Orivia Travel · Private tours of Vietnam

Saigon, the Mekong Delta & Phu Quoc Island

Seven days in the South: the energy of Saigon, the Cu Chi tunnels, floating markets and cajuput forests of the Mekong, and three slow days on the beaches of Phu Quoc.

  • Duration: 7 days · 6 nights
  • Start: Ho Chi Minh City · End: Phu Quoc
  • Route: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi – Can Tho – Chau Doc – Phu Quoc
  • Departure: Daily, private tour
  • Meals: 6 breakfasts · 4 lunches · 1 dinner
  • Accommodation: 2 nights Saigon city hotel, 1 night Can Tho riverside hotel, 3 nights Phu Quoc beach resort
  • Travel style: Food & local life, Beach & islands, Family friendly, Culture & heritage
  • Price: from US$890 per person, based on two travellers sharing on a private tour
  • Tour code: EN-SOU-001

Tour overview

The South is where Vietnam feels most generous: the food is sweeter, the markets louder and the people quick to invite you in. This trip starts in Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by most locals, with a half day at the Cu Chi tunnels. You then head into the Mekong Delta, where life runs on the river, from the floating market at Cai Rang to the cajuput forest of Tra Su. The last three days are on Phu Quoc, an island in the Gulf of Thailand with white sand, clear water and a famous night market. It works well for families: transfers are short and every day has a pool or a boat in it.

Highlights

  • Saigon street food by night on the back of a scooter or on foot
  • Crawl through a section of the Cu Chi tunnels
  • Sunrise boat to the Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho
  • Rowing boat through the flooded cajuput forest of Tra Su
  • Three nights on Phu Quoc with a snorkelling trip to the southern islands

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City – street food night

Meals: D

Getting around: private car, walking

Pick-up at Tan Son Nhat airport and transfer to your hotel in District 1. In the evening, a local guide takes you through the food streets of District 4 and the alleys around Ben Thanh: broken rice, grilled seafood, banh xeo and sugarcane juice. You can do it on foot or on the back of a scooter with an experienced driver.

Day 2: Cu Chi tunnels – Saigon city

Meals: B, L

Getting around: private car, walking

Drive an hour and a half to the Cu Chi tunnels, the network of underground passages used during the war. You can crawl through a short section that has been widened for visitors. Back in the city after lunch, see the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office and the War Remnants Museum.

Day 3: Saigon – Can Tho: into the Mekong Delta

Meals: B, L

Getting around: private car, boat, walking

Leave the city for Can Tho, the largest town in the Delta, stopping at fruit orchards and a rice paper workshop on the way. Visit the Binh Thuy ancient house, then walk along the Ninh Kieu riverside as the evening market opens.

Day 4: Cai Rang floating market – Chau Doc

Meals: B, L

Getting around: boat, private car, cable car

Board a small boat at sunrise to reach the Cai Rang floating market, where traders hang a sample of what they sell from a tall pole. Have noodle soup made on a boat next to yours. Continue to Chau Doc near the Cambodian border and ride the cable car up Sam mountain for sunset.

Day 5: Tra Su cajuput forest – flight to Phu Quoc

Meals: B

Getting around: boat, private car, flight

In the morning, glide through the Tra Su forest in a small rowing boat, the water covered in green duckweed and full of storks and herons. Transfer to Can Tho or Rach Gia airport for the short flight to Phu Quoc and check in at your beach resort.

Day 6: Phu Quoc: southern islands and the cable car

Meals: B, L

Getting around: boat, cable car, walking

Spend the day around the An Thoi islands: snorkel over coral reefs, swim from a quiet beach and have a seafood lunch on board. On the way back, ride the long sea cable car to Hon Thom. In the evening, browse the Duong Dong night market.

Day 7: Free day on the beach – departure

Meals: B

Getting around: private car, flight

A free day at the resort or on Sao beach. Watch the sunset over the sea from the west coast before your evening transfer to Phu Quoc airport, or stay on longer: we can extend your hotel.

What's included

  • Private English-speaking guide on every sightseeing day
  • Private air-conditioned car or van with driver for all transfers
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off on arrival and departure days
  • Hotels as listed, twin or double room with daily breakfast
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary (B: breakfast, L: lunch, D: dinner)
  • Entrance fees and boat tickets for every visit in the itinerary
  • Bottled water and cold towels in the car every day
  • 24/7 hotline with the Orivia operations team in Hanoi
  • Domestic economy flight Can Tho – Phu Quoc, 20 kg checked baggage
  • Snorkelling boat trip with equipment and lunch
  • Hon Thom cable car ticket

Not included

  • International flights and Vietnam visa fees
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Drinks with meals, personal expenses and laundry
  • Tips for guides and drivers (optional)
  • Single room supplement

Enquire about this tour or plan a tailor-made trip

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?

Most travellers can apply online for an e-visa, valid for up to 90 days with single or multiple entry. Citizens of several countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Nordic countries, can visit visa-free for a set number of days. Rules change from time to time, so check the official portal before you book flights. We are happy to look at your nationality and dates for you.

When is the best time to travel in Vietnam?

Vietnam is long, so the weather depends on the region. The North is cool and dry from October to April and hot from May to September. The centre around Hue and Hoi An is best from February to August, with heavy rain from October to December. The South is warm all year, with a dry season from December to April. A North to South trip works well in spring, from February to April.

Are the tours private or in a group?

Every tour on this site is private: you travel only with your own party, with your own guide and driver. That means you choose the start date, the pace and where to stop. Overnight cruises in Ha Long Bay are shared boats, but you have your own cabin.

What does the price per person include?

Prices are per person, based on two travellers sharing a twin or double room. They cover the guide, private transport, hotels with breakfast, the meals listed, entrance fees and boat tickets. Groups of three or more pay less per person; solo travellers pay a single supplement. Your quote will show the exact price for your party and travel dates.

Can you change an itinerary for us?

Yes, almost all of our travellers change something: an extra night on the beach, a cooking class, a slower day for children, or a different hotel. Tell us what you would like and we will send a revised plan and price, free of charge.

How do I book and pay?

Send an enquiry from any tour page or the tailor-made form. A travel designer replies within one working day with a plan and quote. Nothing is booked and nothing is paid until you confirm. To secure hotels and cruises we then ask for a deposit by bank transfer or card, with the balance due before arrival. The exact terms are written in your quote.