Travel Tips

The South Vietnam Itinerary

The south of Vietnam has a different rhythm to the north. Instead of limestone bays and mountain passes you get a fast, warm-hearted city, a river delta laced with canals and orchards, and an island where the days end with the sun going down over the sea. It is the easiest part of the country to travel at a gentle pace, and it pairs a proper city stay with real time to rest.

This guide sets out how we build a South Vietnam trip: what to see in Ho Chi Minh City, how much of the Mekong Delta to take on, and how long to give Phu Quoc, followed by a day by day route you can lift as it is or adjust. We are planners rather than resellers, we never take commission, and we run every trip arrival to departure, so the version we build for you fits your own dates and your own pace.

What South Vietnam is, and how it differs from the north

The south is tropical and low-lying. While the north has four seasons and a cool winter, the south stays warm all year and has just two seasons: dry from November to April and wet from May to October. That gives a southern trip a lighter, more restful feel, built around a big city, the waterways of the Mekong Delta and the beaches of Phu Quoc rather than karst scenery and trekking. It is a strong choice for a first visit, or for the warm, easy end of a longer tour. Our South Vietnam region page sets out the wider area if you want to see how it all links up.

Ho Chi Minh City: where a southern trip starts (2 to 3 days)

Almost every South Vietnam trip begins in Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon and the country's largest city. Two to three days is enough to get under its skin. The history is the anchor: the War Remnants Museum, the Reunification Palace, the old Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, and the temples and markets of Cho Lon, the city's Chinatown. Our Ho Chi Minh City history tour ties these together in a half day.

Just outside the city, the Cu Chi Tunnels tell the story of the war from underground, and they work well as a morning trip. Evenings are for the food, and the best way in is on the back of a scooter with a local guide on our night street-food scooter tour. You can browse the full set on the Ho Chi Minh City tours page, read our things to do in Ho Chi Minh City guide, and see the areas we like in where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Mekong Delta: rivers, orchards and floating markets (1 to 2 days)

South of the city, the Mekong River fans out into a green web of channels, rice fields and fruit orchards. There are two ways to see it. A day trip to My Tho and Ben Tre gets you onto small boats through the coconut palms and into a working village, and you are back in the city by evening. An overnight to Can Tho lets you reach the Cai Rang floating market at dawn, when the trading is at its busiest, and it is the version we usually suggest if you have the time. Our Mekong Delta tour covers the day option, and the Mekong Delta travel guide goes deeper on how to choose. If you would rather stay closer to the city, the mangroves of the Can Gio biosphere are an easy alternative.

Phu Quoc: the beach finish (3 to 4 days)

Phu Quoc is Vietnam's largest island, out in the Gulf of Thailand off the southern coast, and it is where a southern trip slows down. Three to four days lets you settle into the beach, take a boat out to the An Thoi islands in the south for clear water and snorkelling, and still have time for the national park, the fishing towns and the night market. Our Phu Quoc snorkelling tour is the pick of the boat trips, the Phu Quoc tours page has the rest, and things to do in Phu Quoc lays out the island. For where to base yourself, we only put forward places we would send our own guests, gathered on the Phu Quoc hotels page.

A suggested 7-day South Vietnam route

This is the shape we come back to most often. It flexes down to 5 days by trimming the Mekong and a beach day, or up to 8 by adding an overnight in the delta or a night on Con Dao.

Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, settle in, and head out for an evening street-food scooter tour.
Day 2: The city's history: War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace and Cho Lon, with a relaxed dinner.
Day 3: Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning, then a free afternoon around Ben Thanh and the central district.
Day 4: The Mekong Delta, either a full day to My Tho and Ben Tre or an overnight on to Can Tho.
Day 5: Fly to Phu Quoc and settle in by the beach.
Day 6: A boat out to the An Thoi islands for snorkelling and swimming.
Day 7: A slow morning, the national park or the night market, then onward travel.

When to go

The south is at its best in the dry season, from November to April, when the skies are clear and Phu Quoc is at its sunniest. The wet season, May to October, brings short, heavy afternoon showers rather than all-day rain, and the Mekong is greener and quieter then, so it is still very travellable. Phu Quoc is the most weather-sensitive stop, so if the beach is the priority, aim for November to March. Our Vietnam weather by month guide breaks it down region by region.

Getting around the south

Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat airport is the gateway and the hub. The Mekong Delta is reached by road, about two to three hours to the nearer towns, which we cover with a private car and driver. Phu Quoc is a short flight of around an hour from Ho Chi Minh City, which is far easier than the long ferry route. Within the city and the delta we keep you in private vehicles rather than on group coaches, and we handle every transfer for you, arrival to departure.

So how long do you need in South Vietnam?

Five days is the sensible minimum: two or three in the city, a day in the Mekong and a couple by the sea. Seven days is the comfortable version and the one in the route above, with room to breathe at each stop. Eight to ten days lets you add an overnight in the delta, more time on Phu Quoc, or a quieter island like Con Dao. If the south is part of a longer Vietnam trip, you can trim it to the city plus a few beach days and still come away with the feel of the region.

How South Vietnam fits a wider Vietnam trip

Plenty of our guests treat the south as one leg of the whole country. The north brings Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Sapa; the central coast brings Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An; and the south rounds it off with the city, the delta and the beach. Together they make a two to three week trip, and the south is usually the warm, restful end of it. See how the middle leg works in our Central Vietnam itinerary, or the full sweep in the 14-day Vietnam itinerary. Whichever shape suits you, we build it around your dates and run it arrival to departure. We are rated five-star on Tripadvisor, 5.0 from 36 reviews, we plan as private specialists rather than resellers, and we never take commission, so the advice you get is ours alone. When you are ready, start a custom itinerary and we will take it from there.

Common questions

How many days do you need in South Vietnam?

Five to eight days suits most trips. Five covers Ho Chi Minh City, a day in the Mekong and a short beach stay; seven is comfortable with room at each stop; eight or more lets you add an overnight in the delta or a quieter island such as Con Dao.

Is the Mekong Delta worth an overnight, or is a day trip enough?

A day trip to My Tho and Ben Tre gives you the boats, the orchards and a village, and you are back in the city by evening. An overnight to Can Tho adds the Cai Rang floating market at dawn, which is the highlight for many, so we suggest it if your schedule allows.

When is the best time to visit Phu Quoc?

November to March is the sweet spot, with dry, sunny days and calm seas for snorkelling. April is still good but hotter, and the wetter months from May to October bring short afternoon showers, so the beach is less reliable then.

Can you combine South Vietnam with the north?

Yes, and many people do. A full north to south trip runs around two to three weeks, taking in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, the central coast around Hue and Hoi An, and the southern city, delta and beach. We plan the internal flights and transfers so the legs join up smoothly.

How do you get from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc?

By a short domestic flight of about an hour, which is the easiest way and the one we build in. There is a ferry, but it is a long haul from the mainland, so we keep it for special cases rather than the standard route.

Is South Vietnam a good choice for a first trip to Vietnam?

It is one of the easiest introductions to the country. You get a lively city with real history, the gentle pace of the Mekong, and beach time on Phu Quoc, all in a warm climate and without long overland travel, which makes it relaxed to plan and to travel.