Authentic Indochina
White sand and clear shallow water at Phu Quoc's Sao Beach
VIETNAM TOUR

Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc, 6 Days / 5 Nights

South only, and short with it: three nights of tunnels, colonial streets and delta waterways in Ho Chi Minh City, then one domestic flight out to two nights on Phu Quoc instead of a second stop on the mainland.

Duration5 nights / 6 days
RouteHo Chi Minh City, 3 nights – Phu Quoc, 2 nights
Best forTravellers who want South Vietnam history paired with an island beach finish rather than a second mainland city
DepartureDaily departures, private or small-group

Trip overview

Nothing else in our range gets you from the city to an island in fewer days. Three nights are spent on the Cu Chi Tunnels, the colonial-era buildings downtown and a full day out on the delta by boat; a short hop by air then delivers you to Phu Quoc for two nights, starting at Sao Beach and a stroll around Duong Dong.

Because nowhere else on the mainland is included, the trip suits anyone who wants a quick read of the wartime and colonial south and then nothing but sand and reef — Sao Beach, the history kept at Phu Quoc Prison, and a whole day snorkelling three sites out in the Gulf of Thailand. Any month will do, though the dry stretch from November to April gives the flattest sea for the boat day.

Trip highlights

  • The Cu Chi Tunnels, plus half a day walking the colonial centre
  • A whole day in the delta, on the water and through its villages
  • Sao Beach and Duong Dong town on arrival in Phu Quoc
  • A full day snorkelling three islands in the Gulf of Thailand

Your day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (about a 30-minute, 10 km transfer from the airport)

Saigon, as most people still call it, runs at a quicker tempo than the capital, glass towers going up behind the buildings the French left and the pavements busy long after dark. The first afternoon usually goes on settling in, with an optional walk around the downtown blocks near your hotel.

Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnels and half-day Ho Chi Minh City tour (about 1½ hours / 70 km one way)

The morning belongs to the Cu Chi Tunnels — the underground network dug and lived in by resistance fighters across decades of war — where you can see stretches left as they were as well as sections widened for visitors, along with displays from the period.

The afternoon carries on at walking pace: the former Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, the Continental Hotel, the Opera House and City Hall.

Day 3: Mekong Delta tour (about 2 hours / 80 km one way)

Heading southwest brings you into the rice bowl of the country, where a boat runs along the Vam Xep canal to a small islet and a shaded, palm-lined path leads past village houses. A bee farm, a small coconut workshop and a row-boat trip down the narrow channels punctuate the day before the road back to the city.

Day 4: Fly to Phu Quoc, Sao Beach and Duong Dong town

Under an hour in the air from Tan Son Nhat Airport puts you on the island. The afternoon begins on Sao Beach, pale-sanded and shallow, and continues to the wartime displays held at Phu Quoc Prison.

Working back towards Duong Dong, you stop at Ho Quoc Pagoda for the view from the hillside and at Dinh Cau Temple on its rock above the sea. Sunset can be watched from Truong Beach or the Sunset Sanato Beach Club, and the Dinh Cau night market is where the seafood and street food are.

Day 5: Three-island snorkeling tour

A full day's boat trip from the south coast takes in three snorkelling stops in the Gulf of Thailand — Finger Island, Dam Ngang Island and May Rut Island — trading further sightseeing for hours in the water above the coral.

Day 6: Departure from Phu Quoc

The last morning is yours until the transfer to Phu Quoc International Airport, closing a short southern trip that ran from history and delta waterways to an island at the end.

What's included

  • Accommodation with twin/ double/ triple sharing room basis with daily breakfast in the category chosen or similar (subject to availability).
  • Meals as mentioned in the Tour Itinerary.
  • Sightseeing & Transfers according to the above Tour Itinerary Details only.
  • Transportation by vehicle with A/C
  • Local English-speaking guide’s assistance.
  • All Entrance fees for attractions included in the program
  • All activities and cruises clearly mentioned in the program
  • Government taxes & service charge
  • Air Fare / Train fare.
  • Personal Expenses such as Laundry, telephone calls, tips & gratuity, mineral water, soft & hard drinks, porterage, water sports.
  • Early check-in, late check-out
  • Additional sightseeing or extra usage of vehicle, other than mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Room Up gradation Charges.
  • Any cost arising due to natural calamities like, landslides, road blockage, political disturbances (strikes), etc (to be borne by the client, which is directly payable on the spot).
  • Travel Insurance.
  • Bank Charges
  • Tip to Driver & Guide (Compulsory)
  • Airport Taxes
  • Visa and Visa arrangement
  • Anything which is not included in the inclusion.

Not included

  • Air Fare / Train fare.
  • Personal Expenses such as Laundry, telephone calls, tips & gratuity, mineral water, soft & hard drinks, porterage, water sports.
  • Early check-in, late check-out
  • Additional sightseeing or extra usage of vehicle, other than mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Room Up gradation Charges.
  • Any cost arising due to natural calamities like, landslides, road blockage, political disturbances (strikes), etc (to be borne by the client, which is directly payable on the spot).
  • Travel Insurance.
  • Bank Charges
  • Tip to Driver & Guide (Compulsory)
  • Airport Taxes
  • Visa and Visa arrangement
  • Anything which is not included in the inclusion.

Booking this trip

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Days
5 nights / 6 days
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Frequently asked questions

Is Phu Quoc reached by a domestic flight or a ferry from Ho Chi Minh City?
By air, in under an hour from Tan Son Nhat Airport. Ferries do run from some mainland ports, but they are not part of this itinerary.
What's the best season for the Phu Quoc snorkelling day?
Water is calmest and clearest for the three-island day between November and April. During the rains from May to October, visibility or the boat timetable can occasionally suffer.
Can Mui Ne or Da Lat be added before the Phu Quoc leg?
It extends well. An overland leg through Mui Ne and Da Lat can go in before the flight to the island, or the whole thing can be bolted onto a separate trip.
Is a minimum group size needed for the Cu Chi and Mekong Delta days?
These can run privately or as part of a small shared group depending on numbers; if you're travelling in a smaller group, confirm the shared departure schedule in advance, as timings can shift with demand.
Can vegetarian meals be arranged for the Phu Quoc hotel stay?
Yes, with notice. Tell us when you book so the island hotel and the restaurants used on the tunnels and delta days can plan for it.

See also