-clear waters and tropical fish.
Afternoon Secret beach of Hon May Rut
Stop at Hon May Rut island, a paradise sandbar with shallow turquoise waters. Grilled seafood lunch served on the beach. Swimming on this nearly deserted island.
Evening Seafood dinner at Ganh Dau
Dinner at a fisherman's restaurant in Ganh Dau village. Specialities: tamarind crab, Phu Quoc pepper prawns, and fish in local nuoc mam sauce.
Day 10 Phu Quoc terroir — Pepper, fish sauce & fishing
Morning Pepper farm & fish sauce factory
Visit a Phu Quoc pepper farm, one of the world's finest (red, black and white). Then visit Hung Thanh factory to discover artisanal fish sauce production.
Afternoon Ham Ninh fishing village
Discover Ham Ninh fishing village on the east coast, famous for its salt-boiled crabs. Lunch on wooden pontoons overlooking the sea with mountain views.
Evening Night squid fishing
Night squid fishing excursion off Phu Quoc. Boats use powerful lights to attract squid to the surface. Your catch is grilled on the boat under the stars.
Day 11 Last day in paradise
Morning Bai Dai Beach — Morning relaxation
Morning on Bai Dai, a 15 km stretch of white sand lined with casuarina trees. Uncrowded beach, ideal for a final morning of relaxation and swimming.
Afternoon Vinpearl Safari & Conservation Park
Visit Vinpearl Safari, Southeast Asia's largest open zoo. Bus safari through open enclosures with giraffes, rhinos and tigers. Walking zone with shows and nursery.
Evening Farewell dinner on the beach
Final dinner with feet in the sand on Long Beach at Chuon Chuon Bistro. Relaxed evening facing the sunset with last tropical cocktails.
Day 12 Departure — Goodbye Phu Quoc
Morning Sunrise at Ganh Dau Cape
Final sunrise at the island's northern tip, Ganh Dau Cape. Views of Cambodia just a few kilometres away. Peaceful moment on this wild beach. Breakfast at a local café.
Afternoon Last swim & souvenir shopping
Free time for one last swim at Long Beach or souvenir shopping in Duong Dong: Phu Quoc pepper, fish sauce, cultured pearls and local crafts.
Evening Transfer to the airport & departure
Transfer to Phu Quoc International Airport for the return flight. The airport is 10 km from Duong Dong centre, allow 20-30 minutes.